D-2 · D-4 Eligibility
Based on 21 official sources.
[1]D-2/D-4/D-10/E-7/F-2/F-5 requirement check policy
Stay-status evaluation depends on current status, target status, activity purpose, school/employment/income, remaining stay period, and violation history. D-2 covers degree study, D-4 training/language programs, D-10 job seeking or startup preparation, E-7 professional/specific activities, F-2 residence, and F-5 permanent residence. If facts are missing, ask for current status, expiry date, school or employment conditions, and budget/financial proof before answering.
Source: 하이코리아 체류자격별 통합 안내 매뉴얼 · Checked 2026-07-02
[2]D-2 Visa Overview
D-2 is for degree-program international students (college, university, graduate school). Accredited universities (education internationalization capacity认证) get visa screening benefits. Non-accredited schools may be designated as strict visa review schools. In 2025, 16 degree programs are under strict visa review.
Source: Study in Korea · 한국유학종합시스템 · Checked 2026-07-01
[3]D-4 to D-2 transfer
After language program → degree program: change D-4 to D-2. Submit: admission letter, TOPIK 4+, school cert. Takes 2-4 weeks. Don't leave without travel permit.
Source: 법무부 출입국외국인정책본부 · Checked 2026-07-01
[4]D-4 Visa Overview
D-4 is for non-degree programs (Korean language institutes, exchange students, researchers). No TOPIK required. In 2025, 4 language programs are under strict review, with 1-year visa restriction from 2026 semester 2.
Source: Study in Korea · 교육부 · Checked 2026-07-01
[5]Korea Visa Portal visa-type list
The Korea Visa Portal visa-type list is operational guidance run by the Ministry of Justice. As checked on 2026-07-03, Study·Language Training includes D-2-1, D-2-2, D-2-3, D-2-4, D-2-5, D-2-6, D-4-1, D-4-3, and D-4-7; Professional includes D-10-1, D-10-2, and E-7-1. Legal stay-status conclusions must prioritize the Immigration Act, Enforcement Decree, and Enforcement Rule; the portal is used to confirm labels, categories, and application routes.
Source: Korea Visa Portal · Visa Types · Checked 2026-07-03
[6]Documents for changing to D-10-1 job-seeking status
Study in Korea's D-10-1 job-seeking guidance lists the core change-of-status packet as an application form, photo, passport copy, fee, alien registration card copy, job-seeking activity plan, degree certificate, and proof of residence. Korean-language proficiency or career certificates apply when relevant; financial proof is described as six months of living expenses at KRW 900,000 per month. A first change from Study (D-2) to Job-Seeking (D-10) is exempt from the financial-proof submission. Confirm the latest checklist through 1345 or the competent immigration office because additional documents can depend on the applicant's current status and subtype.
Source: Study in Korea · D-10-1 구직 체류자격 변경 · Checked 2026-07-14
[7]Legal basis for change-of-status permission
Immigration Act Article 24 requires a foreign national staying in Korea to obtain change-of-status permission in advance, as prescribed by Presidential Decree, before engaging in activities under a status different from the current one. A person who was in one of the Article 31(1) exempt categories and changes identity must obtain change permission within 30 days from that change. The review criteria are set by Ministry of Justice rules, so KARXY should check whether the new activity has started, whether the current activity stopped, whether domestic change is available for the target status, and the Enforcement Decree tables, Enforcement Rule attachments, and HiKorea guidance.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 제24조 · Checked 2026-07-02
[8]Visa types and certificate for confirmation of visa issuance
Immigration Act Article 8 distinguishes single-entry visas from multiple-entry visas and delegates visa issuance criteria and procedures to Ministry of Justice rules. Article 9 allows a certificate for confirmation of visa issuance to be issued before visa issuance when the Minister of Justice considers it necessary, based on the foreign national's application, and the person intending to invite that foreign national may apply on their behalf. For D-2/D-4 admissions, E-7 employment, E-8 seasonal work, F-6 invitations, or other sponsor-driven matters, KARXY should check whether a certificate route applies, whether the inviter can apply on behalf of the applicant, the overseas mission visa step, and Enforcement Rule attachments.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 제8조·제9조 · Checked 2026-07-02
[9]Short-term and long-term ordinary stay statuses
Article 10-2 divides ordinary stay status into short-term and long-term status. Short-term status covers tourism, visits, and similar purposes for, in principle, 90 days or less. Long-term status covers study, training, investment, assignment, marriage, and similar purposes for more than 90 days within the maximum stay period set by Ministry of Justice rules. KARXY should separate C-3 short-term questions from D-2, D-4, D-10, E-7, and F-2 long-term questions, then check the 90-day threshold, activity purpose, and applicable Enforcement Decree table.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 제10조의2 · Checked 2026-07-02
[10]Outside-status activity permission and student part-time work
Article 20 requires advance permission for activities outside status when a foreign national keeps the current status activity while also performing an activity belonging to another status. Student part-time work for D-2 or D-4-1 is therefore not just a yes/no question; KARXY should check current-status maintenance, school confirmation, work-hour and industry limits, and HiKorea permission or reporting availability. If the new activity becomes the primary activity, status change may be the correct route instead.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 제20조 · Checked 2026-07-02
