Complete Guide to South Korea Visa

Complete Guide toearth
South Korea Visa
F-2-TEmployment
Top Talent Residence
Individuals who meet the criteria set and announced by the Minister of Justice in terms of age, education, income, etc.
F-2-T1Employment
Top Talent Residence Family
Spouse and minor children of individuals who meet the criteria set and announced by the Minister of Justice in terms of age, education, income, etc.
E-7-TEmployment
Top Talent Specific Activities
Individuals who work in advanced fields under contract with domestic companies and are recognized by the Minister of Justice as having professional knowledge or skills for strengthening national competitiveness
D-10-TEmployment
Top Talent Job Seeking
Graduates of world-class universities seeking employment in Korea through training or job-seeking activities
F-5-TEmployment
Top Talent Permanent Residence
Individuals who work in advanced fields under contract with domestic companies and are recognized by the Minister of Justice as having professional knowledge or skills for strengthening national competitiveness
F-5-T1Employment
Top Talent Permanent Residence Family
Family members of permanent residence visa holders working in advanced fields under contract with domestic companies
A-1Others
Diplomatic Visa
Members of foreign government diplomatic missions or consular offices accredited to the Korean government, individuals entitled to diplomatic privileges and immunities equivalent to diplomatic missions under treaties or international customs, and their families
A-2Others
Official Visa
Individuals performing official duties for foreign governments or international organizations approved by the Korean government, and their families
A-3Others
Agreement Visa
Individuals exempted from alien registration under agreements with the Korean government or recognized as requiring such exemption, and their families SOFA: Agreement on the Status of U.S. Forces in Korea pursuant to Article IV of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Republic of Korea and the United States of America Fulbright Agreement: Memorandum of Understanding on Education between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of the United States of America
B-1Travel
Visa Exemption
Nationals of countries with visa exemption agreements with Korea, engaging in activities under such agreements
B-2Travel
Tourist Transit
Tourism, transit visa
C-1Others
Temporary Coverage
Temporary coverage, reporting, preparation for establishing branch office of foreign media outlet
C-3Travel
Short-term Visit
Business activities such as market research, business contact, consultation, contracts; tourism, transit, recuperation, visiting relatives, friendly matches, participation in or observation of various events or conferences, cultural arts, general training, workshops, attendance at religious ceremonies, collection of academic materials, or similar purposes for a period not exceeding 90 days
C-4Employment
Short-term Employment
Individuals recognized by the Minister of Justice who intend to engage in employment activities in crop cultivation, harvesting, and seafood raw processing fields determined by the Minister of Justice in consultation with heads of relevant central administrative agencies (C-4-1~4), temporary entertainment, advertising, fashion modeling, lectures, speeches, research, technical guidance, etc., individuals engaging in short-term employment activities for profit (C-4-5)
D-1Others
Cultural Arts
Cultural Arts Visa
D-2Study
Study
Foreign students: Foreigners seeking to receive regular program education or conduct specific research at educational institutions(*) with Study (D-2) and Language Training (D-4-1, D-4-7) visa statuses *Educational institutions: Junior colleges or higher educational institutions or academic research institutions established under the Higher Education Act and special laws that meet requirements determined by the Minister of Justice, or universities or affiliated language institutes
D-3Others
Industrial Training
Industrial Training Visa
D-4Study
General Training
Receiving education or training, or conducting research at educational institutions, companies, organizations, etc., other than educational institutions or academic research institutions corresponding to Study (D-2) visa status
D-5Others
Coverage
Coverage Visa
D-6Others
Religious Work
Religious Visa
D-7Others
Intra-company Transfer
