The D-2 student visa
D-2 is the status for students on university or graduate programmes. It is managed through your school, so attendance and grades matter.
Who this covers
- People admitted to a college, university or graduate programme
- There are sub-types for exchange students, research programmes and more
Steps
- Get admission and the standard admission certificate from the school.
- Apply for the visa at a Korean embassy with proof of financial capacity.
- Register as a foreign resident after entry.
- Apply for an extension each term, with grade and attendance certificates.
- For part-time work, obtain a separate permit.
What you need
- Passport, standard admission certificate
- Education and transcript documents
- Proof of finances (bank balance certificate)
- Tuberculosis screening and other country-specific documents
- The fee — check current details on HiKorea
Where to go
- Your school's international office
- HiKorea www.hikorea.go.kr · 1345
- Your immigration office
Questions people ask
What if my attendance is poor? The school reports to immigration. Being expelled destabilises your status. If illness kept you away, submit evidence to the school.
Can I work part time? Only with a part-time work permit. Working without one brings penalties and immigration consequences. See the part-time-work-permit-students guide.
What happens after graduation? Change to D-10 (job seeking), or to E-7 and similar once you have a job. Get advice before graduating.
Can I transfer schools? Yes, but there is a procedure. Don't just stop attending — talk to the international office.
Take care
Not attending and only working is a status violation. Brokers using a student visa as bait for employment are fraudulent, and being caught means deportation.
Related
d4-language-visa · d10-job-seeking · part-time-work-permit-students · status-change-student-to-work
Source
Ministry of Justice HiKorea www.hikorea.go.kr / As of 2026-08