Guide
The D-2 Student Visa for Korea: Requirements, Documents, and Timeline
Once a Korean university admits you, the D-2 visa is what lets you actually go. Here is the document checklist, the bank-balance rule, and the step-by-step timeline, in plain English.
The D-2 is Korea's student visa for degree-seeking students at a university: associate, bachelor's, master's, PhD, and research. If you are enrolling in a full degree program, this is the visa you need. You apply for it after a university admits you, at the Korean embassy or consulate in your home country.
- D-2 is for degree students. If you are only studying Korean at a language institute, that is a different visa, the D-4.
- The key document is the Certificate of Admission (COA) that your university issues after you accept and pay.
- Financial proof: typically about KRW 20,000,000 for Seoul-area universities, or KRW 16,000,000 for schools in the provinces, held in your name.
- Plan four to six weeks. Embassy processing is usually two to four weeks, but document prep and apostilles take longer.
- After you arrive, apply for your Alien Registration Card (ARC) within 90 days. You need it for almost everything.
D-2 vs D-4: which one do you need?
People mix these up constantly.
| D-2 | D-4 | |
|---|---|---|
| For | Degree programs (bachelor's, master's, PhD, research) | Korean language institute study |
| Issued on | Certificate of Admission to a degree program | Enrollment at a university language program |
| Use it if | You are doing a full degree | You are only studying Korean for now |
If you are a GKS scholar doing the language year before your degree, your university and NIIED will tell you which visa to use for each stage. If the language institute is your actual destination, the D-4 language visa guide covers that route end to end.
Required documents
The exact list varies a little by country and consulate, but the core set is consistent. Confirm against your local Korean embassy and the official HiKorea portal before you submit.
- Visa application form with a recent color photo (3.5 by 4.5 cm).
- Passport valid for at least six months, plus a clear photocopy.
- Certificate of Admission (COA) from your university.
- Proof of financial means: a bank balance certificate in your name (see the threshold below).
- Academic documents: diploma and transcripts, often apostilled or consular-legalized.
- Proof of language ability: a TOPIK score, or an English score (IELTS or TOEFL) for English-taught programs.
- Standard admission fee receipt or tuition payment proof, where required.
Financial proof, explained
This is the requirement that surprises people. You must show that you can support yourself, usually as a bank balance held in your own name for a set period before applying.
| University location | Bank balance to show | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul metropolitan area | About KRW 20,000,000 | About USD 14,800 |
| Provinces (outside Seoul) | About KRW 16,000,000 | About USD 11,900 |
This is money you show, not money you hand over. Requirements and the holding period vary by consulate, so confirm the exact figure and how many days it must be held with your local Korean embassy.
Step-by-step timeline
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1. Get admitted | A Korean university accepts you into a degree program |
| 2. Accept and pay | You confirm your place and pay any required fee or deposit |
| 3. Receive your COA | The university issues your Certificate of Admission |
| 4. Apply at the embassy | Submit your D-2 application and documents to the Korean embassy or consulate |
| 5. Processing | Usually two to four weeks |
| 6. Travel to Korea | Enter on your D-2 visa before the program start date |
| 7. Register (ARC) | Apply for your Alien Registration Card within 90 days of arrival |
After you arrive: the ARC
Within 90 days of landing you must apply for your Alien Registration Card (ARC) at your local immigration office. The ARC is your Korean ID. You need it to open a bank account, get a proper phone plan, sign a lease, and access many everyday services, so do not put it off. Your university's international office will usually walk new students through the process.
Common reasons D-2 applications stall
- Incomplete or unapostilled academic documents. The single most common holdup.
- Financial proof that is too low, too new, or in the wrong name. Hold the required balance for the full period, in your own account.
- A weak or generic study plan, especially given tighter recent scrutiny.
- Applying too late. Processing plus document prep can run well over a month. Start early.
What to do next
- If you are not admitted yet, run the KoreaAdmit quiz and browse the universities directory.
- Budgeting for the move? See the cost of studying in Korea, including the financial proof you must show.
- Going for full funding? Read the GKS guide.
- Confirm the exact, current requirements on the official HiKorea portal and your local Korean embassy.
- For the whole journey end to end, start with How to Study in Korea.