You pack your bags, say goodbye to the dormitory, and finish your degree in Korea. Then the question hits: do you have to leave?
Can international students stay in Korea after graduation? Yes, many do. But staying is not automatic, and it isn’t a single decision either. It is a chain of status changes, each with its own rules, deadlines and paperwork. Your student status (D-2) ends with your studies. What comes next depends on your degree, your Korean level, your grades and conduct record, your employer, and the salary you are offered.
This guide walks the full chain in plain language. It covers the job-seeking visa (D-10), the main work visa (E-7), the longer-term residence options, and what Korea’s Ministry of Justice announced on 7 October 2026 that could change the picture again. It is written for Nepali students, but the rules are Korean, so they apply to everyone studying there.
One honest note first. Immigration manuals in Korea are revised often. The details below reflect the Ministry of Justice guidance available in August to October 2026, and some items are announced plans, not rules in force. Where that matters, I say so.
The Short Answer: Yes, But Through Steps, Not a Single Door
Korea has a recognised path from student to worker, and the government has been talking about strengthening it. As of July 2026, ministry statistics showed roughly 236,900 people on D-2 student status, roughly 26,600 on the D-10 job-seeking status, and roughly 89,000 on E-7 specific-activities status. Those numbers show the corridor is real and in use: students study, some move into job seeking, and some move into work visas.
Here is how the ladder looks:
| Stage | Visa | What it lets you do | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studying | D-2 (degree) | Study, and part-time work with permission | Ends when your studies end |
| Job hunting | D-10 | Look for a job in your field; limited activity with permission | Not a work visa |
| Working | E-7 (and related) | Work in a designated occupation | Occupation, salary and employer all matter |
| Settling longer-term | F-2 types, then possibly F-5 | Longer residence | Points or regional conditions apply |
Notice what is missing: no step says “graduate and keep working automatically.” Every move needs permission, and in most cases you must get that permission before you start the new activity.
How Korea Thinks About “Staying” (and Why It Trips People Up)
Korean immigration works on the idea of a status of stay. Each status describes what you are allowed to do. If you do something outside it, even something small, it can count as a violation.
That has three practical consequences for graduates:
- Your status changes when your life changes. A new job is not enough. You need a status change approved by immigration.
- Timing matters. Permission to change status generally has to be obtained in advance. Signing a contract does not give you the right to start work.
- A visa that lets you stay is not a visa that lets you work. The D-10 is the clearest example, and many students misunderstand it.
If you are still choosing a university and a visa route, it helps to understand how the study visa itself works first. Toddle’s Korea D-2 student visa guide covers that foundation.
The D-10 Job-Seeking Visa: Your Bridge After Graduation
What the D-10 actually is
The D-10 is a status for people who want to find employment in fields covered by the professional and specific-activities work visas (E-1 to E-7). It exists to make the gap between finishing your degree and starting a job legal.
It is not on the list of statuses that permit employment. That one fact explains most of the confusion online. To do paid work on a D-10, you need a separate permission for activities outside your status, and only certain graduates qualify for it (more on that below).
There are several sub-codes. The one most graduates use is D-10-1, general job seeking. Others exist for start-up preparation, advanced-technology internships and top-tier talent, each with its own conditions.
Who gets a smoother start
Graduates of Korean universities get a favourable first step. The Ministry of Justice manual describes a special rule for a degree holder (associate level or higher) who changes from D-2 to D-10-1 for the first time:
- The points system is not applied at that first change.
- Proof of living expenses is waived.
- A stay of one year is granted.
The catch is on extension. The points system applies when you extend, so the exemption is for the first change only, not for all your time in D-10. If you have held a D-10 before, it isn’t a “first change,” and the points system applies from the start.
The manual also lists other exemption routes, such as certain graduates within three years of finishing who hold TOPIK Level 4 or have completed the relevant KIIP stage. Because these categories come with conditions, confirm yours with the immigration office or the 1345 helpline instead of relying on a summary.
How long can you stay?
A reform effective 29 October 2025 changed the framework: the D-10 job-seeking period moved from six months per grant (up to two years) to one year per grant, up to three years in total. The cap per grant is one year, and the three-year ceiling varies with each person’s profile. It does not mean three years at once.
