About Visa

A visa is a permission for entry into a certain country, and there are various types of visas depending on the purpose of the visit. It is important to obtain a visa that is appropriate for one's circumstances.

International students at KU must hold a visa that is appropriate for their program of study (e.g., degree-seeking or exchange program). Using an inappropriate visa type (such as a Temporary Visit Visa) while studying at KU may lead to serious consequences. For this reason, all international students are strongly advised to enter Korea only after obtaining an appropriate visa, from a Korean Embassy or Consulate in their home country.

The D-2 Student Visa is the most common visa type permitting study at KU. F-type or E-type visas may also be acceptible for legally residing in Korea and participating in a degree-seeking program.

Eligible Visas for studying in Korea

D-2, A-1~A-3, D-1, D-4-2, D-5~D-9, E-1~E-7, E-9, E-10, F-1~F-6, G-1-5, G-1-6, H-2, etc.

※ For more information on types of visas, please inquire to the Immigration Office or the Korean Overseas Mission in your country.

Short-term Visa Types Requiring Conversion to a D-2 Visa

After the application is approved, the Korean Embassy or Consulate will issue a D-2-2 visa (for undergraduates) under the name of Korea University. If your visa is issued incorrectly (e.g., D-2-1, D-2-3, etc.), please contact the embassy or consulate to have your visa type corrected.

For Freshmen

A student visa (D-2) must be obtained from a Korean Embassy or Consulate in the student's home country prior to entering Korea. Various documents, including the Certificate of Admission (CoA), are required for the D-2 visa application, and some of these documents may take a considerable amount of time to be issued. Therefore, students are advised to prepare the required documents in advance to obtain their visa on time. It is the student's responsibility to obtain a D-2 visa before the start of the semester.

* To receive the CoA, please follow the instructions provided by the Admission Team (International Education Team, admission@korea.ac.kr). The CoA is issued only during the designated period prior to the start of the semester.

Students who already hold a D-2 visa issued using a CoA from another university for the same degree program at KU may be require to leave Korea and apply for a new D-2 visa using the CoA issued by KU at a Korean Embassy or Consulate in their home country.

After the application is approved, the Korean Embassy or Consulate will issue a D-2-2 visa (for undergraduates) under the name of Korea University. If your visa is issued incorrectly (e.g., D-2-1, D-2-3, etc.), please contact the embassy or consulate to have your visa type corrected.

For Enrolled Students

If there is any chage in your academic status (e.g., Leave of Absence, Non-registration, Withdrawal, Dismissal, Completion, Graduation, Outbound Exchange/Visiting Program), your visa will be canceled effective from the date of the status chage, even if the visa itself has not yet expired. Therefore, you must obtain a new D-2 visa before returning to school.

* Student departing Korea for a Outbound Exchange/Visiting Program and re-entering Korea within 1 year:
The student may re-enter using the original visa, provided that the visa remains vaild at the time of re-entry, without obtaining a new visa. In this case, the student must not return there Alien Registration Card upon departure and must declare their intention to return to Korea. Please refer to notices from the GSC regarding this matter.

Students holding another type of visa but need to change their status to D-2 must also complete the procedures required by the Korean Overseas Mission or the Immigration Office.

A student visa (D-2) must be obtained from a Korean Embassy or Consulate in the student's home country prior to entering Korea. Various documents, including the Certificate of Admission (CoA), are required for the D-2 visa application, and some of these documents may take a considerable amount of time to be issued. Therefore, students are advised to prepare the required documents in advance to obtain their visa on time. It is the student's responsibility to obtain a D-2 visa before the start of the semester.

* To receive the CoA, please follow the instructions provided by the Global Services Center (GSC, gsc@korea.ac.kr). The CoA is issued only during the designated period prior to the start of the semester.

The following individuals are eligible to receive the CoA during the semester:

• International students who returning from a leave of absence
• International students who are maintaining active enrollment status while taking online courses for a degree program from overseas (excluding those who have completed their program requirements)
• Students currently enrolled in a degree program who hold a visa type that permits study in Korea but are no longer able to maintain their current visa status.
  e.g., Students studying under an F-3 visa who have reached adulthood, or students holding an E-7 visa whose employment contract has expired, etc.
• Students who entered Korea with a single-entry visa, applied for an Alien Registration Card (ARC), but departed Korea before receiving the ARC and later re-entered under a visa waiver or similar status.

After the application is approved, the Korean Embassy or Consulate will issue a D-2-2 visa (for undergraduates) under the name of Korea University. If your visa is issued incorrectly (e.g., D-2-1, D-2-3, etc.), please contact the embassy or consulate to have your visa type corrected.

Required Documents for Alien Registration Card (ARC) application for Freshmen / Enrolled Students

The ARC is a personal identification card for foreigners that allows them to stay legally in Korea. Once international students arrive in Korea with a D-2 visa, they must apply for a ARC at the Sejongno Immigration Office before the start of the semester.

All international students at KU must visit the Sejongno Immigration Office for visa and immigration-related matters, regardless of their place of residence. The designated Immigration Office is determined by the student's home institution, not by their place of residence.

Important Notices

a.) Complete Alien Registration within 90 days of your arrival
* Failure to complete Alien Registration within the required period may result in a fine.

b.) Do not leave Korea before completing your Alien Registration.
* Re-entry into Korea or reissuance of a D-2 visa will not be possible before completing Alien Registration.

Required Documents

1) Application Form
* Attach a passport sized photo (35 x 45 mm).

2) Passport
* Submit your passport along with one copy of the passport ID page (the page containing your photo) and the D-2 visa page.

3) Proof of Residency

* On-campus residents: Submit the 'Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation' issued by the CJ I-House Office with signature, along with the payment receipt

4) Application Fee: KRW 35,000 (cash only)
* Fee increased effective January 1, 2025

5) Certificate of Registration or Certificate of Tuition Payment
* When printed, it appears as 'Certificate of Registration & Payment'
* If applying for an ARC after the semester begins, please submit a Certificate of Enrollment instead.

※ Do not forget to complete fingerprint registration before leaving the Immigration Office.

For detailed and updated information, please refer to notices from the GSC via email, the GSC website, or KUPID.

Mandatory requirements before&after arrival (D-2 holders):

• Students MUST Complete the Requirements Requested by the GSC

• Obligation to Report Changes in Residence and Alien Registration Information

  1) Changes in Residence
  - KU Anam Dormitory Residents: Submit the 'Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation' signed by the dormitory office, along with the dormitory payment receipt
  - Other Residents: Submit a copy of the housing contract.

  ※ If the contract is not under your name, you must also submit a 'Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation' signed by the contract holder, along with a copy of the contract holder's ID.
  

  * Report changes either to the Immigration Office or to the local Community Service Center near your residence.

  2) Changes in Alien Registration Information
  Report the following changes to the Immigration Office:
  - Changes in passport information: Name, Gender, Date of Birth, Nationality, Passport No., Passport Issue Date, Passport Expiration Date
  - Changes in school name

Mandatory Requirements Before Departure (For D-2 Visa Holders)

If your academic status changes in a way that ends your studies in Korea(e.g., Leave of Absence, Non-registration, Withdrawl, Dismissal, Completion, Graduation, or Participation in an Exchange/Visiting Program), your visa will become invalid regardless of the expiration date stated on the back of your ARC.

Therefore, you MUST leave Korea within 15 days of the status change.