constitute legal or immigration advice. Korean visa regulations and requirements change frequently. Always verify the latest information with the official Korea Immigration Service or consult a licensed immigration attorney before making any decisions. Last Updated: May 2026
Criminal background check. Apostille. Income certificate. Lease contract. You’ve heard you need all of these, but nobody told you which ones apply to your visa type.
Worse, nobody explained which documents need translation, notarization, or apostille certification first. Different visa types require completely different combinations. The E-7 visa document checklist looks nothing like the F-6 marriage visa requirements. The D-2 student visa needs documents you’d never expect on an F-2-7 points-based application.
Every Korean long-term visa requires three basics: a valid passport, a completed application form, and a passport-style photo. Beyond that, requirements split sharply by visa category. As of May 2026, this guide compiles the complete Korea visa document checklist for F-2-7, F-5-16, E-7, F-6, D-2, D-10, and F-1-D visas in one reference, based on Korea Immigration Service and HiKorea official guidelines.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a printable checklist for your specific visa type, know exactly which documents require apostilles, and have direct links to detailed guides for each visa category.
Quick Summary
What this guide covers
Common Documents for All Korean Long-Term Visas
Every long-term visa application starts with the same core set. These six documents apply whether you’re on an E-7, F-6, or D-2 — get them ready first and you won’t touch them again.
According to the HiKorea portal, as of May 2026, the following documents are universally required:
Universal Document Checklist
Required for ALL long-term visa applications:
☐ Valid passport (original + photocopy of all pages including entry/exit stamps)
→ Must have at least 6 months validity remaining
☐ Passport-style photo (2 copies, 3.5cm × 4.5cm)
→ White background, taken within 6 months, no glasses
☐ Visa application form (통합신청서, tonghap sincheongseo — unified application form)
→ Download from hikorea.go.kr → 민원서비스 (Civil Services) → 서식 다운로드 (Form Download)
⏱ Takes 15-20 minutes to complete
☐ Application fee payment receipt
→ Single entry: ₩60,000 / Multiple entry: ₩90,000 (as of 2026)
☐ Alien Registration Card (ARC) if already in Korea
→ Not required for initial visa applications from abroad
☐ Proof of residence in Korea (if applicable)
→ Lease contract (임대차계약서, imdaecha gyeyakseo) or accommodation confirmation
Health and Background Documents
Depending on your visa type and nationality, you may also need:
☐ Health examination certificate (건강진단서, geongang jindanseo)
→ From designated medical institution, includes HIV/TB screening
→ Valid for 3 months from issue date
☐ Criminal background check (범죄경력증명서, beomjoe gyeongnyeok jeungmyeongseo)
→ From your home country, issued within 6 months
→ Requires apostille or consular legalization + Korean/English translation
Work Visa Document Checklists: E-7 and F-2-7 Korea Visa Application Documents
Work-related visas have the most documentation requirements because immigration must verify both your qualifications and your employer’s legitimacy. The E-7 skilled worker visa and F-2-7 points-based residence visa share some overlap but differ significantly in income verification and sponsor documentation.
E-7 Visa Document Checklist (Skilled Worker)
The E-7 visa requires documents from both you and your sponsoring employer.
The rejection rate hit 18.4% in 2025 — 9,247 denials out of 50,312
applications (KOSIS.kr). Incomplete employer documentation is the most
common reason.
E-7 Applicant Documents:
☐ All common documents (see Section 1)
☐ Degree certificate (학위증명서, hakwi jeungmyeongseo)
→ Bachelor’s or higher in a relevant field
→ Requires apostille + Korean/English translation
☐ Career certificate (경력증명서, gyeongnyeok jeungmyeongseo)
→ Letters from previous employers on company letterhead
→ Requires apostille if issued abroad
☐ Employment contract (근로계약서, geunro gyeyakseo)
→ Must specify job duties, salary, work location, and contract period
→ Salary must meet the minimum threshold for your occupation code
☐ TOPIK score certificate (if applicable for bonus points)
→ Not mandatory but increasingly requested for certain E-7 subcategories
E-7 Employer Documents (submitted by company):
☐ Business registration certificate (사업자등록증, saeopja deungrokjeung)
→ Issued within 3 months
☐ Company financial statements (재무제표, jaemu jepyo)
→ Previous fiscal year, certified by a tax accountant
☐ Employment reason statement (고용사유서, goyong sayuseo)
→ Explains why a foreign worker is needed for this specific role
→ 42% of 2025 rejections cited vague job descriptions (MOJ 2025 Report)
☐ Tax payment certificate (납세증명서, napse jeungmyeongseo)
→ Proves the company is current on tax obligations
☐ Foreign worker employment list (외국인고용현황, oegugin goyong hyeonhwang)
→ Shows how many foreign workers the company currently employs
F-2-7 Visa Document Checklist (Points-Based Residence)
The F-2-7 visa shifts the documentation burden primarily to you. Your employer doesn’t need to submit extensive paperwork. Instead, you must prove your points through verifiable certificates. The minimum qualifying score is 80 points according to Korea Immigration Service.
