Today, I will post about the D4 language training visa that I recently processed.
The client was the boyfriend of the applicant. He inquired if there was any way for him and his Moroccan girlfriend to be together in Korea.
After roughly understanding the requirements, I suggested that if the girlfriend is young and can prove her financial capability, a Korean language training visa might be possible, and asked them to visit my office for a detailed consultation.
After consulting with the client in the office and explaining the general requirements and procedures, I promised to first look for a Korean language training school near the client's residence. After getting admission approval from the school, we decided to proceed with the D4 visa issuance.
To apply for a D4 language training visa, you must receive an admission letter from a university that operates a language institute. It is impossible to apply for a D4 language training visa without an admission letter.
Each school may have different regulations for accepting language institute students, but the basic requirements are similar. You must have graduated from high school at least, and your bank balance must be over $10,000. You must register for a course of at least 6 months and pay the tuition for one or two semesters in advance to receive an admission letter.
For example, if you apply for the spring semester course in March, the application deadline is usually mid-January. Therefore, you need to prepare the necessary documents well in advance to avoid being unprepared due to tight deadlines.
Having a bank balance of over $10,000 and paying tuition does not mean that all schools accept students from all countries. Some schools may accept students from specific countries, while others may not.
Especially for the 21 countries with high rates of illegal stay, some schools only accept students through recognized local study abroad agencies, while others accept individual applications. The situation varies greatly from school to school.
If students do not attend classes, are absent, work illegally, or stay illegally, the school that accepted them can also be restricted from issuing visas.
Immigration categorizes schools and differentiates visa issuance accordingly. Each year, schools are classified as accredited or non-accredited through a certification committee, and schools restricted from issuing visas are announced.
For accredited schools with less than 1% illegal stay rate, such as Ewha Womans University, Seoul National University, Sogang University, Chung-Ang University, Yonsei University, etc., the required documents for visa application are significantly relaxed.
However, if visa issuance is restricted, the school cannot accept more students and suffers significant economic losses, so they must be cautious.
◆ For general countries, short-term visas (C3) or visa-free entry (B-1, B-2), or K-ETA are allowed for entry, and then you can change to a language training visa (D4) in Korea. However, for the 21 countries with high rates of illegal stay, changing status in Korea is not allowed. They must receive a D4 (language training visa) from the beginning through visa issuance (application at a local consulate) or visa issuance recognition (invitation).
※ For general countries, pure tourism (C-3-2), medical tourism (C-3-3), individual tourism (C-3-9) cannot change status in Korea.
◆ Long-term residents legally staying in Korea can change their status to a D4 visa. However, for technical training (D3), non-professional employment (E9), seafarer employment (E10), and others (G1), regardless of the country, changing status in Korea is generally restricted.
※ There are several subcategories under the G1 visa. Refugee applicants cannot change to a D4 status in Korea. However, those who have received G1 status for humanitarian reasons may be able to change to a D4 visa. This should be confirmed after detailed consultation.
Below are the documents submitted by a student I helped enroll at the time of application. Let's take a look as an example.
※ This is not absolute, and the documents required for admission may vary from school to school, but generally, the required documents are similar.
D4 Visa Language Institute Admission Documents
1. Training application and study plan
2. Two photos (white background, 3.5 x 4.5cm)
3. Consent form for personal information collection and use
4. Original bank balance certificate (minimum balance of USD 10,000 required)
※ The bank balance must be issued in dollars.
5. Original graduation (expected) certificate & transcript from the last school attended
※ Must be submitted with an Apostille confirmation or verified by the Korean consulate in the host country or the consulate of the home country in Korea.
6. Copy of the applicant's passport and a copy of an identification card issued by a foreign government or a copy of a foreigner registration card
7. Korean guarantor's identity guarantee (for the 21 high-risk countries) - submitted after notarization
21 High-Risk Countries
Ghana, Nigeria, Nepal, Mongolia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Iran, Egypt, India, Indonesia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines
※ The application documents vary by country, so you should inquire before applying.
※ Additional documents may be requested after review.
※ Submitted documents will not be returned.
Now, let's look at the basic documents required for applying for a D4 (language training visa). It's important to note that these are not absolute and the required documents can vary from school to school and country to country. Therefore, it's recommended to consult with an expert and proceed accordingly, as the documents required and those that may need to be supplemented can greatly differ depending on each student's individual situation.
Let's divide and review the documents required for visa issuance recognition (invitation) and for changing status in Korea.
Documents Required for Changing Status to D4 (Language Training) in Korea
① Application form, passport, foreigner registration card (if applicable), one photo, fee.
② Copy of the educational institution's business registration certificate or unique number certificate.
③ Standard admission letter (issued by the president or dean of the university).
- Can be substituted with information verification from the Foreign Student Information System (FIMS).
For students invited by the National Institute for International Education, 'invitation letter' issued by the director of the institute can be used.
④ Financial proof documents.
- If submitting a parent's bank balance certificate, an additional family relationship certificate is required.
⑤ Certificate of enrollment or final academic qualification documents.
⑥ Training plan (including lecture timetable, instructor composition, training facilities, etc.).
⑦ Student insurance certificate or national health insurance.
- Excludes students currently enrolled in or graduating from primary, middle, or high schools.
Insurance certificate from a domestic insurance company specifying a period longer than the stay duration.
※ For citizens of countries announced by the Minister of Justice (21 high-risk countries).
If language training necessity is deemed low considering age, etc., additional documents proving the necessity of language training may be required.
Documents Required for Visa Issuance Recognition (Invitation) for D4 (Language Training)
① Visa issuance recognition application form (Form No. 21), passport, standard size photo, fee.
② Copy of the educational institution's business registration certificate or unique number certificate.
③ Standard admission letter (issued by the president or dean of the university).
- Can be substituted with information verification from the Foreign Student Information System (FIMS).
For students invited by the National Institute for International Education, 'invitation letter' issued by the director of the institute can be used.
④ Certificate of enrollment or final academic qualification documents.
※ Original review is the principle, and if necessary, attach a copy with the staff's verification of the original.
⑤ Financial proof documents.
- If submitting a parent's bank balance certificate, an additional family relationship certificate is required.
※ Financial capability proof documents (e.g., bank balance certificate, bank book, scholarship certificate, deposit and withdrawal statement, etc.) are subject to original review, and if necessary, attach a copy with the staff's verification of the original (bank balance certificate is valid only if issued within 30 days).
- For Vietnam, a separate study expense bank balance certificate with payment reservation method.
⑥ Training plan (including lecture timetable, instructor composition, training facilities, etc.).
※ The head of the overseas consulate may add or subtract attached documents as needed for reviewing the purpose of entry, the authenticity of the invitation, and the qualifications of the inviter and invitee.
※ Visa issuance only by visa issuance recognition certificate for the following cases
① Citizens of Cuba, Syria, Macedonia, Kosovo.
② Language training students enrolling in general universities and lower-level universities from Mongolia, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, China.
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