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2026 Guide to Part-time Work (Hourly Employment) Permits for International Students (D2) and General Trainees (D4) (Latest Revision on July 9)

Hello, this is the foreign recruitment platform JOBPLOY.

Today, we are providing an updated guide to part-time work permits for D2 and D4 visa students, in accordance with the latest revisions.


Having a study (D-2) or general training (D-4) visa in Korea does not automatically allow you to work part-time. Commercial and employment activities for international students are restricted in principle, and you must receive confirmation from your school's international student 담당자 and obtain a part-time employment permit from the immigration office before starting work.

This article is based on the latest integrated guidance manual for each status of stay posted on Hi-Korea on July 9, 2026, and government legal information reflecting the Ministry of Justice manual dated June 1, 2026.


The Most Important Principle
Part-time work can only begin after immigration approval is completed, not from the 'date of application'. Working beforehand during the review process may be treated as unauthorized employment.



1. Which international students can obtain a part-time work permit?

Not all D-2 and D-4 statuses of stay are equally eligible for part-time employment.

Status of StayApplication Possible FromKey Conditions
D-2-1 Associate DegreeImmediate application possibleEnrollment, academic diligence, school confirmation
D-2-2 Bachelor's DegreeImmediate application possibleEnrollment, academic diligence, school confirmation
D-2-3 Master's DegreeImmediate application possibleEnrollment, academic diligence, school confirmation
D-2-4 Doctoral DegreeImmediate application possibleEnrollment, academic diligence, school confirmation
D-2-6 Exchange StudentImmediate application possibleSchool confirmation and individual review
D-2-7 Work-Study LinkageImmediate application possibleSchool confirmation and individual review
D-2-8 Visiting Student6 months after change of statusSchool confirmation and individual review
D-4-1 Korean Language Trainee6 months after change of statusNormal registration, attendance, school confirmation
D-4-7 Foreign Language Trainee6 months after change of statusNormal registration, attendance, school confirmation

‘Immediate application possible’ here does not mean you can work immediately after entry. It means there is no 6-month waiting period, and you can only work after completing foreign registration, receiving school confirmation, and obtaining immigration approval.

D-2 students generally need to have an average GPA of C or 2.0 or higher in the semester immediately preceding the application date. If it's the first semester and no transcript has been issued, submission of academic records may be waived, but confirmation from the school and the competent immigration office is required. D-4-1 and D-4-7 trainees are typically reviewed for an average attendance rate of 90% or higher for all completed semesters.

The D-2-5 research program is not included in the general list of international students eligible for part-time employment, so it is necessary to check for separate permission for activities outside the status of stay depending on the nature of the research activity. Additionally, students who have completed their undergraduate degree but have not graduated due to insufficient credits, etc., and are exceptionally staying in Korea, are generally excluded from part-time employment permits.




2. 2026 Permitted Part-time Work Hours by Program

The maximum hours for part-time employment vary depending on the program, academic year, Korean language proficiency, whether the university is certified, and individual preferential conditions.

ProgramKorean Language Proficiency StandardStandard Not MetStandard MetWhen Preferential Conditions Recognized
D-4 General TraineeTOPIK Level 2 / KIIP Stage 210 hours/week20 hours/week25 hours/week
D-2 Associate DegreeTOPIK Level 3 / KIIP Stage 3 10 hours/week25 hours/week (weekdays)30 hours/week (weekdays)
D-2 Bachelor's Degree 1st-2nd YearTOPIK Level 3 / KIIP Stage 310 hours/week25 hours/week (weekdays)30 hours/week (weekdays)
D-2 Bachelor's Degree 3rd-4th YearTOPIK Level 4 / KIIP Stage 4 10 hours/week25 hours/week (weekdays)30 hours/week (weekdays)
D-2 Master's/Doctoral DegreeTOPIK Level 4 / KIIP Stage 415 hours/week30 hours/week (weekdays)35 hours/week (weekdays)


D-2 degree-seeking international students who meet the Korean language proficiency standards are not subject to separate immigration time limits during weekends, public holidays, and vacation periods. On the other hand, D-4 trainees are not subject to unlimited regulations for weekends or vacations and must work within the permitted range of 10, 20, or 25 hours per week.


The exact meaning of 'no time limit on weekends/vacations'

Here, 'no time limit' means that there are no separate immigration time limits for weekends or vacations within the permitted workplace, duties, and employment period. It does not mean that the following activities are allowed:

  • Working at an unauthorized workplace
  • Performing duties different from those authorized
  • Working in prohibited industries such as construction or delivery
  • Violating labor laws such as break times or extended work hours under the Labor Standards Act


Preferential hours are not automatically applied

Preferential hours, which add 5 hours to the general standard, may be applied if preferential conditions are recognized, such as enrollment in a certified university, an average GPA of A or higher in the previous semester, TOPIK Level 5, or completion of Stage 5 of the Social Integration Program and passing the comprehensive evaluation. Whether a university is certified can change annually, and the final permitted hours must be confirmed through the immigration permit results.


