D-10 Job-Seeker Visa in Korea: The 2026 Guide After the October Reform

On October 29, 2025, Korea's Ministry of Justice published a D-10 reform package that reshaped almost every key number in the visa. Maximum stay went from 2 years to 3 years. Renewals shifted from 6-month increments to 1-year increments. The cumulative internship cap was abolished entirely, and the per-company internship limit was doubled from 6 months to 1 year. First-time applicants converting from a D-2 student visa to D-10 were made fully exempt from the points system and from financial proof on their initial application. A new sub-code, D-10-3, was formalized for advanced-technology interns.

No English-language guide published before mid-2026 fully reflects these changes. If you are a recent Korean university graduate planning your next step, or a foreign STEM graduate considering Korea's job-search tracks, the visa you are reading about in most existing guides is more restrictive than what is actually available today. This guide reflects the rules in effect as of May 2026.

What the D-10 is (and what it is not)

The job-seeker visa (구직 비자) lets you stay in Korea legally while you look for work, complete internships, or prepare a tech startup. It does not let you start full-time employment. The moment you have a signed employment contract and an agreed start date, you must convert to an E-series work visa before showing up for your first day. The D-10 is a bridge, not a destination.

Within that framework, four sub-codes cover significantly different situations. D-10-1 is the main track for job seekers. D-10-2 is for tech startup founders in the OASIS program. D-10-3 is for STEM interns at qualifying Korean companies or research institutes. D-10-T is a specialized fast track for overseas graduates of top-100 global universities working in high-tech sectors. Each sub-code has different eligibility rules, stay periods, and pathways forward.

The four D-10 sub-codes

Who qualifies for D-10-1: four paths

Path 1: Korean university graduate on D-2

If you hold an associate degree or higher from a Korean university and are currently on a D-2 student visa, you can convert to D-10-1 directly. You must apply within 3 years of graduation. On your first application, you are exempt from the points system and from the financial proof requirement. This is the most used path and, since the October 2025 reform, the most straightforward.

Apply before your D-2 expires. You can use your expected graduation certificate (졸업예정증명서) to apply a few months before you officially graduate, so there is no gap in your legal status. See the D-2 Visa Guide for the D-2 context and the transition timing.

Path 2: Points-based (abroad or in-Korea from non-D-2 status)

If you did not study at a Korean university, you apply through the points system (점수제). You can apply from your home country at a Korean consulate, or convert from an eligible in-Korea status. The minimum score is 60 points out of 190 for most nationalities, and 80 points for nationals of 21 designated countries. The full scoring table is in the next section.

Path 3: Former E-series holder

Former holders of E-1 through E-7 work visas who want to change to D-10 for job searching are limited to a maximum 1-year total stay in 6-month increments. The points test applies. This path is common for people who lost a job and need time to find a new employer before their E-series status expires.

Path 4: Graduate of an MOE-certified overseas university

In May 2026, Korea's Ministry of Education announced that graduates of 5 certified overseas universities would receive treatment equivalent to Korean university graduates for D-10 and E-7 applications. The names of the 5 universities had not been made public as of this writing. If you graduated from an overseas institution you believe qualifies, verify directly with your nearest Korean consulate or with HiKorea before applying under this path.

D-10-1 exempt categories (no points test required)

Beyond first-time D-2 converters, the following applicant types are exempt from the points system:

• Korean university graduates with TOPIK Level 4 or above, applying within 3 years of graduation
• "Promising Talent": applicants under 29 who hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a top-ranked global university, or Korean studies majors with TOPIK Level 6. Advisory sources differ on whether the ranking threshold is THE or QS Top-200 or the more generous QS Top-500; confirm at HiKorea before relying on this path.
• Foreign youth who were raised entirely in Korea
• Completers of government-certified vocational caregiving courses

The D-10-1 points system

For Path 2 applicants, the evaluation has three categories. You need at least 20 points from Basic Items to pass; the overall minimum is 60 points (80 for designated-country nationals). Scoring 80 or higher unlocks the 3-year track; scoring 60 to 79 limits you to 1 year total.

