AI-powered solutions to navigate and access Korea's startup funding programs
With nearly 40 major visa types, South Korea’s immigration system provides multiple avenues for foreign nationals to transition into living in Korea. Of those is the D-10 ‘Job Seeking’ visa which allows foreigners to reside legally in Korea while finding or preparing for employment. However, not all D-10 visas are the same.
The D-10 visa includes subcategory visas D-10-1 and D-10-2. While name-wise the two are nearly similar, the purpose, length of stay, and permitted activities differ, and should be taken into consideration before submitting a visa application.
The D-10-1 covers two activities:
Track 1: If you're a recent Korean university graduate. You qualify for the point system exemption (점수제 면제 특례) and are granted D-10-1 status after graduation if you meet all of the following:
Track 2: If you don't qualify for the exemption — either because you graduated from a university outside of Korea, you graduated more than three years ago, or you previously held an E-series visa — you're evaluated under D-10 point system (점수제). You need a combined score of 60 points out of a total of 190 points, with at least 20 of those points coming from “basic items”:
The maximum stay period for point-based applicants is depending on the number of points scored. Those who score 60-79 points can get a maximum of 1 year. Applicants that meet one of the following criteria can stay for up to 3 years.
D-10-1 Job Seeking Visa Score Calculator
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The D-10-2 visa was created for aspiring startup founders to legally reside in Korea while engaging in business preparation activities in Korea. During this time, individuals complete the OASIS (Overall Assistance for Startup Immigration System) curriculum, prepare and file intellectual property applications, and handle the administrative groundwork of incorporating a company in Korea.
In comparison, the barriers to applying for this visa are a lot lower. In addition to holding at least a domestic (Korean) associate degree, or a foreign bachelor's degree (degree Apostille required), all applicants must satisfy at least one of the following:
D-8-4 Startup Visa Score Calculator
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Ultimately, the purpose of the D-10 series visas are to help you transition to long-term employment opportunities. Therefore, having a clear vision of your goals and the steps to achieve them will allow you to make the most of the limited time. Preparation is key, especially while you're not being able to earn a full salary. If your goal is to join an existing Korean company or complete a paid internship before transitioning to an E-series visa, being preparing documents for the D-10-1. If building and running your own technology startup is what you want to pursue, check our events page to find an OASIS course to sign up for to start laying the groundwork.
Symone Gosby
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