Korea's visa system can look like alphabet soup at first: D-2, E-7, F-6, H-2 and dozens more. But once you know how to read the codes, the whole thing becomes far less intimidating. Each code is simply a letter that signals a broad purpose — study, work, residence, and so on — followed by a number that narrows it down to a specific situation.
This guide walks through how the codes work and then explains the categories foreigners encounter most often. The goal is to help you recognize where you fit and understand, in plain terms, what your status lets you do — especially around work, which is the area where people most often get into trouble by assuming more than their status allows.
How to read a status code
Every Korean status of stay is written as a letter plus a number, like D-2 or E-7. The letter is the family of visa:
- D — study, training, and certain non-employment activities.
- E — employment, in various specific occupations.
- F — residence and family-based statuses, including permanent residence.
- H — working visit, mainly for overseas Koreans from certain countries.
The number after the letter pins down the exact category. D-2 (degree student) is very different from D-4 (language training), even though both start with D.
Single vs multiple entry
A visa can be single-entry (good for one entry into Korea) or multiple-entry (you can come and go during its validity). This is separate from how long you are allowed to stay. If you plan to travel in and out, the entry type matters — and once you are a registered resident, re-entry is handled differently, which we cover in our guide to re-entry permits.
Visa vs status of stay
People use "visa" loosely, but there is a real distinction. A visa is the entry permission stamped or issued before you arrive — it gets you through the airport. Your status of stay (체류자격) is your residency category once you are inside Korea, recorded on your Alien Registration Card. They usually match, but the rules that govern your daily life — how long you can stay, whether you can work — flow from your status of stay, not the entry sticker.
Common visa categories at a glance
The table below summarizes the categories foreigners run into most. Treat the "what it broadly allows" column as a plain-language sketch, not a legal definition — the precise rules for each code live on HiKorea.
| Code | Who it's for | What it broadly allows |
|---|---|---|
| D-2 | Students enrolled in a Korean university/degree program | Full-time study; limited part-time work only with prior permission |
| D-4 | Language trainees and certain other trainees | Study at a language institute; work is tightly restricted |
| D-10 | Job seekers and start-up preparers | Staying in Korea to look for work or prepare a business, not to work yet |
| E-2 | Foreign language instructors | Teaching a foreign language at an approved institution named in your contract |
| E-7 | Skilled workers in designated occupations | Professional/skilled employment tied to a specific approved job |
| E-9 | Non-professional workers (manufacturing, etc.) | Employment under the Employment Permit System with an assigned employer |
| F-2 | Long-term residents | Broader residence rights; often allows wider work options |
| F-4 | Overseas Koreans | Residence with relatively broad activity, with some restrictions |
| F-5 | Permanent residents | Indefinite residence and broad freedom to work |
| F-6 | Spouses of Korean nationals | Residence based on marriage; generally broad work freedom |
| H-2 | Working-visit (certain overseas Koreans) | Residence plus work in permitted industries |
The D series — study and preparation
D visas are about being in Korea for a reason other than ordinary employment. D-2 is the classic degree-student visa; D-4 covers language and other training; D-10 is the job-seeking status that often acts as a bridge for graduates lining up a work visa. None of these are meant for full-time work.
The E series — employment
E visas are work visas, but each one is tied to a specific kind of job. E-2 is built around language teaching at a named institution. E-7 covers a defined list of skilled and professional occupations and is closely linked to a particular employer and role. E-9 is the non-professional employment route, managed under a structured permit system. The common thread: your permission to work is narrow and tied to the exact job in your paperwork.
The F series — residence and family
F visas are the "settling in" family. F-2 is a long-term residence status that often opens up broader work rights. F-4 serves overseas Koreans. F-6 is the marriage visa for spouses of Korean nationals. F-5 is permanent residence — the most stable status short of citizenship, with broad freedom to live and work. Many people aim to move toward F-2 or F-5 over time.
The H series — working visit
H-2 is a working-visit status mainly for overseas Koreans from designated countries, allowing residence together with employment in permitted industries.
Work permissions are strict — take them seriously
The single most important thing to understand is that your right to work is tied to your status, and the boundaries are enforced. Working outside what your status permits — for example, a language student taking on full-time paid work, or an E-7 holder doing a completely different job than the one approved — can put your stay at risk, including fines and worse.
How to confirm your own category
This overview is a map, not a rulebook. The detailed conditions — eligibility, allowed activities, required documents — differ for every code and are updated periodically. To be certain about your exact situation:
- Find your status code on your visa or ARC.
- Look it up on HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr), the official immigration portal.
- If anything is unclear, call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345, which offers multilingual support.
When it comes time to renew, the process is its own task — read how to extend your visa in Korea without leaving.
The bottom line
Korean visa codes are easier than they look once you see the pattern: a letter for the purpose, a number for the specifics. D is study, E is work, F is residence and family, H is working visit. The categories above cover most foreigners, but the fine print — and especially the rules about what work you can do — is strict and status-specific. Use this guide to orient yourself, then confirm your exact rights and obligations on HiKorea or via 1345 before you make any move that depends on your status.