Foreign students who can work part-time
Foreign students who can work part-time
- A foreign student with student (D-2) or general trainee (D-4) status of stay who intends to work part-time shall have a certain level of Korean language proficiency and obtain confirmation from the school personnel in charge of international students affairs (Refer to Article 20 of the Immigration Control Act and page 37 of the Ministry of Justice Korea Immigration Service's Foreign Residents' Manual, August 2023).
※ As for language trainees, 6 months shall have passed from the date of immigration status change (date of entry, for visa holders). Language trainees enrolled in elementary, middle, and high schools shall not be eligible (expected graduates shall be eligible, though) for part-time work permit even if they hold a D-4 visa.
- Those who received an exceptional residence permit for failure to meet the graduation requirements due to insufficient credits earned, etc. after elapse of the period of study (2 years for an associate bachelor's degree; 4 years for a bachelor's degree) are excluded from the permit (Refer to page 37 of the Foreign Residents' Manual, August 2023)
※ However, those who have completed the master's or doctoral coursework and are preparing for thesis may also be granted permit for part-time employment, except in cases of obvious graduation delays due to lack of diligent studies, such as insufficient credits earned or poor attendance).
- The above permission shall be limited to 30 hours a week, and the provision on unlimited permission during holidays and vacations shall be inapplicable (Refer to page 37 of the Foreign Residents' Manual, August 2023)
※ A foreign student working part-time without permission by the Minister of Justice may be deported or recommended to depart voluntarily from the ROK, and shall imprisoned with labor for not more than three years or fined up to KRW 30 million (Articles 46.(1).7, 67.(1).1 and Subparagraph 5 of Article 94 of the 「Immigration Control Act」).
Permitted part-time areas
- The example of fields where international students may work part-time are as follows (See pages 38 of the Foreign Residents' Manual, August 2023).
1. General interpretation and translation, food service assistance, general office work assistance, etc.
2. Activities as a safety assistant or play assistant in English Kids' Cafes and English Camps after submitting a publicly confirmed criminal record certificate issued by their national government and a physical examination certificate issued by a medical institution designated by the Minister of Justice.
3. Tourist guide assistance and duty-free store sales assistance, etc.
※ However, even when intending to work in a field where the above part-time employment is permitted, one shall meet the qualification requirements if he/she is employed for a job that requires certain qualification requirements according to domestic laws.
4. Activities as a safety assistant or play assistant in English Kids' Cafes and English Camps after submitting a publicly confirmed criminal record certificate issued by their national government and a physical examination certificate issued by a medical institution designated by the Minister of Justice.
5. Part-time or full-time seasonal work.
6. Internship activities in the form of training and internships in permitted professional fields (E-1 – E-7) for students in degree programs (D-2) during their vacation period.
※ However, if one is seeking employment in a profession that requires certain qualifications according to domestic law, they must meet those qualifications.
Permitted part-time hours and locations
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College type
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School year
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Proficiency in Korean ① TOPIK ②Korea Immigration&Integration Program (KIIP) ③King Sejong Institute
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When to start
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Permitted hours
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Authorized college, benefits for students with good grades
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Weekdays
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Weekends/ vacations
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Language training program
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N/A
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①TOPIK Level 2 ②KIIP Level 2 or above or pre-assessment score of 41 or higher ③ King Sejong Institute Intermediate 1 or above)
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Not met
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6 months later
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10 hours
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10 hours
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20 hours
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25 hours
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Associate degree
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N/A
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①TOPIK Level 3 ②KIIP Level 3 or above or pre-assessment score of 61 or higher ③ King Sejong Institute Intermediate 1 or above)
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Not met
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Immediately
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10 hours
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10 hours
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25 hours
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No limit
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30 hours
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Bachelor
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Freshman - sophomore
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Not met
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Immediately
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10 hours
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10 hours
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25 hours
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No limit
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30 hours
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Junior - senior
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①TOPIK Level 4 ②KIIP Level 4 or above or pre-assessment score of 81 or higher ③ King Sejong Institute Intermediate 2 or above)
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Not met
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Immediately
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10 hours
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10 hours
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25 hours
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No limit
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30 hours
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Master/ Ph.D.
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N/A
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Not met
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Immediately
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15 hours
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15 hours
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30 hours
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No limit
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35 hours
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Source: Foreign Residents' Manual, August 2023 (p. 37)
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※ If you want to receive accurate consultation in accordance with the latest guideline, please call ☎1345 or visit the competent immigration office or the government office after making a visiting appointment.
Permission for activities other than those permitted by the sojourn status
Meaning of permission for activities other than those permitted by the sojourn status
- A foreign student who intends to work part-time in parallel with the activity of his sojourn status shall obtain permission for activities other than those permitted by the sojourn status from the Minister of Justice (Article 20 of the 「Immigration Control Act」).
