What is a Visa (Status of Stay)?
A visa(status of stay) refers to the authorization that allows a foreign national to enter and reside in Korea. To enter Korea and pursue academic studies as an international student at Sogang University, you must hold
a D-2(Student) visa or another valid visa that permits academic activities.
Applying for the D-2 (Student) Visa
Certificate of Admission (CoA)
To apply for the D-2 visa at a Korean embassy or consulate, you will need the Certificate of Admission (CoA) issued by Sogang University. Detailed information including eligibility and how to request the CoA will be provided individually to admitted students.
Required Documents for the D-2 Visa Application
The following documents are generally required when submitting a D-2 visa application to a Korean embassy or consulate. Requirements may vary depending on your local consulate and individual circumstances. Before applying, please check the exact list of required documents with the embassy /consulate where you will apply and through the Immigration Contact Center (HiKorea ☎ 1345)
Documents Required for the D-2(Student) Visa
- 1Visa Application Form
- 2Valid Passport
- 3Color Photo (3.5cm × 4.5cm, white background, taken within the last 6 months)
- 4CoA and a copy of Sogang University’s Business Registration Certificate
- 5Certificate of Graduation
- 6Bank Statement (at least KRW 20,000,000 under the applicant or a parent’s name, issued within 30 days of the visa application date)
- 7Tuberculosis Test Result issued by a medical institution designated by the Korean embassy / consulate
- Students from the 35 countries listed below must submit a TB test result when applying for the visa
[35 nations] Angola / Azerbaijan / Bangladesh / Belarus / Cambodia / China / DR Congo / Ethiopia / India / Indonesia / Kazakhstan / Kenya / Kyrgyzstan / Laos / Malaysia / Moldova / Mongolia / Mozambique / Myanmar / Nepal / Nigeria / Pakistan / Papua New Guinea / Peru / Philippines / Russia / Sri Lanka / South Africa / Tajikistan / Thailand / Timor-Leste / Ukraine / Uzbekistan / Vietnam / Zimbabwe - 8Visa Application Fee
Visa Application Process
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[University] Admission Notification
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[Student] Request for CoA
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[University] Issuance of CoA and Business Registration Certificate
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[Student] Visa Application at Korean Embassy/Consulate
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[Student] Visa Issued → Arrival in Korea
If You Are in Korea at the Time of Admission: Changing to the D-2(Student) Visa
If you are already in Korea with another type of visa before beginning your studies, you must check in advance and change your visa to the D-2 (Student) visa before the semester begins unless your current visa permits academic activities.
Required Documents for Students Holding a D-4 Visa
Students currently studying at a language institute in Korea with a D-4 (Language Training) visa must change their visa to D-2 (Student) before the start of the semester, as the D-4 visa does not allow study in a degree program.
Documents Required for Changing from D-4 to D-2
- 1Application Form for Change of Visa Status
- 2Valid Passport
- 3Color Photo (3.5cm × 4.5cm, white Background, taken within the last 6 months)
- 4Residence Card(Foreigner Registration Card)
- 5CoA and a copy of Sogang University’s Business Registration Certificate
- 6Certificate of Graduation
- 7Bank Statement (at least KRW 10,000,000 under the applicant’s name from a domestic bank, issued within 30 days of the visa application date)
- Students from the 26 countries below are required to submit a bank statement.
[26 countries] Bangladesh / Cameroon / China / Egypt / Ethiopia / Ghana / Guinea / India / Indonesia / Iran / Kazakhstan / Kyrgyzstan / Mali / Mongolia / Myanmar / Nepal / Nigeria / Pakistan / Peru / Philippines / Sri Lanka / Thailand / Uganda / Ukraine / Uzbekistan / Vietnam - 8Tuition Payment Confirmation
- 9Academic Transcript from the Language Institute (Attendance rate must be included)
- 10Proof of Residence (e.g., housing contract under applicant’s name, confirmation of residence/accomodation, dormitory residence certificate, etc.)
- 11Application Fee
Upon Graduation: Changing to the D-10(Job-Seeking) Visa
Students who graduate or suspend their study for such as the leave of absence or drop-out can no longer remain in Korea under the D-2 visa. You must either leave Korea or change your visa status within 30 days from when your academic status changes. If you wish to seek employment in Korea after your graduation, you may apply to change your visa to the D-10(Job-Seeking) Visa
D-10 visa allows stays of 6 months to 1 year per approval, renewable up to a total of 3 years. (Refer to the Hikorea Manual for detailed conditions.
Documents Required for Changing from D-2 to D-10
- 1Application Form for Change of Visa Status
- 2Valid Passport
- 3Color Photo (3.5cm × 4.5cm, white Background, taken within the last 6 months)
- 4Residence Card(Foreigner Registration Card)
- 5Certificate of Graduation from Sogang Universit
- 6Job-Seeking Activity Plan
- 7Proof of Residence (e.g., housing contract under applicant’s name, confirmation of residence/accomodation, dormitory residence certificate, etc.)
- 8Application Fee
Validity of a Single-Entry Visa
If you receive a single-entry D-2(Stuent) Visa from a Korean embassy or consulate, the visa becomes invalid once you enter Korea. This means that if you leave Korea even temporarily after your first entry, you may not study since the visa cannot be used again. In addition, students holding a single-entry visa may stay in Korea for up to 90 days from the date of entry.
Granting of Stay Period
After entering Korea, you must complete Foreigner Registration at the Immigration Office in order to receive a stay period more than 90 days. Once registered, students are generally granted a stay period of up to 2 years, although the exact period may vary depending on individual circumstances.
Extension of Stay Period
International students must apply to extend their stay before their current stay period expires. Extensions can be requested from 4 months before the expiration date. If you do not apply for an extension before your stay expires, you will fall into illegal stay (overstay) status.
Required Documents for Extending Your Stay (D-2 Visa)
- 1Application Form for Extension of Stay
- 2Valid Passport
- 3Color Photo (3.5cm × 4.5cm, white Background, taken within the last 6 months)
- 4Residence Card(Foreigner Registration Card)
- 5Tuition Payment Confirmation
- 6Certificate of Enrollment and Academic Transcript
- These can be printed via SAINT or obtained at the One-Stop Service Station (A106) - 7Proof of Residence (e.g., housing contract under applicant’s name, confirmation of residence/accomodation, dormitory residence certificate, etc.)
- 8Bank Statement
- Required only if your cumulative GPA(CGPA) is below 2.0 at the time of application
- Must be issued by a domestic bank under the applicant’s name, showing at least KRW 10,000,000 - 9Application Fee
Extension of Stay for Students Requiring Additional Semesters
If you have completed all regular semesters but still need to enroll in additional semesters to fulfill graduation requirements, you must submit additional documents along with the general documents listed above.
Additional Documents for Students Extending Stay for Extra Semesters
- 1Advisor Confirmation Form
- Must be signed by your academic advisor(advising professor) and confirmed by the Office of International Student Affairs - 2Bank Statement for Additional Stay Period
- The required balance must cover the expected period of stay.
- Example : For 1 semesters(6 months), KRW 1,148,166 × 6 months = approx. 6,888,996