Korea Visa Type Comparison: What D, E, and F Codes Really…

Your visa code is more than a label.

You arrived with a university offer, a job contract, or a marriage certificate. Then the real questions started. Can you work part-time? Can you change jobs? What happens the day after graduation? Most foreigners only learn what their visa doesn’t allow when an employer, a bank teller, or an immigration officer tells them. This guide compares the main long-term stay visa types side by side. You’ll see what each code allows, what it blocks, and where it can lead next.

Short-term vs long-term visa: why 90 days changes everything

Korea draws its main line at 90 days. Short-term statuses such as C-3 (short-term visit) cover tourism, meetings, and family visits, and they don’t allow paid work. Anything longer falls under the D, E, F, or H series. Those long-term statuses come with a legal duty: register for an Alien Registration Card (ARC) within 90 days of entry.

Think of the short-term side as visiting. Think of the long-term side as living. A C-3 holder is a guest. Guests can attend a conference, see relatives, or travel. They can’t take a salary from a Korean employer.

Long-term holders are treated as residents by the Korea Immigration Service. That brings rights, such as joining the National Health Insurance Service. It also brings paperwork. The Immigration Act states the registration duty directly:

“A foreigner who intends to stay in the Republic of Korea for a period exceeding 90 days from the date of his/her entry shall register as a foreigner with the head of the competent office.”

Immigration Act, Article 31, English text published through the Ministry of Government Legislation.

Once you register, you get the ARC, called oegugin deungnokjeung in Korean. You’ll need it for a phone plan, a bank account, and most online government services. ARC application Korea

Here’s the catch. Moving from a short-term status to a long-term one inside Korea is usually not allowed. Say you entered as a tourist and then got a job offer. The standard route is to leave Korea and apply for the right visa at a Korean embassy or consulate. Narrow exceptions exist. Don’t build your plans around them.

So which long-term code do you actually need? One letter decides most of it.

What do the D, E, and F letters really tell you?

The first letter shows your purpose. D-series visas cover study, training, investment, and job seeking. E-series visas cover employment tied to a specific job and usually a specific employer. F-series visas cover residence based on family, heritage, or long-term settlement. H-series visas cover working holidays and the Work and Visit program. The letter predicts your freedom to work.

A simple rule of thumb helps here.

• D series, purpose-bound: You’re in Korea to do one thing, such as study (D-2), language training (D-4), or job hunting (D-10). Work is either banned or needs separate permission.
• E series, job-bound: Your status is linked to a type of work. E-7 (specially designated activities) covers professionals. E-9 (non-professional employment) covers workers hired through the Employment Permit System.
• F series, person-bound: Your status rests on who you are. F-6 is for spouses of Korean citizens. F-4 is for overseas Koreans. F-2 covers long-term residents. F-5 is permanent residence.
• H series, program-bound: H-1 is the working holiday visa. H-2 (Work and Visit) is for ethnic Koreans from China and several former Soviet states.

Notice the pattern? Freedom grows as you move from D to E to F. A D-2 student needs permission for a weekend café shift. An F-5 resident can take almost any legal job without asking anyone.

That’s why so many foreigners plan a path, not just a visa. The most common path starts with a student visa. And that’s where the first confusion hits.

D-2 vs D-4 vs E-7 differences that trip people up

D-2 is for degree students at Korean universities. D-4 covers general trainees, most often students at university language institutes. E-7 is a professional work visa sponsored by an employer. Both student visas allow part-time work only with prior permission, and D-4 language students usually wait 6 months first. E-7 holders work full-time, but only in the approved role.

Here’s how the three compare on the points people ask about most.

The part-time permission trap

Many students assume enrollment equals permission to work. It doesn’t. Under Immigration Act Article 20, any activity outside your status needs approval first. Your university’s international office usually confirms the job. The application then goes through HiKorea or your immigration office. Weekly hour caps depend on your degree level and, for many students, your TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) score. D-2 part-time work permit

Why E-7 is harder than it looks

E-7 isn’t one visa. It’s a family of approved occupations, each with its own sub-code. Typical E-7 conditions include:

1. A job that appears on the approved occupation list.
2. A relevant bachelor’s degree plus 1 year of experience, a relevant master’s degree, or 5 years of experience in the field.
3. A salary that meets a floor tied to Korea’s gross national income (GNI) per capita. For most professional categories, that floor is 80% of the previous year’s figure.
4. An employer that passes checks on business size, tax records, and the ratio of foreign to Korean staff.

