What can and can't I do with a D-10 (Job Seeking) visa?

With a D-10 (Job Seeking) visa, you can look for a job and do internship activities within a set scope. You cannot take regular employment.

✅ What you can do

• General Job Seeking (D-10-1) · Top-Tier Talent (D-10-T): You can look for a job at companies or organizations in Korea. You can also do a short internship with a training allowance before regular employment¹.
• Technology Startup Preparation (D-10-2): You can prepare for a startup, such as joining the Startup Immigration Education Program (창업이민교육프로그램), preparing and filing a patent application, and preparing to establish a corporation¹.
• Advanced Technology Internship (D-10-3): You can sign an internship contract with a company that meets the requirements and do an internship in an advanced technology field¹. You can also receive pay or a living allowance³.
• Part-time work (D-10-1 only): You must first get Permission for Activities Not Covered by the Status of Sojourn (체류자격외활동허가). The fee is 120,000 won². You must meet all the conditions below.
• You earned an associate degree or higher from a Korean university and it has been less than 3 years
• You completed Level 4 or higher of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (사회통합프로그램), or have TOPIK Level 4 or higher
• You have never stayed in Korea under E-1 to E-7 status
• The fields you can work in are manufacturing (only with Level 4 or higher of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program) and agriculture.
• On weekdays, you can work up to 25 hours (30 hours if you completed Level 5 or higher of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program). There is no hour limit on weekends and public holidays².

❌ What you must not do

• Working without permission: In general, to take regular employment, you must first change to a work status such as E-7.
• Cases where you cannot get part-time work permission: D-10-2 and D-10-3 cannot receive this special exception²³.
• Internship activities under D-10-2: Internship activities are restricted¹.
• Activities outside the allowed fields: Job seeking for performance activities (E-6-2) at places such as entertainment venues is not included in D-10¹.

⚠️ Things to be careful about

If you work outside the permitted scope, it may be a violation of your stay. It can also hurt you when you extend or change your visa later. If you already have a problem, get K-VISA AI Administrative Agent consultation in the app's Visa Service. For final confirmation, check HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or the Foreigner Information Center (외국인종합안내센터, 1345).