English track students can substitute with English scores

English track students may substitute Korean language proficiency proof with the following English scores, if recognized by the school and the competent immigration office:

  • TOEFL PBT 530, CBT 197, or iBT 71 or higher
  • IELTS 5.5 or higher
  • CEFR B2 or higher
  • TEPS 601 or New TEPS 327 or higher

Students from countries where English is their native or official language may be exempt from submitting a separate score report.


Separate standards for Master's/Doctoral thesis preparation students

Thesis preparation students who have completed regular Master's or Doctoral programs may also be exceptionally permitted for part-time employment. However, in this case, a maximum of 30 hours per week is allowed, and the regulation of no time limit on weekends, public holidays, and vacations does not apply. Students whose graduation has been delayed due to academic dishonesty, such as insufficient credits or attendance, may be excluded from the permit.





3. What kind of part-time jobs can I do?

Part-time employment is generally permitted for jobs related to one's major or that can be combined with studies, and tasks that students can typically perform according to social norms.


Generally Permitted Jobs

  • Assistant at general restaurants/cafes
  • Sales and product arrangement assistant at stores
  • Office, event, and tourist information assistant
  • Interpretation/translation assistant
  • Duty-free shop sales assistant
  • Assistant work related to major or studies
  • Internship activities during vacation that meet requirements

Even for the same restaurant or store, the review results may vary depending on the actual work, business registration type, working hours, and workplace location.


Jobs Generally Restricted

The following activities are difficult to obtain permission for or are prohibited as general international student part-time jobs:

  • Construction industry
  • Manufacturing industry — however, exceptional review is possible if Korean language proficiency is equivalent to Level 4 or higher
  • Seafarer employment industry
  • Private tutoring, foreign language conversation instruction, etc., which are E-2 professional activities
  • Delivery driver, delivery service rider
  • Designated driver
  • Insurance agent
  • Learning material teacher
  • Door-to-door salesperson
  • Work in the form of dispatch, subcontracting, or job placement
  • Working at an excessively distant location from school or residence
  • Workplaces where visa issuance is restricted due to illegal employment, etc.
  • Industries that violate good morals or social order

Even if the manufacturing industry meets the condition of TOPIK Level 4 or higher, it does not automatically mean you can work. You must obtain prior approval from immigration for the actual workplace and assigned duties.

Conversation instruction at foreign language education facilities for minors, such as English kids cafes or English camps, is generally restricted, but safety assistant or play assistant duties that do not involve teaching conversation may be exceptionally permitted.



4. Part-time Employment Permit Application Procedure

It is safest to proceed with the part-time work permit in the following order:

① Discuss workplace and working conditions

First, determine the hourly wage, workplace, assigned duties, contract period, working days, and hours. It is advisable to set the work start date to a future date, considering the immigration review period.

② Prepare a standard labor contract

The labor contract must include at least the following information:

  • Workplace name and location
  • Assigned duties
  • Contract period
  • Hourly wage
  • Working days
  • Daily/weekly working hours

③ Confirmation by the school's international student 담당자

Submit the prepared documents to the international student department, such as the school's international office or international exchange center, and obtain confirmation or signature from the 담당자 on the International Student Part-time Employment Confirmation Form.

④ Apply to Hi-Korea or the immigration office

After receiving school confirmation, apply using one of the following methods:

  • Online application via Hi-Korea e-민원
  • Visit the competent immigration office after making an appointment

⑤ Start work after permit is granted

You cannot work with just the online application completion screen or receipt. You must confirm the permit result and the authorized workplace, duties, period, and hours before starting work.



5. Basic Required Documents

Additional documents may be required depending on the competent immigration office and school, but generally, the following documents are prepared:

CategoryRequired Documents
Personal DocumentsPassport, Alien Registration Card
Application DocumentsIntegrated Application Form, International Student Part-time Employment Confirmation Form
School DocumentsCertificate of Enrollment, Transcript or Attendance Certificate
Language DocumentsTOPIK, Social Integration Program, Sejong Institute, or English Track Proof
Employment DocumentsStandard Labor Contract
Workplace DocumentsCopy of Business Registration Certificate
If necessaryCopy of business owner's ID, Part-time Employment Requirement Compliance Confirmation, additional explanatory materials

If manufacturing or construction is also listed on the business registration certificate, a confirmation or additional explanatory materials may be required to prove that the actual work is not related to prohibited industries.

The general fee for permission for activities outside the status of stay is 120,000 won, but for D-2 and D-4 international student part-time employment permits, it is reduced to 20,000 won by law. The actual payment method can be followed according to the electronic 민원 payment screen or the guidance of the competent immigration office.



6. If the workplace or duties change, you must obtain permission again

A part-time employment permit is not a comprehensive work permit issued to an individual student. It is valid only for the workplace, work location, assigned duties, period, and hours stated on the permit.

If the employer changes, you move to a different branch, add a new workplace, or take on different duties than before, you must check with the school and immigration office whether a change or addition procedure is required before starting new work. In particular, for changes in workplace where the employer is different, prior re-obtaining of a part-time employment permit applies.

