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Many international students are eager to find part-time work in Korea. A part-time job not only helps you pay for tuition, but it also adds valuable work experience to your resume.

However, even after going through the challenging process of applying for and finally landing a job, there is a final make-or-break step—obtaining part-time work permission—before you can start working.

Keep reading to find out what no one tells you about obtaining part-time work permission in Korea.

🚦Part-time Work Permission

Under Korean law, D-2 student visa holders must obtain part-time work permission before engaging in paid work outside of campus.

To legally engage in part-time work, international students must first get approval from their school and then obtain final authorization from immigration.

For example, if you want to work as an intern or a part-timer at a local restaurant, you will need to get a part-time work permit before your employment contract begins.

However, if you get a job on campus, such as at your school’s library or as a professor’s teaching assistant, part-time work permission is not required.

Furthermore, if you are hired for a one-time job, such as being an extra in a movie, TV show, or music video, you are allowed to do this work and get paid without needing a part-time work permit. It is important to note that you are only allowed to do this type of work once legally.

There are also a few types of part-time jobs that D-2 visa holders are prohibited from doing under any circumstance:

• Private tutoring

• Construction work

• Delivery work

• Door-to-door sales

• Adult entertainment

Meanwhile, the following part-time jobs have certain restrictions. Therefore, students on a D-2 visa may work these jobs, provided they submit additional documentation when applying for part-time work permission:

• Work involving minors (e.g., English cafes or camps for children)

• Manufacturing

📝Required Documents for Part-time Work Permission

Getting a part-time work permit is a two-step process. First, you need approval from your school. Then, after receiving approval from your school, you need to obtain the official part-time work permit from the Korean government.

The following documents are commonly requested by Korean universities when applying for part-time work permission:

Documents related to your workplace:

• Certificate of Business Registration (사업자등록증)

• Employment Contract (근로계약서)

• Foreign Student Part-time Work Confirmation Form (유학생시간제취업 확인서)

Documents related to your school enrollment:

• Certificate of Enrollment (재학증명서/출석증명서)

• Transcript (성적증명서)