The D-4-6 (우수사설교육기관 외국인연수) visa is for foreign nationals attending approved private vocational or specialized educational institutions in Korea. It bridges the gap between the general language school D-4-1 visa and the university-level student visa, covering professional and skills-based training programs at accredited private academies. If you are planning to attend a cooking school, beauty school, K-pop dance academy, film production program, or similar specialized vocational program lasting several months to a few years, D-4-6 is likely your visa category.
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.
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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-4-6 is the 'outstanding private educational institution foreign trainee' visa. The key differences from other D-4 subtypes:
D-4-6 covers training programs at private academies (학원) licensed under Korea's Academy Establishment and Operation Act, specifically in vocational skills fields (직업기술 분야 평생직업교육학원). The program must be more than just a one-time or short-duration workshop — ongoing multi-month training programs are what the visa is designed for.
Not all private academies qualify. The institution must be a 'vocational skills lifelong vocational education academy' (직업기술 분야 평생직업교육학원) as defined under Korea's Lifelong Education Act and Academy Act. In practice, this includes:
Note: even if a program is nominally vocational, D-4-6 is NOT issued for one-time courses or short workshops. The training program must be a structured, multi-month curriculum at a designated institution. Programs that run for 20 months or more and result in an officially recognized domestic qualification certificate may provide a pathway to employment.
The standard D-4-6 initial grant is up to 1 year, renewable. The residency manual's stay cost standard for D-4-6 trainees follows the same benchmark as D-4-1 language students (the current figure is approximately KRW 3.5–4.5 million per year in demonstrable financial resources, though exact amounts vary).
For D-4-6 extension applications, submit: the standard immigration application form, passport, alien registration card, proof of enrollment at the qualifying institution, proof of financial sufficiency, and any institution-specific forms required by the academy.
D-4-6 trainees in vocational programs may participate in on-site practical training (현장실습 / field practicum) as part of their curriculum. The rules governing this practicum are formal and contractual:
This structure is important: D-4-6 holders cannot independently work in Korea outside the scope of their training curriculum. Unauthorized work is a status violation.
One of the most valuable features of D-4-6 is its formal pathway to (Specialty Occupation) employment. Trainees who complete a 20-month-or-longer D-4-6 program and obtain a recognized domestic qualification certificate (국내 공인 자격증) are eligible to apply for E-7 status.
The practical pathway:
This makes D-4-6 particularly valuable for those who want a structured entry pathway into Korea's skilled labor market without a pre-existing degree or job offer.
D-4-6 visas are applied for at a Korean embassy or consulate in your home country. You will need:
The consulate will verify that the institution is a qualifying vocational academy under the residency manual's D-4-6 criteria. Not all academies that call themselves 'vocational' meet the formal criteria — confirm with the institution before applying that they are designated for D-4-6 trainee enrollment.
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저희 전문가들은 korea's d-4-6 vocational training visa: private & specialized institutions 사례를 정기적으로 처리하며 한국 출입국관리소가 요구하는 사항을 정확히 알고 있습니다.
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외국인등록증(ARC)은 90일 이상 한국에 체류하는 외국인에게 발급되는 공식 신분증입니다. 은행 계좌 개설, 휴대폰 계약, 대부분의 공공 서비스 이용에 필수입니다.
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하이코리아 사용법 (www.hikorea.go.kr) — 체류기간 연장, 체류자격 변경, 외국인등록증 갱신을 온라인으로 신청하는 방법. 처리 기간: 영업일 기준 3-10일.
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체류기간 연장이란 현재 비자 또는 외국인등록증의 만료일 이후에도 한국을 출국하지 않고 합법적으로 체류를 이어갈 수 있도록 허가를 받는 절차입니다.
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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.
Can I attend a K-pop idol training academy on a D-4-6 visa?
Yes, if the academy is a formally licensed private vocational institution (학원) in the performing arts field and offers a structured training curriculum. However, performing publicly or receiving payment for performances would require a different status (E-6). D-4-6 is for the training/education phase only.
My D-4-6 program is only 3 months. Will I get the visa?
D-4-6 is not issued for one-time or short-term workshops. While there is no hard statutory minimum duration in all cases, programs of only 3 months are generally too short to meet the 'structured vocational training program' intent of the visa. Consulates apply discretion. Programs of 6 months or more at a recognized institution have a much stronger application profile.
What is the difference between D-4-6 and the D-4-2K corporate internship visa?
D-4-6 is for self-enrolled foreign trainees attending a private vocational institution independently. D-4-2K is a corporate internship track where a Korean company brings in foreign workers from specific sending countries (Vietnam, China, Thailand, etc.) as corporate-sponsored interns through a verified internship (CVI) process. D-4-2K is company-sponsored; D-4-6 is institution-enrolled.
I finished my D-4-6 program and got a qualification certificate. How long does the E-7 change take?
Status changes from D-4-6 to E-7 follow the standard E-7 change-of-status process. At the time of this guide's publication, E-7 applications typically take 4–12 weeks depending on the occupation, employer type, and current immigration workload. Apply before your D-4-6 status expires.
작성자 James Chae — 엑스퍼트 사피엔스 공동창업자
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