The D-4-3 (고등학교 이하 외국인유학생 / Foreign Student at High School or Below) visa allows foreign children to attend Korean elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. It is a self-funded student visa that requires a designated guardian in Korea. If you are moving to Korea with children, or if your children want to study in Korea while you are abroad, this guide explains the requirements and process.
검토 기준
James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). License No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Korean Administrative Agents Association). Reviewed against the HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 and cross-checked with Ministry of Justice issuances.
최종 검토일
2026년 4월 22일
출처 기준
신청 전 주의사항
Requirements can change by nationality, local immigration office, and filing channel. Confirm exact requirements with HiKorea, the responsible Korean consulate, or a licensed immigration specialist before filing.
D-4-3 is for foreign nationals who:
Note: students on short-stay visas (B-1, B-2, C-3, etc.) or on D-3/D-8 status cannot change status to D-4-3 inside Korea — they must apply at a Korean consulate abroad.
Not all Korean schools are eligible for D-4-3 enrollment. The school must be one of:
Important: schools that provide free/mandatory education (무상교육 / 의무교육) do not qualify for D-4-3 visa purposes — the student must be paying tuition.
Every D-4-3 student must have a designated guardian (후견인) in Korea. The guardian must be:
Financial requirement for guardians from high-risk overstay countries: If the student is from a country designated as having high overstay rates (법무부 지정 불법체류 다발국), the guardian must demonstrate:
One guardian can serve as guardian for a maximum of 3 students.
Guardian exemption: High school students (not middle/elementary) who reside in the school's official dormitory are exempt from the guardian requirement — submit the school principal's dormitory admission certificate instead.
The student must demonstrate ability to cover:
For students from high-risk overstay countries, additional family relationship documents and parental financial capacity documents are required.
The initial D-4-3 grant is typically 1 year. Extensions follow the school enrollment period and are applied for with:
Students who graduate from their Korean school can apply to change status to (university student) if they gain university admission, or D-4-1 (language study) for language programs, without leaving Korea.
Families planning to send their child to study in Korea should:
Note: if the family is relocating to Korea together, the parents' visa type will determine whether the child can accompany on (dependent) status instead of needing a separate D-4-3.
도움이 필요하신가요?
저희 전문가들은 korea's d-4-3 student visa for minors (elementary, middle, high school) 사례를 정기적으로 처리하며 한국 출입국관리소가 요구하는 사항을 정확히 알고 있습니다.
비자 신청을 도와드릴 인증된 전문가
Mr. Visa Korea에는 운영팀이 검증한 공인 출입국행정사(행정사)가 등록되어 있습니다. 콜드콜 없이 바로 상담을 예약하세요.
인증된 프로필만 등록
직접 상담 예약 가능
자격 확인 및 리뷰
Mr. Visa Korea에 등록된 모든 전문가는 한국에 등록된 공인 출입국행정사입니다.
용어가 생소하신가요? 용어 사전 전체 보기
비자 절차
외국인등록증 (ARC)
외국인등록증(ARC)은 90일 이상 한국에 체류하는 외국인에게 발급되는 공식 신분증입니다. 은행 계좌 개설, 휴대폰 계약, 대부분의 공공 서비스 이용에 필수입니다.
비자 절차
하이코리아 (HiKorea)
하이코리아 사용법 (www.hikorea.go.kr) — 체류기간 연장, 체류자격 변경, 외국인등록증 갱신을 온라인으로 신청하는 방법. 처리 기간: 영업일 기준 3-10일.
비자 절차
체류기간 연장
체류기간 연장이란 현재 비자 또는 외국인등록증의 만료일 이후에도 한국을 출국하지 않고 합법적으로 체류를 이어갈 수 있도록 허가를 받는 절차입니다.
비자 절차
체류자격 변경
체류자격 변경이란 이미 한국에 체류 중인 외국인이 출국하지 않고 현재 비자 종류에서 다른 비자 종류로 전환하는 절차입니다. 예를 들어, 졸업 후 취업한 경우 D-2 유학 비자에서 E-7 특정활동 비자로 변경할 수 있습니다.
My child already lives in Korea with me on F-3 dependent status. Do they need a D-4-3 visa to attend Korean public school?
No. Children who are in Korea as F-3 dependents of a long-term visa holder can attend Korean public schools without a D-4-3 visa — their F-3 status covers school attendance. D-4-3 is specifically for children who are in Korea primarily to study, not as dependents of a working parent.
Can my child's Korean language teacher or academy director serve as their guardian?
No. The residency manual explicitly excludes 유학원 (study abroad agencies) and 홈스테이 관계자 (homestay coordinators) from serving as guardians. The guardian must be a genuine personal connection — a family member or someone with a real relationship with your family.
My child wants to attend a Korean middle school but it offers free education. Can they still get D-4-3?
Schools that provide free/mandatory education (의무교육 기관) do not qualify for D-4-3 purposes. Korean public middle schools fall under mandatory education. Your child would need to attend a fee-paying private school, foreign school, or alternative school to qualify for D-4-3.
작성자 James Chae — 엑스퍼트 사피엔스 공동창업자
플랫폼 전문 분야: 출입국 컨설팅 및 비자 서비스 · 검토됨 4월 2026