South Korea Visa Types: A Complete Guide for Expats and Foreign Families
Understanding South Korea visa types is one of the first steps for any expat planning to live, work, or relocate to Korea. The Korean visa system uses a letter-and-number code (A-1, D-7, E-2, F-5, etc.) that identifies your purpose of stay and determines your rights, including work authorization, dependent visas, and path to permanent residency. This guide covers the visa categories most relevant to corporate expats, diplomatic staff, and foreign families relocating to Seoul.
Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information about South Korean visa categories as of 2026. Visa regulations change over time. For current application requirements and your specific situation, consult the Korean embassy or consulate in your home country, or the Korea Immigration Service (Hi Korea).
Quick Overview: Korean Visa Categories for Expats
| Visa Code | Category | Typical Expat Users |
|---|---|---|
| A-1, A-2, A-3 | Diplomatic / Official | Embassy staff, government officials |
| C-3, C-4 | Short-term visit | Business visitors, tourists |
| D-7 | Intra-company transfer | Multinational corporate expats |
| D-8 | Investment | Company founders, investors |
| D-10 | Job seeker | Post-graduation job search |
| E-1 to E-7 | Work (by profession) | Professors, engineers, specialists |
| F-2 | Residence | Long-term residents, point-system qualifiers |
| F-4 | Overseas Korean | Korean heritage individuals |
| F-5 | Permanent residence | Long-term residents meeting criteria |
| F-6 | Marriage migrant | Spouses of Korean citizens |
| H-1 | Working holiday | Young adults from treaty countries |
A-Series: Diplomatic and Official Visas
For embassy staff, government officials, and their accompanying family members:
- A-1 (Diplomatic): Ambassadors, embassy diplomatic staff, and their immediate family members
- A-2 (Official): Non-diplomatic embassy staff and officials of international organizations
- A-3 (Treaty): Status-of-forces personnel under US-ROK Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), including US military personnel and dependents
Duration: Tied to assignment length; renewable throughout posting
Dependents: Spouse and children covered under principal’s visa
Work authorization: Principal visa holder authorized for assignment duties; dependents typically require separate authorization
A-series visa holders typically require specialized housing (ambassador residences, embassy-approved buildings). Hometown Realty regularly supports A-series families in Hannam, UN Village, Seongbuk-dong, and Pyeongchang-dong placements.
C-Series: Short-Term Visit Visas
For stays under 90 days:
- C-3 (Short-term general): Tourism, visiting family, short business meetings. Typically 90 days per entry.
- C-4 (Short-term employment): Up to 90 days of paid work for specific temporary assignments
Most C-series visitors stay in hotels or short-term furnished apartments rather than entering standard rental agreements. For business visits that may extend or convert to long-term stays, confirm visa conversion rules before arriving.
Visa-free entry: Many countries have 90-day visa-free agreements with Korea for tourism (not for employment).
D-Series: Long-Term Non-Employment Visas
The D-series covers most long-term stays that aren’t direct employment. The most relevant for corporate expats:
D-7 (Intra-company Transfer)
The core corporate expat visa. For employees transferred from an overseas office to a Korean branch, subsidiary, or affiliate of the same company.
- Requirements: 1+ year with sending company, position justifying intra-company transfer, Korean entity letter
- Initial duration: Typically 2 years, renewable
- Dependents: F-3 (dependent) visa for spouse and children
- Processing: 2–4 weeks typical through Korean consulate in home country
D-8 (Investment)
For foreign investors and company founders in Korea:
- D-8-1: Corporate investment, minimum investment threshold applies
- D-8-2: Technology-based startup
- D-8-4: Advanced-tech investment with lower capital threshold
- Duration: Up to 5 years, renewable
- Dependents: F-3 for spouse and children
D-10 (Job Seeker)
For individuals holding advanced degrees or professional qualifications seeking employment in Korea:
- Duration: 6 months, extendable up to 2 years total
- Work authorization: Limited part-time; converts to E-series upon securing full employment
Other D-series relevant for specific cases
- D-2 (Student): University degree programs
- D-4 (General training): Korean language programs, technical training
- D-6 (Religious activities): Missionaries, religious workers
E-Series: Work Visas by Profession
The E-series covers employment-based visas, categorized by profession:
- E-1 (Professor): University professors and researchers
- E-2 (Foreign Language Instructor): Language teachers (English and other languages) at schools and institutes
- E-3 (Research): Research personnel in specific fields
- E-4 (Technology Transfer): Technical specialists transferring knowledge
- E-5 (Professional): Licensed professionals (doctors, lawyers, architects with Korean credentials)
- E-6 (Culture and Arts / Entertainment): Artists, entertainers, athletes with paid engagements in Korea
- E-7 (Special Occupation): Corporate professionals, specialists, managers, and roles designated by the Ministry of Justice
E-7 is particularly common for mid-career corporate expats not covered by D-7 intra-company transfer. It covers IT specialists, finance professionals, marketing specialists, and other skilled roles under designated occupation codes.