F-2-7 Document Checklist:
☐ All common documents (see Section 1)
☐ Income certificate (소득금액증명원, sodeuk geumak jeungmyeongwon)
→ From HomeTax (hometax.go.kr) → 민원증명 → 소득금액증명
→ Shows the previous year’s taxable income
⏱ Online: 5 minutes
☐ Degree certificate (학위증명서, hakwi jeungmyeongseo)
→ Apostille required for foreign degrees
→ STEM fields earn higher points than non-STEM
☐ TOPIK score certificate or KIIP completion certificate
→ TOPIK 6: 20 points / TOPIK 4: 15 points / TOPIK 3: 10 points
→ KIIP (Korea Immigration and Integration Program) Level 5 completion: additional 10 bonus points
☐ Employment verification (재직증명서, jaejik jeungmyeongseo)
→ Your current employer issues this document
→ Confirms your employment status and position
☐ Points calculation self-assessment form
→ Available on HiKorea; lists your claimed points per category
One thing most applicants miss: F-2-7 renewals require 80+ points too,
not just the initial application. Immigration re-checks your score every
renewal cycle. Keep your certificates current.
Residence Visa Document Checklists: F-5-16 and F-6
Permanent residence (F-5) and marriage-based (F-6) visas have higher documentation standards because they grant long-term or permanent stay rights. Income thresholds are significantly higher, and relationship documentation becomes a major factor for F-6.
F-5-16 Visa Document Checklist (Points-Based Permanent Residence)
F-5-16 is the permanent residency upgrade for F-2-7 holders. You must have held F-2-7 for at least 3 consecutive years in Korea. The income requirement jumps to approximately ₩104.84 million or above (GNI × 2, based on 2025 GNI of ₩52.42 million per Bank of Korea national accounts data).
F-5-16 Document Checklist:
☐ All common documents (see Section 1)
☐ F-2-7 status verification
→ ARC showing 3+ consecutive years on F-2-7
☐ Income certificate (소득금액증명원, sodeukkeumaek jeungmyeongwon)
→ Previous year income must be ≥ ₩88,102,000 (GNI × 2)
→ Get from hometax.go.kr
☐ KIIP Level 5 completion certificate OR Comprehensive evaluation score 60+
→ Mandatory Korean language/integration requirement
☐ Tax payment certificate (납세증명서, napse jeungmyeongseo)
→ Proves no outstanding tax obligations
☐ Real estate or financial asset proof (optional but recommended)
→ Property ownership or bank balance statements
F-6 Visa Document Checklist (Marriage Migration)
The F-6 visa requires extensive documentation proving both the legitimacy of your marriage and your Korean spouse’s financial ability to support you. Immigration conducts interviews in many cases to verify the relationship.
