Visa & Legal — Come to Korea

The right visa depends on why you're coming: tourism, study, work, family, or long-term residence. Below is a quick map of the most common categories and the documents that follow them.

Common visa categories

Not sure which one applies to you? The Korean government's Visa Navigator walks you through it in English.

C-3 (Short-term visit) — tourism, business meetings, family visits. Up to 90 days. Many nationalities are visa-free but still need K-ETA.
D-2 (Student) — full-time degree study at a Korean university.
D-4 (General training) — Korean language programs and non-degree training.
E-1 to E-7 (Work) — professor (E-1), foreign language instructor (E-2), researcher (E-3), technology transfer (E-4), professional (E-5), entertainment (E-6), special profession (E-7).
F-2 (Long-term resident) — points-based, gives you near-full work rights.
F-4 (Overseas Korean) — for ethnic Koreans with foreign citizenship.
F-5 (Permanent resident) — the closest thing to permanent residency.
F-6 (Marriage) — for spouses of Korean nationals.
D-8 / D-10 — corporate investor / job-seeker.

The Alien Registration Card (ARC / 외국인등록증)

If you stay longer than 90 days, you must register at an immigration office and receive an ARC. This is the single most important document you will carry in Korea — banks, phone carriers, hospitals, and landlords will all ask for it.

Book an appointment on HiKorea (slots fill weeks ahead).
Bring passport, visa, one passport photo, your housing contract or dorm confirmation, application form, and the fee (about ₩30,000). The current list of required documents is on the Korea Immigration Service site.
Card is mailed in roughly 2–5 weeks. You can get a temporary confirmation letter in the meantime.

If your situation changes

Changing visa types, jobs, or address all require notifying immigration — usually within 14 days. Fines for late reporting are real but small. When in doubt, call the immigration helpline 1345 (English available) or check HiKorea.