South Korea Visa Insurance Requirements

One of the first things you’ll need to do after deciding to study abroad in Korea is obtain a Korean student visa. Use this article as a guide to help you through the application process.

The first thing you will need in order to apply for a Korean student visa is to be accepted into a regular educational program as a regular student or as a language student. You will then need to submit the necessary documents along with your proof of acceptance. Because periods of stay vary depending on the program, you will need to check related regulations concerning each one.

Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance

After examining the applicant’s documents, an immigration office head can issue a certificate for recognition of visa issuance upon the request of a sponsor in Korea. This is done in the interest of shortening the issuing period and simplifying visa issuance procedures. The Korean missions overseas will issue a visa based on the certificate. You or your sponsor can apply for the certificate at the nearest immigration office (or its branch) with required documents. When you receive the certificate, you can then get a visa by submitting the certificate to the nearest Korean missions overseas. The certificate is effective for three months and valid for a single visa application.

Visa for Regular Educational Program (D-2)

These visas are meant for people who intend to receive education in a standard course (Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D.) or research specialist fields in junior colleges, universities, graduate schools established according to the Korean Education Law, or academic research institutions established under the provisions of a special law of a status at least as high as a junior college.

To apply for this type of visa, you will need:

• Valid passport
• Visa application form or Certificate for Recognition of Visa Issuance
• Processing Fee: Amount corresponding to USD 30 (Single-entry) or USD 50 (Multiple-entry)
• Admission from the school with its Recognition of the student’s aptitude for study and financial ability
• Most recent certificate of school record
• Verification of Account Balance
• Family Registry (Applies to Chinese only; Must include whole family)

If you have a recognition of visa issuance or a visa issuance recognition number, you will only need to submit a valid passport, visa application form, and the visa issuance recognition (or number)

Visa for General Training (D-4)

These visas are for people who want to study Korean at a university-run language school, people who want to study in a qualified educational institute or an educational institute other than an academic research institute, people who want to receive technical training at national or public research institutes, training institutes, bodies, etc., and people who are receiving payment from research institutes or who have industrial training system qualifications.

To apply for this type of visa, you will need:

• Valid passport
• Visa application form or Certificate for Recognition of Visa Issuance
  
• Fee: Amount equal to ESD 30 (single-entry permit) or USD 50 (multiple-entry permit)
• Financial Verification (more than USD 3,000 in domestic bank account or certificate of currency exchange) or documentation under a university academic exchange agreement
• Identification Verification (for those who cannot verify their financial ability for tuition and living expenses or upon the request of Justice Ministry

If you have a recognition of visa issuance or visa issuance recognition number, you will only need to submit a valid passport, visa application form, and the visa issuance recognition (or number).