Some applicants only receive six months per grant, including those scoring 60 to 79 points under the points system and those who previously held E-1 to E-7 work status.
There is also a rule that surprises people: a stay permit is generally granted only within the validity of your passport. If your passport has five months left, you get five months, however long your visa category would otherwise allow. Passport renewals through the Nepali embassy take time, so start early.
The points system
When points apply, the general D-10-1 assessment totals 190 points, with at least 20 from the basic items and at least 60 overall. For nationals of certain countries designated by the Minister of Justice, who change to D-10-1 from some other statuses, the threshold is 80. Whether any of this applies to Nepali nationals is something to confirm with the immigration office for your specific status.
The scoring has three blocks: basic items (age and education), optional items (work experience, study in Korea, Korean language), and bonus points. Here is a simplified picture of the main items, which is meant to show what earns points, not to calculate your score:
| Item | How points work (simplified) |
|---|---|
| Age | Peaks in the late twenties to early thirties, then falls |
| Highest education | Higher degrees earn more (a doctorate earns the most) |
| Study in Korea | Earns more if you graduated within three years |
| Korean language | TOPIK or KIIP Level 5: 20 points; Level 4: 15; Level 3: 10; Level 2: 5 |
| Bonus | Official recommendation, graduating from a highly ranked university, Fortune 500 experience, science and engineering degree, high-income experience |
A few items depend on an officer’s judgement, such as recognition of degrees or comparable experience. So treat your self-calculated score as a rough guide. The immigration office makes the final call.
The takeaway for planning: Korean language ability is one of the few points you can still build while you are a student. The study-in-Korea points also carry a time limit, so don’t delay your job search after graduation.
Can International Students Stay in Korea After Graduation?
Your conduct record matters. Summary fines and criminal fines can cause point deductions, and heavier records can disqualify you. Examples of disqualifying circumstances in the manual include imprisonment or heavier within five years, a deportation or departure order within five years, and criminal fines of KRW 3 million or more within three years.
Ordinary administrative fines (such as for a late address-change report) are treated differently from criminal punishments and are not counted in the deduction totals. If you have any notice or fine on record, bring the document and get a specific answer from the office. This is not something to guess about.
Where to apply
Visits to immigration are by appointment through HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr), and many applications can also be filed online. The common application items include the application form, passport, photo, proof of residence, degree certificate and a job-seeking activity plan. If the points system applies, proof of living expenses and supporting documents for points are added.
The official portal for forms, appointments and manuals is HiKorea, and the Korea Immigration Service provides general guidance. The multilingual 1345 immigration contact line can help you find the right office.
Working While You Job-Hunt: Permission and Reporting Are Different Things
This is the part of the D-10 that causes the most accidental violations.
Part-time work needs advance permission for activities outside your status. For D-10-1, the manual lists conditions that generally include:
- An associate degree or higher from a Korean university, with fewer than three years since graduation
- TOPIK Level 4 or higher, or KIIP Stage 4 or higher
- No previous stay under E-1 to E-7 status
- Not being barred by a violation record
The permitted weekly hours listed in the manual are around 25 hours on weekdays, rising to 30 for those who completed KIIP Stage 5 or above, with no separate hour limit on weekends and public holidays. However, the manual’s figures and permitted industries have differed between editions, so confirm the current version before relying on them.
The permission fee is also worth knowing. The reduced KRW 20,000 student fee applies only to D-2 and D-4 holders. For D-10, the general fee for activities outside your status is KRW 120,000.
Internships in E-1 to E-7 fields are handled differently. They are managed through reporting a change to your registration details, not through the part-time permit. The statutory reporting deadline is 15 days, but a form in the manual refers to 14 days in advance, so ask your immigration office which applies before you start. An employer’s own track record also matters: companies with high intern-to-hire turnover can be restricted from taking interns, so ask early.
Working without the proper permission is serious. The statute provides for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to KRW 30 million for unauthorised activity, and it can lead to deportation. Those are statutory maximums, not automatic outcomes, but they are reason enough to wait for approval.
