🇰🇷 Study & students

South Korea is restructuring its foreign-student visa system around a study-to-employment-to-settlement pathway, with greater weight placed on Korean-language ability, academic performance and labour-market needs. Students with TOPIK Level 4 or equivalent Social Integration Programme Level 4 may receive exemptions from separate financial-capacity proof, while additional financial safeguards will apply to higher-risk applicants. The government will also introduce more differentiated student routes, including a proposed gap-year visa for eligible OECD nationals. Part-time work rules will be simplified for students who meet academic and Korean-language requirements, with universities taking a greater role in confirming eligibility. The government also plans to strengthen Korean-language requirements for student employment and review permitted sectors, including potential opportunities in labour-shortage industries. For graduates, the government plans to expand the D-10 job-seeking pathway, with the permitted period varying according to language ability and other conditions and potentially reaching three years. STEM graduates and graduates of regional universities will receive additional consideration for transitions into skilled employment, including the E-7 visa. A proposed K-Tech Master Visa would provide a more direct pathway from specialised technical master's programmes into F-2 residence. The reforms also increase responsibilities for universities and overseas education agencies. Individual programmes will face closer scrutiny over academic quality, attendance and unauthorised employment, while recruitment agencies will be subject to stronger oversight. South Korea will additionally expand regional student-to-employment pathways, support international-student entrepreneurship and establish dedicated visa and residence support infrastructure. The measures are being introduced in phases rather than as a single rule effective on 7 October 2026. Some administrative changes are targeted for the second half of 2026, while major reforms to D-10, skilled employment and longer-term residence are scheduled for later implementation.