Part-Time Work Permit

Who needs this

• ✓Foreign students who (1) hold an eligible status – D-2 degree students (D-2-1 to D-2-4, D-2-6, D-2-7) or language trainees D-4-1 / D-4-7 and visiting students D-2-8; (2) meet a minimum Korean-language level (TOPIK, or completion of the MOJ Social Integration Program (KIIP) or a King Sejong Institute Korean standard); (3) are focusing on their studies with satisfactory attendance/grades; and (4) get confirmation from their school’s international-student officer.
• ✓IMPORTANT prerequisite: language trainees (D-4-1, D-4-7) and visiting students (D-2-8) can only apply AFTER 6 months have passed from their date of entry (or date of status change).
• ✓D-2 degree students can apply from the start of their studies once they meet the Korean-language condition.

Documents you'll need

• Application for engagement in activities beyond status of stay (체류자격 외 활동허가 신청서)
• passport
• Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증)
• enrollment/transcript or attendance certificate (재학증명서/성적증명서/출석확인서)
• employment contract (근로계약서)
• student part-time work confirmation form signed by the school (유학생 시간제취업 확인서)
• proof of Korean-language ability (TOPIK certificate, or KIIP / King Sejong Institute completion). Business registration of the employer may also be requested.

How to apply

• A part-time work permit (체류자격외활동허가) must be obtained BEFORE working, filed via HiKorea online e-application (전자민원) or in-person at the competent immigration office (출입국·외국인관서) with a visit reservation (방문예약).
• You MUST get the permit BEFORE you start working.
• Apply online through HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr > e-Government / e-application (전자민원)) or in person at the immigration office (출입국·외국인관서) that covers your address.
• The school’s international-student office confirms the student, and the employer/workplace is checked.
• Steps on HiKorea: Apply -> Register -> Process -> Check result (My Page > e-application status).
• When approved, a permit stamp or sticker is placed in the passport.
• If you change your workplace, you must file a workplace-change report (시간제취업 업체 변경신고).

• Part-time work permit (체류자격 외 활동허가), applied for via HiKorea/immigration office BEFORE starting work.
• Eligible: D-2 degree students (D-2-1~7) and D-4-1/D-4-7 language trainees (status-changers only after 6 months from entry).
• Weekly hour caps (법무부 안내매뉴얼 2026.6.1, in force since 2023.7) — WITHOUT meeting the Korean-ability standard: associate & bachelor 10h, master/doctoral 15h; WITH the standard met: associate & bachelor 25h (30h at IEQAS-certified universities / top academic performers / Korean-excellent), master/doctoral 30h (35h certified).
• Weekends, public holidays and vacations: NO hour limit.
• Manufacturing part-time is allowed only with TOPIK level 4 or higher.

D-2 (D-2-1~7): tiered 10/15/25/30/35h by degree level and Korean ability. D-4-1/D-4-7 language trainees: eligible only after 6 months from entry.

Prohibited fields: professional work in E-1~E-7 scope (e.g. conversation teaching of minors=E-2), E-9 manufacturing/construction & E-10 crew work (manufacturing allowed only with TOPIK 4+), delivery-platform riders and other special-type work (특수형태근로) (couriers, proxy drivers, insurance/door-to-door sales), dispatch (파출), adult-entertainment.

2025–2026 policy updates

• The current framework comes from the reform effective 3 July 2023: undergraduate (associate/bachelor) weekday cap raised from 20 to 25 hours/week, with 5 extra hours (up to 30) for students with excellent grades and Korean ability; graduate students up to 30 hours/week; Korean-proof methods broadened beyond TOPIK to include the MOJ Social Integration Program (KIIP) and King Sejong Institute standards; and specialized-field internships during vacation were allowed for degree students.
• As of the official living-law source (info date 2026-06-15) the same hour table still applies – no separate 2025-2026 change to the hour caps was confirmed on official pages.
• Re-verify current numbers on HiKorea before relying on them.

Common mistakes

Working before the permit is approved – this is illegal employment (불법취업) and can lead to up to 3 years imprisonment or a fine up to 30 million KRW, restriction of future job-seeking (D-10) status, denial of Korean employment, or deportation (the employer is also penalized); exceeding the allowed weekly hours; changing employer without filing a workplace-change report; taking excluded jobs (delivery/courier/insurance sales, dispatch labor, kids’ foreign-language facilities, professional fields); assuming a TOPIK score alone lets you skip the permit application.

Official source ↗  Official manual ↗