※ A foreign student engaged in activities other than those permitted by his sojourn status without such permission may be deported or recommended to depart voluntarily from the ROK, and shall be imprisoned with labor for not more than three years or fined up to KRW 20 million (Articles 46.(1).7, 67.(1).1, and Subparagraph 5 of Article 94 of the 「Immigration Control Act」).
Applicant
- The foreign student himself may apply for permission for activities other than those permitted by the sojourn status: Provided that if he is less than 17 years old, his parents, legal guardian, siblings, guarantor, or house mate may apply for him (Subparagraph 1 of Article 79 of the 「Immigration Control Act」 and Article 89.(1) of the 「Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Control Act」).
- In addition, the following persons may also apply for an extension of the sojourn period as a proxy for foreign students [Article 34 of the Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Control Act, and Article 2 and Attached Table of the Regulation on Proxy Application for and Receipt of Various Sojourn Permits, Etc. (Minister of Justice Notice No. 2019-340 issued and enforced on October 28, 2019)].
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Sojourn status
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Proxy
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Student (D-2)
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√ Employee of an ROK organization where the student received or is to receive education √ Individual or employee of an organization that pays the student's school expenses or sojourn expenses √ Student's family members (persons falling under the provisions of Article 779.1 of the Civil Code)residing in the ROK
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General trainee (D-4)
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√ Employee of an ROK organization where the trainee received or is to receive training √ Person who pays the trainee's training expenses or sojourn expenses √ Trainee's family members (persons falling under the provisions of Article 779.1 of the Civil Code)residing in the ROK
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Agency to apply to and documents to submit
- To receive permission for activities other than those permitted by the sojourn status, the applicant must submit a written application for permission along with the following documents to the head of the relevant Immigration Service (hereinafter referred to as the “head of service”), head of an office (hereinafter referred to as the “head of office”), or head of branch office (hereinafter referred to as the “head of branch office”) (Article 20 of the Immigration Control Act, Article 25 of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Control Act, and Subparagraph 1of Article 76(2), the attached Table 5-2, and the attached Form 34 of the Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Control Act).
1. Passport;
2. Foreigner registration certificate (Limited to cases where a foreigner registration is made); and
3. Written standard admission permit that includes decisions about evaluation of scholastic and financial abilities (issued by the president of the school or dean) or proof of enrollment (to be submitted only when the sojourn status is student (D-2))
※ Matters to consider
1. Any of the above documents that can be verified by the joint administrative information database (Article 36.(1) of the 「Electronic Government Act」) may be omitted (Article 76.(3) of the 「Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Control Act」).
2. The head of service, head of office, or head of branch office may add or omit documents required for submission as deemed necessary (Attached Table 5-2 of the Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Control Act).
※ The address and contact number of the Immigration Office or its branch office is at this [
link].
Fee
- Foreign students shall pay a fee of KRW 20,000 when applying for permission for activities other than those permitted by the sojourn status (Article 87 of the 「Immigration Control Act」 and Subparagraph 2 of Article 72 of the 「Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Control Act」).
Screening and permission for activities other than those permitted by the sojourn status
- Once an application for permission for activities other than those permitted by the sojourn status is received, the decision on whether to permit such activities shall be determined through review of the application and accompanying documents by the Minister of Justice (Article 20 of the 「Immigration Control Act」 and Article 25.(2) of the 「Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Control Act」).
- If the Minister of Justice approves the application, the head of service, head of office, or head of branch office shall imprint a stamp or affix a slip to the applicant’s passport indicating permission for activities not covered by the original status of sojourn; In cases in which the applicant has no passport or in other cases deemed necessary, a permit for activities not covered by status of sojourn may be issued in lieu of imprinting a permission stamp or affixing a slip in the applicant’s passport (Article 25(3) of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Control Act).
- In cases where a person is not allowed to engage in any activity other than not covered by his/her status of stay, the head of service, head of office, or head of branch shall notify the person that he/she may not engage in any activity other than not covered by his/her status of stay.
Revocation and alteration of permission for activities other than those permitted by the sojourn status
- If foreign students fall under any of the following, the permission for activities other than those permitted by the sojourn status may be revoked (Article 89.(1) of the 「Immigration Control Act」):
1. Where the guarantor withdraws his personal reference or there is no guarantor;
2. Where it is found that the permission was obtained by falsification or other unlawful means;
3. Where the conditions of permission are violated;
4. Where any change in circumstances raises a grave cause to no longer maintain the permitted conditions; and
5. Where the violation against the 「Immigration Control Act」 or other Acts is serious, or any ex officio order issued by an immigration official is violated.