Even if you work at two or more places, the permitted hours are not calculated separately for each workplace but are judged by summing the working hours of all workplaces. The final number of workplaces and hours you can work must be confirmed based on the issued permit.



7. Matters for employers to confirm

Employers hiring international students must also confirm the following:

  • Status of stay and period of stay on the Alien Registration Card
  • Completion of part-time employment permit
  • Authorized workplace address and assigned duties
  • Authorized employment period and weekly hours
  • Whether hours worked at other workplaces have been summed
  • Whether the labor contract and actual working conditions match

The minimum wage applicable in 2026 is 10,320 won per hour. This applies equally to all businesses regardless of industry, so the labor contract signed with international students must also state a wage equal to or higher than the minimum hourly wage.


8. Special Standards to Check in 2026

Students in nurturing-type specialized technical departments are eligible for a 35-hour special exception

International students in 'nurturing-type specialized technical departments' at 16 vocational colleges designated by the Ministry of Justice in February 2026, if they meet the requirements such as TOPIK Level 3 or higher, will have their permitted part-time employment hours during their studies expanded from the existing 30 hours per week to 35 hours per week.

This is a special exception that applies only to designated universities and departments, not to all vocational college international students, so you must confirm with your school's international office if you are eligible.

Science and Engineering Master's/Doctoral International Students may have separate relaxations

The Ministry of Justice announced that it has reflected 'relaxation of part-time employment requirements for science and engineering Master's/Doctoral international students' in its policy, among the visa and stay policies reviewed from June 2025 to May 2026. If research activities are included, such as research stipends, participation in industry-academia cooperation research, or R&D internships at corporate research institutes, it is safest to confirm the separate permit type through the school's international office and 1345, rather than just applying the general part-time work schedule.




9. What are the penalties for working without a permit?

All of the following may constitute illegal employment:

  • Working without a part-time employment permit
  • Working before the permit application is processed
  • Working at an unauthorized workplace
  • Performing duties different from those authorized
  • Exceeding permitted hours
  • Working in a prohibited industry
  • Working at a new workplace without following the workplace change/addition procedure

International students who engage in unauthorized employment may face imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30 million won, and may be subject to recommendation for departure, forced deportation, cancellation of status of stay, or future disadvantages in visa screening. Employers who hire unauthorized foreigners may also be subject to penalties.




Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. I applied for a permit, but the result has not yet been released. Can I start working first?

No. You must work after the permit is completed, not just after submission. Even if the start date on the labor contract has arrived, you should not start working if immigration approval has not been issued.

Q2. Can D-2 students work unlimited hours during vacation?

D-2 degree-seeking students who meet the Korean language proficiency standards may not be subject to immigration time limits during vacation. However, this is only possible within the authorized workplace, duties, and period, and this regulation does not apply to D-4 trainees or those who do not meet the Korean language standards.

Q3. Is a permit always required for on-campus part-time jobs?

In some cases, simple/temporary on-campus work, academic-related research performed at the affiliated university, or mandatory field practice semesters do not require a part-time employment permit. However, it depends on whether it is a work-study scholarship or salary, academic-related research, or optional field practice, so you should not make an arbitrary judgment before the school department confirms it as an exemption.

Q4. If 'manufacturing' is written on the business registration certificate, is it always impossible?

You may undergo an additional review to determine if the actual work falls under manufacturing. Manufacturing may be exceptionally permitted if Korean language proficiency is equivalent to Level 4 or higher, but this does not mean you can work without prior approval from immigration.

Q5. Is part-time work at convenience stores/restaurants always permitted?

General store/restaurant assistant work may be considered permitted work. However, it may be denied depending on the business type, assigned duties, business format, commuting distance, employer's history of illegal employment, etc., so it is advisable to confirm the business registration certificate and job description with the school 담당자 before signing a contract.




The core of the 2026 international student part-time employment system is the following sequence:

Prepare labor contract → School international student 담당자 confirmation → Hi-Korea or immigration application → Permit confirmation → Start work

Having only a D-2 or D-4 visa or only a school confirmation letter does not allow you to work legally. Furthermore, even after obtaining a permit, not adhering to the workplace, duties, period, and hours can lead to illegal employment, so you must always check the contents of the permit.

Immigration guidelines can change frequently. Especially for exceptional cases such as research/internships, manufacturing, working at multiple workplaces, thesis preparation after completion, and nurturing-type specialized technical departments, it is safest to make a final confirmation with the Foreigner's Comprehensive Information Center 1345 or the competent immigration office.




The criteria for international student part-time employment permits can vary depending on the status of stay, degree program, Korean language proficiency, school, and working conditions. If you find it difficult to determine the application procedure, required documents, or eligibility for work, don't hesitate to reach out. JOBPLOY will help you identify challenges related to foreign job seekers' employment in Korea and visa/stay matters, and guide you in the necessary direction.

You can check current job openings for international student part-time and hourly positions at the link below.

👉 Check JOBPLOY foreign part-time job postings

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