[11]Long-term stay-status classifications under the Enforcement Decree
The Enforcement Decree table linked to Article 12 defines long-term stay statuses by eligible person or activity scope. D-2 covers degree study or specific research at higher-education or research institutions; D-4 covers training, education, or research under Ministry of Justice conditions; D-10 covers job seeking/training for E-series fields or startup preparation; E-7 covers activities specially designated by the Minister of Justice under contract. F-2 and F-5 require separate residence/permanent-residence criteria.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 시행령 · Checked 2026-07-02
[12]Foreign-student status management and reporting
Immigration Act Article 19-4 provides a management and reporting framework for schools that host foreign students. For D-2 and D-4 students, leave of absence, removal from the register, non-registration, training discontinuation, or disappearance can trigger both school reporting and stay-review risk. KARXY should check the student's academic status, whether the international office has been notified, the status-change date, student-information-system updates, and any additional requirements from the competent immigration office.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 제19조의4 · Checked 2026-07-02
[13]Entry inspection: passport, visa, purpose, and stay-period checks
Immigration Act Article 12 makes entry permission depend on inspection of passport and entry declaration, valid passport and required visa or electronic travel authorization, purpose matching the stay status, stay period under Ministry of Justice rules, and absence of entry-ban grounds. For C-3, K-ETA, D-2, or D-4 entry questions, KARXY should check actual purpose, status fit, return ticket, address, funding, entry-ban risk, and electronic arrival/K-ETA requirements rather than treating visa possession as enough.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 제12조 · Checked 2026-07-02
[14]Risk of status violation, unauthorized work, and false documents
A foreign national who works or acts outside the permitted stay status and activity scope can face a status-violation issue. Work requires a work-authorized status or separate permission, and D-2/D-4 student part-time work has its own permission/reporting conditions. False documents, false invitations, unauthorized work, and overstay can lead to deportation, entry bans, criminal penalties, or administrative fines depending on the case.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 · Checked 2026-07-02
[15]E-application and visit reservation process
HiKorea e-application follows a flow of selecting a petition, authentication, form completion, and result check during operating hours. Items include extension of stay for registered foreigners, change of stay status, and part-time work permission/reporting for D-2 and D-4-1 students. Immigration may request appearance or field checks, and leaving Korea before review completion without contacting the officer can close the review.
Source: 하이코리아 전자민원 · Checked 2026-07-02
[16]HiKorea integrated stay-status manual
HiKorea publishes an integrated manual by stay status for visa and residence petitions, covering applicant scope and required documents. The manual is updated when rules change, but publication can lag, so current case advice should be checked through 1345 or the competent immigration office. KARXY checks the Immigration Act, Enforcement Decree, and Enforcement Rule first, then uses this manual as operational document/procedure guidance.
Source: 하이코리아 체류자격별 통합 안내 매뉴얼 · Checked 2026-07-02
[17]Activities outside status and student part-time work
A foreign national who keeps the current stay status but also performs an activity under another status needs prior permission for activities outside status. HiKorea provides separate e-application items for part-time work permission/reporting for D-2 students and D-4-1 language trainees. If the activity becomes full-time or primary, review a new visa or status change instead. KARXY does not match jobs; it only flags permit requirements.
Source: 하이코리아 체류자격외활동 안내 · Checked 2026-07-02
[18]Core rule: stay status and permitted activity scope
Under the Immigration Act system, a foreign national must hold a stay status and act only within the permitted status and period. Codes like D-2, D-4, D-10, E-7, F-2, and F-5 are not mere labels; they define the starting point for permitted activities and stay management. Answers must first identify current status, target activity, expiry date, and registration status.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 · Checked 2026-07-02
[19]HiKorea status-change guidance
If the applicant stops the current status activity and begins an activity under another status, change-of-status permission is required. HiKorea states the default principle is to depart, obtain the appropriate visa, and re-enter; domestic change is limited and strictly reviewed when requirements can be met in Korea. Permission must be obtained before starting the new activity.
Source: 하이코리아 체류자격변경 안내 · Checked 2026-07-02
[20]Illegal employment risk
Unregistered job matching = up to 5yr prison or 50M KRW fine. D-2/D-4 part-time work needs S-3 permit. Without = illegal work → deportation. Platform provides no job matching.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · Checked 2026-07-01
[21]Financial proof
Financial proof via bank balance certificate (self or parents). D-2: 20,000+ USD, D-4: 13,000+ USD, held 1+ month. Some countries need 6 months. Fake certificates = deportation + entry ban. Platform refuses fake document requests.
Source: 법무부 비자 발급 안내 · Checked 2026-07-01
How these rules apply can differ with your circumstances, and the final decision rests with the immigration office with jurisdiction. Preparing and filing documents for an individual case is the work of a licensed administrative scrivener.