Korea to factor Korean proficiency into student visas, tighten screening
In short
South Korea’s Justice Ministry announced plans to weigh Korean-language ability across its foreign student visa system, exempting students with TOPIK level 4 or social integration programme stage 4 from proving financial capacity. Universities that run weekend, night or online courses seen as supporting part-time work, or where illegal employment is detected, would lose visa incentives. Foreign students in Korea passed 350,000 as of August, the ministry said.
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South Korea’s Justice Ministry on Oct 7 announced the outcome of a public-private council on improving the foreign student visa system, setting out five core strategies that would embed Korean-language ability across the visa process and strengthen checks on study purpose. The ministry said the council, launched on April 20 and chaired by acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-soo, held four working-level meetings and gathered views from universities, education and immigration experts over about five months. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Under the plan, students who hold level 4 of the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) or have completed stage 4 of the social integration programme would be exempt from submitting documents proving financial capacity. For cases requiring focused management, the ministry plans to widen use of a study-expense deposit system, under which funds needed for study are held in deposit for a set period. Part-time work permits during study would be decided on Korean proficiency and grades, with the language requirement raised to stage 3 of the social integration programme, and a university-issued part-time employment confirmation form would remove the need for extra documents. Post-graduation job-seeking (D-10) visas would be granted for one to three years depending on Korean ability and job preparation. [ 1 , 2 ]
The ministry also said it would suspend visa preferential benefits for departments that run weekend, night or online courses as a workaround to support part-time work rather than study, even if the university holds education internationalisation certification. Dong-A Ilbo summarised the same measure as restricting visa benefits at universities where illegal employment by students is detected. In addition, immigration authorities plan to provide standardised procedures and materials so universities can verify overseas degrees and academic records, and to operate an overseas study agency registration system with Korean diplomatic missions. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Several new routes are being pursued: a tentative gap-year student track (D-2-8) for students from OECD countries, a multiple-entry alumni visit visa for graduates who return home, conversion to a skilled worker (E-7) visa for science and engineering students who meet language and other requirements and want manufacturing jobs, and a student-specific practical employment visa letting holders of a tentative professional technology master’s degree move from a study (D-2) visa to a residence (F-2) visa. Regional and region-specific visas would be redesigned, universities would host courses linked to the OASIS startup education programme so students can try a technology startup (D-8-4) visa, and five tentative student visa and stay support centres would be set up at regional immigration offices. The ministry also plans to add a separate chapter on student visas and part-time work to the immigration law and to revise Article 18 on restrictions on employing foreigners. [ 1 ]
The ministry said foreign students in Korea grew from 17,000 in 2004 to 100,000 in 2016, 200,000 in 2022 and 300,000 in 2025, and exceeded 350,000 as of August. Lee said foreign students are a core talent group for immigration policy, adding that students with genuine study purpose and capability will be given more growth opportunities while cases of visa abuse will be handled strictly. Tasks the ministry can carry out itself are to begin in the second half of this year, while those requiring discussion with other ministries will go through a cross-ministerial consultative body; the immigration policy office also said it will regularly publish big-data analysis on student stay and settlement. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The plans would reshape how roughly 350,000 foreign students enter, work and stay in Korea, and would tie visa benefits for universities to how they manage those students. Because most measures still need cross-ministry talks or legal changes, their practical effect depends on implementation. The stated goal is to attract and retain skilled students while curbing visa abuse.
Key facts
- The Justice Ministry announced the results of the public-private council on foreign student visa reform on Oct 7, 2026, setting out five core strategies. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Students holding TOPIK level 4 or having completed stage 4 of the social integration programme would be exempt from submitting proof of financial capacity. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry plans to expand a study-expense deposit system for cases requiring focused management. [ 1 ]
- Universities running weekend, night or online courses to support part-time work, or where illegal employment is detected, would lose visa preferential benefits, even if they hold education internationalisation certification. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Foreign students in Korea exceeded 350,000 as of August 2026, up from 17,000 in 2004. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The council was launched on April 20, chaired by acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-soo, and held four working-level meetings over about five months. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Planned new tracks include a tentative gap-year student visa (D-2-8), an alumni visit visa, and five student visa and stay support centres at regional immigration offices. [ 1 ]
- Tasks the ministry can implement itself are to start in the second half of this year, while those needing inter-agency discussion go through a cross-ministerial body. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Justice Ministry announced a package of foreign student visa reforms on Oct 7 built on five core strategies. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Korean-language ability would be reflected across the visa system, with TOPIK level 4 or social integration programme stage 4 exempting students from proving financial capacity. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Visa preferential benefits would be withheld from universities where study-purpose verification fails, including cases of illegal employment by students. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Foreign students in Korea exceeded 350,000 as of August 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-soo said students with genuine study purpose and capability will get more opportunities while visa abuse will be met with strict responses. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- When each specific measure takes effect. The ministry said only that self-implementable tasks start in the second half of this year and others require cross-ministerial consultation, without dates per item.
- Whether the new visa tracks named as tentative — the gap-year student (D-2-8) visa, the alumni visit visa and the professional technology master’s route — will be adopted. Document 1 describes them as ideas the ministry is pursuing, and some names are marked tentative.
- Which countries or cases fall under expanded focused management and the study-expense deposit system. Document 1 says the deposit system will be applied more widely where focused management is needed but does not name countries or criteria.
- Whose visa benefits are suspended for part-time work abuse — a university’s department or the university as a whole. Document 1 refers to suspending preferential benefits for the relevant department, while document 3’s summary refers to restricting visa benefits at universities where illegal employment is detected.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The public-private council on foreign student visa reform is launched on April 20, chaired by acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-soo, with university, education and immigration experts. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Asia Economy publishes the ministry’s reform plan, including exemptions and new visa tracks. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reports the council has ended its five-month run and the ministry has set five core strategies. [ 2 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports that universities where illegal employment is detected will face limits on visa preferential benefits. [ 3 ]