Stationed activities at domestic branch offices of foreign companies, stationed activities at domestic headquarters for foreign personnel working at overseas expansion companies
D-8Others
Corporate Investment
Investment and startup visa D-8-1: Investment in corporation D-8-2: Venture investment D-8-3: Investment in individual enterprise D-8-4: Technology startup
D-9Others
Trade Management
D-9 visa scope of activities Company management, trade, commercial business Installation/operation/maintenance of export equipment (machinery) Shipbuilding, equipment manufacturing supervision Maximum period per grant: 2 years
D-10Employment
Job Seeking
General Job Seeking (D-10-1) Includes not only job seeking activities at domestic companies and organizations but also short-term internship programs receiving training fees before formal employment Technology Startup Preparation (D-10-2) Preparatory activities related to startup such as participation in startup immigration education program, intellectual property patent application preparation and filing, startup corporation establishment preparation, etc. (internship activities restricted) Advanced Technology Intern (D-10-3) Advanced technology field internship activities under intern employment contract with companies meeting requirements determined by the Minister of Justice
E-1Employment
Professor
Foreigners with qualifications under the Higher Education Act who perform education or research guidance at junior colleges or higher educational institutions or equivalent institutions Academic institution professors: Professors at academic institutions such as Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Full-time lecturers or higher appointed at junior colleges or higher educational institutions Specialized field research professors: Specialized field research professors at universities or university-affiliated research institutes, advanced science and technology personnel Advanced science and technology personnel: Individuals with employment recommendation from Minister of Education engaging in education and research guidance activities at junior colleges or higher educational institutions Stay period: Maximum 5 years (per grant)
E-2Employment
Foreign Language Instructor
Visa enabling qualified foreigners to provide foreign language conversation instruction at foreign language institutes, elementary schools or higher educational institutions, affiliated language research institutes, broadcasting stations, and company-affiliated language training centers Concept of conversation instruction Activities guiding how to communicate with each other in foreign language Language, literature, interpretation/translation technique instruction not applicable to conversation instruction Activity locations Foreign language institutes Elementary schools or higher educational institutions and affiliated language research institutes Broadcasting stations and company-affiliated language training centers Other similar institutions or organizations Maximum stay period: 2 years per grant
E-3Employment
Research
Engagement in natural science research or industrial advanced technology research and development Advanced science and technology personnel Social science, humanities, arts and sports field research personnel
E-4Employment
Technology Transfer
Providing professional knowledge in natural science fields or technology belonging to special industrial fields at public and private institutions
E-5Employment
Professional Occupation
Engagement in professional work permitted by Korean law for individuals holding foreign nationally-recognized qualification certificates recognized by Korean law
E-6Employment
Arts and Entertainment
E-6-1 (Arts, Entertainment): - Profitable music, art, literature, and other artistic activities - Individuals corresponding to professional broadcasting performance - Professional entertainment activity workers under the Performance Act (composers, painters, photographers, orchestra performers, conductors, advertising and fashion models, go players, broadcasters, entertainers, theater personnel, makeup artists, etc.) E-6-2 (Hotel, Entertainment): - Cases not corresponding to E-6-1 - Individuals engaged in performances or entertainment activities at hotel business facilities, entertainment establishments, etc., under the Tourism Promotion Act (singers, performers, acrobats, magicians, etc.) E-6-3 (Sports): - Professional athletes such as soccer, baseball, basketball - Individuals engaged in sports fields as accompanying managers, etc. (professional team managers, managers, etc.)
