Working in Korea After Graduation: What International Students Should Check Before Changing from D-2 to D-10 or a Work Visa
Graduating from a Korean university does not automatically change your D-2 student status into a work-eligible status. If you have not yet secured a job after graduation, you may need to consider changing to a D-10 job-seeking status. If you are about to graduate and have already signed an employment contract, you may instead be able to apply directly for an employment status such as E-1 through E-7, provided you meet the relevant requirements.
The first question is not simply whether you have graduated, but whether you are still looking for a job or already have a specific employer and position lined up. If employment is already confirmed, you need to check the occupation, academic or work-experience requirements, employment contract, salary, and other conditions for the relevant work status.
This article explains what to check at each stage:
enrolled → graduating soon → job-seeking → employment confirmed → regional settlement
The term “work visa” is commonly used in everyday conversation, but Korea’s immigration system generally refers to these categories as statuses of stay, so both terms are used where appropriate.
On September 8, 2026, Korea’s Ministry of Education announced a new policy direction under the theme of a “qualitative transition” in international student policy after the country entered the era of 300,000 international students. In 2023, the government had set a goal of attracting 300,000 international students by 2027. (moe.go.kr)
Before graduation, first determine what stage you are actually in
Your path after D-2 status depends first on whether you already have an employer. D-10 is not a mandatory step that every international graduate must go through.
| Your current situation | Status to review first | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Currently enrolled under D-2 | Keep D-2 | Expected graduation date and current period of stay |
| Graduating soon, no job yet | D-10 job-seeking | Eligibility, current detailed requirements, required documents |
| Graduating soon, employment contract signed | E-1 to E-7 or another applicable work status | Occupation, qualification requirements, employment contract, salary |
| Graduated and currently job-seeking | D-10 | Period of stay, permitted job-seeking/internship activities, reporting requirements |
| Graduating from a designated specialized technical department | E-7-M (K-CORE) | Designated department, Korean ability, major-related employment, contract conditions |
| Considering a regional settlement program | F-2-R or another regional program | Do not assume local employment automatically qualifies you; check that program’s specific rules |
The current Study in Korea employment guidance includes international students who have obtained or expect to obtain an associate degree from a Korean junior college or a bachelor’s degree or higher from a Korean university among those who may qualify to change to D-10.
It also explains that a D-2 student who is expected to graduate may apply to change directly to an employment status such as E-1 through E-7 if the student meets the relevant requirements and has signed an employment contract.
In other words, you do not need to assume that every graduate must move to D-10 first.
If you do not have a job yet, what should you prepare for D-10?
D-10 is a status of stay for people who want to continue job-seeking in Korea before entering full-time employment. International students who have obtained or expect to obtain a Korean associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or higher qualification may be included among eligible applicants.
For a change from D-2 to D-10 for job-seeking purposes, Study in Korea lists documents including the application form, passport, residence card, fee, proof of academic background or transcript, and a job-seeking activity plan. If applicable, a copy of a national technical qualification certificate may also be required.
However, graduating from a Korean university alone should not be understood as an automatic guarantee that D-10 will be approved. Some official websites contain guidance updated at different times, so applicants should check the latest detailed requirements for the specific D-10 category immediately before applying.
D-10 can now allow up to three years of job-seeking, and up to one year of internship with the same company
Under reforms implemented by the Ministry of Justice on October 29, 2025, the maximum job-seeking period for international graduates of Korean universities was extended from two years to three years, while the period granted per extension was increased from six months to one year.
The former overall one-year internship cap was removed, and the maximum internship period with the same company was extended from six months to one year. (moj.go.kr)
If you see online information saying that D-10 is limited to two years or that an internship with one company is limited to six months, check when that information was written.
One important complication is that older information still remains on some official pages. As of September 2026, a separate Study in Korea residence-information page still shows the previous “maximum two years / six months with one company” rules.
For the applicable period, the Ministry of Justice’s guidance reflecting the reforms that took effect on October 29, 2025 should be checked first. (studyinkorea.go.kr)
Also, “up to three years” does not mean every applicant receives three years at once. It refers to the maximum possible job-seeking period under the current framework, while the period granted at each stage and individual extensions remain subject to the applicable requirements.
For D-10 internships, you also need to check reporting requirements
Public questions from international residents show another common point of confusion: whether someone who receives an internship offer can simply begin work immediately or must report the internship first.
The Ministry of Justice’s 2026 immigration guidance specifically lists commencement of training, change of training institution, and internship reporting under D-10 among reportable immigration matters. (immigratioo.kr)
Before starting an internship, you should therefore check whether the activity is permitted under your specific D-10 category, whether the planned duties are allowed, and what reporting procedure applies.
If you already have a job offer, match the job itself to the correct status first
A company’s decision to hire you does not by itself mean you qualify for an employment status.
