Guide
How Much Money You Need for a Korean Student Visa: Financial Proof, Explained
For a D-2 student visa, you generally need to show a bank balance of about KRW 20,000,000 (roughly USD 14,800) for universities in the Seoul area, or about KRW 16,000,000 for universities in the provinces. This is money you show, not money you hand over, and many consulates expect it to have sat in the account for a period before you apply. The exact figure and rules vary by consulate, so confirm yours.
Financial proof is the part of the D-2 application that surprises people. You are not paying a fee. You are proving that you can support yourself while you study, by showing a bank balance over a threshold, held in an acceptable account, for long enough that it does not look like borrowed money parked overnight. Here is what that means in practice.
- The headline number is about KRW 20,000,000 for Seoul-area universities, or about KRW 16,000,000 for provincial ones. Confirm the current figure with your consulate.
- It is money you show, not money you spend. It stays in your account. The visa officer just needs to see it.
- The holding period matters. Many consulates want the funds to have been in the account for a period (commonly cited as around a month) rather than deposited the day before. Verify your consulate's rule.
- A sponsor's account can count, usually a parent, but then you need proof of the relationship and a sponsor letter.
- GKS and many funded students are treated differently, because the scholarship covers living costs. Check what your funding body requires.
How much you actually need to show
The threshold tracks where your university is. Seoul and the metropolitan area cost more to live in, so the figure is higher.
| University location | Bank balance to show | Roughly in USD |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul metropolitan area | About KRW 20,000,000 | About USD 14,800 |
| Provinces (outside Seoul) | About KRW 16,000,000 | About USD 11,900 |
The USD figures move with the exchange rate, so treat them as a guide, not a target. What the consulate checks is the won figure (or its equivalent in a major currency). These thresholds are set by immigration and are revised from time to time, so the single most important thing you can do is confirm the current number for your specific consulate before you rely on it.
The holding period: why timing matters
A bank balance certificate showing the right number is not always enough. Consulates are checking that the money is genuinely available to you, not borrowed for a day to pass the check. So many of them want the funds to have been held in the account for a period before you apply, and they look at when the certificate was issued.
You will see a holding period of around a month commonly mentioned, but the exact requirement (how many days, and how recently the certificate must be dated) varies by consulate and is not universal. The safe approach is simple: get the money in place early, leave it there, and request the bank certificate close to when you submit.
How to prepare financial proof for a Korean D-2 visa
Confirm your consulate's exact requirement
Check your local Korean embassy or consulate and the HiKorea portal for the current threshold, the holding period, and how recent the bank certificate must be. These differ by location.
Decide whose account the funds sit in
Use your own account if you can. If you rely on a parent or sponsor, plan to provide proof of your relationship and a sponsor letter alongside their bank documents.
Get the money in place early
Deposit or consolidate the funds well before you apply, so the balance is seasoned and does not look like an overnight transfer. Leave it there until after the visa is issued.
Request the bank balance certificate
Ask your bank for an official balance certificate (not just a screenshot), dated close to your submission. Get it in English where possible, or arrange a certified translation.
Assemble the supporting documents
For a sponsor, add the relationship proof and sponsor letter. Keep everything consistent: names, amounts, and dates should match across documents.
Using a sponsor's money
Most applicants are funded by a parent, and consulates accept that. The catch is that you must connect the money to yourself with paperwork:
- Proof of relationship between you and the sponsor (a birth certificate or family relationship document, often apostilled or legalized; see the apostille guide).
- A sponsor letter in which the sponsor states they will cover your studies and living costs.
- The sponsor's bank balance certificate meeting the threshold.
If several people support you, or the money is spread across accounts, expect more scrutiny. Consolidating into one clear account before you apply makes the check simpler.
What counts as acceptable proof
- An official bank balance certificate from the bank, on letterhead or with the bank's stamp. A printed app screenshot is usually not accepted on its own.
- Funds in a normal, accessible account. Locked deposits or assets that cannot be drawn on may not count toward the liquid requirement. Confirm with your consulate.
- A major, convertible currency at the equivalent value, where the consulate allows currencies other than KRW.
If you are on a scholarship
If you hold the Global Korea Scholarship or another award that covers tuition and living costs, the financial proof requirement is usually handled differently, because your funding body is the proof. Do not assume, though: check exactly what your scholarship and your consulate require, since some still want a smaller balance or a scholarship certificate.
What to do next
- Read the full D-2 student visa guide for the complete document list and timeline.
- Budgeting the whole move? See the cost of studying in Korea.
- Studying the language first? The D-4 visa has its own, lower financial requirement.
- Confirm the current threshold and holding rule with your local Korean embassy and the official HiKorea portal.