After you arrive
Staying after graduation — from student to resident
Korean policy toward international students is shifting from "come and study" to "stay and work". In Busan a regional-visa pilot has lowered the entry bar for designated departments, and after graduation a path runs from job-seeking (D-10) through employment (E-7) to regional residency (F-2-R). That path is wider outside the capital than in it.
The policy is changing — from recruiting to retaining
The way Korean government sees international students has changed. Where returning home after study was once the assumption, policy now actively supports staying, working and settling — most of all in regions losing population. For a student this simply means one more option: you can go home, or you can stay.
| Who | What they are doing | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Education | 300,000 international students by 2027 (Study Korea 300K) | The entry gate is widening |
| Ministry of Justice | New settlement visas — regional (F-2-R) and metropolitan pilot visas | A path to stay after graduation now exists |
| City of Busan | 30,000-student target plus a metropolitan visa pilot | In Busan this policy is actually running |
Three institutions announce these separately, but in a student’s life they form one line: admission (Education) → stay (Justice) → settlement (the city). This page walks that whole line in order.
The Busan metropolitan visa — a lower entry bar
Busan was selected for the Ministry of Justice’s metropolitan visa pilot: a scheme where the city designs relaxed visa conditions for departments tied to its industries. It runs as a pilot until 31 December 2026.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fields | Designated departments in semiconductors, secondary batteries and future car parts |
| Level | Associate and bachelor programmes only (not graduate school) |
| Universities | All 14 confirmed — 11 universities (Kyungsung, Pukyong National, Korea Maritime & Ocean, Tongmyong, Dongseo, Dong-A, Dong-eui, Pusan National, Busan Univ. of Foreign Studies, Silla, Youngsan) and 3 colleges (Kyungnam College of IT, Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, Busan Institute of Science & Technology) |
| Financial threshold | Bank balance requirement eased from ₩16m to ₩8m |
| Internships | Allowed during term, not only in vacations (2nd-year 2nd term at colleges, 4th year at universities) |
| Scale | 1,000 places over two years (300 in 2025, 700 in 2026); 335 students in the first year |
- Only designated departments qualify — ask the university before you apply.
- A metropolitan governor’s recommendation is part of the process, and universities under strengthened screening are excluded.
- It is a pilot: terms can change. The final word is the official notice from the city and the university.
It helps to see why these fields were chosen. Semiconductors, batteries and car parts are the industries Busan and its region are building, and they are short of people. Choosing one of these departments does not only ease admission — it raises your odds of finding work in the same region after graduation. The entry benefit and the job prospect point the same way.
The ladder after graduation — D-10 to E-7
Before graduating
Keep your Korean and your grades up. Work permission and stay extension both hang on them, and they feed the points system for the job-seeking visa. An internship during study makes employment far easier.
Graduation → job-seeking (D-10)
Graduates of Korean universities can switch to job-seeking (D-10) status to look for work, and may take internships during this period — time for you and an employer to size each other up.
Employment → E-7
Once a company is set, you switch to specific activities (E-7). The employer files with you; the review looks at the occupation list and how the job relates to your major. Shipbuilding, machinery and parts — concentrated in this region — favour local graduates.
Settlement → F-2-R and beyond
Working in the region and meeting the conditions opens the regional visa (F-2-R) for residency, and beyond it long-term residence and permanent residency (F-5).
The door that opens if you stay regional — F-2-R
A residence status for foreigners settling in population-declining areas. There is no eligible district inside Seoul, and nearly all eligible areas lie outside the capital region (within it, only rural Gapyeong and Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi and the islands of Ganghwa and Ongjin in Incheon qualify). And the test is not where you studied but where you live and work — a degree from any Korean university counts.
- Two or more years in Korea with at least an associate degree earned here
- Annual income at or above the metropolitan government’s living wage
- Intent to live and work (or found a business) in the recommending region for five years or more
- KIIP stage 4 completed, or TOPIK level 4 or higher
Busan recruits in three districts: Seo-gu, Dong-gu and Yeongdo-gu. Both the 2025 and 2026 notices allotted 50 places per district — 150 a year — with no nationality exceeding 30% of the total. Geumjeong-gu and Jung-gu appear on the national watch-list but are not part of Busan’s recruitment. Selection is by points, and time lived in Busan counts toward them, so years spent studying here work directly in your favour. Any Korean associate degree or higher qualifies — not only Busan universities — and some statuses, including language-course (D-4) holders, are excluded. The year’s notice is the final standard.
What you choose now decides later
- Department — the pilot-designated fields (semiconductors, batteries, car parts) move admission and job prospects together.
- Korean — part-time work, stay extension, job-seeking points and F-2-R all hang on it. TOPIK level 4 opens several doors at once.
- Region — where you live and work decides F-2-R eligibility. Build an internship link to local industry before you graduate.
Common questions
- How do I know whether my department is covered by the pilot?
- Ask the university’s international office or admissions team — that is the most reliable source. The designated departments are named in the city’s and each university’s notices. Departments unrelated to semiconductors, batteries or future car parts are not covered.
- Can I get F-2-R right after graduating?
- Rarely. Besides the degree you need annual income at or above the living wage, so employment usually comes first. The typical order is graduation → job-seeking (D-10) → employment (E-7) → F-2-R once income and Korean requirements are met.
- How does E-7 employment work?
- The employer files together with you. The company that hires you sponsors the status change, and the review checks the occupation list and the link to your major. You cannot file it alone — which is why building a company connection through an internship during study is the practical preparation.
- What happens when the pilot ends?
- The metropolitan visa pilot is announced through 31 December 2026, and whether it will be extended or made permanent has not been decided. Treat the scheme as changeable, and let the notices in force at the time of your application be the final standard.
Take care
The metropolitan visa is a pilot and the regional visa (F-2-R) is re-announced each year. This page reflects August 2026; the notices from the city, the Ministry of Justice and the university at the time you apply are the final standard. Nothing here guarantees an outcome.
Last checked
Sources 「외국인체류 안내매뉴얼」·「사증발급 안내매뉴얼」 (법무부, 2026-01-30) · 부산시 광역형 비자 시범사업 (법무부 공모 선정, 2025) · 부산광역시 「스터디 부산 30K」 · 하이코리아 (법무부)
This page is general information, not legal advice on your case. Rules change and the final decision rests with the authorities. If you apply through KoAdmit we confirm the current rules with you during the consultation.