- Initial duration: Typically 1–3 years depending on contract, renewable
- Dependents: F-3 for spouse and children
- Work authorization: Limited to the specific role and employer sponsoring the visa
F-Series: Residence and Family Visas
The F-series covers long-term residence rights:
F-2 (Residence)
For long-term residents meeting specific criteria:
- F-2-7: Point-system qualifiers (based on income, education, Korean language, age)
- F-2-99: Various long-term residence categories
- Duration: Up to 5 years, renewable
- Work authorization: Generally unrestricted
F-4 (Overseas Korean)
For individuals of Korean heritage (foreign nationals with Korean ancestry):
- Eligibility: Korean citizens by birth who acquired foreign nationality, or direct descendants
- Duration: Up to 3 years, renewable
- Work authorization: Nearly unrestricted (some restricted sectors)
- Benefits: Simplified entry, limited banking and property restrictions
F-5 (Permanent Residence)
Permanent residence in Korea:
- Eligibility paths: 5+ years continuous residence on long-term visas, significant investment, point-system qualification, F-6 holders after 2+ years marriage
- Duration: Permanent (identification card renewed every 10 years)
- Work authorization: Unrestricted
- Benefits: Social security, no visa renewal needed
F-6 (Marriage Migrant)
For spouses of Korean citizens (common point of confusion with F-2):
- Eligibility: Legally married to Korean citizen; meets income/documentation requirements
- Initial duration: 1 year, renewable
- Path to F-5: Eligible after 2 years continuous residence as F-6 holder
- Work authorization: Unrestricted
H-1: Working Holiday Visa
For young adults (typically 18–30) from countries with bilateral working holiday agreements with Korea:
- Duration: 1 year, generally non-renewable
- Work authorization: Limited to supporting living expenses (not career employment)
- Eligible countries: Australia, Canada, UK, New Zealand, France, Germany, Japan, and others — check current list through Korean embassy
Working holiday visa holders often use short-term furnished rentals rather than long-term leases given the 1-year limit.
Visa Conversion in Korea
Many expats arrive on one visa and convert to another once in Korea. Common conversions:
- D-10 (job seeker) → E-7 (special occupation) upon securing employment
- D-4 (language student) → D-2 (regular student) upon university admission
- D-2 (student) → E-7 or D-10 upon graduation
- E-7 → F-2 → F-5 path to permanent residence over 5+ years
- F-6 → F-5 after 2+ years marriage
Conversions typically require application at a local immigration office with documentation showing eligibility for the new visa category.
Alien Registration Card (ARC)
Any foreigner planning to stay longer than 90 days must apply for an Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) within 90 days of arrival. The ARC is required for:
- Banking (opening accounts, wire transfers)
- Mobile phone contracts
- Lease registration for housing
- National health insurance enrollment
- Utility setup
- Most government services
Without ARC, foreign residents face significant daily-life friction. For the full relocation setup including ARC application, see our complete relocation guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What visa do I need for a corporate transfer to Korea?
The D-7 (intra-company transfer) visa is the standard choice for corporate employees transferred from an overseas office to a Korean branch, subsidiary, or affiliate of the same company. For hires by a Korean company that is not your current employer’s affiliate, E-7 (special occupation) or another E-series visa applies based on your role.
How long does it take to process a Korean work visa?
Processing time varies by visa type and consulate workload. D-7 intra-company transfers typically process in 2–4 weeks. E-series visas typically take 2–8 weeks depending on documentation completeness. D-8 investment visas can take 2–3 months due to additional investment verification. Working holiday H-1 visas typically process in 2–6 weeks.
Can I convert my visa after arriving in Korea?
Yes, many visas can be converted at a local immigration office within Korea. Common conversions include D-10 (job seeker) to E-7 (upon securing employment), D-4 (language student) to D-2 (regular student), and E-series to F-series as you accumulate residence time. Not all conversions are permitted — confirm your target conversion is available before planning.
Can my family join me on my work visa in Korea?
Yes. Spouses and unmarried children under 20 (sometimes under 24 for students) typically qualify for the F-3 (dependent) visa under your principal work visa. F-3 holders generally cannot work in Korea unless they obtain separate work authorization. Diplomatic A-series visas typically cover dependents under the principal’s visa directly.
Do I need a visa to visit Korea for business meetings?
For stays under 90 days, many countries have visa-free entry agreements with Korea for business meetings (not paid work). For countries without visa-free entry, the C-3 (short-term general) visa applies. For paid short-term work (under 90 days), the C-4 (short-term employment) visa is required.
What visa do diplomatic staff and their families need?
Embassy diplomatic staff hold A-1 (diplomatic) visas; non-diplomatic embassy staff hold A-2 (official) visas. US Status of Forces personnel and dependents hold A-3 visas. These visa categories include spouse and children of the principal holder under the primary visa, with duration tied to the diplomatic assignment.
How do I get Korean permanent residence?
The F-5 (permanent residence) visa requires meeting specific eligibility: 5+ years of continuous residence on long-term visas, significant investment, point-system qualification (based on income, education, Korean language, and other factors), or 2+ years marriage as F-6 holder. F-5 is permanent with ID card renewal every 10 years and provides unrestricted work authorization.
Working with Hometown Realty
At Hometown Realty, we don’t handle visa applications directly, but we support corporate expats, diplomatic families, and relocating expats throughout the housing dimension of their relocation. Because housing arrangements interact with your visa status (ARC requirement for lease registration, dependent visa requirements, diplomatic clauses for embassy families), we coordinate with clients’ legal and HR teams to ensure housing timing matches visa processing.
For the full relocation process, see our complete guide to relocating to Korea and our step-by-step guide to renting an apartment in Seoul as a foreigner.
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Email: rent@hometownrealty.co.kr
Hometown Realty is a licensed Korean real estate agency (Reg. No. 11170-2023-00001), serving the diplomatic, corporate, and expat community in Seoul.
