Post-Study Work & Staying in Korea After Graduation

The route: from a D-2 student visa to working in Korea

When you graduate from a Korean university, your D-2 student visa is tied to your studies, so it does not by itself let you stay on to work. Korea offers a well-defined path instead: many graduates first move to a D-10 job-seeking visa to look for work, and then switch to a work visa — most commonly the E-7 — once they have a qualifying job offer.

Each step is a change of visa status handled by the Korea Immigration Service, and each has its own conditions. Nothing here is automatic: you apply, submit documents, and wait for approval before you can rely on the new status.

This guide explains the shape of that journey so you can plan early. Treat every figure as something to confirm on the official Hi Korea and Study in Korea sites, because immigration rules and thresholds are updated from time to time.

The D-10 job-seeking visa

The D-10 is designed for graduates who want to stay in Korea to search for a job (or prepare a start-up) rather than leave and re-enter later. It gives you a legal period of stay while you interview and apply, without needing an employer to sponsor you first.

The D-10 uses a points-based assessment that considers factors such as your qualifications, and your Korean and English ability. First-time applicants who have just graduated from a Korean university are often given an initial period on more relaxed terms, but the exact points, criteria and stay length change — verify the current rules on Hi Korea before relying on any number.

Importantly, the D-10 is a job-seeking status, not a work permit: it lets you look for work and do limited job-related activities, but you generally cannot take up full employment until you move to the correct work visa.

• Your degree level and field of study
• Korean language ability (for example a TOPIK level) and English ability
• Other factors such as age and relevant experience — weightings are set officially and change

Getting a job: moving to a work visa (E-7 and others)

Once you receive a genuine job offer that matches your qualifications, you normally change from the D-10 to an employment visa. For graduate-level professional roles this is most often the E-7 (specific-activity) visa, which covers designated professional and skilled occupations.

Graduates of Korean universities may benefit from simpler conditions when moving into an E-7 role compared with applicants hired directly from overseas, but the occupation must be on the approved list and the employer and salary must meet the official requirements. Other visa types exist for specific fields — for example teaching, language instruction or research roles.

Because the occupation lists, salary conditions and company requirements are set by the government and updated periodically, confirm the exact requirements for your role on the official portals before accepting an offer.

• E-7 — designated professional and skilled occupations (the usual route for graduate-level jobs)
• E-1 / E-2 / E-3 — professor, foreign-language instructor and researcher roles
• Other categories exist for specific sectors — check which one fits your job

When and how to apply

Timing matters. After you complete your studies, a D-2 visa only remains valid for a short window, so plan to apply for your change of status well before it expires — starting several weeks ahead is sensible. Applying late can force you to leave the country and reapply from abroad.

Applications and appointments are handled through the HiKorea online portal and immigration offices. You will typically need your passport and residence card, your degree certificate and transcript, evidence of any language ability you are claiming, and proof that you can support yourself during the job search — but always check the current document list for your visa type.

There are fees, and processing takes time, so keep the rest of your paperwork (such as your residence registration) valid throughout. Confirm the exact steps, forms and fees on Hi Korea for your situation.

• Passport and Alien Registration Card
• Degree certificate and academic transcript
• Proof of Korean/English ability, where claimed
• Evidence of funds to support your stay while job-seeking

Plan ahead while you are still a student

The graduates who transition most smoothly usually start preparing long before their final semester. Building Korean-language ability (for example through TOPIK) widens the range of employers open to you, and many roles value it even at English-friendly companies.

Use official and university channels — campus career offices, government job fairs for international graduates, and the Study in Korea portal's employment section — rather than informal agents. Keep your visa status valid at every step, and never work beyond what your current status allows.

If your plans change, you can also consider graduate study or research routes, which keep you on a student status while you build experience and networks.

Important: this is general information, not immigration advice

Immigration rules, point thresholds, occupation lists and stay periods in Korea change over time and can differ by individual case. This guide is general information to help you plan — not immigration or legal advice.

Always confirm the current requirements for your exact situation on the official Korea Immigration Service (Hi Korea) and Study in Korea websites, or with the immigration office handling your case, before you apply or make decisions.

Be cautious of anyone promising a 'guaranteed' visa, job or fast-track for a fee. No agent can guarantee an immigration outcome; official decisions rest solely with the authorities.