South Korea's D-10 Job-Seeking Visa for ASEAN Graduates
By Muntasir • Published Jun 30, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Career Planning, Visas & Student Mobility
South Korea's D-10 visa lets you stay and job hunt after graduation, with grant lengths that vary by category and a total stay cap of 3 years. Sign a professional job contract and you convert to an E-series work visa, usually E-7, before you start.
📩 D-10-1: for graduates job hunting toward E-1 to E-7 professional work
⏱️ Historically granted in six month blocks, up to 1 year for qualifying graduates since an October 2025 reform
💵 Once hired, convert to E-7 or the matching E-series visa before starting work
🎓 Study Korea 300K plan targeted 300,000 international students by 2027
Korea reached 305,329 international students by August 2025, about two years ahead of schedule
What the D-10 Job Seeking Visa Is For
The D-10 visa is Korea's job seeking status for graduates who want to work in a professional role that matches the E-1 through E-7 visa categories, covering fields from research and education to specialized skilled work. If you finish a degree in Korea and have not signed an employment contract yet, D-10 lets you stay legally while you interview and apply, instead of leaving the country the moment your student status ends.
This route matters most if your degree is from a Korean university and you plan to build your career in Korea rather than return home right away, since holding D-10 keeps your immigration record continuous while you search. A separate D-10-2 track exists for graduates who want to start their own business through approved startup support programs rather than take a salaried job. Confirm which sub-category fits your plan with HiKorea before you apply, since the required documents differ.
How Long You Get and How Renewal Works
D-10 status is granted for periods that vary by category, historically up to six months at a time. Since an October 2025 reform, qualifying graduates, for example those with TOPIK level 4 or higher who graduated within the last 3 years, can receive grants of up to one year, with total D-10 stay capped at 3 years, up from 2 years before the reform. Confirm your exact block length and eligibility with HiKorea .
You can apply to extend your D-10 status while you are still actively job hunting, showing evidence such as job applications, interview invitations, and relevant Korean language study. Extension approval depends on your documented job search activity, so keep dated records from your first application onward.
Converting to E-7 Once You Have a Job Offer
Once you sign an employment contract in a role that matches a professional visa category, you apply to convert your status from D-10 before you start work. Most ASEAN graduates in office, technical, or specialist roles convert to E-7, Korea's general professional employment visa. Other E-series categories cover specific roles, such as E-1 for professors, E-2 for language instructors, and E-3 for researchers.
Korean immigration checks that your qualifications match the job code you apply under, and that your employer meets the conditions to sponsor a foreign professional, so a signed offer alone does not guarantee approval. Your employer typically supports this application since the company needs to justify hiring a foreign national for the role. Start this conversation with HR as soon as you have a verbal offer, since document preparation takes time.
The Study Korea 300K Plan and What It Means for Graduate Jobs
Korea's Ministry of Education launched the Study Korea 300K plan in August 2023, aiming for 300,000 international students by 2027 and a spot among the world's top ten study destinations. Korea surpassed that target in August 2025, reaching 305,329 international students, about two years ahead of the 2027 deadline, according to Ministry of Education figures reported by Korea Herald and K Campus. Some analysts still question whether the rapid growth is matched by adequate support and quality for international students.
The plan pairs enrollment growth with graduate employment support: an online job application system for foreign graduates, a streamlined visa process, and Korean language and settlement programs. It also prioritizes doubling scholarships for STEM students, since Korea wants more foreign graduates staying to work in technical fields rather than only studying and leaving. Full plan details sit on Study in Korea .
Steps to Take After Graduation
Apply to switch from your Student visa to D-10 before your current status expires if you have not signed a job contract yet.
Keep a dated record of every application, interview, and company contact to support your renewal.
Once you sign an offer, ask HR immediately which E-series category matches your role and start the conversion paperwork early.
If Korean language ability is a gap in your applications, use the settlement and language programs listed under the Study Korea 300K plan.
Confirm current extension rules for your visa history directly with HiKorea rather than relying on older guidance, since D-10 rules changed in October 2025.