Visa Types

A-1

Diplomat

Members of a diplomatic mission or consular post of a foreign government accredited by the Korean government, persons enjoying privileges and immunities equivalent to d…

A-2

Government official

Persons performing official duties for a foreign government or international organisation approved by the Korean government, and their families.

C-3-1

Short-term general

Persons staying for a short period to visit relatives, take part in friendly matches, invest in public-interest projects, attend or observe events and conferences, enga…

C-3-4

Business (general)

Business visitors for market research, business contacts, consultations, contracts, small-scale trade, and APEC card holders entering without a visa.

C-3-6

Short-term business

Persons invited by a company or organisation designated as a preferred enterprise by the Minister of Justice.

C-3-9

Tourism

Persons visiting Korea for sightseeing during a holiday or leisure time.

C-3-2

Group tourism

Persons entering for guaranteed individual or group tours, where the travel agency is liable if the stay is overstayed, or for small-scale trading at ports and airports.

C-3-3

Medical tourism

Foreign patients entering to receive treatment or recuperation at a Korean medical institution, together with accompanying family members and carers needed for their ca…

C-4

Short-term employment

Persons engaging in short-term paid activity such as one-off performances, advertising and fashion modelling, lectures and talks, research, or technical guidance.

C-1

Temporary journalism

1. Persons dispatched by a foreign newspaper, broadcaster, magazine or other news organisation for short-term reporting. 2. Persons doing short-term reporting under con…

D-2-1

Associate degree

Persons taking a regular associate-degree programme at a junior college, university, graduate school or equivalent academic institution established under the Higher Edu…

D-2-2

Bachelor's degree

Persons taking a regular bachelor's degree programme at a junior college, university, graduate school or equivalent academic institution established under the Higher Ed…

D-2-3

Master's degree

Persons taking a regular master's degree programme at a junior college, university, graduate school or equivalent academic institution established under the Higher Educ…

D-2-4

Doctoral degree

Persons taking a regular doctoral degree programme at a junior college, university, graduate school or equivalent academic institution established under the Higher Educ…

D-2-5

Research study

Persons conducting specific research at a junior college, university, graduate school or equivalent academic institution established under the Higher Education Act or a…

D-2-6

Exchange student

Exchange students receiving education for a fixed period within a regular programme under an inter-university academic exchange agreement.

D-2-7

Work-study program

Persons selected as government-invited scholarship students who will study in a regular degree programme at associate level or above at a Korean university.

D-2-8

Visiting student

Students enrolled at a foreign university who will study in Korea for a short period of up to one year, outside a regular degree programme.

D-4-1

University language institute

Persons with a high-school diploma or above who will take Korean-language training at a language institute attached to a higher-education institution established under…

D-4-3

Primary/secondary student

Persons receiving education at an educational institution at high-school level or below.

D-4-7

Foreign language training

Students at high-school level or below, or persons with a high-school diploma or above, taking foreign-language training at a language institute attached to a higher-ed…

D-10-1

Job seeking

Persons undertaking training or job-seeking in order to take up employment in a field corresponding to Professor (E-1), Conversation Instruction (E-2), Research (E-3)…

D-10-2

Tech startup preparation

Persons preparing a technology start-up falling under item (c) of the Corporate Investment (D-8) status — taking part in start-up immigration education programmes, prep…

D-7-1

Transfer from foreign company

Persons who have worked for at least one year at the head office, a branch or another business site of a foreign public institution, organisation or company, and are di…

D-7-2

Transfer from Korean company

Persons who have worked for at least one year at an overseas local corporation or overseas branch established by a Korean listed company or public institution, and are…

D-5

Journalism

1. Persons dispatched by a foreign newspaper, broadcaster, magazine or other news organisation to be stationed in Korea for reporting. 2. Persons stationed in Korea for…

D-6

Religious work

1. Persons dispatched by a foreign religious or social-welfare organisation to carry out religious activity at its branch or a related religious body in Korea. 2. Perso…

D-8-1

Investment in a corporation

Essential specialist personnel engaging in management, administration, production or technology at a Korean corporation that is a foreign-invested company under the For…

D-8-2

Venture investment

Persons who have founded a venture business, or been confirmed as a prospective venture business, under the Special Act on the Promotion of Venture Businesses.

D-8-3

Sole proprietor investment

Essential specialist personnel engaging in management, administration, production or technology at a foreign-invested company under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act…

D-8-4

Tech startup

Founders of a corporation who hold a degree at Korean associate level or above (bachelor level or above if obtained abroad) and hold intellectual property rights or equ…

D-9-1

Trade (points system)

Traders who have been issued a trader identification number by the Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association under the Foreign Trade Act and its regulations.

