Visa

Applying for a Visa

Before studying or teaching in Korea, you must apply for the appropriate visa at an overseas Korean embassy or consulate. Please check with the nearest overseas embassy or consulate for instructions on visa application as it may vary by location. Once approved, please check your visa’s expiration date. You may need to apply for an extension prior to departure.

Visa Types

• Student Visa (D-2): for general students seeking degree at SNU or exchange/visiting students
  • Researching Student Visa(D-2-5): students intending to engage in research activities(not taking classes)
• Training Visa (D-4): for students who will attend Korean language programs only
• Research Visa (E-3): for researchers conducting research activities in a lab or research institute
• Professorship Visa (E-1): for professors seeking to give lectures in an educational facility
• Overseas Korean Visa (F-4): Overseas Koreans

Student Visa (D-2)

Required Documents:

    - Passport
    - Visa Issuance Application Form
    - *Certificate of Admission (Issuance from the President or Dean of a university)
    - A color photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm)
    - A copy of certificate of business administration
    - Certificate of the latest scholastic achievement
    - Documented proof of your financial ability (amount of money equivalent to the tuition fee and living expenses for a year: KRW 20,000,000*) 
    - Note: The Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad may ask you to submit additional documents. The financial proof is no less than KRW 20,000,000 but may increase depending on tuition fee. 

*Certificate of Admission
The certificate of admission is an official document which is approved by the Ministry of Justice and issued by Seoul National University. It is only required for international students during visa application and the document which approves admission to regular degree programs of individual foreign students at SNU. If any modification/reissuance is required on the document, students should directly contact the staff in charge at the Office of International Affairs at SNU.
Contact: i-office@snu.ac.kr, Tel. +82-2-880-4447 

For Chinese application ONLY

Researching Student Visa (D-2-5)

Eligibility

• a person holding a master's degree or higher who intends to engage in research activities(such as experimenting and writing thesis) in a specialized field, who;
  • receives a stipend equivalent to living expenses while conducting 
    • research activities equivalent to those of research assistants(연구조교) or research associates(연구보조원) after receiving a master's degree; or
    • research activities after receiving a doctorate degree
  • cases where an individual is invited by an academic professor to participate in his/her/their individual research contract(개인연구용역) is excluded
• (exception) in the case of STEM fields, undergraduate students currently enrolled in their home country* are also permitted
  • *home country: for example, a student with Chinese nationality enrolled in an university in China would be allowed while a student with Chinese nationality from an university from the United States may not be allowed

Required Documents (D-2-5 does not require Certificate of Admission) 

• Visa application form
• Passport copy (and color copy of passport)
• 1 color photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm, white background, photo must be taken within 6 months)
• International Research Student Confirmation Form(외국인연구생확인서) - available for download at https://oia.snu.ac.kr/node/6044
  • must have SNU president(총장)'s  stamp
• SNU Business Registration Certificate 
• Proof of degree(must be apostilled or confirmed by the Korean consular of institution's country)
• Proof of Finance(bank statement or proof of research stipend)
  • bank statement must be issued within 30 days
• Medical check-up record for Tuberculosis (only for countries stated below)
  • Nepal, East Timor, Laos, Russia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, India, Indonesia, China, Cambodia, Kyrgyz Republic, Thailand, Pakistan, Philippines, Nigeria, South Africa, Belarus, Mozambique, Republic of Moldova, Azerbaijan, Angola, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Kazakhstan, Congo D R, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Tajikistan, Peru
• Proof of SNU's THE or QS ranking (only for currently enrolled STEM undergraduate students enrolled in home country university)
  • THE: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/seoul-national-university
  • QS: https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/seoul-national-university#p2-rankings

 Professorship Visa (E-1)

Required Documents:
     - Visa Application Form
     - Confirmation letter from SNU
     - Passport
     - Photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm)
     - Certificate of experiences and degree
     - Employment contract, confirmation of the professor appointment
     - Business Registration Certificate of SNU

Research Visa (E-3)

Required Documents:
     - Visa Application Form
     - Passport
     - 1 Color Photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm)
     - Certificate of Degree

     - Proof of professional experience
     - Employment contract, confirmation of the professor's appointment
     - Business Registration Certificate of SNU

Visa Extension

The duration of the visa is determined by the Korean consular officer, and the expiration date on your visa may not match the ending date of your degree program or employment contract. If your visa expires before you complete your program, you will need to apply for a visa extension at the Korean Immigration Office.