F-6 Applicant Documents:
☐ All common documents (see Section 1)
☐ Marriage certificate (혼인관계증명서, honin-gwangye jeungmyeongseo)
→ Korean marriage certificate from district office
→ If married abroad: foreign marriage certificate with apostille + translation
☐ Birth certificate (출생증명서, chulsaeng jeungmyeongseo)
→ Apostille required + Korean/English translation
☐ Proof of single status (미혼증명서, mihon jeungmyeongseo) from home country
→ Issued within 3 months, apostille required
☐ Basic Korean language proficiency
→ TOPIK Level 1+ OR completion of designated Korean language course
→ Or interview at immigration office
☐ Relationship evidence photos
→ Wedding photos, travel together, family gatherings (10–20 photos recommended)
Korean Spouse Documents:
☐ Family relations certificate (가족관계증명서, gajok-gwangye jeungmyeongseo)
→ Shows marriage registration
☐ Resident registration certificate (주민등록등본, jumin-deungrok-deungbon)
→ Shows household composition and address
☐ Income or employment verification
→ 소득금액증명원 (income certificate) or 재직증명서 (employment certificate, jaejik jeungmyeongseo)
→ Must demonstrate ability to support spouse
☐ Marriage background statement (혼인배경진술서, honin-baegyeong-jinsulseo)
→ Both spouses complete separately, explaining how you met
Student and Job Seeker Visa Documents: D-2 and D-10
Student visas (D-2) and job seeker visas (D-10) have simpler employer requirements but stricter financial proof and institutional sponsorship documentation.
D-2 Visa Document Checklist (Student)
The D-2 visa requires acceptance from a Korean educational institution and proof of financial support. Financial requirements vary by institution but typically range from ₩9 million to ₩20 million in available funds.
D-2 Document Checklist:
☐ All common documents (see Section 1)
☐ Certificate of admission (입학허가서, ipak heogaseo)
→ Official admission letter from Korean university
→ Must specify program, start date, and duration
☐ Previous academic transcripts and degree certificates
→ Apostille required + Korean/English translation
☐ Bank statement (잔고증명서, jango jeungmyeongseo)
→ Minimum ₩9-20 million depending on program
→ Must show funds held for at least one month
☐ Study plan (수학계획서, suhak gyehoekseo)
→ Some universities require this in Korean or English
☐ Tuition payment receipt (if already paid)
→ Or scholarship confirmation letter
D-10 Visa Document Checklist (Job Seeker)
The D-10 visa is available to recent graduates from Korean universities or holders of certain work visas whose employment ended. Requirements differ based on your current status.
D-10 Document Checklist (Recent Graduate):
☐ All common documents (see Section 1)
☐ Graduation certificate (졸업증명서, joreop jeungmyeongseo)
→ From Korean university, issued within 6 months of graduation
☐ Academic transcript (성적증명서, seongjeok jeungmyeongseo)
→ GPA verification for eligibility
☐ Job search plan (구직활동계획서, gujik hwaldong gyehoekseo)
→ Outlines target industries, companies, and job search activities
☐ Financial proof
→ Bank statement showing living expenses for your stay period
☐ University recommendation letter (recommended)
→ Not always required but strengthens your application
F-1-D Digital Nomad Visa Document Checklist
The F-1-D digital nomad visa, introduced in 2024, allows remote workers employed by foreign companies to reside in Korea. Income and insurance requirements are strictly verified. For complete eligibility details, see our Korea F-1-D Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Complete Eligibility Guide.
F-1-D Document Checklist:
☐ All common documents (see Section 1)
☐ Proof of employment with foreign company
→ Employment contract or official employment verification letter
→ Must clearly state remote work arrangement
☐ Income proof
→ Bank statements or pay stubs showing income ≥ GNI × 2
→ 2025 GNI: ₩52.42M → Threshold: approximately ₩88,102,000 annually
☐ Travel insurance or international health insurance
→ Must cover medical expenses in Korea
→ Minimum coverage period matching visa duration
☐ Criminal background check
→ From home country, apostille required
☐ Proof of accommodation
→ Hotel reservation or lease contract in Korea
For step-by-step application instructions, see our Korea F-1-D Visa Application Guide 2026. After-arrival procedures including ARC registration are covered in our F-1-D Visa After Arrival Guide.
Korea Visa Document Comparison Table
This comparison table shows which documents are required for each visa type. “●” indicates required, “○” indicates sometimes required or recommended, and “—” indicates not applicable.
| Document | E-7 | F-2-7 | F-5-16 | F-6 | D-2 | D-10 | F-1-D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passport + photos | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Application form | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Degree certificate | ● | ● | ○ | — | ● | ● | ○ |
| 소득금액증명원 (Income certificate from the National Tax Service) | ○ | ● | ● | ● | — | — | ● |
| Employment contract | ● | ○ | — | — | — | — | ● |
| TOPIK (Korean language proficiency test) or KIIP (Korea Immigration & Integration Program) certificate | ○ | ● | ● | ● | ○ | — | — |
| Criminal background check | ○ | ○ | ● | ● | ○ | — | ● |
| Marriage certificate | — | — | — | ● | — | — | — |
| Employer business docs | ● | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| University admission letter | — | — | — | — | ● | — | — |
| Health insurance proof | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ● |
Source: HiKorea visa application guidelines, accessed May 2026. Requirements may vary by immigration office and individual circumstances.