Graduates of Korean universities often get relief on the experience rule. That’s one reason the student route is so popular.

Where D-10 fits

D-10 is the bridge. Graduates can switch from D-2 to D-10 to look for work after their degree. Each grant is limited, and there’s a total cap on time spent job seeking. Regular employment isn’t allowed on D-10. Once you land a qualifying offer, you apply to change to E-7.

But what if you want a status that isn’t tied to an employer at all?

Why people think F-series visas are out of reach

F-series statuses look exclusive, but several have clear entry points. F-6 is for spouses of Korean citizens. F-4 is for overseas Koreans and their descendants. F-2-7 is points-based and requires at least 80 points on the Ministry of Justice table. Each offers much broader work rights than D or E visas, and none needs a sponsoring employer.

The myth comes from F-5, permanent residence. F-5 does take years and solid paperwork. But F-5 is the end of the road. It isn’t the only door.

F-6: marriage migrants

F-6 holders can work in most jobs without a separate permit. Extensions depend on the marriage being genuine and ongoing. Many F-6 holders later apply for F-5 after 2 years of residence in Korea, subject to income and Korean-language conditions.

F-4: overseas Koreans

F-4 covers former Korean nationals and their descendants who meet the eligibility rules. It allows a wide range of work. Some simple-labor jobs remain restricted. Check the current list before you accept a role.

F-2: long-term residence

F-2 has many sub-types. The best known is F-2-7, the points-based status for skilled professionals. Points come from age, education, Korean ability, income, and other factors. Completing the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) earns points and can shorten the road to F-5 later.

F-5: permanent residence

F-5 holders don’t apply for stay extensions like other residents. You still renew the physical card every 10 years. Work rights are close to those of a Korean citizen.

Here’s what actually happens to many applicants. They don’t fail for lack of qualifications. They fail, or get delayed, because of how they apply.

Visa status change procedure: the step where most applicants slip

A status change is a formal permission under Immigration Act Article 24. You apply before your current stay expires, usually by booking a visit on HiKorea or filing online when your case allows it. The government fee is KRW 100,000. The most common mistake is starting the new activity, such as a new job, before approval arrives. Approval is never automatic.

The process follows the same basic steps for most codes.

1. Confirm eligibility. Check the status guide on HiKorea, or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345. It offers help in many languages.
2. Collect documents. Most applications need your passport, ARC, the integrated application form, one photo, and proof for the new status. For E-7, expect an employment contract, degree certificates, and the employer’s business documents.
3. Book or file. Reserve a visit at the immigration office that covers your registered address. Or file through HiKorea’s e-application if your case qualifies.
4. Pay the fee. A status change costs KRW 100,000. A simple stay extension costs KRW 60,000.
5. Wait, and keep following your old rules. Until the new status is granted, your current status still applies.

It gets worse if you skip step 5. Working outside your status breaks Immigration Act Article 18. Penalties can include fines, refused extensions, or an order to leave Korea. Employers who hire you without the right status face penalties too.

Timing matters as well. Busy offices can be booked out for weeks. Don’t wait until the final week before expiry. Some general civil services, like address records, run through Government24, but status decisions always go through immigration.

One question remains. Which code should you aim for in the first place?

Visa eligibility conditions: which long-term stay visa fits you?

Start with your purpose, not the visa you’d like. Studying for a degree points to D-2. Language school points to D-4. Job hunting after graduation points to D-10. A professional job offer points to E-7. Marriage to a Korean citizen points to F-6. Korean heritage points to F-4. Strong points and settled income may point to F-2-7.

Use this quick match to place yourself.

• You’re a student now: D-2 or D-4. Plan for D-10 or E-7 before graduation.
• You have a job offer: E-7 if the role is on the approved list. E-9 if you came through the Employment Permit System.
• You’re married to a Korean: F-6 now, with F-5 as a later goal.
• You have Korean ancestry: F-4, or H-2 if you’re from an eligible country.
• You’ve lived and worked here for years: Check your F-2-7 score. F-2-7 points visa calculation

A few final checks before you file:

• Read the expiry date on your ARC, not the old visa sticker in your passport.
• Ask your sponsor, school or employer, exactly which documents they’ll supply.
• Start early if your degree needs an apostille or consular confirmation.
• Keep copies of every page you submit.

Remember that immigration officers have discretion. Meeting the listed conditions makes approval likely. It doesn’t guarantee it.

Your next move is simple. Find your ARC, check the date, and match your code to the paths above. If your path needs a status change, book the visit this week. Call 1345 if any requirement is unclear.