D-9-2

Export equipment

Persons dispatched or invited by a company importing industrial equipment (machinery) to provide the technology needed to install, operate and maintain that equipment.

D-9-3

Ship equipment

Persons dispatched to supervise shipbuilding and the manufacture of industrial equipment (dispatched by the orderer or by a specialist service company designated by the…

D-9-4

Trade management

Persons who, after bringing in foreign capital above a set threshold under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act and its regulations, complete business registration und…

D-3-11

Overseas direct investment trainee

Persons receiving training at an industrial company in which direct investment has been made abroad under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act.

D-3-12

Technology export trainee

Persons receiving training at an industrial company that exports technology abroad and is recognised by the Minister of Justice as requiring technical training.

D-3-13

Plant export trainee

Persons receiving training at an industrial company that exports industrial plant equipment abroad under the Foreign Trade Act.

D-4-2

Other institution training

Persons receiving education or training, or engaging in research, at an educational institution, company or organisation other than a language institute attached to a h…

D-4-5

Korean cuisine training

Persons receiving Korean-cuisine training at an institution designated as a Korean-cuisine training body by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

D-4-6

Private institution training

Foreigners receiving training at an accredited private educational institution.

E-1

Professor

Foreigners meeting the qualifications under the Higher Education Act who will teach, research or provide academic guidance in a specialist field at a junior college or…

E-2-1

Conversation instructor

Foreigners meeting the qualifications set by the Minister of Justice who will teach foreign-language conversation at a foreign-language institute, an educational instit…

E-3

Research

Persons invited by a public or private institution in Korea to conduct natural-science research or research and development of advanced industrial technology at a resea…

E-4

Technical guidance

Persons invited by a public or private institution in Korea to provide specialist knowledge in the natural sciences or technology in a special industrial field.

E-5

Professional practice

Foreign lawyers, certified public accountants, doctors and other nationally licensed professionals whose qualifications are recognised under Korean law, engaging in leg…

E-6-1

Arts & entertainment

Persons engaging in profit-making artistic activity such as music, fine art or literature, in professional broadcast acting, or in professional entertainment activity u…

E-6-2

Hotel & entertainment

Persons performing or entertaining at hotel facilities or entertainment establishments under the Tourism Promotion Act. (Artistic activity such as music, fine art or li…

E-6-3

Sports

Professional athletes in football, baseball, basketball and similar sports, and accompanying managers and others working in the sports field.

E-7-1

Professional

Persons who, under a contract with a public or private institution in Korea, will work in a field the Minister of Justice has designated as particularly needing foreign…

67 job categories

E-7-2

Semi-professional

Persons who, under a contract with a public or private institution in Korea, will work in a field the Minister of Justice has designated as particularly needing foreign…

10 job categories

E-7-3

General skilled

Persons who, under a contract with a public or private institution in Korea, will work in a field the Minister of Justice has designated as particularly needing foreign…

14 job categories

E-7-4

Skilled (points system)

Persons who, under a contract with a public or private institution in Korea, will work in a field the Minister of Justice has designated as particularly needing foreign…

3 job categories

E-2-2

School assistant teacher

Foreigners meeting the qualifications set by the Minister of Justice who sign an employment contract with the Minister of Education (metropolitan/provincial superintend…

E-9-1

Manufacturing

Persons who meet the domestic employment requirements under the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers and take up work at a manufacturing business.

E-9-10

Mining

Persons who meet the domestic employment requirements under the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers and take up work in metal mining, non-metallic mineral mining a…

E-9-2

Construction

Persons who meet the domestic employment requirements under the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers and take up work at a construction company.

E-9-3

Agriculture

Persons who meet the domestic employment requirements under the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers and wish to work in agriculture, livestock farming and related…

E-9-4

Fishing

Persons who meet the domestic employment requirements under the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers and wish to work in fisheries such as coastal and offshore fish…

E-9-5

Services

Persons who meet the domestic employment requirements under the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers and take up work in fields such as construction-waste disposal…

E-9-9

Forestry

Persons who meet the domestic employment requirements under the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers and take up work in fields such as forestry seedling production…

E-10-1

Coastal crew

Ratings (non-officer crew) who have signed a seafarer employment contract of six months or more with an operator of scheduled or non-scheduled domestic passenger transp…

E-10-2

Fishing crew

Ratings (non-officer crew) who have signed a seafarer employment contract of six months or more with an operator of set-net fishing or offshore fishing using powered ve…