Apostille and Legalization Requirements
Foreign-issued documents must be authenticated before Korean immigration will accept them. If your home country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, you need an apostille. If not, you need consular legalization from a Korean embassy.
Documents Requiring Apostille
Apostille Required (if issued outside Korea):
☐ Criminal background check (범죄경력증명서, beomjoe-gyeongnyeok-jeungmyeongseo)
☐ Birth certificate (출생증명서, chulsaeng-jeungmyeongseo)
☐ Marriage certificate (혼인증명서, honin-jeungmyeongseo) if married abroad
☐ Degree certificate (학위증명서, hagwi-jeungmyeongseo)
☐ Career/employment certificates (경력증명서, gyeongnyeok-jeungmyeongseo) from foreign employers
Apostille Process
For U.S. documents, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State in the state where the document was issued. For UK documents, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) handles apostilles. Processing time runs 2–4 weeks in most countries.
After apostille, you still need:
- Korean or English translation (if the document is in another language)
- Notarization of translation (some immigration offices require this)
Order your apostilles before anything else. 4–6 weeks is the minimum
if you’re getting them from abroad — and that’s if nothing goes wrong.
Real Case: Income Document Mismatch
The following profile is a fictional composite based on recurring questions in
r/korea, r/seoul, and r/teachinginkorea. Names and details are invented. The situation reflects patterns seen repeatedly in these communities.
Mia, 29, Filipino UX designer, D-10 visa, transitioned from D-2
Mia spent three years on a D-2 student visa before transitioning to D-10. After landing a job offer, she began preparing her F-2-7 application. Her employment contract showed ₩48,000,000 annually. When she pulled her 소득금액증명원 (income certificate) from HomeTax, it showed ₩41,500,000. The ₩6,500,000 gap came from non-taxable meal allowances (식대, sikdae) and transportation subsidies (교통비, gyotongbi) that her company paid separately and didn’t appear on the certificate.
The problem: Mia had calculated her F-2-7 score assuming the ₩48M contract figure, placing her in the ₩40-50M bracket (40 points). The actual 소득금액증명원 figure of ₩41.5M still fell in the same bracket — but barely. One more deduction and she’d have dropped to ₩30-40M (30 points), losing 10 points and falling below the 80-point threshold.
What Mia did: She confirmed with HR which allowances were non-taxable and requested that future compensation be restructured to increase her base salary rather than allowances. Twelve months later, her 소득금액증명원 reflected ₩46,200,000.
Before applying, download your 소득금액증명원 from hometax.go.kr → 민원증명 → 소득금액증명 and compare it to your contract. A gap of ₩5,000,000 or more is worth discussing with HR before your application.
Details That Matter
3-month validity rule: Most Korean certificates (income, employment, family relations) must be issued within 3 months of your application date. Certificates older than 3 months will be rejected. Plan your document collection timeline accordingly.
Translation requirements vary by office: Some immigration offices accept English-only foreign documents. Others require Korean translations. Seoul Immigration Office typically requires Korean translations for all non-English documents. Call ahead or check HiKorea for your specific office’s policy.
Original + copy policy: Bring both originals and photocopies of every document. Immigration keeps copies and returns originals. Arriving without copies means waiting while staff makes them—or worse, being asked to return another day.
소득금액증명원 vs 납세증명서: These are different documents. 소득금액증명원 (sodeuk geumak jeungmyeongwon) shows your income amount. 납세증명서 (napse jeungmyeongseo) proves you paid taxes. F-2-7 requires 소득금액증명원 for point calculation. F-5-16 may require both.
Common Document Mistakes
❌ Expired documents: Submitting a criminal background check from 8 months ago. Most background checks must be within 6 months. Income certificates must be within 3 months.
