Student Visa and Embassy Information

U.S. Citizens
if your academic program in South Korea is 90 days or more, you are required to obtain a student visa from the South Korean government. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your expected departure date from South Korea, and it will physically remain at the consulate until your d-2 visa is approved, so keep this in mind if you plan to travel before the program.
You must apply for your student visa through the Korean consulate with jurisdiction over your permanent state of residence (see consulate link below). You should consult your consulate general’s website immediately to obtain a student visa application, a list of requirements, and to verify the application process and timetable. Most consulates require in person appearance. Some consulates require appointments to be made and have limited spots.
As of November 17, 2008, students may enter South Korea for academic programs that are under 90 days without the corresponding student visa.
*if you are under 18 years of age when applying for your visa, additional paperwork may be required. Please contact the consulate immediately for more information.

Non-US. Citizens
if you are not a US citizen, you will need to check with your local embassy or consulate to verify entry requirements for South Korea. As these requirements vary based on citizenship, non-US citizens may not be permitted to travel to South Korea without a visa or outside of their visa dates. Also, visa fees for non-US citizens may differ so please be sure to check your specific consulate’s website for the most up to date information.
You should apply for your visa at least 30 days prior to departure but no more than 90 days prior to departure. You are ultimately responsible for securing your visa.
*if you are under 18 years of age when applying for your visa, additional paperwork may be required. Please contact the consulate immediately for more information.
Note: embassy and consulate contact information is subject to change without notice. Please refer to the website of the embassy or consulate to verify information.