What is a VISA

A visa is a permission for the entry to a certain country, and there are various types of it for different purposes of the visit. It is important to obtain a visa that is suitable to the individual’s situation.

International students at KU must have visas that are suitable to the programs they are taking (ex. Degree-seeking, exchange program, or language class). Use of inappropriate visa (such as “temporary visit” visa) while studying at KU can lead to a severe penalty. This is the reason that all international freshmen are strongly asked to enter Korea after obtaining proper visa, like student visa (D-2), at the Korean embassy or consulate in their home countries.

Student visa (D-2) is the most general type of visa that permits the study at KU. F-type or E-type visa is acceptable as well for the legal stay and taking degree-seeking program in Korea.

Group Tourism (C-3-2), Medical Tourism (C-3-3), and General Tourism (C-3-9) visas CANNOT be changed to student visa (D-2) in Korea. Students entering Korea with such types of visa must make a departure as soon as possible, and obtain student visa (D-2) at the Korean embassy or consulate in their home countries.

Visa Types

  • Student visa (D-2) is for international students studying at a college or university in Korea. Students must apply for it unless they have other visas (F-type, E-type, or A-type) that allow to take academic program in Korea.

    An individual can apply for student visa (D-2) at Korean embassy or consulate in his/her residing country ahead of the arrival in Korea. GSC always strongly advises the international students to obtain student visa (D-2) in their homelands as soon as they receive the Certificate of Admission (CoA), one of the requirements for student visa (D-2) application, from International Admissions Team (for undergraduate) at KU.

    Student visa (D-2) itself is also divided into a number of specific types as in below.
    ● D-2-1: Associate Degree (college) *There is no associate degree program at KU
    ● D-2-2: Bachelor’s Degree (undergraduate)
    ● D-2-3: Master’s Degree
    ● D-2-4: Doctoral (Ph.D) / Masters & Ph.D Integrated Degree
    ● D-2-7: KGSP (Korean Government Scholarship Program) student (regardless of the degree)

    The applicants for student visa (D-2) must check carefully if they have obtained proper types of visa from the Korean embassy/consulate. If they receive wrong types of visa that are not suitable to their academic programs at KU, they must notify the embassy and correct the visas immediately.

    Transferees from other universities in Korea should also apply for new student visa (D-2) to start studying at KU, even though they are currently in Korea with student visa (D-2) issued while studying at the previous academic institutions, with enough valid period of stay written on the back of their Alien Registration Card (ARC). The transferees must leave Korea and obtain new student visa (D-2) from the Korean embassy or consulate in their home countries. They must submit the Certificate of Admission (CoA) given by KU during the application.
  • This visa is for the entry to Korea to learn Korean language at a university-affiliated language center. It enables the holders to take Korean language classes, not degree program. Click here for the information about KU Korean Language Center.

    Again, General Trainee visa (D-4) is not for regular degree-seeking (undergraduate or graduate) program. Freshman who has taken classes at a university language center in Korea with General Trainee visa (D-4) MUST change it to student visa (D-2) before the beginning of the semester (March/September). The student with General Trainee visa (D-4) should consult GSC after the admission, since he/she may be asked to leave Korea and obtain student visa (D-2) at the Korean embassy or consulate in his/her home country.
  • The C-3 visa, known as the Short-Term visa, is for a foreign visitor entering Korea to stay for a short period of time for tourism, transit, recuperation, or visiting relatives. It cannot be used for taking any academic program.

    Short-Term visa (C-3) has specific categories like student visa (D-2). If the student unintentionally enters Korea with Short-Term General (C-3-1) or Short Term Visitor (Overseas Korean) (C-3-8) visa, regardless of the expiry date of it , he/she needs to change it to student visa (D-2) as soon as possible upon the arrival in Korea before the beginning of the semester (March/September).

    *Group Tourism (C-3-2), Medical Tourism (C-3-3), and General Tourism (C-3-9) visas CANNOT be changed to student visa (D-2) in Korea. Student entering Korea with such types of visa must make a departure as soon as possible, and obtain student visa (D-2) at Korean embassy or consulate in his/her home country.
  • This visa is quite similar to Short-Term visa (C-3). However, it is given to a foreigner from a country that has settled the Visa Exemption Agreement with Korea. It is for a foreign visitor entering Korea to stay for a short period of time for tourism, transit, recuperation, or visiting relatives.

    However, same as Short-Term visa (C-3), the Temporary Visit/Transit (B-1/B-2) visa does not enable the holder to study at a university in Korea. Thus, if the student unintentionally enters Korea with the Temporary Visit/Transit visa (B-1/B-2), regardless of the expiry date of it, he/she needs to change it to student visa (D-2) as soon as possible upon the arrival in Korea before the beginning of the semester (March/September)
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