❌ Missing apostille: Submitting a foreign degree without apostille authentication. The degree itself may be valid, but immigration won’t accept it without proper legalization.
❌ Wrong income document: Bringing 근로소득원천징수영수증 (geunro sodeuk woncheonjingsu yeongsujeung, tax withholding receipt) instead of 소득금액증명원 (income certificate). They show different figures and serve different purposes.
❌ Untranslated documents: Submitting documents in languages other than Korean or English without certified translation.
❌ Incomplete employer documentation (E-7): The applicant brings all their documents but the employer failed to provide 고용사유서 (goyong sayuseo, employment reason statement). This single missing document results in immediate rejection.
Official Resources & Links
- Korea Immigration Service – Official visa requirements and policy updates
- HiKorea Online Portal – Online applications, appointment booking, form downloads
- Ministry of Justice Korea – Immigration law and regulation announcements
- HomeTax – Income certificates and tax documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit documents in English, or do they need to be translated into Korean?
Documents originally in English are generally accepted at most immigration offices. Documents in other languages typically require certified Korean translation. Seoul Immigration Office may require Korean translations even for English documents in some cases. Check with your specific immigration office before your appointment.
How long does an apostille take to process?
Processing time varies by country. In the United States, state-level apostilles typically take 2-4 weeks. The UK FCDO processes apostilles in about 2 weeks for postal applications. Federal-level documents (like FBI background checks) may take longer. Allow 4-6 weeks total when ordering documents from abroad.
What happens if one of my documents expires before my appointment?
You’ll need to obtain a new version of the expired document. Immigration will reject expired documents regardless of how recently they expired. If your appointment is weeks away and a document will expire, either reschedule or plan to get a fresh copy closer to your appointment date.
Can my employer submit their documents separately from mine?
For E-7 visas, employers can submit their documentation separately in some cases, but coordinating timing is critical. Both sets of documents must be in the system for processing to begin. Many employers submit everything together with the employee to avoid coordination headaches.
Do I need to bring original documents or are copies acceptable?
Bring both originals and photocopies. Immigration officers verify originals, then keep the copies for their files. Arriving with only originals means delays while copies are made. Arriving with only copies typically results in rejection.
Is the 소득금액증명원 the same as my employment contract salary?
No. The 소득금액증명원 (sogeuk geumak jeungmyeongwon, or income certificate) shows taxable income reported to the National Tax Service. Non-taxable benefits like meal allowances, transportation subsidies, and certain bonuses don’t appear on this document. Your 소득금액증명원 figure is often lower than your total contract compensation.
Which visa requires the most documents?
The F-6 marriage visa typically requires the most documentation because it demands proof from both spouses, relationship evidence, and financial capability verification. E-7 visas require extensive employer documentation in addition to applicant documents. F-2-7 has fewer documents but requires certificates proving every claimed point category.
What To Do Next
E-7 Application
Coordinate with your employer first. E-7 rejections happen most often when employer documentation is incomplete. Confirm your HR department has prepared the 사업자등록증 (business registration certificate), 재무제표 (financial statements), 고용사유서 (employment justification letter), and 납세증명서 (tax payment certificate). Once employer docs are confirmed, gather your degree certificate and career certificates. Schedule your apostilles at least 4 weeks before you plan to apply.
F-2-7 Preparation
Download your 소득금액증명원 (income verification certificate) from HomeTax today to verify your income figure. Check that your TOPIK or KIIP certificate hasn’t expired. Compile your degree certificate with apostille. The F-2-7 application is document-heavy but doesn’t require employer involvement beyond basic employment verification.
D-2 to D-10 Transition
Apply for D-10 within 6 months of graduation. Get your graduation certificate and transcript from your university’s administrative office. Prepare a job search plan outlining target industries. Apply within 6 months of graduation and the process moves quickly.
F-6 Marriage Visa Process
Begin with your Korean spouse’s documents first since these are faster to obtain domestically. Your foreign documents will take longer due to apostille requirements. Order your criminal background check and birth certificate with apostille early. Collect 10-20 relationship photos spanning your time together.
Official Clarification
For questions about your specific situation, contact the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 (available in Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other languages). They can verify current requirements for your visa type and specific immigration office.