If you are working while studying, Toddle’s guide to part-time jobs for foreign students in Korea is a helpful companion to this section.
The E-7 Visa: Where “Staying” Becomes “Working”
For most graduates, the goal is the E-7 specific-activities visa. It is the main route for foreign professionals and skilled workers to work for a Korean employer.
E-7 is about the job first, not your degree
This is the single most important thing to understand. The law only says E-7 covers activities specially designated by the Minister of Justice. The actual list of eligible occupations sits in the Ministry of Justice’s internal manual. The January 2026 edition lists 94 occupations, and the list is revised often, which is why different websites quote different numbers.
So the order of checks is:
- Does your job fall under a designated occupation?
- Do you meet that occupation’s requirements (education, experience, salary)?
- Does the employer meet the sponsor requirements?
Even a master’s degree doesn’t help if the job isn’t on the list.
The four types
| Type | Meaning | Typical jobs |
|---|---|---|
| E-7-1 | Professional personnel | Managers, engineers, specialists |
| E-7-2 | Semi-professional personnel | Clerical and service roles |
| E-7-3 | General skilled workers | Skilled and technical trades |
| E-7-4 | Skilled technical workers (points system) | For people with long work or residence history in Korea |
What you need personally
The general requirement is met by one of three routes:
- A master’s degree or higher in a field related to the job
- A bachelor’s degree related to the job plus one year of relevant experience
- Five or more years of relevant work experience
For Korean-university graduates, there is a helpful exemption: a bachelor’s degree or higher from a Korean university waives the one-year experience requirement, regardless of major. That puts graduates in a relatively strong position. It does not remove the need for a designated job, salary or employer requirements.
The 2026 salary thresholds
Salary requirements are set annually by Ministry of Justice notice. For 2026, the figures applying from 1 February to 31 December 2026 are:
| Type | Minimum annual salary |
|---|---|
| E-7-1 (professional) | KRW 31,120,000 |
| E-7-2 (semi-professional) | KRW 25,890,000 |
| E-7-3 (general skilled) | KRW 25,890,000 |
| E-7-4 (skilled technical) | KRW 26,000,000 |
The 2027 figures will be announced separately, and the effective date is 1 February, not 1 January, so documents prepared early in the year can meet a different standard by the time you apply.
There is also an easing for certain hires at small and medium-sized, venture and mid-sized companies outside the Seoul metropolitan area. For people with no E-7 experience, or three years or less, the salary requirement drops from 80 percent of the previous year’s GNI to 70 percent. Whether you qualify depends on your specific case, so ask.
The employer gate you can’t see into
Even when you meet every requirement, the employer can block the visa. Examples in the manual include:
- Companies with fewer than five Korean employees that mainly serve the domestic market are generally restricted from sponsoring.
- In occupations protected for national employment, foreign hiring is capped at 20 percent of the number of Korean employees.
- Companies with delinquent national or local taxes are restricted.
As a worker, you generally cannot check these. So ask at the interview stage:
- Has this company sponsored an E-7 before?
- How many foreign and Korean employees do you currently have?
- Which job code will you apply under for me?
If a company dodges those questions, treat that as information.
For the Nepal-specific angle on work-visa routes, Toddle’s explainer on the E-7 visa from Nepal is a useful next read, and the career opportunities after studying in South Korea guide shows how these routes connect to real jobs.
After You Get the Job Offer: Rules That Catch People Out
Don’t start work on the day you sign. Permission to change your status is something you obtain in advance, and you may start the new job from the day the change is permitted. A signed contract alone doesn’t authorise work. The fee for a change of status of stay is KRW 100,000, and an extension is KRW 60,000.
Changing jobs later has its own rules. For some occupations you need prior permission before moving, and for others you only need to report within 15 days. The dividing line is your job code, which doesn’t appear on your Alien Registration Card, so ask your employer which code was used. The manual lists specific occupations subject to prior permission, and being absent from that list isn’t a guarantee you only need to report. Always confirm with your immigration office before you move.