Basic Items (maximum 50 points; minimum 20 required)

Age contributes up to 20 points and education up to 30 points, for a Basic Items maximum of 50. At least 20 Basic Items points are required to qualify.

Optional Items (maximum 70 points)

Bonus Items (maximum 70 points)

Penalties

Immigration violations or criminal fines deduct up to 60 points from your total. Four or more violations disqualify the application entirely.

Score thresholds

• 80 or more points: 1-year increments, up to 3 years total.
• 60 to 79 points: 6-month increments, up to 1 year total.
• Below 60 points (or below 80 for designated-country nationals): Not eligible.

TOPIK is the single most controllable variable in this table. Moving from no TOPIK to TOPIK Level 4 adds 15 points. Combined with a bachelor's degree and being in your late 20s, that alone puts most applicants over the 60-point threshold. The TOPIK guide and TOPIK for visa points walk through preparation and scheduling.

What you can do on D-10 (and what you cannot)

Permitted activities

Job-search activities (구직활동). Attending interviews, visiting company offices, participating in career fairs, networking events, and submitting applications. These are the core activities the visa was designed for.

Internships. As of October 29, 2025: you may intern with a single company for up to 1 year (previously 6 months), and you may do internships with multiple companies over your D-10 period without any cumulative cap (the previous cumulative limit was abolished). You must notify immigration of your internship start within 15 days of beginning.

Part-time work. You need written permission from immigration before starting any paid work. Hour limits depend on your Korean level:

• TOPIK Level 5 or higher, or KIIP Level 5: up to 30 weekday hours plus unlimited weekend hours.
• TOPIK Level 4 or KIIP Level 4: up to 20 weekday hours plus unlimited weekend hours.
• Weekends: unlimited for holders with TOPIK Level 4 or above.

Not permitted

Full-time employment. You may not start a full-time job on D-10. Once you have a signed employment contract, you must convert to the appropriate E-series visa before starting work. Common destinations are E-7 (professional work) or E-2 (English teaching). See the D-2 to E-7 Conversion Guide for the conversion process.

Stay periods and renewal

The October 2025 reform changed these figures significantly. The table below reflects the current rules.

There is no grace period at the end of your authorized stay. You must depart Korea or complete a renewal before your final permitted day. Overstaying creates fines and can result in a re-entry ban that affects future visa applications. Apply for renewal up to 4 months before your current status expires.

The application: process, documents, fees, timeline

In-Korea conversion: D-2 to D-10 (most common route)

Most readers are D-2 graduates applying at a local immigration office or through HiKorea. Here is the process.

When to apply. Immigration accepts D-10 conversion applications starting 4 months before your D-2 expires. As a best practice, apply 1 to 2 months before expiry to leave buffer time for document corrections. You can use your expected graduation certificate (졸업예정증명서) to apply before graduation. This prevents a gap in legal status between your D-2 expiring and your D-10 being issued.

Book a HiKorea appointment. Status changes and extensions inside Korea require an appointment at your local immigration office, booked through hikorea.go.kr. Immigration offices in Seoul (particularly Mapo and Yeongdeungpo) can run 4 to 6 weeks out during peak seasons (February and August, following graduation ceremonies). Book early.