Study in Korea explains that a person legally staying under D-2 or D-10 must be entering a field covered by an employment status such as E-1 through E-7, satisfy the qualification requirements for that status, and have an employment contract with the employer.
E-7 in particular does not refer to a single occupation. Official guidance lists multiple categories and occupations, including software developers, engineering professionals, advertising and public-relations specialists, overseas sales workers, interpreters and translators, designers, and certain semi-professional or skilled occupations.
So before asking whether “the company can sponsor E-7,” first check which E-7 occupation your actual job duties fall under.
Salary also matters. The Ministry of Justice announced the following basic 2026 salary requirements for E-7 statuses, applicable from February 1 through December 31, 2026. (moj.go.kr)
| Category | 2026 basic salary requirement |
|---|---|
| Professional E-7-1 | KRW 31.12 million or more per year |
| Semi-professional E-7-2 | KRW 25.89 million or more per year |
| General skilled worker E-7-3 | KRW 25.89 million or more per year |
| Skilled worker E-7-4 | KRW 26.00 million or more per year |
Some occupations may be subject to separate salary standards designated by the Minister of Justice.
Meeting the salary threshold alone does not guarantee approval of an E-7 status. Occupation-specific academic, experience, employer, and employment-contract requirements must also be met. (moj.go.kr)
“If I have a Korean bachelor’s degree, can I work in a field unrelated to my major?” cannot be answered categorically from the current official page
The current Study in Korea page contains language that is not fully consistent on this point.
One section of the general employment-status guidance states that for holders of a Korean bachelor’s degree or higher, a mandatory relationship between the occupation and academic major is not required.
However, the E-7-specific section on the same page states that a Korean bachelor’s degree holder may change status without the usual work-experience requirement when entering a field related to the person’s major.
For that reason, this page alone does not support a broad statement that “any Korean university graduate can obtain E-7 regardless of major,” nor does it justify saying that every E-7 job must always match the applicant’s major.
If you have a job offer, check your exact E-7 occupation together with your degree, major, work experience, and salary against the latest detailed rules for that occupation.
If you plan to work outside the major cities, check whether a separate regional pathway applies
One of the new pathways linking international students with regional employment in 2026 is K-CORE, or E-7-M. It does not apply to every junior-college international student or every person taking a job outside Seoul.
In February 2026, the Ministry of Justice designated one specialized technical department at each of 16 junior colleges as part of a pilot program. In March, it announced the full implementation of the K-CORE (E-7-M) pathway for graduates of those designated departments. (moj.go.kr)
According to the official program materials, graduates of the designated departments must satisfy Korean-language, employment, and contract-related requirements.
The program notice includes conditions such as completion of Social Integration Program Level 4 or recognition of TOPIK Level 5, employment with a company related to the graduate’s major, an initial annual salary of at least KRW 26 million, and an employment contract of at least one year. (mojhome.moj.go.kr)
Attending one of the 16 designated colleges is not enough. You must confirm that your specific department is one of the officially designated departments.
The official program outline also describes a pathway to apply for F-2 residence status after either continuing employment under E-7-M for at least five years or working for the same company in a population-decline area for at least three years. (moj.go.kr)
F-2-R is not simply “the visa you get by working in a regional area”
The regional-specialized F-2-R status is separate from E-7-M.
The Ministry of Justice’s 2026 “regional vitality small-business employment special measure” concerns the expansion of hiring opportunities for certain employers in population-decline areas that employ foreign nationals who already hold F-2-R status.
That document should not be interpreted to mean that taking a job with a company in a regional area automatically makes someone eligible for F-2-R. (moj.go.kr)
If you want to pursue F-2-R itself, you need to check the separate program requirements that apply to the relevant region and application period.
Check these items in this order before graduation
Instead of memorizing visa names first, start with your current period of stay and employment situation.
Check your current D-2 period of stay and expected graduation date separately.
Do not assume that your graduation date and the expiration date of your current status are the same. Study in Korea advises applicants to apply for a change when a change in status is expected, and other official foreign-resident guidance advises D-2 holders to complete D-10 change procedures before the expiration of their authorized stay. (studyinkorea.go.kr)Check immigration appointment availability before graduation.
Public questions show cases in which graduates intended to change to D-10 but could not find a nearby appointment date and became concerned about their legal stay. It is safer to check appointment availability before graduation rather than waiting until after graduation.If you do not have a job yet, check D-10 eligibility and required documents.
You can prepare academic documents and your job-seeking activity plan in advance.If you receive an internship offer, check permitted activities and reporting requirements before the start date.
Do not look only at the maximum internship period and assume you can begin working immediately. (immigration.go.kr)If you receive a full-time job offer, check the occupation before the company name.
Identify which employment status and detailed occupation category your planned duties fall under.Compare your salary with the official standard for the relevant year.
