KOREA UNIVERSITY Global Services Center (2024)

All degree-seeking international students must obtain a student visa (D-2) before the beginning of the semester at Korea University. Other types of visa that permit international students to be enrolled in a degree-seeking program at a university in Korea (ex. F-type, E-type, A-type, etc.) are acceptable as well. However, short-term visas such as B-type or C-type visas are not acceptable as these visas do not allow foreigners to take academic programs at a university in Korea. Student visa (D-2) can be acquired at a Korean embassy or consulate in the applicant’s home country.

The application for student visa (D-2) requires a number of documents like the Certificate of Admission (CoA), which will be issued by the International Education Team at Korea University. Proof of Final Academic Credentials and Financial Statement (ex. bank account, scholarship, etc.) which serves as proof of student’s budget for expenses while staying in Korea are needed too. Keep in mind that these documents may take a long time to be issued, and additional requirements may be asked of you during the process. Hence, it is recommended that students contact the Korean embassy or consulate in their residing country well ahead of time, to ask for the documents needed for student visa (D-2) application, and prepare them in advance to get the visa on time.

After the application is approved, the Korean embassy or consulate will issue a D-2-2 (for undergraduate students) visa under the name of Korea University. If your visa is incorrectly issued (like D-2-1, D-2-3, etc.), please contact the embassy and correct your visa type.

For freshmen who may be already in Korea with a student visa (D-2) issued with the Certificate of Admission (CoA) from another university, it is mandatory for you to make a departure and apply for a new student visa (D-2) with the Certificate of Admission (CoA) issued from Korea University at the Korean embassy or consulate in your home country.

The general requirements for student visa (D-2) application are the following:

Required Documents

1. Application form (for visa)
2. Passport, and one copy of the passport ID page (the page with your photo)
3. Passport sized photo (3.5cm×4.5cm with white background; must be taken within the past 6 months)
4. Certificate of Admission (issued by International Education Team at Korea University)
5. Application fee 60 ~ 90 USD
6. ID card (personal ID in residing country)
7. Certificate of KU Business Registration (required for KU International Education Team individually if needed)
8. Invitation Letter from NIIED (National Institute for International Education of Korea) (if applicable)
9. Certificate of Completion for Korean language training (with the attendance rate during training period stated) (if applicable)
10. Tuberculosis Test Certificate (required to the students from 19 countries listed below ONLY):
    • Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Philippines, Laos, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam
    • If the applicant has never submitted it after 2016. 3. 2, it is mandatory for them to resubmit it
11. 2 Additional documents (required for the students from 21 countries listed below ONLY):
    • Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam
    ① Final Academic Credentials (choose one from the following)
    
    • Apostille / Confirmation from Korean embassy or consulate located in the country where applicant’s final education was complete / Documents from the ‘China Credentials Verification’ (for students who graduated from the institutions in China
    
    ② Financial Statement - 20,000 (USD) including tuition fee (with receipt), and scholarship (if applicable)
    
    • It is advised that students contact the Korean embassy or consulate in their home country before applying for the visa to check if there is any additional document required for the application.

All international students are strongly advised and instructed to obtain a student visa (D-2) at the Korean embassy or consulate in their home countries. However, if they are already in Korea without a student visa (D-2), they need to apply for the visa as soon as possible upon arrival. They must apply for a student visa (D-2) and an Alien Registration Card (ARC) together at once at Sejongno Immigration Office. The students must visit the immigration website (HiKorea) and make an online reservation for the visit to Sejongno Immigration Office. Late application after the beginning of the semester may lead to a fine, and it is extremely difficult to visit Sejongno Immigration Office after the classes start. Again, it is better to avoid entering Korea with a visa different from a student visa (D-2). The students must try to get a student visa (D-2) at a Korean consulate or embassy in their home countries.

*C-type visas, such as Group Tourism (C-3-2), Medical Tourism (C-3-3), General Tourism (C-3-9), and Industrial Training (D-3), Non-Professional Employment (E-9), Vessel Crew (E-10), or Miscellaneous (G-1) visas CANNOT Be changed to a student visa (D-2) after entering Korea. If the student is in Korea with one of the listed visas, he/she must leave Korea as soon as possible and apply for an appropriate visa in his/her home country.

Required Documents

1. Application form (downloadable at HiKorea)
2. Passport, and one copy of the passport ID page (the page with your photo)
3. Passport sized photo (3.5cm×4.5cm with white background; must be taken within the past 6 months)
4. Certificate of Admission (issued by International Education Team at Korea University)
5. Application fee 130,000 KRW (in cash)
6. Certificate of Enrollment (will be noticed via online by International Education Team during the tuition payment (registration) period)
   • It is stated as ‘Certificate of Registration & Payment’ when printed out
7. Proof of Residency
   • Living on-campus: ‘Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation’ from CJ I-House office with signature, and dormitory payment receipt
   • Living off-campus: Submit the copy of rental contract
   • If the contract is not under the applicant’s name, one is required to submit a copy of the accommodation provider’s ID card & ‘Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation’
8. Invitation Letter from NIIED (National Institute for International Education of Korea) (if applicable)
9. Certificate of Completion for Korean language training (with the attendance rate during training period stated) (if applicable)
10. Tuberculosis Test Certificate (required to the students from 19 countries listed below ONLY):
    • Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Philippines, Laos, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam
    • If the applicant has never submitted after 2016. 3. 2, it is mandatory to resubmit it
    • Visit Seongbuk-gu Community Health Center (성북구보건소) for issuance (bring passport)
11. 2 Additional documents (required for the students from 21 countries listed below ONLY):
    • Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam
    
    ① Final Academic Credentials (choose one from the following)
    • Apostille / Confirmation from Korean embassy or consulate located in the country where applicant’s final education was completed / Documents from the ‘China Credentials Verification’ (for students who graduated from the institutions in China
    
    ② Financial Statement - 20,000 (USD) including tuition fee (with receipt), and scholarship (if applicable)
    
    • It is advised that students contact the Korean embassy or consulate in their home country before applying for the visa to check if there is any additional document required for the application.