General training visa at a glance
| Official name | General training (D-4) |
|---|---|
| Scope of activity | Education, training and research at educational institutions, companies, organisations and similar bodies that meet requirements set by the Minister of Justice |
| Part-time work | Language trainees can seek permission in advance once six months have passed since the date of change of visa status or the entry date |
| Excluded | People paid more than their living expenses by the training institution, and people who fall under Study (D-2) or Technical training (D-3) |
| Confirmation of Visa Issuance | Only D-4-1 university language institute training is listed as a visa status for which a Confirmation of Visa Issuance can be issued |
| Foreign resident registration | If you stay 91 days or more, apply within 90 days of your entry date |
| What K-Biz Visa handles | Consultation, document preparation and filing with the immigration office |
Subtypes
| Code | Name | How they differ |
|---|---|---|
| D-4-1 | Korean language trainee | Language institute attached to a university |
| D-4-2 | Trainee at another institution | Other recognised institutions |
| D-4-3 | Primary or secondary school student | Primary, middle and high school |
| D-4-5 | Korean cooking trainee | Training in Korean cooking |
| D-4-6 | Private institution trainee | Training at a private institution |
| D-4-7 | Foreign language trainee | Foreign language training |
Subtypes follow the type of training institution. The first step is to settle which institution you will train at and what training you will take.
Common points of confusion
- Private academies
- The visa covers institutions that meet requirements set by the Minister of Justice. Being a private academy does not by itself make a course eligible for D-4.
- The limit on pay
- People paid more than their living expenses by the training institution are excluded from the D-4 definition. We sort out the pay arrangement first.
- Scope of the Confirmation of Visa Issuance
- D-4-1 is the subtype listed as a visa status for which a Confirmation of Visa Issuance can be issued. Other subtypes are checked separately.
- University after training
- When you finish language training and enter a degree programme, the purpose of your activity changes. Moving to Study (D-2) needs its own change of visa status procedure, and the timing of the application is checked separately.
Before the consultation
In your first enquiry, tell us the training institution, the programme and whether you will be paid.
What to tell us first
- The institution and programme you plan to train at
- Length of the training
- Whether you are paid, and what kind of payment it is
- Your current visa status and entry plans
Documents we ask for later
- Training admission or registration documents
- Documents about the institution
- Financial documents
- Copies of your passport and ID
We ask only for the sensitive documents the review needs, and keep and delete them under our privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
D-2 covers regular programme education and specific research at a junior college or higher-level institution. D-4 covers education, training and research at institutions that meet requirements set by the Minister of Justice. People who fall under D-2 are excluded from the D-4 definition.
People paid more than their living expenses by the training institution are excluded from the D-4 definition. We check the pay arrangement first.
The listed subtypes are university language institute training (D-4-1), other institution training (D-4-2), primary and secondary school students (D-4-3), Korean cooking training (D-4-5), private institution training (D-4-6) and foreign language training (D-4-7).
University language institute training (D-4-1) and foreign language training (D-4-7) become eligible six months after the date of change of visa status or the entry date. You also need confirmation by the school's officer and permission in advance.
Language trainees need an average attendance rate of 90% or more across all completed terms. If you meet the Korean language requirement, the baseline is 20 hours on weekdays; if you do not, the hours are shorter. The rules change when the guidance manual is revised, so they are applied as they stand on the date you apply.
You prepare the admission documents for the degree programme and go through a separate change of visa status procedure. The application timing and the documents needed depend on the school and the programme.
Related agencies and laws
The procedures and criteria on this page follow the guidance of the agencies and the laws below. How they apply is checked case by case.
Agencies
- Ministry of Justice immigration offices
- Korea Visa Portal
Laws
- Immigration Act
- Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act
- Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act
Send an enquiryTell us the training institution and programme, and we will reply setting out the routes to check.