Hi, Kampers! Are you struggling to understand what D-2 is all about?🤷

Or are you double-checking if you may have missed anything? 

The first time looking at the variations of types of visas, not even getting into the specifics of the D-2 visa, is surely an intimidating encounter.

K-campus is here to help, with a comprehensive guide on what exactly D-2 is, including its variations and their respective requirements, as well as the necessary documents you need to prepare!

The following information is based on general searching results and conditions may differ depending on the policy and the applicant’s background status. Please refer to the immigration office and the official agencies for professional advice.

What is a D-2 visa?

D-2 is a student visa. You need this to stay in Korea through your undergraduate program, master’s, or Ph.D.

As common as D-2 is among international students in Korea, there are eight variations to it.

D-2-1 is for those signing up for the associate degree.

D-2-2 is for those who want a visa for a bachelor’s degree.

D-2-3, master’s degree,

D-2-4, doctoral degree,

D-2-5, research study,

D-2-6 is another common D-2 type of visa as it’s an exchange student visa,

D-2-7 is for students the government invites,

last but not least, D-2-8 is for those who wish to study in Korea for a short period of time. Attending summer or winter schools would be an example.

How to apply

Everything starts once you are accepted to the university you applied for in Korea.

As soon as you get a CoA (Certificate of Admission) from the school or institute you applied to study in Korea, you should start your visa application process in your home country.

You should…

1. Gather the required documents and fill out the visa application form,
2. Book a reservation for a visit to the Korean embassy in your country or consulate to submit your visa form,
3. Visit the embassy or consulate for the appointment,
4. And wait patiently until the result comes out and be ready to prepare any additional documents or information the embassy requires.

The entire process is best if done before entering Korea because if not, it’s a lot of additional hassle.

To begin with, for exchange students, your home school may already have a set of guidelines for you to follow. Otherwise, you may refer to the Korean school or institute for visa application guidelines.

The documents you are submitting for the visa application may vary by country, as some countries are asked to submit their students’ final education certificates while some are not. Here is the list of things you typically need to prepare for a D-2 visa.

What you need when you apply for a D-2 visa

• Your passport and a copy of your passport that has at least six months of validity
• Your photo in passport sample size for the visa certificate (3.5cm×4.5cm) that’s taken within 6 months of the application date
• Visa application form (filled)
• Certificate of admission (CoA) issued by the Korean university or institute you are planning to attend — You should ask your university for this
• A copy of the University’s business registration certificate — you should ask your university for this too
• Your final academic credentials and educational documents are required by the university, internationally authenticated (Apostille) 
  This does not apply to all countries, so check if the embassy requires one.
• Proof of your financial status
  It's required to check that you are financially sufficient during your stay, and includes scholarship letters, bank account status or financial aid certificates.
  This does not apply to all countries, so check if the embassy requires one.
  If you are proving your financial status through your family’s bank account, you should also submit the certificate of your family relation.
• Application fee: Approximately between 60$ and 90$ depending on your plan, and it should be paid in cash. Some countries do not require a fee for D-2 as they are under a fee-exempt agreement with Korea (ex. Germany)
• Tuberculosis test certificate (for nationals of one of the following 35 countries)
  Nepal, East Timor, Laos, Russia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, India, Indonesia, China, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Pakistan, Philippines, Nigeria, South Africa, Belarus, Mozambique, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Angola, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Kazakhstan, Congo, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Tajikistan, Peru
  
  

What is an Apostille?

Easily put, an Apostille is a document that is written in a universal form so that it is notarized in a country other than your home country. It is usually attached to the original version to prove that it was signed and translated officially by an authorized person or institute. You can either search for offices in your country that provide Apostille services or use the internet to search for those who qualify for Apostille service.