Ministry of Justice Korea Visa Types and Eligibility,…

Who runs Korea’s visa system, and why does the Ministry of Justice matter?

Korea’s visa system is supervised by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), which sets immigration policy under the Immigration Control Act. The day-to-day work, including visa issuance, extensions, and Alien Registration Cards (ARC), is handled by the Korea Immigration Service (KIS), an agency under MOJ. Foreign residents file most applications through HiKorea, the official online portal.

The MOJ does not handle every step alone. It coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which issues visas at Korean embassies overseas, and with the Ministry of Employment and Labor for work permits. For foreigners already inside Korea, however, KIS offices are the main contact point. HiKorea appointment guide

Why this structure matters

Knowing which agency owns which step saves time. Visa issuance abroad goes through embassies. Extensions, status changes, and re-entry permits go through KIS in Korea. The MOJ publishes the rulebook; KIS applies it; HiKorea is the digital front door.

“The Korea Immigration Service is responsible for the entry and stay of foreign nationals, the protection of national borders, and the integration of immigrants into Korean society.” - Korea Immigration Service English portal

How are Korea’s visa types organized?

The MOJ groups visas into letter-based categories from A to H, plus permanent residence codes. Each letter represents a purpose of stay: A for diplomatic, B for visa-free transit, C for short visits under 90 days, D for study and training, E for employment, F for family or long-term residence, G for other purposes, and H for working holiday. Sub-numbers refine the category.

The full category map (simplified)

The full reference list lives on the HiKorea English portal. Stay durations, work rights, and dependency rules differ by sub-code, so identifying your exact code is the first step. D-10 job seeker visa

Who qualifies for D-series visas (study and business)?

D-series visas cover foreigners coming to Korea to study, train, conduct research, or run a business. The most common are D-2 for full-time university students, D-4 for language program students at university-affiliated institutes, D-8 for corporate investors, and D-10 for job seekers and start-up founders. Each sub-code has distinct documents and financial-proof requirements.

D-2 student visa, the basics

Applicants need a Certificate of Admission from an accredited Korean university, proof of tuition payment or scholarship, bank balance statements (around USD 10,000 or equivalent, depending on the school), and a health certificate. Issuance is handled by Korean embassies abroad; in-country status changes go through KIS.

D-4 language student

D-4 is issued to students enrolled in Korean-language courses at university-attached language institutes. Attendance is monitored; falling below the threshold (often 70 percent) can lead to visa cancellation. After completing a degree on D-2, many graduates switch to D-10 to job-search.

D-10 job seeker and start-up

The D-10 visa allows up to two years (in renewable six-month blocks) to look for qualifying employment or launch a business. Eligibility is points-based, weighing degree level, Korean language ability (TOPIK), age, and Korean work experience. The official scorecard is published by KIS through HiKorea.

Who qualifies for E-series employment visas?

E-series visas are for foreigners working in Korea. Categories range from E-1 (professor) and E-2 (foreign-language instructor) to E-7 (specialist occupations) and E-9 (non-professional, mostly factory and farm work under the Employment Permit System). Each sub-code lists permitted job titles, minimum education, and salary thresholds set by the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

E-2 English teacher requirements

E-2 applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an English-speaking country and pass a criminal background check, apostilled. Schools sponsor the visa and file the contract with KIS. The contract length is usually one year, renewable, and the visa is tied to the sponsoring employer.

E-7 specialist occupation

E-7 covers around 87 designated specialist occupations, including IT engineers, designers, language instructors for non-English languages, and certain managerial roles. Salary must meet 80 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, which the National Tax Service publishes yearly. Employer sponsorship and a sector-matching contract are required.

E-9 non-professional

E-9 is managed under bilateral agreements (called the Employment Permit System) with 16 sending countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. Foreign workers cannot freely change employers under E-9 unless an exception applies. The Ministry of Employment and Labor administers training and dispute resolution.

Who qualifies for F-series residence visas?

F-series visas grant longer or more flexible stay rights, including family reunification, ethnic-Korean status, marriage to a Korean citizen, and permanent residence. The most relevant codes for foreign residents are F-2 (residence), F-4 (overseas Korean), F-5 (permanent residence), and F-6 (marriage migrant). Eligibility usually requires either family ties or a points-based qualification.

F-2-7 points-based residence visa

The F-2-7 is the most common path for skilled foreign professionals. Applicants need at least 80 points on a scorecard that adds points for age, education, income, Korean language (TOPIK), KIIP completion, volunteer work, and current visa type. Documents are filed at the local immigration office with appointments booked through HiKorea.

F-4 overseas Korean

F-4 is granted to overseas Koreans (foreign nationals of Korean descent) and offers broad work and stay rights, with some exclusions on simple-labor jobs. Eligibility is verified through family registration records via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. KIIP program Korea visa points

F-5 permanent residence

F-5 grants indefinite stay and is awarded after meeting one of several pathways: holding F-2 for 3+ years with stable income, marriage to a Korean for 2+ years with F-6, large investment (over KRW 500 million), or high-skilled professional criteria. F-5 holders do not need to renew their status, only their ARC.

F-6 marriage migrant

F-6 is issued to spouses of Korean citizens. Initial issuance happens at a Korean embassy abroad; after entry, the foreign spouse files for an ARC within 90 days. Income and housing requirements apply to the Korean sponsor and are checked by KIS during the F-6 interview process.

How do you apply, extend, or change your visa with KIS?

Foreign residents file most visa actions through HiKorea (online) or at a local immigration office (in person). Initial visas are issued by Korean embassies abroad. Once inside Korea, extensions, sub-code changes, re-entry permits, and ARC updates all go through the Korea Immigration Service. Appointments are mandatory at most metropolitan offices and book up weeks in advance.

Step-by-step extension flow

1. Book an appointment at HiKorea under the Reservation tab. Office slots in Seoul and Incheon fill 30+ days out.
2. Gather documents: passport, current ARC, application form, photo, proof of stay purpose (enrollment, contract, marriage certificate), and processing fee (commonly KRW 60,000).
3. Visit the immigration office on your appointment date. Officers may request additional documents on the spot.
4. Receive your stay sticker or new ARC by mail, usually within 2 to 6 weeks.

When the rules change, where to check

Visa rules are updated regularly by the MOJ and published as administrative notices. The English summaries appear on HiKorea and the Ministry’s MOLEG English statute portal. For health-related conditions (such as tuberculosis screening for certain nationalities), the National Health Insurance Service coordinates with KIS. Korea visa renewal HiKorea

Key terms foreigners should know

• ARC (Alien Registration Card): Korea’s foreign-resident ID card, issued by KIS within 90 days of arrival.
• KIIP (Korea Immigration and Integration Program): A government-run civics and Korean-language course that adds points toward F-2 and F-5.
• TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean): The official Korean-language test used for visa scoring.
• D-10 points scorecard: A KIS table assigning points to age, education, language, and work experience for job-seekers.
• F-2-7 scorecard: A separate table used for points-based residence applications.

When in doubt, the safest reference is always the Ministry of Justice’s English notices and HiKorea’s official forms, since immigration officers have legal discretion in borderline cases.

✅ Checklist before you start

• Identify your exact visa letter and sub-number (e.g., D-2, E-7, F-4)
• Confirm whether your step is handled abroad (Ministry of Foreign Affairs / embassy) or inside Korea (KIS office)
• Prepare to file through the HiKorea online portal for most applications
• If your purpose involves work, check whether the Ministry of Employment and Labor is also involved
• For extensions, status changes, or re-entry permits, plan to contact KIS in Korea (not the embassy)

📊 At a glance