E-10-3

Cruise crew

Ratings (non-officer crew) who have signed a seafarer employment contract of six months or more with a cruise passenger transport operator and serve on a cruise ship of…

F-5-11

Special ability

Persons recognised by the Minister of Justice as having outstanding ability in a specific field such as science, business management, education, culture and the arts, o…

F-5-5

Large-scale investment

Foreign investors who, at the time of applying for permanent residence, have invested USD 500,000 or more under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act and employ five or…

F-4-13

D/E status held 6+ months

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality from a country designated by the Minister of Justice who have stayed in Korea for six months or more under a status from Culture a…

F-4-14

University graduate

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality from a designated country who hold a degree at associate level or above (graduates of a two-year or longer college), in Korea or a…

F-4-15

OECD permanent resident

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality from a designated country who hold permanent residence in an OECD member country.

F-4-16

Corporate representative

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality from a designated country who are a representative, registered officer or managerial employee of a corporate business.

F-4-17

Entrepreneur (USD 100k)

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality from a designated country who are sole proprietors with turnover of USD 100,000 or more in the previous year.

F-4-18

Multinational company

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality from a designated country who are executives or staff of a multinational company, media executives and journalists, lawyers, accou…

F-4-19

Korean-community leader

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality from a designated country who are the head or deputy head of an ethnic-Korean organisation, or of a cultural or arts organisation…

F-4-20

Public official

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality from a designated country who are current or former members of parliament, public officials with five years or more of service, or…

F-4-21

Teacher

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality from a designated country who are university professors (including associate professors and lecturers), or teachers at a middle, h…

F-4-25

Age 60 or over

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality from a designated country who are aged 60 or over.

F-1-15

Parent of a talent-visa holder

Parents of holders of talent, investor or student status, and of their spouses.

F-1-5

Marriage migrant's home family

Parents and siblings in the home country of a marriage migrant, or children born of the marriage migrant's previous marriage.

F-1-9

Spouse of overseas Korean

Spouses and minor children of persons who have obtained Overseas Korean (F-4) status.

F-2-2

Foreign child of a Korean

Minor foreign children of a Korean national, or children born of a marital relationship with a Korean national (including a de facto marital relationship).

F-1-13

Parent of a student

Parents of foreign students studying at an educational institution at high-school level or below.

F-1-3

Diplomat's household

Cohabitants of persons holding Diplomat (A-1), Government Official (A-2) or Agreement (A-3) status who are not members of that household.

F-2-3

Family of a permanent resident

Spouses and minor children of permanent residence holders.

F-3-1

Accompanying family

Spouses and unmarried minor children of persons holding a status from Culture and Arts (D-1) through Special Occupation (E-7). ※ Family members of persons holding Indus…

F-6-1

Spouse of a Korean

Foreigners whose marriage is validly established in Korea and who wish to stay in Korea to continue married life with their Korean spouse.

F-6-2

Raising a Korean child

Fathers or mothers who do not qualify as Spouse of a Korean National (F-6-1) but are raising, or intend to raise, in Korea a minor child born of a marital relationship…

F-1-21

Diplomat's domestic helper

Persons working as a domestic helper for a member of a foreign mission in Korea.

F-1-22

Domestic helper (high income)

Persons working as a domestic helper under a contract with a large-scale investor.

F-1-23

Domestic helper (tech sector)

Persons working as a domestic helper under a contract with an advanced-technology investor.

F-1-24

Domestic helper (professional)

Persons working as a domestic helper under a contract with a resident holding highly skilled professional status.

F-4-41

Overseas Korean

Persons who once held Korean nationality and have acquired the nationality of a country not on the list designated by the Minister of Justice.

F-4-42

Overseas Korean (descendant)

Persons one of whose parents or grandparents once held Korean nationality, and who have acquired the nationality of a country not on the list designated by the Minister…

G-1-10

Medical treatment

Foreign patients wishing to enter for treatment or recuperation at a Korean medical institution, and the spouse or other accompanying family and carers needed for their…

H-1

Working holiday

Nationals of countries that have a working-holiday agreement or MOU with Korea, whose main purpose is tourism and who wish to work short-term to cover travel costs.

H-2-1

Work & visit (relatives)

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality aged 25 or over under the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans, falling under one of the following: 1. Pers…

H-2-2

Work & visit (study)

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality aged 25 or over under the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans, who are the parents or spouse invited by a…

H-2-5

Work & visit (lottery)

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality aged 25 or over under the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans, who fall under one of the following: 1. Eth…

H-2-7

Work & visit (re-entry)

Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality aged 25 or over under the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans, who left Korea at the end of their Work and…