Korea D-6 Religious Worker Visa — Missionary and Welfare Activity

Overview

D-6 (Religious Worker) applies to foreign nationals performing religious or social welfare activity on the basis of dispatch by a foreign religious or welfare organisation, or recommendation/invitation by a Korean religious body.

Merely participating in religious activity is not enough — the dispatch, recommendation or invitation relationship must be evidenced in documents.

At a Glance

Scope of Activity

• Working at a branch registered in Korea
• Religious activity at a related Korean religious body
• Missionary or social welfare activity
• Ascetic practice, training or research at a Korean religious body

Who Qualifies

• Persons dispatched by a foreign religious or welfare organisation to work at its branch registered in Korea
• Persons dispatched by a foreign religious or welfare organisation to conduct religious activity at a related Korean body
• Persons invited by medical, educational or relief bodies run by their religious organisation to engage in missionary or welfare work
• Persons recommended by a Korean religious body for ascetic practice, training or research at that body
• Persons invited by a Korean religious or welfare body to engage solely in social welfare activity

Required Documents

• Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34), passport and ARC, fee
• Dispatch order, or recommendation/invitation letter
• Documents evidencing the organisation, such as its establishment permit
• Documents from the sponsoring organisation supporting the stay costs (for visa issuance)
• Proof of residence

Application Process

1. Check eligibility — confirm your current status, career, degree and contract type match the requirements.
2. Prepare documents — foreign public documents need a translator's certification plus an apostille (or consular confirmation for non-member states).
3. Book a visit — reserve a slot at your Immigration Office via HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr), or file online where e-Application is available.
4. File and pay — submit the Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34) and pay the screening fee.
5. Review — respond to any request for supplementary documents within the deadline.
6. Result — on approval, the period of stay and status are granted; reissue your ARC if required.

Key Points

• Staff of bodies under the same religious foundation may switch between D-6 and E-1 activity. D-6→E-1 requires proof of the same foundation, an employment contract, degree certificate, a copy of the business registration and the former employer's consent; E-1→D-6 requires proof of the same foundation, the former employer's consent and the organisation's establishment permit.
• Residents registered under D-5–D-9 may give conversation instruction to workplace colleagues, or non-profit volunteer instruction, without a separate permit or report.
• 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

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