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International Student Services

Pre-arrival information for new student

D-2 (Study) Visa

The application for student visa (D-2) requires a number of documents like the Certificate of Admission (COA), which will be issued by the Admissions Team at SUNY Korea. Proof of Final Academic Credentials and Financial Statement (E.g. Bank account, scholarship, etc.) which serves as proof of a student’s budget for expenses while staying in Korea are needed too. Keep in mind that these documents may take a long time to be issued, and additional requirements may be asked of you during the process. It is recommended that students contact the Korean Embassy or Consulate in your country well ahead of time, to ask for the documents needed for student visa application, and prepare them in advance to get the visa on time.

Certificate of Admission for the D-2 Visa

After international students have been admitted and paid the tuition fee, they will be able to receive their Certificate of Admission (COA). This must be taken to the Korean Embassy or Consulate in your country to apply for a D-2 visa.

  • D-2-1 (Associate Degree) for FIT Undergraduates
  • D-2-2 (Bachelor’s Degree) for SBU Undergraduates
  • D-2-3 (Master’s Degree) for SBU Graduates
  • D-2-4 (Doctoral Degree) for SBU Doctoral Students
  • D-2-6 (Exchange Student) for Exchange student who comes to study in SUNY Korea

Required documents

Items subject to change depending on individual circumstances

  • 1 A completed visa application
  • 2 A recent passport photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm, color photo)
  • 3 Passport (Original)
  • 4 Certificate of Admission (Official Letter from Korea)
  • 5 Certificate of the current or last school attended
  • 6 Documents proving financial affordability:
    • For BA, MA, PHD students: The last 6 months’ bank statements showing at least 20,000 USD for the students of universities in the national capital region. This amount of money must have been held in account for at least 1 month. For exchange students and students who are studying under 12 months: The last 6 months’ bank statements having enough money to cover the whole cost of your stay in Korea shown on section 7 of the certificate of admission. The money must have been held in account for at least 1 month. We cannot accept bank statements issued more than 2 weeks before the date of your application. Also, we cannot accept internet banking/Cash Point/ATM or mini statements as the evidence of funds. If the applicant is not able to support him/ herself financially, s/he can submit either Doc 1), Doc 2) or 3) along with the applicant's own bank statements:
      • A certificate of the student loan which can cover the expenses in Korea (only in the case where the applicant does not have enough balance in the bank account)
      • Parents Financial Affidavit: photocopy of the parents' passports, an agreement letter with signature which explains the parents will fully support the applicant financially, 6 months’ bank statements of parents’ bank account with the balance which can cover the amount of money mentioned above for the last 1 month and birth or family relationship certificate to confirm the relationship between applicant and supporter.
      • If you get a scholarship, you need to submit the certificate of the scholarship. On the certificate, the sponsor should clearly mention the scholarship details such as the receiver's name and total amount of money, etc.
  • 7 Visa fee : Please check with the Korean Embassy or Consulate in your country.
  • 8 If you are an exchange student, you need to submit the exchange student agreement between the universities and a letter of recommendation written by your current school
  • 9 Documents proving your family relations (original copy and translated version with notarization) only for the 21 states below: China, Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Mongolia, Thailand, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt and Peru.

How to apply for visa (RC) extension

Prepare the required documents for the Immigration Office. The required documents are listed below. However, they are subject to change We strongly encourage you to visit the official Immigration website or inquire directly to the Immigration Office to find the updated information: Immigration Office: Call 1345 (Various language service available)

Hi Korea homepage (e-government for Foreigners): https://www.hikorea.go.kr

Required Documents

  • 1 Application of Permission for Extension of Stay
  • 2 Valid passport
  • 3 RC (Residence Card)
  • 4 Enrollment Verification: You can request this through the SUNY Korea website. It takes 2-5 business days and 2,000 KRW for the Korean version.
  • 5 Proof of bank account and necessary funds (including tuition fee statement, proof of living expenses and Scholarship Maintenance Certification)
  • 6 Official Transcript: Available at your student portal (SOLAR/myfit). It may take days or weeks depending on the option you choose
  • 7 Proof of current residence (confirmation for dormitory residence, mails, lease contract, or bills for public utility charges): You may request this at the Student Team office if you reside on campus. It also takes 2-5 business days.
  • 8 Service Charge: 60,000 KRW

Visa extension availability will be restricted according to your academic schedule. Students who have completed the undergraduate course will be permitted an extension of stay of only 1.5 years (Master’s course) or 3 years (PhD course). Students must graduate within this time period with no exceptions. Also, please note that the visa will be automatically canceled within 30 days according to the school registration change such as dis-enrollment, dropout, leave of absence, expulsion, graduation and/or Korean nationality acquisition.