Documents for a first-time D-2 graduate:

• Valid passport
• Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증)
• Integrated application Form 34 (통합신청서), completed in full
• Graduation certificate (졸업증명서) or expected graduation certificate (졸업예정증명서)
• Official transcript from your Korean university
• Job-seeking activity plan (구직활동계획서): your post-graduation plan, why you are looking for work in Korea, what kinds of positions you are targeting, and what you have done so far. Immigration officers treat this as the most important document in the initial application. Be specific. Vague plans raise questions; a clear 3-to-6-month job-search strategy with named sectors, target employers, and a language-study component signals that you are using the visa for its stated purpose. A separate cover letter (자기소개서) may also be requested.
• Proof of current residence (lease agreement, certificate of residence, or accommodation confirmation from a university or guesthouse)
• Application fee

Documents for points-based applicants (all of the above, plus):

• Bank statements covering the financial proof period (one year's single-person minimum living cost times the number of months requested, approximately)
• TOPIK or KIIP score certificate
• Work experience certificates
• Diploma and transcript from the degree-granting institution (foreign degrees may require verification)
• Evidence for each points category you are claiming

Fees. Based on available sources, the status change fee is approximately ₩100,000 and the extension fee is approximately ₩60,000 (as of 2026, verify current amounts at hikorea.go.kr before you apply).

Processing time. Typically 1 to 4 weeks depending on the immigration office and application volume.

Financial proof waiver. First-time D-2 graduates applying within 1 year of graduation do not need to provide financial proof on their initial D-10 application. This waiver applies to the initial application only. Renewals after the first year require the standard financial documentation.

Applying from abroad

If you are outside Korea and want to enter on D-10, apply at the Korean consulate in your country of residence. The points test applies unless you fall into an exempt category. Processing times at consulates vary; contact your specific consulate for current timelines before making travel plans.

D-10-2: the OASIS startup track

The D-10-2 is for foreign nationals preparing a technology startup in Korea. It is administered through the OASIS program (Overall Assistance for Startup Immigration System), managed by the Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (KISED).

To qualify, you must complete at least one OASIS program course and have a business plan for a Korean tech venture. Documents typically include: passport, apostilled degree certificate, OASIS completion certificate, proof of residence, business plan, and a Korean bank statement.

The initial stay is 6 months, extendable up to 5 times, for a maximum of 2 years per the official OASIS program portal. After D-10-2, the next step is the D-8-4 startup visa once you have a registered corporation, intellectual property protection, and at least 60 OASIS evaluation points.

Once your startup is incorporated, you have IP protection in place, and you earn 60 or more OASIS evaluation points, you can convert to a D-8-4 startup visa. The D-10-2 is a preparation stage, not a permanent home.

D-10-T: the Top-Tier track

The D-10-T (최우수인재 비자) launched April 2, 2025. It is a fast-track job-seeker visa for a narrow group: overseas master's or doctoral graduates from universities in the QS or U.S. News top-100 rankings, applying in designated high-tech sectors. At launch the sectors were semiconductors, EV batteries, biotech, displays, robotics, and defense. A 2026 expansion broadened the program to 8 high-tech sectors, adding AI and aerospace. Confirm the current eligible sectors at HiKorea before applying.

Two things to be clear about. First, Korean domestic graduates do not qualify for D-10-T; they use D-10-1. The D-10-T is designed specifically to recruit overseas-educated talent. Second, the Top-Tier program is documented in the Ministry of Justice's English press release (April 2025). The "D-10-T" shorthand is consistent across legal practice and reporting but is not used as a formally numbered sub-code in MOJ materials; treat it as the working designation while confirming the exact application channel at HiKorea.

Stay period: 2 years, issued in 1-year increments. The D-10-T 2-year cap was not changed in the October 2025 reform package, which extended D-10-1 to 3 years; this cap may be revisited in future Ministry of Justice updates.

The pipeline: D-10-T leads to E-7-T (special talent work visa). Conversion to E-7-T requires a confirmed job offer and a salary of approximately 3 times Korea's GNI per capita (currently ₩149,865,000, based on the 2024 GNI of ₩49,955,000 used by the Ministry of Justice; the 2025 GNI of ₩52,416,000 announced in March 2026 has not yet been incorporated into the E-7-T threshold), plus either 8 or more years of professional experience with 3 or more years at a Global 500 company, or 5 or more years of post-doctoral work with 3 or more years at a top global research institute. After E-7-T, the path continues to F-2-T residency and then F-5-T permanent residency. See the F-5 Visa Guide for the F-5 endpoint.