Going home and returning with a D-10 is narrower than it sounds. A D-10 aimed at E-7 semi-professional or skilled work generally cannot be applied for from overseas, and discretionary overseas issuance is a single-entry visa with a six-month stay. If you have completed alien registration, a short trip abroad is different: re-entry within one year of departure (or within your remaining stay, if shorter) is exempt from re-entry permission. Leaving for a holiday is not the same as leaving to restart.
Longer-Term Residence: F-2 and Beyond
If you work in Korea for some years, you may start looking at residence visas, which carry fewer employer-linked restrictions than a work visa.
- F-2-7 (points-based residence): The assessment generally requires 80 points, scored on factors like age, education, Korean ability and income. One commonly described pathway is for holders of a Korean master’s degree or higher who apply within five years of graduating while employed. Details of the points scale and caps vary between guides, so check the current table on HiKorea.
- F-2-R (regional): This is a regional-talent route tied to designated population-declining areas. It generally requires living and working in the region and meeting a Korean-language requirement, and Korean graduates may benefit from relaxed income conditions. The list of regions and conditions changes, so verify before you plan around it.
Beyond F-2, permanent residency (F-5) is a longer-term goal for some. It involves separate requirements that I’d treat as a distant stage, not something to plan your degree around.
Because a regional university can ease several parts of this journey, your choice of campus matters more than it first seems. Toddle’s overview of colleges in South Korea for international students helps you compare options.
What the 7 October 2026 Reform Plan Could Change for Graduates
On 7 October 2026, the Ministry of Justice announced reform tasks for the international student visa system, after about five months of work with experts. The ministry framed the shift as moving from simply attracting students to managing them more systematically, rewarding students with clear goals and the right capabilities while responding firmly to abuse. By August 2026, Korea had around 350,000 international students.
For graduates, the announced measures include:
- D-10 stay differentiated from one to three years, depending on Korean-language ability and job readiness.
- A switch to E-7 for science and engineering students who meet language and other requirements and take jobs in designated sectors, including manufacturing.
- A possible “K-Tech Master Visa” for graduates of specialised technical master’s programmes, giving a route from D-2 to the F-2 residence visa. This one is under review.
- A “Korea study alumni visit visa” for people who return home, letting them keep their personal and professional networks in Korea.
- More guidance and support: an online platform explaining how to change status based on qualifications and regional labour demand, an occupation-specific checklist for employment visas, and five dedicated student visa and residency support centres at regional immigration offices.
Alongside the vocational-college pilot announced earlier in 2026, the plan also references an E-7-M (K-CORE) visa for graduates of designated programmes. It targets graduates in jobs related to their major with salaries of KRW 26 million or more, plus KIIP Level 4 or TOPIK Level 5.
Treat all of this as direction, not final rules. The ministry said it would begin implementing items within its own authority in the second half of this year, and that items needing other agencies will take longer. Don’t base a decision on an announced plan until the detailed rules are published.
What About Students on a D-4 Language Visa?
The pathways above are built around degree graduates. The first-change exemption for the D-10 is described for degree holders changing from D-2, so a language-course (D-4) completion doesn’t automatically open the same route.
In practice, D-4 students who want to stay for the long term usually move into a degree programme (D-2), and the rest of the chain follows from there. If you’re considering this route, read Toddle’s guide to D-2 visa routes and eligibility and plan your Korean-language milestones early.
What Improves Your Odds of Staying
No one can promise you a place in Korea after graduation. But several things within your control improve your position.
Build your Korean early. Korean level shows up almost everywhere: D-10 points, eligibility for D-10 part-time permission, planned differentiation in D-10 stay length, and conditions attached to science-and-engineering and K-Tech pathways. If you’re building from the beginning, a structured advanced Korean language class can help you reach the intermediate levels the rules reward.
Protect your record. Keep your Alien Registration details up to date and report changes on time. A late report can lead to administrative fines. Anything more serious can reduce your points or disqualify you. Never work without permission, even briefly.
Choose a field with a clear job code. E-7 depends on designated occupations, so before you commit to a major, look at which roles in that field appear on the list and how your degree maps to them.
Consider geography. Regional universities carry lower financial-proof thresholds on the way in, and regional employers can benefit from eased salary conditions and the regional residence track on the way out. That isn’t a reason to pick a school you wouldn’t enjoy, but it is a real factor.
