South Korea · Student
South Korea D-4 language study
First stay: 2 yrs
Language Trainee Visa (D-4)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
D-4 language study is a student route for South Korea. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $60
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government fees$60
- $60Visa application fee for a single-entry visa for a stay of 91 days or longer; the amount differs for some passport countries and multiple-entry visas cost more.
RenewalRenewable
D-4 is granted for up to 2 years at a time and can be extended.
Permanent residenceTime here doesn't count
Language-trainee time is not among the statuses listed for the general 5-year permanent residence rule (D-7 to D-10, E-1 to E-7, F-2).
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route doesn't count toward permanent residence
- Needs a place at a school or university in South Korea
- Work isn't allowed on this route
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- The applicant is admitted to a language course at a university-affiliated institute or an approved private institution.
What you must show1
- The sources read give no national proof-of-funds amount; the consulate in Seattle, for example, asks students of non-accredited institutions for bank statements for the last 3 months with at least USD 5,000.
Documents2
- Documents are the Certificate of Admission, the e-form printed from the Visa Portal and a passport.
- Non-accredited institutions add a training plan with lecture schedule, lecturer profiles and facilities.
Steps1
- Apply at a Korean consulate with the printed e-form.
What happens at day 183
How South Korea decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 2 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a continuous residence in KoreaA person with no domicile who has a residence in Korea for 183 days or more is a resident
- Foreign-source income
Remittance basis (5 years)
A foreign resident whose total period of domicile or residence in Korea is five years or less in the ten years before the end of the tax period is taxed on foreign-source income only to the extent it is paid in Korea or remitted to Korea.
- Special regime
Remittance basis for foreign-source income of foreigners with 5 years or less of residence · Tax relief
All tax rules for South Korea Tax records checked
Full official text
Training status for foreign nationals taking Korean language courses at a university-affiliated language institute or other approved private institution. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $60 · Visa application fee for a single-entry visa for a stay of 91 days or longer; the amount differs for some passport countries and multiple-entry visas cost more. 3
Requirements
- The applicant is admitted to a language course at a university-affiliated institute or an approved private institution. 1
- The sources read give no national proof-of-funds amount; the consulate in Seattle, for example, asks students of non-accredited institutions for bank statements for the last 3 months with at least USD 5,000. 2
- Documents are the Certificate of Admission, the e-form printed from the Visa Portal and a passport. 2
- Non-accredited institutions add a training plan with lecture schedule, lecturer profiles and facilities. 2
- Apply at a Korean consulate with the printed e-form. 2
Stay
- Up to 2 years per grant, extendable.
- First stay: up to 24 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
Work is not allowed in principle; part-time work needs prior permission and is open to D-4 holders after at least 6 months in Korea, limited to simple student jobs outside specialised fields.
Family
Inviting a spouse and children as F-3 is restricted for D-4 holders who have stayed less than 2 years, except for humanitarian reasons.
Official sources
- Visa Navigator: Customized Stay Guide for Foreign Residents · Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-12
- D-2 Student Visa & D-4 Language Trainee Visa · Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle (MOFA) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-01-02
- Visa application fees for each visa type · Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) · checked 2026-10-11
D-4 language study and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-4 language study | – | 2 yr, renewable | No |
| Student visa (D-2) | – | 2 yr, renewable | With a permit |
| Study visa (ED) Thailand | – | 3 mo, renewable | No |
| Student visa Japan | – | 4.3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Student visa · Non-formal Indonesia | – | 4 yr, renewable | No |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the D-4 language study?
A fee of $60. Visa application fee for a single-entry visa for a stay of 91 days or longer; the amount differs for some passport countries and multiple-entry visas cost more.
How long can I stay on the D-4 language study?
Up to 2 years per grant, extendable.
Can I work on the D-4 language study?
No. Work is not allowed in principle; part-time work needs prior permission and is open to D-4 holders after at least 6 months in Korea, limited to simple student jobs outside specialised fields.
Can I bring my family on the D-4 language study?
Inviting a spouse and children as F-3 is restricted for D-4 holders who have stayed less than 2 years, except for humanitarian reasons.
Does the D-4 language study lead to permanent residence in South Korea?
Time on the D-4 language study doesn't count toward permanent residence in South Korea.
Is there a tax break for D-4 language study holders in South Korea?
Korea: remittance basis for foreign-source income of foreigners with 5 years or less of residence: A foreign resident whose total period of domicile or residence in Korea is five years or less in the ten years before the end of the tax period is taxed on foreign-source income only to the extent it is paid in Korea or remitted to Korea. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Korea: remittance basis for foreign-source income of foreigners with 5 years or less of residence
Tax relief
Details
- On: Foreign-source income that is paid in Korea or remitted to Korea
- Who: Foreign national (not a Korean citizen) who is a Korean tax resident
A foreign resident whose total period of domicile or residence in Korea is five years or less in the ten years before the end of the tax period is taxed on foreign-source income only to the extent it is paid in Korea or remitted to Korea.
Taxed on
Foreign-source income that is paid in Korea or remitted to Korea; Korean-source income and all other income is taxed in full under the progressive income tax.
Who it applies to
- Foreign national (not a Korean citizen) who is a Korean tax resident.
- Sum of periods with a domicile or residence in Korea over the 10 years before the end of the taxable period is 5 years or less.
- Resident means having a domicile in Korea or a residence of 183 days or more.
Exclusions
- After more than five years of domicile or residence within the ten-year look-back, foreign-source income is taxed on a worldwide basis as for Korean residents.
- Income not paid or remitted into Korea stays outside the Korean base for qualifying foreigners.
Days in the country
- At least 183 days in continuous residence in Korea · A person with no domicile who has a residence in Korea for 183 days or more is a resident
Tax residence
The five-year test is counted over the ten years before the end of the relevant taxable period; non-residents are taxed only on Korean-source income (article 3(2)).
Visas
Applies by tax residence status and nationality, not by visa category.
Other taxes
Local income tax, VAT and social insurance apply separately; see “Optional flat tax rate for foreign employees” and “Korea progressive comprehensive income tax rates” for employment tax rates.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in South Korea
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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 3 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Visa Navigator: Customized Stay Guide for Foreign Residents · Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-12
- D-2 Student Visa & D-4 Language Trainee Visa · Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle (MOFA) · checked 2026-10-10
- Visa application fees for each visa type · Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.