D-2 to D-10: How to Switch to Korea's Job Seeker Visa…

Graduation is close. So is your visa date.

You’ve handed in the final paper or sat the last exam. Then you check your ARC (Alien Registration Card) and see the D-2 expiry date. You want to stay in Korea and look for a job. But which form, which office, and which deadline actually matter? This guide covers the D-2 to D-10 switch using rules published by the Korea Immigration Service and HiKorea.

One quick warning first. Any part-time work permission you held as a student is tied to your D-2 status. Don’t assume it carries over. D-2 part-time work Korea

Why does your D-2 stop working once you graduate?

Your D-2 (Student) visa exists for one activity: study. When your degree ends, that purpose ends too. To stay and job hunt legally, you file a change of status application from D-2 to D-10 (Job Seeking) at immigration. File it while your D-2 is still valid. If you wait past the expiry date, a routine filing becomes an overstay case.

The Korean term for this filing is cheryu jagyeok byeongyeong, or change of status of sojourn. It’s a different procedure from an extension. An extension keeps you in the same status for longer. A change moves you into a new status with new rules.

The legal basis is the Immigration Act. You can read the official English translation on MOLEG, the Ministry of Government Legislation’s law portal. Article 24 sets the core rule:

Immigration Act, Article 24 (summary): A foreigner staying in Korea who wants to stop the activities of their current status and start activities under another status must first obtain permission for the change of status from the Minister of Justice.

Notice the word first. You get permission, then you change activities.

Many graduates see months left on their ARC and relax. That’s risky. Universities that host international students have reporting duties under the Immigration Act. Your school’s records will show you’ve graduated. The safest move is to file while your D-2 is still valid, ideally soon after you receive your graduation documents.

Here’s the catch. Filing isn’t the same as qualifying. Next, who the D-10 is actually built for.

Who actually qualifies for the job seeker visa?

The D-10 has subtypes. D-10-1 (General Job Seeking) is for people hunting for professional jobs that lead to most E-1 to E-7 statuses. D-10-2 (Technology Startup Preparation) is for graduates preparing a tech or patent-based startup. Most new graduates apply for D-10-1. A Korean degree is your strongest asset, but you still need to meet the published criteria.

Job seeker visa eligibility comes down to three questions. What degree do you hold? What kind of job are you looking for? Can you support yourself while you search?

The degree. Graduates of Korean universities with an associate degree or higher are the core D-10-1 group. People with foreign degrees can apply too. Their path usually leans more heavily on the points test and on extra proof of their background.

The job target. D-10-1 is for professional work. Think research, engineering, IT, business specialist roles, and other jobs that would later fit an E-7 (Special Occupation) or similar status. It is not meant for general labor or simple service jobs. If your plan is unclear, your application looks weak.

The startup route. D-10-2 is a separate track. It’s aimed at graduates building a technology startup, often through the OASIS program (Overall Assistance for Startup Immigration System) backed by the Ministry of Justice. The usual goal is a later switch to D-8-4 (Technology Startup). If that’s you, read the startup criteria separately. The rest of this guide focuses on D-10-1.

Is the D-10 a right you earn by graduating? No. It’s permission an officer grants. Immigration officers have discretion. Meeting the checklist improves your odds. It doesn’t guarantee a result.

But it gets more specific. For D-10-1, your eligibility is scored.

Where do most D-10-1 applications stall? The points test

D-10-1 uses a points system. HiKorea’s published criteria require at least 60 points, drawn from basic items such as age, education, and Korean language ability, plus bonus items. A Korean degree scores well on its own. TOPIK or KIIP results add more. Tables are revised from time to time, so check the current version on HiKorea before you count.

The D-10 points system requirements split into two parts.

• Basic items. These usually cover age, highest degree, and Korean language level. Younger applicants with higher degrees score more.
• Bonus items. These reward things like a Korean university degree, TOPIK level, Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) completion, relevant work experience, and degrees from highly ranked universities.

Korean ability is often where graduates leave points on the table. A TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) certificate is the most common proof. Completing stages of KIIP, the Ministry of Justice’s integration program, is another option. Never took TOPIK, or has your result expired? Check the next test date early. Results take weeks to arrive.

Some groups of Korean university graduates have had parts of the scoring relaxed in past immigration manuals. Rules like this change. Before you assume you’re exempt, call the 1345 Immigration Contact Center or ask your office which track applies to you.

Two practical tips. First, score yourself using the official table and aim to clear 60 with a margin, not by a single point. Second, bring the original certificate for every point you claim. A point you can’t prove counts as zero.

You know your score. Now comes the part that sends people back for a second appointment: the paperwork.