Document your job search. Extensions on the D-10 require evidence of job-seeking activity. Save application confirmations, interview invitations and rejection emails as you go, because reconstructing a year of history later is very hard.
Don’t wait for the last month. Start your job search and your document collection in your final year. Studying-in-Korea points carry time limits, and passport renewal, record checks and appointments all eat into your window.
Plan your money. Staying costs money too, and there may be gaps between graduation, job offers and approvals. Toddle’s total cost to study in Korea from Nepal breakdown helps you budget across the whole journey, and the GKS scholarship guide for Nepali students is worth reading if funding is your main barrier.
A Realistic Timeline for Nepali Students
Here is a sensible rhythm to work through, not an official schedule:
- Before you go: choose your university, field and region with the end goal in mind, and start Korean.
- First year in Korea: settle in, keep your registration in order, and build your Korean level. Learning what student life is really like helps you avoid surprises, and Toddle’s student life in Korea guide is a good place to start.
- Middle years: keep your grades solid, protect your record, and pursue internships or projects connected to your field, with proper permissions.
- Final year: check your passport validity, gather degree documents, research employers, and learn which job codes fit your field.
- Graduation window: apply for the D-10 change in time, keep a job-search log, and ask employers the sponsor questions early.
- After an offer: wait for your status-change approval before starting, and confirm whether future job changes need permission or only a report.
Mistakes That Quietly Cost Graduates
- Treating the D-10 as a work visa.
- Starting a job after signing but before the change is approved.
- Assuming a Korean degree alone makes any job eligible for E-7.
- Ignoring the employer’s eligibility until the final stage.
- Letting your passport run short.
- Relying on old blog posts. The D-10 rules already changed in October 2025, and the E-7 list has been revised several times within months.
- Trusting someone who promises to “arrange” your visa by producing documents. Falsified papers don’t just fail; they can cause serious consequences.
- Counting on an announced plan as if it were already in force.
Frequently Asked Questions about Can International Students Stay in Korea After Graduation
1. Can international students stay in Korea after graduation?
Yes, many do, but it requires changing status step by step. The typical path is D-2 student status, then the D-10 job-seeking visa, then an E-7 work visa once you have a qualifying job. Longer-term residence options such as F-2 exist later. Each step needs permission and meets specific conditions.
2. What visa do I get right after graduating from a Korean university?
Most degree graduates who want to keep looking for work in Korea change from D-2 to D-10-1. A first change by a Korean-degree graduate benefits from special treatment: the points system isn’t applied, proof of living expenses is waived, and one year of stay is granted.
3. Is the D-10 a work visa?
No. It makes your job-seeking period legal but is not on the list of statuses that permit employment. Paid work needs separate permission for activities outside your status, and only certain graduates qualify.
4. How long can I stay on a D-10?
Since 29 October 2025, grants are up to one year at a time, with a total of up to three years depending on the applicant. Some applicants (such as those scoring 60 to 79 points or with prior E-series work history) receive six months at a time. Your stay is also limited by your passport’s validity. The ministry has announced a plan to vary stay length by Korean ability and job readiness.
5. Do I need points to get a D-10?
It depends. The general assessment uses a 190-point scale with a minimum of 60 overall and 20 from basic items. A first change from D-2 by a Korean-degree graduate is exempt from points, but they apply from the first extension.
6. Will a fine affect my D-10 application?
It can. Summary and criminal fines can reduce points, and larger or more serious records can disqualify you. Ordinary administrative fines are treated differently. Bring any notice to the immigration office and get a specific answer.
7. Can I work part-time on a D-10?
Only with advance permission, and only if you meet conditions, which generally include a Korean degree earned within the last three years and TOPIK Level 4 or KIIP Stage 4. The fee is KRW 120,000, not the reduced student fee. Hours and permitted industries have varied between manual editions, so confirm the current rules.
8. Can I do an internship on a D-10?
Internships in E-1 to E-7 fields are handled through a reporting procedure. Employer restrictions can apply, so ask the company about its intern history and confirm the reporting deadline with your office.
