D-4 Korean student visa – The must knows.

Interested in learning Korean Language? If so, then this article is for you, so keep reading! If you would like to study the Korean language in Korea, then you need to obtain a visa which is the D-4. This is valid for a maximum of 2 years, and it is issued in 6 month instalments. In order to obtain a D4 Visa, you must be enrolled onto a language course at a university or language institute. Registration and Korean student visa application In order to apply for a Korean student visa, it is necessary to apply for a Korean language course at a university and to obtain an admission certificate. Once you have done this, then you will need to apply for a D4 Visa at the Immigration office. You can apply from a tourist visa if you are already in Korea which is a great thing about this visa. The application form and the entire documentation must be submitted about 2-3 months before the start of the course. Terms in Korea start in March, June, September and December. You can register up to one year in advance, then finish the registration procedures closer to the deadline. What documents do I need? Generally, the documents required to enrol at a university in Korea are as follows: • Official school enrolment form, to be completed by hand • Motivational / presentation letter in English • Copy of passport • Recent passport photos • Copy of the most recent education qualification (high school diploma or degree) • Copy of high school report cards or university exams • Copy of bank account statement demonstrating approximately US$10,000 in savings, which may vary depending on the school. In addition, some schools require an English translation certified by a court or an apostille to legalise school certificates for abroad.  This is for sure something to read up on and check with the provider before, as it will save you time and stress later on. Part-time work in Korea Those who get a D-4 Korean student visa can start working part-time after the first 6 months in Korea. Language students can generally work up to 20 hours per week, but recently schools are becoming more inflexible and demanding.  You need to check with your course provider and get immigration approval before you start working. Also, in order to work part-time, some schools require a high level of attendance in class (minimum 90%) and a level of Korean equal to at least a TOPIK 2 certificate. Otherwise, the limit of working hours is 10 hours per week, so this is for sure something worth noting. Final thoughts: The D4 Visa is a great visa, if you are looking to dabbling and trying your hand at working in Korea and want to experience a different culture. It is also one of the easier visas to get, but remember that the purpose is studying. Each study day will be around 4 hours.