Your first three months

Residence Card

Required documents

  • 1 Valid passport
  • 2 Enrollment verification
  • 3 Application form
  • 4 1 color ID photo (3.5*4.5 cm) taken within the past 6months
  • 5 Copy of visa and your passport
  • 6 Service Charge: Approximately 35,000 KRW (cash only)

Health Insurance for international students

Students must have health insurance coverage if they are enrolled as full-time students at SUNY Korea. Korean Alien Law requires all international students to have health insurance while they are enrolled at the University.

However, you cannot apply for the Korean National Health Insurance until your Alien Registration information is registered to the system. Therefore, you must have health insurance coverage for at least 3 months until you can subscribe to the Korean National Health Insurance. It usually takes at least one month to receive your RC (Residence Card) after you apply. All international students must send proof of health insurance or traveler’s insurance to the Student Services Team ( student@sunykorea.ac.kr ) a week before the SUNY Korea New Student Welcome Week begins.

If you cannot prove your health insurance coverage when you come to SUNY Korea, your admission offer may be rescinded.

As of March 1, 2021, the Korean Government has issued a new law that international students residing in Korea with a valid D-2 student visa are subject to a mandatory subscription to the Korean National health insurance from March 1, 2021. You can see more information regarding the guidelines in the PDF attachment available here.

Subscription Start Period:

  • a. If it’s your first entry to Korea, then from your alien registration date
  • b. If it’s your second or reentry, then from your reentry date

Monthly Insurance Fee (for 2021): 43,490 KRW

39,540 KRW for April + 3,950 KRW (1/10th of the March contribution)

As of 2021, the health insurance fee is about 135,000 KRW. However, the Korean Government decided to allow international students to receive the insurance benefits with a 70% discounted fee from March 2021 until February 2022.

However, the reduced fee only applies to students who:

  • did not pay any income tax in 2019,
  • are not self-employed insured whose contribution (fee) is above the average contribution, and
  • has a household income of KRW 3.6 million or below, and the property tax base of KRW 135 million or below.

If you received an income and paid the income tax in 2019 (such as working as a Research Assistant), your insurance fee may be different than the reduced fee. If you worked in 2019, but currently are not working, then you may be able to request for the reduction (they may request for documentation for verification purposes). The insurance fee may differ for each student.

  • Fee Due Date: The fee for the next month is due by the 25th of the current month (prepayment)
    • E.g. April 2021 fee is payable by March 25, 2021 (billed around the 10th of each month)
  • Payment Method: Automatic transfer (from your bank account or credit card), website, NHIS branch office, bank

    You can call (033-811-2000 for English service) or visit a NHIS branch office to apply for an electronic (email or mobile) billing instead of receiving a paper bill. We recommend you to do so for efficient communication.

  • Closest NHIS branch office from campus:
    • NHIS Incheon Yeonsu-gu
    • Weekdays (M to F) 09:00 ~ 12:00 / 13:00 ~ 18:00
    • 1st Floor (KT Plaza), 145, Cheongneung-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon / 인천 연수구 청능대로 145 1층 (https://naver.me/FPsU1Ymk)

      Please bring your RC (Residence Card) and bankbook or bank account information Insurance Benefits:

      • Same benefits as Korean citizens
      • Various benefits are available, including dental and oriental medical treatment, health checkups, and pregnancy and childbirth-related medical expenses
  • Disadvantages with Nonpayment of the Fee:
    • Restrictions on health insurance benefits
    • Restrictions on visa extension
    • Dispositions on default
  • Enrollment Procedure
    • No action is required from students, as they are automatically subscribed to the health insurance by the NHIS
    • A NHI Card and subscription guide are sent to your residential address in Korea

If you have any questions regarding the Korean national health insurance, please contact NHIS at 033-811-2000 for services in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Uzbek. You can also visit the nearby NHIS branch office for consultation (click here to access the NHIS website).

Re-Entry Permit

According to the Korean Immigration Law, D-1 ~ F-3 Visa holders (including D-2 Visa holders) are allowed re-entry into Korea within 1 year from the date of departure without a Re-Entry Permit as of April 1, 2022. Therefore, you do not need to apply for a Re-Entry Permit when you leave the country during semester breaks.

*Re-Entry Permit will be exempted within the period of stay for people whose period of stay is less than 1 year. If you re-enter Korea after the expiration date of your RC (Residence Card), you have to reapply for the visa.

Please refer to the HiKorea website or contact the Immigration Office Contact Center via 1345 (English service available) for more information.

Quarantine Information Pre-Entry System: Q-Code

According to the KCDC, individuals arriving from foreign countries can pre-register their quarantine information through the Q-Code to simplify the arrival process at the Incheon International Airport. Please visit the Q-Code website to issue the QR code before your departure.

As of October 1, 2022, individuals arriving from foreign countries can enter Korea without quarantine. COVID-19 test before and upon arrival is no longer required.