Korean Student Visa Types: D-2-1, D-2-2, D-2-3, D-4-1 — A Complete Guide
To study in South Korea, you'll need a student visa that matches your goal. Student visas fall into two broad categories: D-2 — formal higher education (college, bachelor's, master's) — and D-4 — language study courses. Below you'll find each visa type in detail: who it's intended for, the documents required, and the two ways to obtain it.
Two ways to obtain a visa
Nearly every student visa can be processed in two different ways. It's important to understand the difference:
- ✓Obtained through the official Korean embassy in Uzbekistan
- ✓Documents are prepared according to embassy requirements and submitted in the prescribed manner
- ✓Financial documents (KDB bank, parents' income/assets) are often required
- ✓You can work in partnership with consulting agencies in Uzbekistan
- ✓Under Korea's recent policy changes, obtained through immigration offices in Korea
- ✓The procedure is set by the immigration office's requirements and method
- ✓Financial documents (KDB, parents' income) are usually not required
Student visas — a quick comparison
| Visa | Who it's for | Standard route (main requirement) | Alternative route name |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-2-1 | College / vocational education (2 years) | Documents per embassy requirements | Regional (gwangyeok) visa |
| D-2-2 | Bachelor's | Documents per embassy requirements | Regional (gwangyeok) visa |
| D-2-3 | Master's | KDB 1-month deposit + parents' financial documents | E-Visa |
| D-4-1 | Language course | KDB 3-month deposit + financial documents + TOPIK 1 (110) | TELEX visa |
Through the alternative route (immigration office), financial documents are, as a rule, not required. The visa is usually issued for 3 months (single entry), and within that period you travel to Korea and register for a student ID card (ARC, "oyloq").
1. D-2-1 — College (diploma) visa
For applicants who wish to study a vocational education (diploma) program at a 2-year college. The visa is issued for 3 months, and you must obtain your student ID card (ARC) within that period.
- ✓Processed through the Korean embassy in Uzbekistan
- ✓Documents are prepared and submitted according to embassy requirements
- ✓You can work in partnership with consulting agencies in Uzbekistan
- ✓Vocational education students can also obtain a visa through immigration offices
- ✓The document submission procedure is set according to the immigration office's requirements
- ✓A 1-month KDB bank statement is not required
- ✓Documents of parents' income or real estate are not required
2. D-2-2 — Bachelor's visa
For applicants who wish to study a bachelor's (Bachelor) program in South Korea. The visa is issued for 3 months, and the student ID card (ARC) is obtained within that period.
- ✓Processed through the Korean embassy in Uzbekistan
- ✓Documents are prepared and submitted according to embassy requirements
- ✓You can work in partnership with consulting agencies in Uzbekistan
- ✓Bachelor's students can also obtain a visa through immigration offices
- ✓The document submission procedure is set according to the immigration office's requirements
- ✓A 1-month KDB bank statement is not required
- ✓Documents of parents' income or real estate are not required
3. D-2-3 — Master's visa
For students who have completed a bachelor's program and wish to pursue a master's degree in South Korea.
- ✓Processed through the Korean embassy
- ✓Documents are prepared according to embassy requirements
- ✓You can work in partnership with consulting agencies
- ✓A 1-month deposit at South Korea's KDB (Korea Development Bank)
- ✓Parents' official income, or real estate / a vehicle in their name
- ✓Official business registration certificate and bank turnover
- ✓Master's students can also obtain a visa through immigration offices
- ✓The document submission procedure is set according to the immigration office's requirements
- ✓A 1-month KDB bank statement is not required
- ✓Documents of parents' income or real estate are not required
4. D-4-1 — Language course visa (patkurs)
For applicants who wish to attend a language study course offered by the South Korean government. It's also commonly known as the patkurs visa.
- ✓Processed through the Korean embassy
- ✓Documents are prepared according to embassy requirements
- ✓You can work in partnership with consulting agencies
- ✓A 3-month deposit at KDB bank
- ✓Parents' official income, or real estate / a vehicle
- ✓Official business registration certificate and bank turnover
- ✓TOPIK 1 (110 points) — a Korean language proficiency certificate
- ✓Language course students can also obtain a visa through immigration offices
- ✓The document submission procedure is set according to the immigration office's requirements
- ✓You can obtain a visa even without a language proficiency certificate (without TOPIK)
How do you obtain the student ID card (ARC)?
Once your visa is approved, you must travel to Korea within the specified period and register for a student ID card (Alien Registration Card, ARC). We've shown this process step by step on our YouTube channel.
How Ray Consulting can help
Which visa type suits you, which route (embassy or immigration office) is more convenient, and how to prepare your documents correctly — the specialists at Ray Consulting can help you with all of it. If you need practical support with obtaining a visa or applying to study, get in touch with us.
