Justice Ministry to Exempt Foreign Students with Excellent Korean from Visa Financial Proof Requirements

Ministry of Justice Announces Measures to Improve International Student Visa System

The Ministry of Justice is pushing ahead with a plan to exempt foreign students with excellent Korean language proficiency from having to prove their financial means when applying for visas. In cases where focus management is needed, such as for countries with a high risk of illegal stay or employment, the ministry plans to expand the application of the "Study Expense Security Deposit System."

Ministry of Justice Building in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News

On October 7, the Ministry of Justice announced the results of the "Consultative Council on the Improvement of the Foreign Student Visa System." The council was launched on April 20 to prepare for an era of 400,000 international students in Korea. The council is chaired by Jinsoo Lee, Acting Minister of Justice (Vice Minister), and is joined by experts from the fields of universities, education, and immigration. Over the course of approximately five months, the council held four working-level meetings and gathered opinions at events such as the Regional Era Commission and National Assembly policy seminars.

The Ministry of Justice plans to differentiate the requirements for proving financial means at the stage of entry. International students with either Level 4 on the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) or Level 4 of the Social Integration Program will be exempt from providing proof of financial means. In cases that require special focus, the Study Expense Security Deposit System will be more widely applied. This system requires students to deposit funds for necessary living expenses for a certain period while studying in Korea.

The Immigration and Foreign Policy Bureau plans to establish standardized verification procedures and materials so that universities can genuinely verify overseas degree and academic records. In cooperation with overseas missions, an "Overseas Study Agency Registration System" will also be introduced. Additionally, for students from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries who wish to study in Korea, a new (tentatively titled) "Gap Year Student (D-2-8)" visa track is being considered.

The permit requirements for part-time employment during enrollment will be simplified to Korean language proficiency and academic credits. At the same time, the Korean language requirement will be strengthened to Level 3 of the Social Integration Program. If the student has a "Part-Time Employment Confirmation" issued by the university, submission of additional documents will be waived. If universities attempt to circumvent the rules by operating weekend, night, or online courses primarily to support student part-time jobs rather than academics, the preferential visa benefits for the relevant departments will be discontinued. This policy will be applied even to universities certified under the "Internationalization Competency Certification System" by the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Education.

The stay period for job-seeking visas (D-10) after graduation will be differentiated between 1 and 3 years, based on Korean language skills and the degree of preparation for employment. To help returned graduates maintain connections with Korea, a new (tentatively titled) "Korean Study Alumni Visitor Visa" is also planned. If science and engineering students who meet certain requirements, such as proficiency in Korean, wish to work in sectors like manufacturing, a system to switch to a Skilled Worker (E-7) visa will be promoted. The ministry also aims to develop a specialized work visa for international students awarded a "Professional Technical Master's" (tentative name), which will enable them to move from a student (D-2) visa to a resident (F-2) visa more easily.

The ministry also plans to redesign broad-area and region-specific visas in line with regional industry needs. A new linkage course with the OASIS entrepreneurial training program at on-campus Global Startup Immigration Support Centers will support international students to challenge for a Startup (D-8-4) visa while enrolled.

The ministry will also set up five (tentatively titled) "International Student Visa and Stay Support Centers" at regional immigration offices (branches). It plans to create a separate chapter in the Immigration Control Act addressing student visa issuance and part-time employment, and to revise Article 18 of the same law, which governs restrictions on foreign employment, to align with the employment support activities of universities and local governments.

The number of international students in Korea has increased from 17,000 in 2004 to 100,000 in 2016, 200,000 in 2022, and is expected to reach 300,000 by 2025. As of August this year, it is estimated to be around 350,000.

Acting Minister Lee stated, "We will offer greater growth opportunities to international students with a clear academic purpose and strong qualifications, while responding strictly to abuse of the student visa system."

The Ministry of Justice plans to implement improvements that can be addressed internally starting in the second half of this year, while those requiring discussions with other ministries will be facilitated through a cross-ministerial consultative body.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.