General job seeker (D-10-1) applicants need at least 20 basic points and a total of 60 out of 190 points (as of 2026). Graduates who earned an associate degree or higher at a Korean university under D-2 status and are changing to D-10-1 for the first time are exempt from the points assessment and receive one year of stay. The exemption applies to the first change of status; the points system applies from the first extension.
D-10 subcategories and permitted activities
D-10 permits job searches in fields covered by E-1 through E-7 and short paid internships before regular employment. Entertainment work at adult establishments under E-6-2 is excluded. The subcategories and maximum stay periods are set out below (as of 2026).
| Subcategory | Who it covers | Stay ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| D-10-1 General job seeker | Job seekers and trainees aiming at E-1 to E-7 employment (points system or an exemption category) | Up to 3 years (varies by points and type) |
| D-10-2 Start-up preparation | Holders of a bachelor's degree or higher (including Korean associate degrees) preparing a business — patent holders or applicants, OASIS trainees and the like | Up to 1–3 years by type (6 months or 1 year per grant) |
| D-10-3 Advanced-technology intern | Students or graduates within 3 years, in advanced-technology fields at leading world universities (THE top 200, QS top 500), under 30 (under 35 for master's or above) | Up to 3 years (1 year per grant) |
| D-10-T Top-tier talent | Holders of a master's degree or higher obtained within the last 5 years from a university ranked in the world top 100 | Up to 3 years (1 year per grant) |
D-10-2 permits start-up preparation, including immigration training for entrepreneurs, patent applications and preparations to incorporate a company. Internships are restricted. D-10-3 permits advanced-technology internships under an employment contract with a qualifying company or institution.
Points-system exemptions
The D-10-1 score includes basic points for age and education; optional points for work experience, study in Korea and Korean proficiency; and bonus points for matters such as official recommendations and graduation from leading universities. Immigration penalties and criminal fines lead to deductions. Part 2 of this series explains the calculations, deductions and disqualification criteria.
Several exemption categories exist. 1) A graduate who obtained an associate degree or higher at a Korean university under study (D-2) status and changes to job seeker (D-10-1) status for the first time — a person who has departed Korea is also covered if they apply for a D-10 visa within one year of the graduation date, while a person who previously held D-10 status is no longer a first-time applicant and is scored under the points system. 2) A graduate of a regular Korean university within three years of the degree date with strong Korean — Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) stage 4 interim-exam pass or TOPIK level 4 or higher; after three years, the general points system applies. 3) A foreign youth raised in Korea, aged 18 to 24, who completed Korean elementary, middle and high school. 4) Promising talent aged 29 or under: graduates of universities ranked in the THE or QS top 200 with a bachelor's degree or higher, or Korean-studies majors with TOPIK level 6. Separate criteria also exist for graduates of the long-term care worker training course, for former E-1 to E-7 professionals whose employment has ended, and for interns at foreign missions in Korea (as of 2026).
Many points-exemption categories also waive proof of living expenses. Graduates in those categories do not have to set aside funds immediately after graduation solely to provide that evidence. Disqualification rules still apply, including a sentence of imprisonment or more severe punishment within the past five years or a criminal fine of KRW 3 million or more within the past three years.
Internship reporting and part-time work permission
D-10-1 holders may undertake internships in E-1 to E-7 fields. The cumulative period at any one company must not exceed one year, but there is no minimum period per company or separate limit on total internship time. Applicants may therefore undertake internships at several companies within the one-year limit for each. The start of an internship or a change of host organization must be reported within 15 days. Reports for internships exceeding one year at the same company are rejected. D-10-2 holders and former E-1 to E-7 professionals who changed to D-10-1 may not undertake internships.
Part-time work permission is available to D-10-1 holders who earned an associate degree or higher at a Korean university less than three years ago, completed KIIP stage 4 or higher or hold TOPIK level 4 or higher, and have never held E-1 to E-7 status. D-10-2 and D-10-3 holders do not qualify. The limit is 25 weekday hours per week, increasing to 30 for those who completed KIIP stage 5 or higher, with no limit on weekends or public holidays. The permitted fields follow the rules for international students. Manufacturing requires completion of KIIP stage 4 or higher; TOPIK results alone are insufficient. Agriculture has no language requirement. Working without prior permission can result in penalties for both the worker and employer.
Stay extensions and re-entry
The maximum stay is three years, depending on the application category. Graduates making their first change of status under the exemption receive one year. At extension, a score of 80 or more allows one year per grant up to three years in total; 60 to 79 points allows six months per grant up to one year. Former E-1 to E-7 professionals and graduates of the long-term care worker course also receive six months per grant (as of 2026). Stay periods in Korea are added together for the maximum. The calculation restarts after a final departure and re-entry on a newly issued visa. Periods under D-10-1 following a change from E-1 to E-7 because of business suspension or closure are excluded from the calculation.
Extension applications also require evidence of actual job-seeking activity, such as internship, interview and job-application records and completed training. Registered foreign nationals are exempt from the re-entry permit requirement when returning within one year of departure, provided their period of stay remains valid. Those subject to entry or visa-issuance restrictions must obtain a re-entry permit separately.
D-10-1 after E-1 to E-7 employment
Former professionals whose E-1 to E-7 employment has ended may receive D-10-1 status for six months at a time, up to one year in total. Those changing as former professionals cannot undertake internships, and their E-1 to E-7 history excludes them from the part-time work exemption. Relying on the work opportunities available to recent graduates would therefore leave a gap in their employment and income plans.
Choosing an application category requires checking how the previous contract ended, any remaining term, and the prospect of a contract with a new employer. For a points-based application, the permitted stay at the expected score must also cover the time needed to find employment. Eligibility for D-10 alone does not establish whether its permitted activities and duration will support that employment plan.
First applications after graduation and extension planning
Graduates applying for their first change to D-10-1 in Korea must apply before their D-2 stay expires. Graduates who have left Korea can receive the points exemption when applying for a D-10 visa within one year of graduation. Those planning to extend their first grant need evidence of job-seeking activity and a qualifying extension score. Internship reporting and part-time work permission must also be arranged around the actual work schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Law Firm Lawyeon Immigration Law Center provides legal services specialized in the integrated handling of Korean immigration and visa matters together with criminal cases and immigration-violation reviews, built on extensive case experience, professional networks, and practical knowledge.
The Center brings together attorneys Junwoo Min, Dohyun Nam, and Seungchul Kim, criminal-law specialists with extensive immigration advisory experience, and Senior Advisor Taemin Ahn. Mr Ahn has served at the Seoul Global Center, headed a Ministry of Justice Global Start-up Immigration Center, and served on the Foreign Workers' Rights Protection Council of the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Administration. Together, they established Law Firm Lawyeon's dedicated immigration practice.
In particular, for departure orders and entry-ban dispositions that follow a final criminal conviction, the Center presents effective solutions through an integrated strategy spanning criminal defense, objections to the disposition, and applications to lift the entry ban, and it supports stable business activity in Korea by managing many clients' immigration risk.
This article is intended as general information about the relevant legal framework and is not legal advice on any individual matter. Determinations concerning immigration status may differ depending on specific facts such as residence history, income and contractual relationships. If your situation requires individual review, you may request a consultation with the Immigration Law Center of Law Firm Lawyeon (lawyeon-immigration.com).