What goes in your document folder?

For a D-2 to D-10 change, expect to submit the integrated application form, passport, ARC, a photo, your diploma or graduation certificate, a job-search activity plan, proof of funds, proof of your address, and the fee. Some offices also want transcripts or a points sheet. A missing paper usually means a return visit, not a denial.

Here are the required documents for D-10 that most applicants prepare. Your local office can add items, so treat this as a baseline.

1. Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34), available on HiKorea and at every immigration office.
2. Passport and ARC. Bring the originals.
3. One color photo, 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm, taken within the last 6 months.
4. Proof of graduation. A diploma or a certificate of graduation (joreop jeungmyeongseo) from your university.
5. Job-search activity plan. A short plan naming the roles, industries, and companies you’ll target.
6. Proof of funds. Usually a bank balance certificate in your name showing you can cover living costs during your search.
7. Proof of residence. A lease contract, dormitory certificate, or housing confirmation form.
8. Points evidence. TOPIK certificate, KIIP certificate, and anything else you scored on.
9. The fee. A change of status costs 100,000 won under the current fee schedule.

Foreign-issued documents, such as an overseas degree, may need an apostille or consular confirmation plus a Korean translation.

Here’s what actually happens to many graduates. They lose dorm housing the week they graduate. Then they have no valid address proof on filing day. Lock in your next room before you book your appointment.

Your activity plan matters more than its length suggests. A vague line about looking for work in Korea gives the officer nothing to assess. Name sectors, job titles, and a few target employers. Then start keeping proof of every application from day one. You’ll need it later. D-10 job search proof

Folder ready? Next, the actual filing.

How does the change of status application work, step by step?

Book a visit on HiKorea, gather your documents, and go to the immigration office that covers your registered address. Submit everything, pay the fee, and wait for the result by text message or the online status check. If approved, you receive a new ARC showing D-10. Some applicants can file through HiKorea e-application instead, depending on current service scope.

The change of status application follows the same basic route at most offices.

1. Check your dates. Note your D-2 expiry on your ARC. Count back at least a month and start there.
2. Book an appointment. Use the online reservation menu on HiKorea. Korean universities graduate students mainly in February and August, so slots fill fast around those months.
3. Check e-application. HiKorea offers online filing for some procedures. If yours is covered, you may skip the visit.
4. Gather supporting records. A certificate of foreigner registration facts can often be issued online through Government24.
5. Visit the right office. Your jurisdiction depends on your registered address, not your school.
6. Submit and pay. The officer checks your file and may ask about your job plan.
7. Track the result. Check the status online on HiKorea. Approval leads to a new ARC.

Need help in your language? The 1345 Immigration Contact Center answers calls in multiple languages, including English.

One more thing changes with your status. Health insurance. Foreign residents in Korea are covered by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Student premium discounts are linked to student status. Once you’re on D-10, expect your premium to be calculated as a regional subscriber without the student reduction. Check your next bill so a higher amount doesn’t surprise you.

Approval isn’t the finish line, though. The D-10 has its own clock.

How long can you stay on D-10, and what happens at extension time?

D-10-1 is usually granted for up to 6 months at a time. You can extend, with a total stay cap of 2 years under standard rules. Each extension asks for proof that you’ve actively job hunted. Once you land a qualifying job, you switch again, usually to E-7, before you start working.

Here’s how the D-10 stay period and extension rules play out in practice.

Each grant is short. Six months goes fast. Mark your expiry date on day one. Set a reminder for two months before it.

Extensions need evidence. An extension of stay costs 60,000 won under the current fee schedule. More important is what you bring: application confirmations, interview invitations, job fair records, or university career center visits. Officers want to see real activity, not a fresh plan.

There’s a ceiling. Total time on D-10-1 is generally capped at 2 years. Some applicants receive less, depending on their record. Don’t plan your life around the maximum.

Work is restricted. D-10 is a job-seeking status, not a work status. Internships or part-time work need prior permission for activities outside your status under Article 20 of the Immigration Act. Working without it can lead to fines. It can also hurt your next application.

When an employer offers you a qualifying professional role, you apply for another change of status, most often to E-7. The employer usually prepares part of that file, including the contract and company documents. D-10 to E-7 status change

Your D-2 to D-10 action list

• Write down your D-2 expiry date today.
• Score yourself on the official D-10-1 table and close any gap with TOPIK or KIIP.
• Secure housing that gives you a valid address document.
• Book your HiKorea appointment early, especially if you graduate in February or August.
• Start a job-search log now. Your first extension depends on it.

Get these five done, and filing day becomes a formality instead of a scramble.