Living in Korea, explained properly.
Visas, banking, phone plans, taxes and housing — written for people who actually have to do it, and sourced from the published criteria.
How much is a student visa for Korea? Fees from visa to ARC
A breakdown of D-2 student visa fees in Korea: visa application ($40/$60 per visa.go.kr ranges), Alien Registration Card issuance (35,000 KRW), extension fees, and which costs vary by nationality.
how much is a student visa for korea — Read guideWhat's in this guide
- A standard single-entry D-2 student visa costs $60, although the actual amount depends on your nationality and, for some nationalities, is set by a different fee schedule.
- After you enter Korea you pay a one-time Alien Registration Card (ARC) fee of 35,000 KRW, which covers the IC-based card issued since 2025.
- Later, a stay extension is 60,000 KRW per application (30,000 KRW for F-2 and F-6 holders), and the same fee applies when you extend or change your stay.
Recently updated
- Living
Wolse in Korea: what monthly rent actually looks like
How wolse (wolse) works in Korea: the deposit-plus-monthly-rent structure, how much deposit landlords usually ask, the legal 2-year minimum term, and how wolse compares to jeonse.
- Tax
Korea Resident vs Non-Resident Tax: The 183-Day Test and What You Pay
How Korea decides whether you are a tax resident (183-day domicile or place of residence rule), what residents versus non-residents are taxed on, and the 19% flat rate option for foreign workers.
- Visa
What Is an F Visa in Korea? F-1 to F-6, Stay Periods and Who Qualifies
An overview of Korea's F visa family — F-1 family visitor, F-2 residence (points-based F-2-7), F-3 dependents, F-4 overseas Korean, F-5 permanent residence and F-6 marriage — with stay rules and work permission.
- Visa
F-5 Visa Korea (Permanent Residence): Requirements, Income and Language
Korea's F-5 permanent residence visa: who qualifies, the points and general routes, the income requirement around 2x per-capita GNI, language (KIIP) and criminal-record criteria, and where to apply.
- Tax
South Korea Foreign Income Tax: What Residents Pay and How Credit Works
How Korea taxes the foreign-source income of residents: worldwide taxation, the 5-year remittance basis for non-permanent residents, the foreign tax credit, and the May global income tax return.
- Tax
Does South Korea Tax Foreigners? Income Tax Rules for Expats
Yes — South Korea taxes foreigners on Korean-source income, and tax residents also pay on worldwide income. Resident rule (183 days), 2025 progressive rates, local income tax and withholding explained.
- Visa
Korea F Visa Requirements: F-2, F-4, F-5 and F-6 Explained
Requirements for Korea's family and residence visas: F-2 points-based residence (80 points), F-4 overseas Korean, F-5 permanent residence, and F-6 marriage visa, based on official immigration.go.kr and Hikorea criteria.
- Visa
Documents Required for a Korean Visa: The Checklist by Status
The documents a Korean visa application generally asks for — passport, photo, proof of purpose, financial evidence and the certificates that need apostille or translation — arranged as a checklist you can prepare before applying.