D-2 Visa Extension(excluding D-2-5)

Reservations for the extension of stay can be made up to 4 months in advance of the expiration date of stay.

* One-day advance policy: You should make a reservation at least one day prior to the potential appointment date. Therefore, a reservation made on the appointment day is not effective.

• Passport
• Residence Card
• Visa Extension Application Form
• Certificate of Enrollment (available at https://my.snu.ac.kr/)
• Proof of Bank Account and Necessary Funds (including tuition fee statement and proof of living expenses) - KRW 1,148,666 per month
• Transcript (available at https://my.snu.ac.kr/)
• Proof of Residency
• Students’ Thesis Schedule with Faculty confirmation (https://oia.snu.ac.kr/node/2538, send the form to i-office@snu.ac.kr for the OIA manager's signature)
• Service Charge (If you are a KGSP student, the Immigration Office will waiver your fee) 

Maximum Period of Stay for D-2 Visa Holders (excluding D-2-5) 

The maximum period of stay for those with D-2 visa status is limited as follows:

• Bachelor's Degree(학사): up to 6 years from date of admission(입학일)
• Master's Degree(석사): BOTH up to 5 years from the date of admission(6 years for 3-year programs) AND up to 3 years from the date of marticulation (수료일) 
• Doctoral Degree(박사): BOTH up to 7 years from the date of admission(8 years for non 2-year programs) AND up to 5 years from the date of marticulation
• Exception: For individuals who have taken a leave of absence(휴학) for 2 consecutive semesters(1 year) or more, departed from Korea, and returned to SNU within 3 years from the date of leave of absence, the semesters taken on leave will not be counted toward the maximum limit. 

Please note that visa will be automatically canceled within 30 days according to the school registration change, such as dis-enrollment, dropout, leave of absence, expulsion, graduation or Korean nationality acquisition. 

Change of Visa to D-2 Visa

To change from another visa type to D-2 visa while staying in Korea, submit the following to the Korean Immigration Office:
    - Passport
    - Residence Card
    - 2 recent color photos (3.5cm x 4.5cm)
    - Application Form
    - Certificate of Admission and/or Certificate of Enrollment
    - Proof of bank account and necessary funds or a notarized letter from guarantor
    - Certificate of the latest scholastic achievement
    - Service charge

Notes:
Visa applicant must claim their visa within 3 months after:
   - the date of application or
   - the notification date of Ministry of Justice's approval (Applicable only if one is needed)
Otherwise, the applicant must apply for a new visa. Required documents can be added or changed depending on the individual circumstances.

D-2-5 Visa Extension

Required Documents

• Application Form
• Passport
• Residence Card
• International Research Student Confirmation Form
• Proof of Finance
• Proof of Residence
• Proof of SNU's QS or THE ranking
  • only for currently enrolled STEM undergraduate students enrolled in university from home country

Maximum Period of Stay for D-2-5 Visa Holders

• maximum period of stay granted: up to 1 year
• maximum limit of stay: 2 years

E-1 Visa Extension

• Application Form
• Passport
• A Standardized Photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm)
• Proof of Residency
• Employment Contract (Original, Copy)
  * If you are hiring a representative, you must submit the power of attorney, proof of employment of your representative and your representative IDs.

HiKorea Website

HiKorea is the main site of the electronic government for foreigners, jointly created by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Ministry of Labor. It was created with the purpose of providing investment, employment, residence and everyday living related information and services from a single source to foreigners visiting Korea.

How to register Residence Card

For alien registration that requires an in-person application, visit reservation must be made through HiKorea website.

How to register other immigration affairs

Except for alien registration, almost all application for immigration affairs (alteration of residence, change of information on alien registration, re-entry permit, part-time work permit, extension of sojourn period, etc.) can be made online through HiKorea website.