In order to stay in Korea for either the academic semester or year, when studying abroad you will need to get a student visa (aka D-2 Visa). 

 

The process of getting a student visa isn’t the most difficult thing, however it can become a very complicated process if you don’t throughly and carefully complete the visa process. 

 

In order to start the process of your student visa for Korea you must make a visa appointment with the consulate of your choosing (Honolulu, Los Angeles, etc).  You much make the appointment on the 365 Overseas Korean Portal webpage. 

 The visa issuance process takes approximately 3 weeks after submitting your documents. The documents/things you will need for the student visa include:

• 1) Visa Application Form 

  • Which you can find on the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Honolulu website

    • You must make sure you fill out the application without leaving any section blank, and your signature must be place on the last page 

• 2) Original Passport (Physical, Actual) 

  • The passport must remain valid for more than 6 months

    • 2a) Original U.S. Green Card or Long-Term Visa (Physical & Actual) 

      • *This only applies if you do not hold a U.S. Passport 

• 3) Passport size photo taken within 6 months 

• 4) Original ID issued by the state of Hawaii 

• 5) Original Certificate of Admission (COA) 

  • This is a document which is sent by your exchange university after getting accepted 

  • *The visa applicant must sign the bottom left part of the COA after reading it 

• 6) Business Certififcate of School from Korea 

  • Document also sent by your exchange university after getting accepted 

• 7) Original documents demonstrating the finaicial capacity to live in Korea, such as a bank statement showing the last 3 months 

  • You can either submit your own bank statement or your parent/legal guardian’s bank statement (if you don’t have enough money) 

• 8) Physical Transcripts (which can be purchased through the Office of the Registrar) 

• 9) Original Birth Certificate (Physical, Actual) 

• 10) Physical copies of the documents:

  • Original Passport 

  • Original Green Card or Long-Term Visa 

  • Original ID issued by the state of Hawaii 

  • Original Birth Certificate 

• Visa Process Fee 

  • Cash only

  • $45 for U.S. Citizens; fee may vary depending on nationality 

 

*Please note that you should not submit an application for your visa if your planned arrival in Korea is more than 3 months away