Overview
In the D-2 student visa, financial proof is the step where you show by documents that you can cover tuition and living costs. Financial documents are required in different ways at the visa-issuance-confirmation stage, change of status, extension and change of school, and for students at certified universities they can be omitted in some cases.
This article narrows the scope to financial proof only: which stage asks for what, who is exempt, and which points need to be confirmed separately. For eligible institutions, see our D-2 institutions article; extension in general and part-time work are covered in separate articles. Note that there is no fixed minimum-amount figure for D-2, so this article gives none. Vision Administrative Office (VISAS KOREA) guides document preparation and handles the application procedure; whether it is approved is decided by the Immigration Office's review.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa-issuance-confirmation stage | Financial-capacity documents are in both the common documents and the course-specific extra documents; the document table describes them as an amount equivalent to a year's tuition and living costs |
| Amount standard | The D-2 sections give no minimum-amount figure — confirm with the school's international-student staff or the Immigration Office |
| Parent-name balance proof | If a parent's balance certificate is used as financial proof, family-relationship documents are also submitted |
| Exempt at change or extension | Degree students at excellent-certified or certified universities with an overall GPA of C (2.0) or higher: financial documents omitted (certified-university students from Ministry-designated or priority-management countries excluded) |
| General universities | The extension review looks at grades and financial capacity, and the extension documents include financial proof |
| Registration and school change | No financial-capacity documents at foreigner registration / financial-capacity documents for a change of school (certified-university students excepted) |
Scope of Activity
- How financial-proof documents are requested at each D-2 stage: visa issuance confirmation, change of status, extension and change of school
- Who is exempt as a certified-university student, and who is excluded from that exemption (Ministry-designated and priority-management countries)
- Eligible institutions, extension in general and part-time work are not covered, and no unofficial amount figure is given
Who Qualifies
- Prospective students and university international-student staff preparing a D-2 visa issuance confirmation who want to know which financial documents to submit
- Students planning to prove finances with a parent's balance certificate
- Certified-university students checking whether financial proof is omitted at extension
- General-university students who want to know how financial capacity is reviewed at extension
Required Documents
- Visa issuance confirmation stage — financial-capacity documents are among the common documents, and the course-specific additional documents call for an amount equivalent to a year's tuition and living costs
- If a parent's balance certificate is used — submit family-relationship documents as well
- Research course (D-2-5) — letter of guarantee or financial-capacity documents (balance certificate, research-allowance confirmation, etc.)
- Change of status — standard admission letter, and documents proving academic background and financial capacity
- Extension — financial proof is among the general documents, and omitted for students eligible for the certified-university benefit
- Change of school — financial-capacity documents, except for certified universities / confirm the exact document types and any amount standard with the school's international-student staff or the Immigration Office
Application Process
- Check eligibility — confirm your current status, career, degree and contract type match the requirements.
- Prepare documents — foreign public documents need a translator's certification plus an apostille (or consular confirmation for non-member states).
- Book a visit — reserve a slot at your Immigration Office via HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr), or file online where e-Application is available.
- File and pay — submit the Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34) and pay the screening fee.
- Review — respond to any request for supplementary documents within the deadline.
- Result — on approval, the period of stay and status are granted; reissue your ARC if required.
Key Points
- Amount figures: D-2 financial proof calls only for an amount equivalent to tuition and living costs, and there is no fixed minimum balance. Do not rely on figures seen online; confirm with the school's international-student staff or the Immigration Office.
- Exemption conditions: financial proof is omitted at extension or change only for degree students at excellent-certified or certified universities with a GPA of C (2.0) or higher, and nationals of Ministry-designated and priority-management countries are excluded. Whether certified universities are exempt at the visa-issuance stage needs to be checked with the authority.
- Parent documents: if a parent-name balance certificate is used, family-relationship documents must be submitted with it. The apostille or consular-confirmation format for documents issued abroad differs by document, so confirm with the authority.
- Do not mix with language training (D-4): language training has separate rules, such as the validity of balance certificates, so this article's D-2 explanation does not apply as is. Special schemes such as local-government regional visas also have their own financial standards, so confirm with the authority if one applies.
- Documents issued in Korea must normally be dated within 3 months unless another validity period applies.
- Documents already on file in your alien registration record need not be resubmitted.
- Health certificates, drug test results and pre-employment medical reports must be submitted sealed by the issuing hospital (do not open).
- You must be in Korea when applying; leaving the country after filing may result in refusal.
- Screening fees are non-refundable once the application is accepted.
- The head of the Immigration Office may add or waive documents where necessary for review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the minimum amount for student visa financial proof?
A. There is no fixed minimum figure for D-2. The visa documents only call for an amount equivalent to a year's tuition and living costs, so confirm the actual amount with the school's international-student staff or the Immigration Office.
Q. Do I skip financial proof if I attend a certified university?
A. At extension review, financial documents are omitted for degree students at excellent-certified or certified universities with an overall GPA of C (2.0) or higher. For certified universities, nationals of Ministry-designated and priority-management countries are excluded.
Q. Can I submit my parents' bank balance certificate?
A. When a parent's balance certificate is submitted as financial proof, family-relationship documents must be submitted too. The accepted range and exact format need confirmation with the authority.
Q. Is financial proof needed for foreigner registration too?
A. The D-2 registration document list says financial-capacity documents need not be submitted. The basics are the enrollment (researcher) certificate and proof of residence.
Q. Is financial proof required when changing schools?
A. The change-of-school document list includes financial-capacity documents, except for certified universities. Changing schools is restricted in principle in some cases, so first confirm the reason and feasibility with the authority.