This is a narrow track. The qualifying salary and experience requirements for E-7-T are demanding. If you are a master's or doctoral graduate from a top-100 institution in a listed sector, it is worth serious consideration. If you have a Korean university degree, it is not available to you.

D-10-3: the advanced technology intern track

The D-10-3 (첨단기술 인턴) sub-code was formalized as part of the October 2025 reform package. It fills a specific gap: STEM-credentialed overseas graduates who want to intern at a qualifying Korean employer before committing to full-time E-7 employment.

Who qualifies. Bachelor's degree or higher in a STEM field, from an overseas university ranked in THE Top-200 or QS Top-500. Eligibility extends to currently enrolled students and graduates within 3 years of degree completion. Age cap: bachelor's holders must be under 30; master's holders must be under 35.

Where you can intern. The host must be a KOSPI-listed or KOSDAQ-listed Korean company, or a government-funded research institute, operating in semiconductors, IT, nano, digital electronics, or biotech.

Stay period. Up to 2 years, in 1-year increments.

The transition to E-7. After completing 1 or more years on D-10-3, you can convert to an E-7 professional work visa. The standard E-7 education and career requirements are waived for D-10-3 holders making this conversion, provided your salary meets the GNI per capita threshold. This is a significant advantage: typical E-7 applicants must demonstrate specific degree credentials and, in some cases, prior work experience. D-10-3 holders converting after a qualifying internship skip those hurdles. See the E-7-M Visa Guide for context on E-7 requirements.

Bringing your spouse and minor children: the F-3 dependent visa

This is the most under-reported aspect of the D-10 visa. The rule is firm: D-10-1 holders must score 80 or more points to sponsor an F-3 dependent visa (가족동반 비자). If you score 60 to 79 points, you cannot bring your spouse or children on F-3 during your D-10 stay. This is not a gray area.

First-time D-2 graduates who are exempt from the points test are effectively treated as 80-point applicants for this purpose, but confirm with your local immigration office before starting an F-3 application.

Beyond the score requirement, three 2025 F-3 rule changes affect all D-10 holders:

April 2025: apostille required. Marriage certificates, birth certificates, and other family documents must be apostilled if your home country is a Hague Convention member, or formally legalized through the relevant embassy if it is not. Korean or English translations must accompany the originals.

April 2025: in-Korea status change to F-3 suspended. Family members who are currently in Korea on a tourist visa, student visa, or any other status cannot change their status to F-3 inside Korea. They must apply at a Korean consulate in their home country. Exceptions exist only for humanitarian circumstances including illness, pregnancy, and childbirth.

July 2025: financial proof by household size. The primary D-10 holder must demonstrate annual income or financial capacity meeting the minimum living standard threshold:

• 2-person household: approximately ₩23,595,948 per year (as of 2025; verify the current figure at HiKorea)
• 3-person household: approximately ₩30,152,118 per year
• Where income falls short by less than 10%, the shortfall can be covered by bank deposits equal to 5 times the shortfall amount

F-3 renewals must coincide with the primary D-10 holder's own renewal. The full F-3 process is in the F-3 Visa Guide.

From D-10 to E-7 (and the F-2-7 fast track)

D-10 to E-7

When you receive a job offer and sign a contract, your employer applies to sponsor your E-7 professional work visa. You cannot start work until the E-7 is issued. The application process, required documents, and qualification criteria are covered in the D-2 to E-7 Conversion Guide.

