visa
VISA REQUIREMENTS
After you have received acceptance from a regular educational program in Korea as a regular student or a language student, you must get a student visa by submitting the documents required for entry into Korea. As periods of stay can vary depending on the program, one should check related regulations concerning each one. You can check with the Korean embassy or on the Internet for things you need to prepare for coming to Korea to study. You can check about food, the climate, clothing, ways of living, housing, culture, history, and language. For information on the items above, you also can refer to this web page. A visa is a requirement for a long-term stay in a foreign country, and before you come to Korea, you need to have a valid passport and a visa. General information about Korean visas is as follows
1. DEFINITION OF VISA
Visa can be defined as “a foreign country’s permission for entry” or “the consul’s recommendation for a foreigner’s application for entry.” In Korea, a visa is defined as the second one, that is, the consul’s recommendation for entry.
A. Types of Visas
a. Single Entry Visa
- Can enter Korea once during the valid period.
- Valid for 3 months from the date of issue (or for the time period set according to an agreement between countries).
b. Multiple Entry Visa
- Can enter Korea more than once.
- Valid for three years (in the case of staying for diplomatic reasons (A- 1) or with an agreement (A-3)). Valid for the period of the agreement (in the case of an agreement concerning multiple visa issue) Valid for the period set by the Justice Minister (in the case of the visa being issued based on reciprocity or for national interests)
B. Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance
As a way to simplify and shorten the visa issuance procedure, an immigration office head can issue a certificate for confirmation of visa issuance after examining the applicant’s documents upon a request of a sponsor in Korea. Then, the nearest embassy will issue a visa based on the certificate. The certificate is required except for special cases.
The applicant or a sponsor in Korea can apply for the certificate at the nearest immigration office (or its branch) with required documents. When the certificate is issued and sent to the applicant, then the applicant can get a visa by submitting the certificate to the nearest Korean embassy. The certificate is effective for three months and valid for a single visa application.
2. VISA FOR REGULAR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM (D-2)
A. Eligibility
For those who apply for a regular program or a special research program in a junior college, college, university, graduate school or research institute.
B. Application and Required Documents
Applications must be submitted to the Korean embassy or consulate. Required documents are as follows
a. For visa issuance
- Valid Passport
- Visa Application Form
- Admission from the school with its confirmation of the student’s aptitude for study and financial ability
- The most recent school graduation or enrollment certificate
- Verification of Account Balance (Deposit of $10,000 USD or more)
- Family Register (Chinese only, the whole family)
b. For a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance
- The certificate will be issued on the request of a sponsor in Korea. The sponsor can submit the application at an immigration office or its branch (Ui-jeong-bu, Ul-san, Dong-hae branch only).
- The applicant can apply for a visa at the Korean embassy or consulate, submitting a valid passport, visa application form, and the certificate received from the sponsor in Korea.
- The sponsor can submit the documents required for visa issuance for the Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance.
The ambassador or consul can require more or fewer documents when necessary
3. VISA FOR GENERAL TRAINING (D-4)
A. Eligibility
- Those who study Korean in a language institute at a university.
- Those who study in a qualified educational institute or an educational institute other than a research institute
- Those who get technical or training education at a national or public research or training institute.
- Those who are paid by an institute of training and those who are qualified for the status of industry training.
B. Application and Required Documents
a. For visa issuance
Applications must be submitted to the Korean embassy or consulate. Required documents are
For those who study in a language institute at a university or the exchange students for training in industry through an exchange program between universities
- Valid Passport
- Visa Application Form (provided by the embassy or consulate)
- Verification of School Entrance or Enrollment (Verification of Training)
- Financial Verification (Related Documents to Verify the Financial Ability for Tuition and Living Expenses)
- Verification of Transference or Exchange of $3,000 USD or more
- Identification Verification (for those who cannot verify their financial ability for tuition and living expenses or upon the request of Justice Ministry)
When the applicant for a language program in a Korean university cannot get a visa for a stay of more than 91 days in time (in the case of a long-term stay visa, it can take some time for the consul to get Justice Minister’s permission), the applicant can get a short-term visa and enter Korea first, and then apply for a permission to change the status.
b. For a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance
- The certificate will be issued on the request of a sponsor in Korea. The sponsor can submit the application at an immigration office.
- The applicant can apply for a visa at the Korean embassy or consulate, submitting a valid passport, visa application form, and the certificate received from the sponsor in Korea.
- The sponsor can submit the documents required for visa issuance for the certificate.
For more information, please check:
http://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/english/index.jsp