D-2 vs D-4 Visa Korea: Which Student Visa Do You Need?
Study guide
Compare Korea's D-2 (degree) and D-4-1 (language) student visas side by side: eligibility, documents checklist, processing timeline, and how to check your case on official portals.
- Updated for 2026.
Q: I’m in Singapore - what’s the simplest way to think about Korean student visas?
A: Start from your route: degree first vs language programme first. Then use the official portals to confirm which visa category and documents apply to your exact case. Don’t plan off Reddit threads.
TL;DR (90 seconds) - If you’re going for a degree programme, you’ll usually be in the “degree” bucket (often discussed as D-2). - If you’re going for a Korean language programme, you’ll usually be in the “language training” bucket (often discussed as D-4-1). - Verify the real requirements using: - Study in Korea (official): https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/ko/plan/visaAndStay.do - Korea Visa Portal (Visa Navigator): https://www.visa.go.kr/openPage.do?MENU_ID=10101
Status: Last reviewed 2026-01-20. This is a planning guide, not legal advice. Visa rules can change, so verify everything on the official portals linked above (and your school’s instructions).
At a Glance
| Factor | D-2 (Degree Student) | D-4-1 (Language Trainee) |
| Purpose | Degree programme (undergraduate or postgraduate) | Korean language training programme |
| Typical applicant | Student with a degree offer / applying for degree admission | Student enrolling in a Korean language programme first |
| Route logic | Degree-first route |
Reviewed by
Marcus Pang·Managing Director (Maths)
