South Korea is a popular destination for international students due to its educational structure. However, the recent reform in the South Korea student visa policy is expected to benefit international students even more. To facilitate more foreign students’ enrolment, the South Korean government introduced a few changes to the existing student visa and work visa policies effective from July 3rd, 2023.
New South Korea Student Visa Policy
The new policy upgrades include financial and work hours relaxation for international students to ensure maximum ‘enrolment cliff.’ These are the new additions:
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Financial Ease
Since funding is a major concern for students the Korean Government has decided to ease finance-related policies. In order to get a D-2 student visa in Korea, it is mandatory for the students to have a certain amount in the bank. Previously, the amount was KRW26 million (USD20,000) which is now condensed to KRW20 million (USD 15,000). Apart from this, students who are seeking D-4 visas for language studies are required to have a minimum bank balance of KRW10 million (USD 7,600) KRW13 million (USD 10,000).
With this, the Korean government is expecting this to be a significant hit among international students because it broadens their scope to study in South Korea.
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Working Hours/Internship Hours Ease
Before getting enrolled in a foreign university, many students seek opportunities to earn some extra. South Korea also has this facility that allows international students to work part-time along with their studies to manage their finances.
Till 2nd July 2023, South Korea allowed foreign students to work up to 20 hours per week. According to the newly introduced policy, international students can work up to 25 hours per week and even 30 hours if they are studying outside of the major cities. The government hopes that this addition will encourage more foreign students with this new South Korea visa policy.
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Inclusion of Other Language Proficiency Tests than TOPIK
Along with the other changes, South Korea has started to accept other language proficiency test results apart from the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). The Korean Ministry included the King Sejong Institute level test and the Korean Language Ability Test results to evaluate if the students have enough Korean language proficiency.
These new additions are expected to make the process of visa application to South Korea easier because learning a foreign language could be a little difficult and having different standards of evaluation might work for different students.
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Increased Employment Opportunities for Students and E-7 Visa Holders
South Korean government is also offering extra benefits for students who are willing to stay and work there. The Ministry of Justice looking after the immigration services has confirmed that they have reduced the required term periods for E-7 visas from 5 years to 4 years. Also, they lessened the hiring limitations regarding hiring foreign professionals to ensure employment opportunities for foreign students.
Why did South Korea Student Visa Policy change?
Despite having one of the best educational systems in the world, South Korea has witnessed a significant downfall in the college-aged population in the last few years and reports show that by the next 20 years, this number will fall by almost 40%. The Korean Ministry of Education found 84 universities that are economically bankrupt.
South Korea is looking forward to more open immigration services to ensure that students from all around the world are choosing their educational institutions. This is to retain the glory of their educational system and at the same time strengthen their international relations.
How Indian Students Benefit from New Visa Policy
There are numerous ways Indian students can get the best out of these new policy changes. Since the government of Korea is looking for improved immigration services, it is a golden opportunity for Indian students to get a D-4 and E-7 visa with ease.
Let’s how Indian students can benefit from these new changes:
- With relaxation in the minimum required bank balance, more Indian students can apply without worrying about finances.
- Since South Korea has increased the time limit for permitted working hours for foreign students. Thus, it is easier to manage own finances while studying.
- Now it is easier to get a South Korea work visa for Indian students with their increased employment opportunities.
- Indian students can opt for any of the acceptable language proficiency tests since TOPIK is no longer mandatory.
South Korea student visa requirements for Indian students
Here are the requirements for a South Korean student visa for Indian students:
- A valid passport with at least 6 months of validity.
- Obtained CoA from a Korean university.
- Required fee for the application.
- 1 passport-sized photo (if needed)
- Proof of finances (minimum bank balance)
- Additional papers in terms of joining a university exchange programme.
If you are also planning to visit South Korea for studying purposes, you can easily avail the benefits of this new South Korea student visa policy and fulfil your dream.
To know more about the visa application process, language proficiency tests, and other important details before going abroad free to reach us!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work in South Korea after graduation?
Ans. Yes, it is possible for international students to work there. You can apply for a work visa or E-7 visa in order to work in a South Korean company.
How to get a South Korean student visa?
Ans. To get a South Korea visa for Indian students, there are a few steps that you can follow:
Step 1: Apply for a student visa.
Step 2: Choose a school according to your goals and apply there.
Step 3: Visit your nearest Korean Embassy to apply.
Step 4: Gather all documents required for your visa. It includes your passport, a statement of purpose (SOP), Applied Korean university’s Confirmation of Visa Issuance, proof of income, etc.
Step 5: Collect your visa after successful approval.
How much are South Korea student visa fees for Indians?
Ans. South Korea student visa might cost anywhere between INR 2100 to INR 6300 for an Indian student.