D-10 to F-2-7 direct (Korean master's or doctoral graduates)

For Korean university graduates holding a master's or doctoral degree, a direct path to F-2-7 long-term residency is available without going through an E-series visa first. The conditions:

• 3 or more consecutive years of legal residence on D-2 and/or D-10 combined
• Confirmed qualifying employment (this typically means an E-7 job offer or a signed contract, in practice)
• 80 or more points on the F-2-7 evaluation system

Note: some secondary sources frame employment at a KOSPI- or KOSDAQ-listed company as a standalone F-2-7 residency waiver. The actual rule is narrower: KOSPI/KOSDAQ employment is recognized for income-calculation purposes when a regular income certificate is unavailable, and separate high-income, STEM, and Korean-master's pathways can shorten or waive the standard residency requirement. Confirm the exact pathway at HiKorea before building your timeline around it. The F-2 Visa Guide covers the full F-2-7 points table.

What changed in 2024 to 2026

If you are relying on advice from a friend who navigated this process before 2024, these are the changes that matter:

• April 2, 2025: D-10-T (Top-Tier talent track, 최우수인재 비자) launched. Available to overseas master's or doctoral graduates from QS or U.S. News top-100 universities in high-tech sectors.
• April 2025: F-3 dependent visa now requires apostilled family documents. In-Korea status change to F-3 suspended except for humanitarian exceptions.
• July 2025: F-3 financial proof requirement introduced, tied to household size and the minimum living standard.
• October 29, 2025: D-10 reform package. Maximum stay extended from 2 years to 3 years. Renewals shifted from 6-month to 1-year increments. Per-company internship cap doubled from 6 months to 1 year. Cumulative internship cap abolished. First-time D-2 converter exemption from points test and financial proof formalized. D-10-3 advanced technology intern sub-code formalized.
• March 2026: The Bank of Korea announced the 2025 GNI per capita at ₩52,416,000. The Ministry of Justice has not yet incorporated this newer figure into the E-7-T salary threshold, which still applies the 2024 GNI of ₩49,955,000 (a 3× threshold of ₩149,865,000).
• May 2026: Ministry of Education announced 5 certified overseas universities whose graduates will receive D-10 and E-7 treatment equivalent to Korean university graduates. University names not yet made public as of May 2026.
• June 1, 2026: Korea expanded the Top-Tier visa program to 8 high-tech sectors, adding AI and aerospace to the original 6, and broadened access for professors and researchers.

For the full picture of Korea visa changes across all categories, see the Korea 2026 Visa Changes Guide.

Bottom line

For Korean university graduates, the post-October 2025 D-10 is genuinely generous. Three years, no points requirement on the first application, no financial proof. Use the time intentionally. Completing an internship within your first year, maintaining your Korean with a TOPIK study plan, and hitting TOPIK Level 4 before your first renewal opens part-time work authorization and smooths the points calculation if your second year requires a standard renewal. The best job sites in Korea and Korean resume guide are the practical next steps after your D-10 is in hand.

For applicants outside the Korean university system, the 60-point threshold is achievable but requires planning. Age and education alone may not get you there; TOPIK is typically the most accessible lever. A 25-to-29-year-old with a bachelor's degree and TOPIK Level 3 scores 30 points on Basic Items (15 age + 15 education) and 10 on Optional, totaling 40. Not enough. The same person with TOPIK Level 4 gets to 45, still short. Move to age 30-to-34 (adds 5 points), add 3-to-4 years of overseas work experience (5 points), and a STEM bachelor's bonus (5 points) and you reach 60. Map your own score before applying.

For STEM graduates from top-100 universities overseas, D-10-T is a faster and more targeted track than D-10-1. The entry bar is higher, but the E-7-T to F-5-T pipeline that follows is more direct than what most D-10-1 holders can access.

@misc{seoulstart-d-10-visa-guide,
  author = {{Seoulstart Editorial Team}},
  title = {{D-10 Job-Seeker Visa in Korea: The 2026 Guide After the October Reform}},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Seoulstart},
  url = {https://seoulstart.com/guides/d-10-visa-guide},
  note = {Last updated June 5, 2026}
}