Guide
The D-2-6 Exchange Student Visa: Requirements and How to Apply
If your home university nominated you for exchange in Korea, D-2-6 is your visa. It is one of the simpler Korean student visas to get, because your two universities have already done the hard part: the agreement between them is the core of your application.
Korea's D-2 student visa is split into subtypes by purpose: degree levels have their own codes, D-2-6 is the exchange student subtype, and D-2-8 covers self-funded visiting students. Korean consulate pages define the D-2-6 holder as "an exchange student who plans to study for a required course/curriculum in accordance with an agreement of exchange program between corresponding universities." That agreement is what separates it from every other student visa: you qualify because your universities are partners, not because of your own finances or a degree admission.
- D-2-6 is only for nominated partner-exchange students. Fee-paying visiting students use D-2-8 instead.
- Generally issued single-entry, with your permitted stay matching the Certificate of Admission, up to a 24-month ceiling (many consulates issue for the exchange period, often 6 to 12 months).
- Register within 90 days of arrival. Every semester-length stay crosses the 90-day line, and the residence card then lets you re-enter Korea without a new visa (for absences under a year).
- The document list is short: Certificate of Admission from the host, the inter-university agreement, proof of enrollment at home, passport, photo, and a fee that varies by nationality.
- Apply before you travel. University visa offices warn that arriving visa-free or on a tourist visa and trying to switch in Korea is a plan that fails.
What the visa gives you
- Duration: your stay is issued to match the Certificate of Admission from your Korean host, up to a stated maximum of 24 months on the consulate pages. One- and two-semester exchanges get one- and two-semester stays.
- Entries: typically single entry at issuance. After you arrive and receive your residence card, registered foreigners re-entering within one year of departure generally do not need a separate re-entry permit, which is what makes the stay effectively multi-entry for holiday trips home.
- Work: exchange students fall under the standard D-2 part-time permission system, which has its own conditions and paperwork; for a single-semester stay, do not build your budget on work income. See part-time work on a D-2.
The documents
Exact checklists vary by embassy and consulate, so treat your local mission's list as final. The core set that appears on consulate pages:
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Visa application form + photo | Standard form, one passport photo |
| Passport | With comfortable validity beyond your exchange |
| Certificate of Admission | Issued by the host university's president or dean; your acceptance package includes it |
| Inter-university exchange agreement | A copy of the agreement or memorandum between your two universities |
| Proof of enrollment at your home university | Some consulates ask for a recent letter verifying student status and program participation |
| Host university's business registration certificate | Listed on several consulate checklists; the host provides it |
| TB screening certificate | Only for nationals of designated countries applying for long-term stays; check your consulate |
| Visa fee | Varies by nationality (USD 45 at the Los Angeles consulate, as one example) |
Note what is largely absent: the heavyweight financial-proof and education-document burden of a degree D-2. Some consulates ask exchange applicants for an enrollment letter where degree applicants would submit diplomas, and financial requirements are lighter or handled through the host's paperwork. Rules differ by mission, so if your consulate does ask for financial proof, the general mechanics in that guide apply.
How to apply
Applying for the D-2-6 exchange student visa
Receive your acceptance package
After the host university confirms your nomination and application, it sends an acceptance package including the Certificate of Admission, the document your visa application is built on.
Check your consulate's checklist
Find the Korean embassy or consulate that serves your region and read its D-2-6 checklist. Document lists and fees vary by mission, and the local list is the only one that counts.
Apply within the certificate window
University visa guidance notes roughly a three-month window from the date on the Certificate of Admission to apply. Book your appointment or submission as soon as the package arrives.
Collect the visa and fly
Processing time varies by mission and season. Do not book non-refundable flights until the visa is in your passport, and do not enter Korea visa-free planning to convert later.
Register within 90 days of arrival
Apply for your residence card at the local immigration office within 90 days. Your host's international office will point you to the right office and required documents.
After you land: registration and insurance
Two obligations arrive with you:
- Residence card within 90 days. Every semester-length exchange exceeds 90 days, so registration is not optional. The process and documents are covered in the residence card guide.
- National health insurance. Since March 2021, international students on D-2 visas are enrolled in NHIS from their registration date, at a reduced student premium (SNU's guidance puts it around 40,000 KRW per month). Universities commonly advise buying private travel medical insurance to cover the gap between arrival and registration. Details in the health insurance guide.
D-2-6 vs D-2-8, since you will see both
| D-2-6 (exchange) | D-2-8 (visiting) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Nominated students under an inter-university agreement | Self-funded students enrolled at an overseas university |
| Maximum stay | Up to 24 months | Up to 12 months |
| Basis of application | The exchange agreement + Certificate of Admission | Certificate of Admission + own funding |
| Part-time work | Standard D-2 permission rules apply | May not be permitted; consulate guidance says no part-time work |
| Label caveat | Consistent across missions | Called Visiting Student on some consulate pages, Short-term Study on others |
If you are a fee-paying visiting student, the D-2-8 process mirrors the steps above with your own enrollment and funding documents in place of the agreement. The program-level differences between the two paths are in exchange vs visiting student.