Job Seeking Visa
구직(D-10) — Job Seeking / Startup Preparation
At a glance
Foreign nationals with a bachelor’s degree or higher (including a Korean associate/junior-college degree) who want to prepare for professional employment (E-1 to E-7…
As of the 2025-10-29 reform: up to 1 year granted per stay period (previously 6 months), with a total maximum of 3 years under D-10 (previously 2 years).
D-10 does not itself grant employment; you must transition to a work visa (E-series/etc.) to take a real job. Part-time work and internships are allowed with permission.
For the D-10-1 points-exemption track, graduates of a Korean university need TOPIK Level 4 or higher obtained within 3 years of graduation.
Fee: Change of status (체류자격 변경허가): about 130,000 KRW. Extension of stay (체류기간 연장허가): about 60,000 KRW. Overseas visa issuance fees vary by consulate. (verify current amount on HiKorea)
Where this fits in your journey
Before arrival
Get admitted, prepare documents, apply.
During study
ARC, extensions, permits while in Korea.
After graduation
Job-seeking and work visas.
Settlement
Long-term residence and PR.
Who can apply
- ✓Foreign nationals with a bachelor’s degree or higher (including a Korean associate/junior-college degree) who want to prepare for professional employment (E-1 to E-7 fields) or to prepare a technology startup in Korea.
- ✓Most common path is graduates of Korean universities changing from a student (D-2) visa.
- ✓Two main tracks: (1) D-10-1 general job seeking, and (2) D-10-2 startup preparation.
- ✓D-10-1 uses a points table (out of 190 points) requiring at least 20 points in basic items and at least 60 points total; certain groups are exempt from the points test, including graduates of a Korean university who hold TOPIK Level 4 or higher obtained within 3 years of graduation.
- ✓Applicants with immigration-law violations related to unauthorized work in the last 5 years are excluded.
Documents you'll need
- Application form (통합신청서)
- passport and Alien Registration Card (original + copy)
- one photo
- proof of residence/address in Korea (체류지 입증서류)
- diploma or graduation certificate (Korean university degree or equivalent)
- job-seeking activity plan (구직활동계획서)
- Korean language proficiency proof (valid TOPIK or KIIP result) if applicable
- proof of financial means (roughly 900,000 KRW per month for 6 months, about 5,400,000 KRW total) — financial proof is generally waived for those changing from a D-2 student visa
- points-table supporting documents for D-10-1
- for D-10-2, evidence such as a Korean patent/utility/design right (held or filed) or completion of an OASIS startup-immigration education course. Exact document set varies by sub-code and case — confirm on HiKorea.
How to apply
- Domestic change-of-status (체류자격 변경허가) at an immigration office — NOT via a Certificate of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서); an overseas embassy single-entry visa is also available for first-time applicants from abroad.
- D-10 is NOT issued through the Certificate of Visa Issuance Approval (사증발급인정서) system.
- From overseas, apply for the visa at a Korean embassy/consulate.
- Inside Korea (most common for students), apply for a change of status (D-2 -> D-10) or an extension at an Immigration office, booking through HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center.
Stay & extension
As of the 2025-10-29 reform: up to 1 year granted per stay period (previously 6 months), with a total maximum of 3 years under D-10 (previously 2 years). The actual period granted is applied differentially based on job-search performance / points and examiner review.
Extendable in increments of up to 1 year (changed from 6-month cycles) up to the 3-year total cap. Renewals after the first grant generally require meeting the standard points test (D-10-1).
Apply for extension before the current stay period expires via HiKorea.
Working on this visa
- D-10 does not itself grant employment; you must transition to a work visa (E-series/etc.) to take a real job.
- Part-time work and internships are allowed with permission.
- Per the 2025-10-29 reform, internships are allowed for up to 1 year within a single company (up from 6 months), and the previous overall cumulative internship-period cap was abolished.
- A new company-tailored internship track (K-Trainee, 기업 맞춤형 인턴십) was also created.
Requirements in detail
For the D-10-1 points-exemption track, graduates of a Korean university need TOPIK Level 4 or higher obtained within 3 years of graduation. Korean ability (TOPIK or KIIP) also adds points in the D-10-1 points table.
There is no single fixed TOPIK minimum for all D-10 applicants; a ‘promising talent’ fast-track reportedly references TOPIK Level 6 for certain young top-university/Korean-studies graduates.
Proof of funds to cover living/settlement costs during the job-seeking stay (settlement-cost proof, e.g., bank balance). No fixed statutory amount is officially published.
(unverified)
D-10-1 (general job-seeking) is points-based: 190 points maximum, pass threshold 60 points, with a minimum of 20 basic points required; items scored include age, education, Korean proficiency, work experience, and income.
Graduates of a Korean university (bachelor’s degree or higher) who hold TOPIK Level 4 or above and apply within 3 years of graduation may be exempted from the D-10-1 points evaluation.
Sub-types
D-10-1general job-seeking (points-based)D-10-2technology-startup / business preparation (OASIS), the common bridge to D-8-4.Spouse and minor children may accompany on F-3 (dependent family). (unverified — confirm current F-3 eligibility for D-10)
Mobile ARC (외국인등록증, introduced 2025) available to registered ARC holders after completing foreigner registration.
2025–2026 policy updates
- Major D-10 reform effective 2025-10-29 (Ministry of Justice press release dated 2025-10-27; some sources cite 2025-10-30).
- Confirmed changes: (1) total D-10 stay extended from 2 years to 3 years; (2) per-grant/extension period raised from 6 months to up to 1 year; (3) single-company internship limit raised from 6 months to up to 1 year and the overall cumulative internship cap abolished; (4) creation of a company-tailored internship program called K-Trainee (기업 맞춤형 인턴십) allowing foreign university students (bachelor’s 3rd year and above, incl. master’s/doctoral) and talent hired by overseas branches to intern at the Korean headquarters, with a special track for students/graduates of top-200 (THE/QS) overseas universities contracting with domestic listed firms in advanced-tech fields.
- D-10-1 points threshold remains at least 60 of 190 total points with at least 20 basic points.
- Differentiated stay grant by points/performance was reported (higher scorers eligible for longer periods) but exact score-to-duration bands should be re-verified against the official manual (unverified).
Common mistakes
- Assuming D-10 lets you work a normal job — it only permits job search plus limited part-time/internship activity, not full employment.
- Letting the total 3-year cap or a stay period lapse before extending.
- Forgetting the points test applies again at renewal even if the first D-2->D-10 change was points-exempt.
- Applying to jobs unrelated to your major (job field should match your degree).
- Missing the TOPIK-within-3-years-of-graduation condition for the exemption track.
Where this leads
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