Changing Your Visa Status to a Student Visa in South Korea

If you’re an international student residing in South Korea and want to switch your visa to a student visa (D2), you can do so without having to leave the country. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of changing your residency status, focusing on the D2 student visa and the D4 language training visa, detailing the application procedures and necessary documentation.

Table of Contents

1. How to Apply for a D2 Student Visa Change

To change your status to a D2 student visa, you must currently be living in South Korea legally. If you hold a short-term stay visa (C-series), you won’t be eligible for a change, though there are some exceptions. However, if you hold a long-term status in certain categories, you will not be able to change your status either. This includes individuals on a D3 technical training visa, E9 non-professional employment visa, E10 seafarer visa, and G1 humanitarian visa.

To apply for a status change, you will need to submit the following documents:

Application form
Passport and recent photo
Application fee
Copy of the educational institution’s business registration
Standard admission letter
Tuberculosis test certificate
Family relations certificate
Proof of your highest level of education

Additionally, if you are an international student from China, you must provide a degree verification report from the Chinese Ministry of Education.

2. Proof of Financial Capability

International students must demonstrate that they can cover at least one year’s worth of tuition and living expenses. If you are a Vietnamese student, you’ll need to submit a separate proof of your deposit.

3. Special Cases: Research Programs and Exchange Students

For those in specific research programs (D2-5) or exchange programs (D2-6), additional documents are required. Research students need documentation proving their enrollment in the program, while exchange students must submit a recommendation letter from their home institution along with proof of their exchange status.

For a detailed guide on applying for a D2 student visa, click here.

4. How to Change to a D4 Language Training Visa

The D4 visa is intended for students enrolled in language training programs. To switch to a D4 visa, you need to have completed at least high school and submit documents similar to those required for a D2 visa. The following documents are required for this process:

Application form
Passport and recent photo
Copy of the educational institution’s business registration
Standard admission letter
Proof of your highest level of education
Financial capability documentation
Language study plan (including class schedule and facility information)

For details on applying for a D4 language training visa, click here.

5. Additional Considerations for Students from High-Risk Countries

Students coming from certain high-risk countries may need to provide additional documentation proving the necessity of their language training. In such cases, you may need to justify the importance of the language course.

This article has summarized the application process for changing your residency status as an international student in South Korea. Before applying, it’s advisable to check for the latest information from official immigration agencies.