International students holding a STUDENT(D-2) visa must receive approval from the immigration office prior to beginning any part-time work. For the permission from immigration office, after receiving confirmation on the ‘Part-time Work of Foreign Student Confirmation Form’ from the Office of International Affairs, submit it to the immigration office of jurisdiction.
1. Subject: STUDENT(D-2) visa holders who satisfy the following conditions
- Students with a GPA of more than C(2.0) or higher in the last semester
- Students with Korean proficiency (TOPIK grades) as follows
- Freshmen ~ sophomore students: TOPIK level 3 or above
- Junior ~ senior students: TOPIK level 4 or above
- English Track Exception: Regardless of academic years, students with scores over 530 TOEFL (197 CBT, 71 iBT), 5.5 IELTS, B2 CEFR, 600 TEPS, may acquire identical status as international students with Korean proficiency and comply to the respective work hours.
2. How to Apply: Prepare the required documents mentioned below and either visit immigration office in person or through the online application (
http://www.hikorea.go.kr )
3. Required Documents:
- Passport, Alien Registration Card
- Part-time Work of Foreign Student Confirmation Form (signed by both employer and OIA)
- Academic Transcript
- TOPIK Transcript
- Copy of a Business License
- if the license pertains to manufacturing business, students must additionally submit ‘Part-Time Employment Business Regulations Compliance Form’
- Copy of a Standard Labor Contract (The hourly wage, details of work, and the exact working hours must be recorded.)
- The contract must be signed between the student and the licensee who are registered on legit business license. Working as dispatched employee via employment agency or dispatching agency is not allowed.
4. Permitted Work Hours and Range
- Hours: within 25 hours per week for undergraduate students (※ No limitations imposed on working hours during holidays and vacations during the semester, and excluded when calculating time allowed per week)
- Duration: one year maximum within the time of stay, workplace allowed limited to two places simultaneously.
- Seal of permission for part time work will be on the passport. (Specify the place of employment and the period of permission)
5. Allowed Fields
- Part-time jobs (simple labor), Professional field excluded.
- Interpretation/translation, Assistant position in the food industry, Office assistant, etc.
- Salesclerk, Assistant position in restaurant or events in English Village and English Camp
- Tour guide assistant and Duty free shop assistant clerk, etc.
6. Restricted Fields
- Private tutoring
- Working for advanced industry and laboratory, where employment is limited to protect industrial secrets
- Working in businesses of speculative activities
- Working as merrymaking receptionist at pleasure bar or merrymaking bar
- Any other job that deems inappropriate for a student to hold or need to be restricted by the Minister of Justice
- Working for companies that are registered as Manufacturing or Construction company on business license
7. If part-time employment extension has been permitted, duration is one year maximum within the time of stay and workplace allowed is limited to two places
Please be advised part-time employment can be denied if the student is maintaining poor work-school balance, such as low attendance rate (70% or below) and low GPA (2.0 or below) based on the recent semester. It can also be denied if the student does not follow proper part-time employment regulations, including insufficiently reporting location, work hours, or any changes.
1. Working Part-time without Receiving Permission
- 1st violation, penalty fees with restrictions on part-time employment for one year
- 2nd violation, eviction
2. Violating Permitting Conditions When the Student Has Received Permission
- 1st violation, restrictions on part-time employment for one year
- 2nd violation, permanent restrictions on part-time employment during the study abroad in Korea
- 3rd violation, Cancellation of student qualification and visa