All international students should acquire a D-2 visa before coming to Korea. Please visit the Korean embassy/consulate’s website and check list of required documents for D-2 visa application. Certificate of Admission* is one of the necessary documents and it will be sent to the admitted students by airmail. Once you prepare all of the documents, you can submit them to the Korean embassy/consulate for your visa application.

Certificate of Admission

You must submit Certificate of Admission to the embassy/consulate to get D-2 visa. If you fail to receive your admission certificate, please contact the respective office below.

1. Full-time Graduate Students

• KAIST Office of Admissions Team
• Email : advanced.adm@kaist.ac.kr

2. Full-time Undergraduate Students

• Admissions Team
• Email : creative.adm@kaist.ac.kr

3. Exchange Students

• International Relations Team
• Email : irt@kaist.ac.kr

If you’re eligible for F-4 (Overseas Korean) or E-3 (Researcher), you may apply for those visa types since both F-4 and E-3 visa include study activities in Korea. To find out how to apply for the E-3 visa, please click here.

Any foreigner who wishes to stay in Korea for more than 90 days needs to obtain an Alien Registration Card from the Daejeon Immigration Office. The card will act as your main form of identification during your time in Korea, and you will need an alien registration number for various occasions.

Foreigners intending to stay in Korea for more than 90 days must register within 90 days of entry. However, new international students are strongly advised to apply for an alien registration card (ARC) as soon as they arrive at KAIST. In addition, if you are granted a new status or permission for a status change, you must report the change immediately after receiving notification of the new status.

Required Documents

• Application form (available at ISSS)
• Passport (Copy of ID page and VISA page)
• 1 photo (3.5cmx4.5cm)
• Fee 30,000 KRW in cash
• Certificate of Enrollment (Obtain it from the automated machine on the 1st floor of E11)t
• Proof of Residency (Can be printed out from the KAIST Dormitory System (kds.kaist.ac.kr) / Copy of Home Contract)
• Certificate of Health Check-up (applies only to students from 16 countries*)

  *16 countries: China, Sri Lanka, Russia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Nepal, Mongolia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia
  *Health check-up must be taken at the Yuseong District Health Center (유성구 보건소).

Fingerprint Registration

After the above documents are submitted to the Immigration office, you must register your fingerprints at the Immigration Office to complete your application.

Card Issuance

When you’re done with the application, you will receive a sheet of paper showing that your application is being processed (named "Receipt"). Submit this to ISSS. ISSS will send out a notice when your card is ready, and you can pick up your card at the ISSS Office after receiving the notice.

Certificate of Alien Registration

It normally takes 2~3 weeks for your Alien Registration Card to be issued. If you need it sooner, then you can get a Certificate of Alien Registration which can temporally act as a substitute for your Alien Registration Card. This certificate is only issued to foreigners who have already completed their Alien Registration.
Visit the Yuseong District Office or the Immigration Office with your passport and a fee of 2,000 won to get the Certificate issued.

When to Apply for Extension

A registered foreigner must apply for an extension of stay before their visa expires (date written on the back of the Alien Registration Card). You can apply for a student visa (D-2) extension from 4 months prior to the expiration date. If you would like ISSS to apply on your behalf, please prepare and submit the required documents (listed below) to ISSS at least two weeks before your visa expiration date. You can also apply for extension through the online immigration system (www.hikorea.go.kr). For online applications, the extension fee will be discounted from 60,000 won to 56,000 won. If an application for extension is made after the expiration date, the individual shall pay a penalty according to Article 25 of the Immigration Act.

Required Documents For D-2 Visa Extension

• Application form
• Copy of Passport
• Alien Registration Card (Original + Copy)
• Transcript (issued from the automated machine on the 1st floor of the Creative Learning Building, E11)
• Certificate of Scholarship and Financial Support (issued by the Student Affairs Team (E11), degree-seeking students only) or balance sheet (at least 500,000 won per month)
• Certificate of Exchange Studentship (issued by IRT, exchange students only)
• Fee: 60,000 won in Revenue Stamps (available at Woori Bank, W2) glued to the form

  * 56,000 won if you use the online immigration system (www.hikorea.go.kr)

• Proof of Residency

If you are enrolling for longer than the normal academic period, please prepare the following:

• Undergraduate (9th semester or more): Reason Statement & Recommendation from Professor
• Graduate (9th semester or more), PhD (5th semester or more): Research Student Confirmation Form & Thesis Schedule (both available at ISSS)

Temporary Extension of Stay: Short-Term (less than 30 days)

Extension of stay for travel or other miscellaneous purpose after completing courses at KAIST

• Application Form (available at ISSS)
• Passport
• Alien Registration Card
• Copy of flight ticket (e-ticket)

If you lose your Alien Registration Card, it is important that you report the loss and quickly get it reissued. You will need to bring the following documents to the Daejeon Immigration Office.

• Application Form
• Copy of Passport
• Report of Loss Form (available at ISSS)
• Fee: 30,000 won in cash
• Proof of Residency

It is illegal for D-2 visa holders to obtain work outside of the university and earn an income without prior permission for activities outside the visa status. To get permission, you will need to submit the following forms and complete the necessary process before starting your job. Once part-time work permission is given, bachelor’s degree students can work up to 20 hours per week and mater’s or above can work up to 25 hours per week.

• Application Form
• Passport (Original + Copy of ID page)
• Alien Registration Card (Original + Copy)
• Recommendation Form for Part-time Work for Foreign Student (available at ISSS)
• Transcript (minimum required GPA: 2.3)
• Copy of a Certificate of Business Registration (of your intended workplace)
• Proof of Residency

If any of the following changes should occur, you must report the change to the Daejeon Immigration Office within 14 days of occurrence. If changes are not reported within 14 days, you will be fined according to Article 35 of the Immigration Act. If you need assistance, visit the ISSS office.

Changes to Report

• Change of name, sex, date of birth, or nationality
• Change of passport number, date of issuance, or expiration date
• Change in residence in Korea
• Change of university, workplace, or details of the organization you are part of (including name changes)

Required Documents

• Application form
• Passport (Original + Copy of ID page)
• Alien Registration Card (Original + Copy)
• Verifying documents for the respective changes

  * Items are subject to change depending on individual circumstances. You can either go to the Immigration Office in person or ask ISSS to report the changes for you by submitting the documents to ISSS. For change of residence, you can visit the Yuseong District Office and report it there.

If you take a leave of absence, you are obliged to leave Korea within 30 days from the date of occurrence (exceptions apply). You are asked to return your Alien Registration Card at the international airport as you leave. To re-enter Korea to come back to school, you have to acquire a new student visa (D-2) even if there are many days left on your ARC. This is because your permitted length of stay is automatically shortened when you take a leave of absence. When you are preparing for visa application, please e-mail ISSS and request the "Certificate of Admission" (a required document for D-2 issuance).

If you need more information on immigration procedures or other related issues, please contact the Korea Immigration Call Center.

• Services provided in 18 languages including English
• Operating hours: 09:00~18:00, Monday to Friday
• Telephone number: 1345 (no area code needed)
• Website: www.hikorea.go.kr, www.immigration.go.kr

Address: 16-8, Jungchon-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon (대전 중구 중촌동 16-8) *Beside the Sun Hospital.

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