Visa Encyclopedia

Top Talent Residence

Individuals meeting the Minister of Justice's criteria for age, education, and income as top talent.

Top Talent Residence – Family

Spouse and minor children of individuals qualifying under the Top Talent Residence (F-2-T) category.

Top Talent Designated Activities

Individuals contracted to work in cutting-edge fields for domestic companies, recognized by the Minister of Justice for their expertise.

Top Talent Job-Seeking

Graduates of world-class universities seeking employment or training for domestic work.

Top Talent Permanent Residence

Individuals contracted to work in cutting-edge fields for domestic companies, recognized by the Minister of Justice for their expertise, seeking permanent residence.

Top Talent Permanent Residence – Family

Family members of permanent residents working in cutting-edge fields under contract with domestic companies.

Diplomatic Visa

Members of foreign diplomatic missions or consular offices accepted by the Korean government, and their families.

Official Visa

Persons performing official duties for a foreign government or international organization approved by the Korean government, and their families.

Agreement Visa

Persons and their families who are exempt from alien registration under agreement with the Korean government (e.g., SOFA, Fulbright Agreement).

Visa Waiver

Nationals of countries that have signed visa waiver agreements with Korea, for activities permitted under those agreements.

Tourist / Transit Visa

Visa for tourism and transit purposes.

Temporary Journalism Visa

Short-term reporting and coverage activities by foreign journalists.

Short-Term Visit Visa

For business activities such as market research, liaison, consultation, and contract negotiations; also for tourism, recuperation, family visits, sports events, and cultural activities up to 90 days.

Short-Term Employment Visa

Persons recognized by the Minister of Justice for short-term work in agriculture/fishery harvest processing (C-4-1~4) or short-term professional activities such as entertainment, advertising, lectures, and research (C-4-5).

Cultural / Arts Visa

For non-profit academic or artistic activities, including research into Korean traditional culture or art under expert guidance.

Student Visa

For foreign students enrolled in regular degree programs or conducting specific research at accredited educational institutions (universities and affiliated language institutes).

Technical Training Visa

For foreigners receiving technical training at domestic industrial facilities.

General Training Visa

Training or research at educational institutions, companies, or organizations outside those qualifying for the D-2 visa, including language institutes.

Journalism / Reporting Visa

For foreign journalists stationed in Korea for long-term reporting activities.

Religious Visa

For persons dispatched by foreign religious or social welfare organizations to work at registered Korean affiliates.

Intra-Company Transfer Visa

For essential professional personnel transferred to Korean branches/offices from foreign companies, or for overseas-stationed employees of listed Korean companies transferred back to headquarters.

Corporate Investment Visa

Investment and startup visa including corporate investment (D-8-1), venture investment (D-8-2), personal business investment (D-8-3), and technology startup (D-8-4).

Trade / Business Management Visa

For company management, trade, profitable business activities, installation/operation/maintenance of exported equipment, or supervision of ship-building and facility manufacturing.

Job-Seeking Visa

General job-seeking (D-10-1) including short internships; technology startup preparation (D-10-2); high-tech internship (D-10-3) for cutting-edge technology fields.

Professor Visa

For qualified foreigners teaching or conducting research at junior colleges or higher education institutions.

Language Instruction Visa

For qualified foreigners teaching foreign language conversation at language institutes, schools, broadcasting companies, or corporate language training centers.

Research Visa

For research in natural sciences, R&D in advanced industrial technology, social sciences, humanities, and arts at designated research institutions.

Technology Transfer Visa

For experts providing specialized knowledge in natural sciences or advanced industrial technology to Korean public and private institutions.

Professional Visa

For foreigners holding government-recognized qualifications from their home country who are permitted under Korean law to engage in professional activities in those fields.

Arts / Entertainment Visa

E-6-1: Profitable arts/entertainment (music, fine arts, literature, broadcasting, advertising, sports). E-6-2: Entertainment at hotels or adult entertainment venues. E-6-3: Professional athletes and sports-related personnel.

Designated Activities Visa

E-7-1 (Professional): 67 professional/managerial job categories. E-7-2 (Semi-professional): 10 clerical/service job categories. E-7-3 (General skilled): 10 skilled trade categories. E-7-4 (Skilled labor): Point-based system, 3 specific job categories.

Seasonal Employment Visa

For persons recognized by the Minister of Justice to work in crop cultivation/harvesting and fishery primary processing sectors designated through consultation with relevant ministries.

Non-Professional Employment Visa

Employment permit system allowing employers to hire foreign workers and allowing foreign workers to work for designated employers for up to 4 years and 10 months.

Crew Employment Visa

For foreigners employed as domestic vessel crew (E-10-1), fishing vessel crew of 20+ tons (E-10-2), or cruise ship crew of 2,000+ tons (E-10-3).

Family Visit / Stay Visa

For relatives visiting, family members residing together, dependents, housekeeping, and similar purposes. Stay duration: up to 2 years per grant.

Residence Visa

For persons seeking long-term residence in Korea with the intent to obtain permanent residence. Stay duration: up to 5 years per grant.

Point-Based Skilled Worker Visa

Point-based residence visa for listed company employees, workers in promising industries, professionals with specific visa status (E-1~E-7, D-5~D-9), and academic talent with master's degree or higher from Korean institutions.

Regional Specialized Visa

Designed to encourage foreign residents to settle in areas experiencing population decline, contributing to regional revitalization.

Accompanying Dependent Visa

For spouses and minor children accompanying holders of D-1 through E-7 visas (excluding D-3), and families of certain professional visa holders (E-1, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-7 with Gold Card).

Overseas Korean Visa

For foreign nationals who previously held Korean nationality (including those who emigrated before the establishment of the Korean government) and their lineal descendants.

Permanent Residence Visa

Permanent residency with no restrictions on activities based on visa category. Stay duration: unlimited.

Marriage Immigration Visa

For spouses of Korean nationals with a valid marriage in Korea (F-6-1), foreign parents raising children born from a marriage with a Korean national after the relationship ends (F-6-2), and those who cannot maintain their marriage due to their spouse's death or disappearance (F-6-3).

Miscellaneous / Other Visa

For persons not covered by A-1 through F-6, H-1, or H-2 categories, as recognized by the Minister of Justice (e.g., industrial accident claimants, those undergoing medical treatment, litigation parties, wage dispute claimants, asylum seekers, and their families).

Working Holiday Visa

For nationals of countries with working holiday agreements with Korea, primarily for tourism with incidental short-term employment to fund the trip.

Working Visit Visa

For ethnic Koreans who previously held Korean nationality or their lineal descendants who have acquired foreign nationality, with relatives in Korea or meeting other qualifying conditions.