The D-10 visa: why to read this before graduation day
You graduated, job results are pending, and your D-2 is running out. The D-10 is the only track that makes that gap legal. But several score items can only be earned before you graduate: which makes this page most valuable in your final year.
26,559 D-10 job-seeker visa holders, 12,269 of them Vietnamese (MOJ monthly statistics, as of 2026-07-31)
The costliest misunderstanding: "students skip the points test" is only half true
Extensions require a written account of your job-seeking year (an activity plan, plus proof of funds if the points test applies). Save every application, interview date, and rejection email as you go: that folder decides your extension.
Based on the Ministry of Justice Stay-Permit Manual, August 2026 edition
The points system: a map, not a calculator
When the test applies, you need 20+ points on base items and 60+ total out of 190 (80 for nationals of designated countries changing from certain statuses). Structure: base max 50 (age + education) · optional max 70 (career, Korean study, language) · bonus max 70.
- Korean-degree points hit their maximum (30) only "within 3 years of graduation": the clock starts at your ceremony.
- Language points (TOPIK/KIIP) are tied to test schedules. Raising your level while enrolled is the cheapest option.
- Age points differ by bracket (20–24: 10 · 25–29: 15 · 30–34: 20 · 35–39: 15 · 40–49: 5, Aug 2026 table). Just know which bracket you are in.
Terms, fees, deductions: the numbers
Stay period
Granted 1 year at a time, up to 3 years in total (tiered by qualifications). Four groups get max 6 months per grant: care-worker training graduates, scores of 60–79, former E-1~E-7 professionals, and foreign-mission interns in Korea.
Stay permits are in principle granted only within your passport validity (since 2021-07-01). Even if you qualify for 1 year, a passport with 5 months left gets you 5 months.
Fees (Enforcement Rule Art. 72, 2026)
- Status change KRW 100,000 · extension KRW 60,000 · ARC KRW 35,000
- Activity-outside-status permit (part-time work) KRW 120,000: unlike D-2 days (free to 20,000)
- Online (e-application) filings of status change and extension get a 20% fee reduction (Enforcement Rule Art. 74(2))
Deductions vs. disqualification: different questions
Fines from your student years count as deductions (summed over the 5 years before application) and can even disqualify you depending on amount and type. Key distinction: administrative fees (e.g., late reporting) do NOT count toward deductions. Both "I paid, it is over" and "any record means rejection" are wrong: your office makes the call.
Based on the Ministry of Justice Stay-Permit Manual, August 2026 edition
Three practical notes
- Graduation day and your D-2 expiry run on different calendars. Put both dates side by side at the start of your final semester. → D-day tool
- Visits are by advance reservation on HiKorea: walking in without one can mean no service. E-applications: weekdays 07:00–22:00.
- The system is under review right now (MOJ student-visa reform council, final report due September 2026). This page reflects the Aug 2026 edition: confirm the latest rules via ☎1345 right before applying.