Navigating Korea’s immigration and visa regime requires a precise understanding of the country’s status of stay classifications under the Korean Immigration Control Act and related ministerial notifications. The following summary, prepared by IPG Legal, outlines the principal visa categories recognized by the Korean Ministry of Justice and the Korea Immigration Service and is intended as a practical reference for counsel, HR managers, and foreign applicants navigating Korea’s complex immigration environment. In many cases, it is advisable to retain a lawyer in Korea in assist.
| Class | Code | Category / Name | Typical Purpose / Coverage | Key Sub-Types / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A – Diplomatic / Official | A-1 | Diplomat | Accredited diplomatic personnel | Full diplomatic privileges |
| A-2 | Foreign Government Official | Accredited officials on official mission | Short visits under the visa waiver | |
| A-3 | International Agreement / SOFA | Personnel/families under treaties (SOFA etc.) | USFK civilians, UN missions | |
| B / C – Short-Stay | B-1 | Visa Exempt | Tourism, family, business, and medical | K-ETA may apply |
| B-2 | Tourist / Transit | General tourism, Jeju transit | 30-day limit (typ.) | |
| C-1 | Short-Term News Coverage | Journalistic assignments | Requires press credentials | |
| C-3 | Short-Term Visit | Academic degree study/research / exchange | Sub-codes C-3-1 to C-3-10 (detailing purpose and sponsor) | |
| C-4 | Short-Term Employment | Paid temporary work (films, events) | ≤ 90 days stay | |
| D – Long-Term Study / Assignment / Investment | D-1 | Culture / Arts | Artists, performers | MOJ approval required |
| D-2 | Student | Academic degree study/research/exchange | D-2-1 to D-2-8 (specified by level of study) | |
| D-3 | Industrial Trainee | Plant / technical training | D-3-11 to D-3-13 | |
| D-4 | General Trainee | Language study, culinary training | D-4-1 to D-4-7 | |
| D-5 | Long-Term News Coverage | Resident correspondents | Requires media company sponsorship | |
| D-6 | Religious Worker | Clergy and mission workers | Registered religious bodies only | |
| D-7 | Intra-Company Transferee | Staff seconded from foreign HQ | D-7-1 foreign company; D-7-2 domestic affiliate; FTA variants D-7-91/92 | |
| D-8 | Corporate Investment | University-level instruction/research | D-8-1 incorporated enterprise; D-8-4 tech start-up | |
| D-9 | International Trade / Management | Trade professionals & technicians | D-9-1 to D-9-4 | |
| D-10 | Job-Seeking / Start-Up Preparation | Graduates seeking employment or testing business plans | D-10-1 job search; D-10-2 entrepreneurship | |
| E – Employment / Professional | E-1 | Professor | Must hold a relevant degree | Public/private research institutes |
| E-2 | Foreign Language Instructor | Teaching English or other languages | E-2-1 general; E-2-2 assistant; FTA E-2-91 | |
| E-3 | Research | Agriculture, fishery, and short-term labor | – | |
| E-4 | Technological Guidance | Specialized technical support | – | |
| E-5 | Professional Employment | Licensed professions (law, medicine, CPA, architect etc.) | – | |
| E-6 | Arts & Performance | Entertainment, modeling, athletics | – | |
| E-7 | Specially Designated Profession | Skilled workers in approved occupations | E-7-1 core category; E-7-4 points-based | |
| E-8 | Seasonal Worker | Shipboard crew / offshore work | – | |
| E-9 | Non-Professional Employment | Manufacturing, construction (EPS system) | MOEL quota control | |
| E-10 | Maritime Crew | Indefinite stay for qualified residents/investors | – | |
| E-11 | Pilot Program / FTA-related category | Varies by FTA | (limited application) | |
| F – Resident / Family / Permanent | F-1 | Visiting / Joining Family | Dependents of residents or medical carers | – |
| F-2 | Resident | Long-term residence (for qualified workers, graduates, spouses) | Includes points-based F-2-7 | |
| F-3 | Dependent Family | Dependents of D/E visa holders | – | |
| F-4 | Overseas Korean | Ethnic Korean with foreign citizenship | Major benefit: open employment | |
| F-5 | Permanent Resident | Aviation/shipping crew | – | |
| F-6 | Spouse of Korean National | Marriage-based residence | F-6-1 spouse; F-6-2 child custody; F-6-3 divorced parent | |
| G – Miscellaneous | G-1 | Miscellaneous | Medical treatment, litigation, refugee status pending etc. | Sub-codes G-1-1 ~ G-1-10 |
| H – Working Holiday / Short-Term Work Experience | H-1 | Working Holiday | Youth cultural exchange with designated states | Employment permitted within limits |
| J – Crew Related | J-1 | Culture / Tour Crew | Often short-duration multiple entries | Currently, temporary policy status |
| M – Military Related | M-1 | Military SOFA | US military forces status | Automatic under SOFA |
| Others / Special Programs | – | Digital Nomad Pilot (2024–) | Remote workers earning ≥ specified foreign income | Currently temporary policy status |
This chart reflects the Korea Immigration Service classifications as of 2025. Each category is governed by the Immigration Control Act of and subordinate Enforcement Decree/Rules. Actual eligibility, permitted activities, and duration of stay depend on ministerial notification and individual adjudication. IPG Legal routinely advises multinational corporations, investors, and foreign residents on status-of-stay strategy, extensions, and compliance.
by Sean Hayes
Sean Hayes is the first non-Korean attorney to have worked for the Korean court system (Constitutional Court of Korea) and one of the first non-Koreans to be a regular member of a Korean law faculty. Sean is ranked, for Korea, as one of only a few non-Korean lawyers as a Top Attorney by AsiaLaw. Sean is regularly quoted by leading international media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, France 24, and Bloomberg. Sean works with leading retired judges, former government attorneys, corporate counsel, and top-rated lawyers who worked with major global law firms throughout Asia, Europe, and North America.
You may schedule a call with Sean Hayes at: Schedule a Call with an Attorney.
Discover more from The Korean Law Blog by IPG Legal Law Firm
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.