Can You Change Your Student Visa to a Work Visa in Korea?
If you’re studying in Korea on a student visa and thinking about building your career here, you’ve probably wondered: “Can I switch from a student visa to a work visa without leaving the country?”
The short answer is yes — but it requires meeting specific conditions. Here’s a clear, friendly breakdown of how it works.
Understanding the Student Visa
Most international students in Korea hold the D-2 student visa, which allows you to stay in the country legally while you pursue a degree. This visa covers undergraduate, graduate, and research programs.
Can You Directly Switch to a Work Visa?
Yes, you can change your D-2 student visa to a work visa (such as the E-7) within Korea as long as your visa is valid and you meet immigration requirements. You usually don’t need to leave the country during this process.
Popular Visa Transition Routes
1. D-2 → E-7 (Work Visa)
If you’ve secured a full-time job offer from a company willing to sponsor you, you can apply to change your visa status directly.
Immigration typically checks that:
• the job is related to your major
• the employer meets sponsorship conditions
• your salary and job description meet the visa standards
This is the most direct route, but it depends heavily on the employer’s eligibility and your academic background.
2. D-2 → D-10 Job-Seeking Visa → E-7
If you haven’t found a job yet, the D-10 job-seeker visa is the most common path.
It gives you up to 6 months (often extendable) to job hunt in Korea legally.
Once you land a job, you can transition from D-10 to a work visa like E-7.
This route offers more flexibility and time to prepare documents, build your resume, and find the right employer.
What Immigration Looks For
To approve your visa change, Korean immigration checks:
• the job’s eligibility under the work visa category
• whether your employer meets sponsorship and financial requirements
• the relevance between your degree and the job
• accuracy and completeness of translated or notarized documents
Missing or unclear documents often cause delays, so preparation is essential.
Tips for a Smooth Visa Transition
Start early: Begin preparing for your visa change before graduation.
Get your documents in order: Translation, notarization, and timing matter.
Communicate with your employer: They handle major portions of the application, so stay aligned throughout the process.
Final Thoughts
In short: Yes, you can change your Korean student visa to a work visa, and most students do it from within Korea.
Whether you transition directly to an E-7 or take the D-10 route, careful preparation and the right employer make the process much easier. Many international students successfully make this leap every year — and you can too.