If you are applying for E-7 in 2026, use the 2026 salary notice rather than an older blog post or previous-year threshold. (moj.go.kr)If a specialized technical department or regional pathway may apply to you, compare it separately from the standard route.
For E-7-M, confirm the designated department—not just the university. F-2-R is a separate regional residence program.
Following this order changes the question from “What visa comes after D-2?” to:
“Am I still in the job-seeking stage, or do I already have a specific job and employment contract that allow me to apply for an employment status?”
Is guidance from my university’s international office enough?
University guidance and immigration rules serve different purposes, so both should be checked.
Your university’s international office can help with university-issued documents such as certificates of expected graduation and academic schedules.
The Ministry of Education also published a revised version of the Standard Guidelines for the Management of International Students and Language Trainees on March 27, 2026. (moe.go.kr)
However, D-10 periods of stay, internship reporting, E-7 occupational classifications, and salary thresholds are immigration matters. They should be checked against the current Ministry of Justice and immigration guidance.
This is particularly important because, as of 2026, even official websites still contain both the older two-year D-10 information and the newer three-year rule on different pages. (studyinkorea.go.kr)
Write down these seven things before graduation
Your current status of stay and expiration date
Your graduation or expected graduation date
Available immigration appointment dates
Your degree level: associate, bachelor’s, master’s, etc.
Your prospective employer and actual job duties
Contract term and annual salary
Your major, Korean-language level, and any education, experience, or qualification requirements for the occupation
Once you have these items, it becomes much easier to determine whether to review D-10 first, apply directly for an employment status, or check a separate pathway such as E-7-M.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to change to D-10 first if I get a job before graduation?
Not necessarily. Study in Korea explains that a D-2 student who is expected to graduate may apply to change directly to an employment status such as E-1 through E-7 if the person satisfies the relevant requirements, qualifies for the change, and has signed an employment contract.
If I get D-10, can I stay in Korea for three years at once?
No. Under the current Ministry of Justice rules, the maximum overall job-seeking period for international graduates of Korean universities is three years, while the period granted per extension can be up to one year. Individual approvals and extensions remain subject to the applicable requirements. (moj.go.kr)
Can I immediately intern at one company for up to one year on D-10?
The maximum internship period with the same company has been extended to one year, but the permitted period is not the only requirement.
Ministry of Justice guidance separately lists commencement of training, change of training institution, and internship reporting under D-10 as reportable matters. You should check the rules for your specific D-10 category and complete any required reporting before beginning work. (immigration.go.kr)
If I meet the E-7 salary threshold, will I automatically qualify?
No. The 2026 E-7 salary thresholds are only one part of the requirements. You also need to check whether your planned occupation is eligible and whether you meet the relevant education, experience, employer, and contract conditions.
Some occupations are subject to separate salary standards. (moj.go.kr)
If I get a job outside Seoul, can I get E-7-M or F-2-R?
Regional employment alone does not automatically qualify you for either status.
E-7-M is a separate pathway for graduates of designated specialized technical departments who meet the program’s additional requirements.
F-2-R is a different regional residence program with its own conditions. (moj.go.kr)
Information current as of September 21, 2026
This article is based on publicly available information from Korea’s Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, Korea Immigration Service, and Study in Korea.
It is not based on direct immigration representation or individual case consulting.
Official websites themselves currently contain some D-10 pages that were updated at different times, and the wording on E-7 major relevance is not fully consistent across sections.
Before applying, check the detailed immigration rules in effect on the date of your application together with your degree, occupation, employment contract, and salary conditions.
References
Ministry of Education, “International Student Policy Enters a Qualitative Transition in the Era of 300,000 International Students,” September 8, 2026. (moe.go.kr)
Ministry of Education, “Korea to Become One of the World’s Top 10 Study Destinations by Attracting 300,000 International Students by 2027,” August 16, 2023. (moe.go.kr)
Ministry of Education, “Standard Guidelines for the Management of International Students and Language Trainees,” revised March 27, 2026. (moe.go.kr)
National Institute for International Education, Study in Korea, “Employment System for Foreigners.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ministry of Justice, “Major Improvements to the D-10 Job-Seeking System,” announced October 27, 2025 and implemented October 29, 2025. (moj.go.kr)
Ministry of Justice, “2026 Salary Requirements for E-7 Status.” (moj.go.kr)
Ministry of Justice, “16 Junior Colleges Designated for the Specialized Technical Department Pilot Program,” February 5, 2026. (moj.go.kr)
Ministry of Justice, K-CORE / Specialized Technical Workforce Program materials. (moj.go.kr)
Ministry of Justice, “New Foreign Employment Special Measure for Small Businesses in Population-Decline Areas,” May 12, 2026. (moj.go.kr)
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