9. What is the E-7 visa, and who qualifies?
It is the main work visa for specified occupations. You need a job on the Ministry of Justice’s designated list, personal qualifications (a master’s degree, a bachelor’s degree plus one year of experience, or five years of experience), the required salary, and a sponsoring employer who meets requirements.
10. What salary is required for the E-7 in 2026?
From 1 February to 31 December 2026: KRW 31,120,000 for E-7-1, KRW 25,890,000 for E-7-2 and E-7-3, and KRW 26,000,000 for E-7-4. The 2027 figures will be announced separately.
11. Do I need a Korean degree for the E-7?
No, but it helps. A bachelor’s degree or higher from a Korean university waives the one-year experience requirement regardless of major. The job, salary and employer requirements still apply.
12. Does my employer matter that much?
Yes. Companies with fewer than five Korean employees that mainly serve the domestic market are generally restricted. Foreign hiring in protected occupations is capped at 20 percent of Korean staff, and tax delinquency can also restrict a company.
13. Can I switch directly from D-2 to E-7?
It can be possible if you already have a qualifying job and meet the requirements, but many graduates go through the D-10 first. Check your own case with the immigration office, particularly if you plan to rely on a D-10 for E-7 purposes.
14. Can I go home to Nepal and apply for the D-10 from there?
It is narrower than it sounds. A D-10 for E-7 semi-professional or skilled work generally cannot be applied for from overseas, and overseas discretionary issuance is a single-entry visa with a six-month stay.
15. Can I leave Korea while on a D-10?
If you have completed alien registration, re-entry within one year of departure (or within your remaining stay if shorter) is exempt from re-entry permission. A short trip is different from leaving to restart, and you should still check your own situation first.
16. Does my passport’s expiry date matter?
Yes. A stay permit is generally granted only within the passport’s validity. If your passport has five months left, that may be all you get.
17. What are F-2-7 and F-2-R?
Both are residence visas for longer-term stays. F-2-7 is points-based, generally requiring 80 points. F-2-R is a regional track tied to designated population-declining areas. Their conditions change, so check the current requirements on HiKorea.
18. Can language-course (D-4) students stay after graduation?
The job-seeking pathways described are built around degree graduates. Most D-4 students who want to stay long-term move into a degree programme first, then follow the standard chain.
19. What did the 7 October 2026 reform plan announce for graduates?
Plans include varying D-10 stay from one to three years by Korean ability and job readiness, a route to E-7 for science and engineering students, a possible K-Tech Master Visa, an alumni visit visa, more online guidance and dedicated support centres. These are announced plans, with details still to come.
20. What are the K-Tech Master Visa and E-7-M (K-CORE)?
The K-Tech Master Visa is under review as a route from D-2 to F-2 for graduates of specialised technical master’s programmes. E-7-M (K-CORE) is aimed at certain graduates in jobs related to their major, with salaries of KRW 26 million or more and KIIP Level 4 or TOPIK Level 5.
21. How much does TOPIK level matter for staying?
A lot. It affects D-10 points, D-10 part-time eligibility, and the conditions attached to several planned pathways. Higher levels widen your options.
22. Does attending a regional university help?
It can. Regional universities carry lower financial-proof thresholds on entry, and regional employment and residence tracks can ease conditions later. It shouldn’t be the only factor in your choice, but it is a real one.
23. Should I choose my major with job codes in mind?
It is worth checking. E-7 depends on designated occupations, so understanding which roles in your field are on the current list helps you plan realistically.
24. How can Toddle help me plan for staying in Korea?
Toddle, based in Hetauda since 2018, helps Nepali students plan their Korea journey from Korean-language preparation to visa counselling. Planning your post-study path before you choose a university helps you pick a programme and region that suit your goals.
Talk to a Toddle Teacher Before You Decide
Staying in Korea after graduation is easier to plan from the start than to fix at the end. A short conversation about your field, your Korean level and your budget can show you which route fits and which university choices keep your options open.
Start with Toddle’s D-2 student visa counselling services, or message a teacher directly on WhatsApp at +977 9769741767: https://wa.me/9779769741767