E-7Employment
Specific Activities
E-7-1 (Professional Personnel) - Occupation: Managers and professionals (67 occupations) - Description: Activities by foreign personnel with professional knowledge and skills in fields designated by the Minister of Justice E-7-2 (Semi-professional Personnel) - Occupation: Office and service workers (10 occupations) - Description: Foreign personnel performing semi-professional duties E-7-3 (General Skilled Personnel) - Occupation: Craftsmen and related skilled workers (10 occupations) - Description: Foreign personnel engaged in general technical duties requiring specific skills E-7-4 (Skilled Professional Personnel) - Point system for only 3 occupations - Description: Foreign personnel introduced to strengthen national competitiveness based on skilled expertise and experience
E-8Employment
Seasonal Worker
Individuals recognized by the Minister of Justice who intend to engage in employment activities in crop cultivation, harvesting (including raw processing fields linked to cultivation and harvesting), and seafood raw processing fields determined by the Minister of Justice in consultation with heads of relevant central administrative agencies
E-9Employment
Non-professional Employment
Personnel system permitting employers to employ foreign workers and permitting foreign workers to work for maximum 4 years 10 months on condition of being employed by those employers under the Employment Permit System
E-10Employment
Seafarer Employment
Individuals employed domestically as coastal vessel crew members Individuals employed domestically as fishing vessel crew members on vessels of 20 tons or more Individuals employed domestically as cruise ship crew members on vessels of 2,000 tons or more
F-1Residence
Visiting and Residing
Stay for relative visiting, family cohabitation, dependents, household affairs arrangement, or similar purposes
F-2Residence
Residence
Individuals intending to stay long-term in Korea to obtain permanent residence status
F-2-7Residence
Point System Excellent Talent
Listed corporation workers: - Foreign workers employed or with confirmed employment through employment contract at corporations listed on Korea's securities market (KOSPI) or KOSDAQ - Foreign workers employed or with confirmed employment through employment contract in occupations corresponding to managers, professionals and related workers according to Statistics Korea's 'Korean Standard Classification of Occupations' Promising industry field workers - Workers employed or with confirmed employment through employment contract in industry fields such as IT, technology management, nano, digital electronics, bio, transport and machinery, new materials, environment and energy, etc., according to scope of advanced technology and products - Previous year's income on income amount certificate must be 1.5 times or more than per capita national GNI (annual salary on employment contract for those scheduled for employment) Professional occupation workers - Registered foreigners with any visa status from Professor (E-1) through Professional Personnel (E-7-1) or Coverage (D-5) through Trade Management (D-9) as professional occupation workers, etc. - Must be lawfully staying continuously for 3 or more years with professional occupation visa status listed above as of application date and meet stay requirements such as extension of currently held visa status - However, stay period requirement (3 years) exempted if falling under one of the following: - Annual income amount on income amount certificate is 40 million won or more - Recommended by head of central administrative agency as invitee of science and engineering overseas talent recruitment support project recognized by the Minister of Justice Study talent - Lawfully staying foreigners who obtained regular program master's degree or higher in Korea, with confirmed employment or currently employed in occupations corresponding to visa status from Professor (E-1) through Professional Personnel (E-7-1) or Coverage (D-5) through Trade Management (D-9) within 5 years from degree acquisition date Potential excellent talent (F-2-7S) - Individuals who obtained or are expected to obtain science and engineering specialized university and research institution master's/doctoral degrees - If foreigners who obtained science and engineering specialized university and research institution master's/doctoral degrees receive university president's recommendation, permit visa status change (maximum 5 years) even if point requirements not met as long as not employed at domestic companies
F-2-REmployment
Region-Specific
Promote settlement of foreigners staying in Korea in population-decreasing regions to actively respond to regional extinction problem Promote visa policy enabling foreigners and residents to participate in sustainable development of local communities Induce foreign settlement suitable for region-specific specialized industries, universities, employment status, etc., of population-decreasing regions to realize virtuous cycle structure of local government living population expansion, economic activity promotion, population inflow, etc.
F-3Residence
Accompanying
Accompanying family: - Spouse and minor children of individuals corresponding to visa statuses from Cultural Arts (D-1) through Specific Activities (E-7) (however, excluding Industrial Training (D-3) visa holders) Accompanying persons of professional personnel: - Spouse and minor children of foreigners with Professor (E-1), Research (E-3), Technical Guidance (E-4), Professional Occupation (E-5) visa statuses and Specific Activities (E-7) foreigners issued employment recommendation (GOLD CARD) in advanced science and technology fields
F-4Residence
Overseas Korean
Overseas Korean Visa
F-5Residence
Permanent Residence
Not subject to activity restrictions according to visa status classification
F-6Residence
Marriage Immigrant
Marriage family and divorced family
G-1Others
Other
Individuals not corresponding to visa statuses from Diplomatic (A-1) through Marriage Immigration (F-6), Tourism Employment (H-1) or Visit and Work (H-2) recognized by the Minister of Justice
H-1Employment
Working Holiday
Nationals of countries with working holiday agreements or memoranda of understanding with Korea who intend to engage in short-term employment activities to cover tourism expenses while tourism is the main purpose
H-2Employment
Visit and Work
Individuals who held Korean nationality by birth (including overseas Koreans who emigrated abroad before establishment of Korean government) or their lineal descendants who acquired foreign nationality