Get the permit first, then start the job
A student visa is a permit to study, not to work. Before taking any part-time job in Korea, an international student must obtain permission to engage in activities outside the current status of stay (체류자격 외 활동허가), under Articles 18(1) and 20 of the Immigration Act. HiKorea states plainly that the permission must be granted before the additional activity begins. Even if the start date written on your employment contract has arrived, you may not begin working until the permit is issued. Filing an application is not the same as holding a permit.
Part-time work by students is classified as S-3. It will not be approved if the work becomes your main activity, such as full-time employment, and holders of short-term visas with a stay of 90 days or less are excluded entirely.
Who can apply, and from when
- D-2-1 to D-2-4 (associate, bachelor, master, doctorate), D-2-6 (exchange student), D-2-7 (work-study) — may apply with no waiting period.
- D-4-1 (Korean language training), D-4-7 (foreign language training), D-2-8 (visiting student) — may apply only after six months have passed from the date of the status change, or from the date of entry for those who arrived on the visa.
- Students who finished the standard course (2 years for an associate degree, 4 years for a bachelor's) but failed to meet graduation requirements due to insufficient credits, and were granted an exceptional extension of stay, are excluded.
- Master's and doctoral students who have completed coursework and are preparing a thesis may be permitted, but only up to 30 hours per week, and the unlimited-hours rule for weekends, public holidays and vacations does not apply to them.
In every case, you must first be verified by the international student office at your school.
How many hours — your Korean proficiency decides
Permitted hours depend on your degree course and your Korean proficiency. Proficiency is proved by a TOPIK level, a completed stage of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (사회통합프로그램), or a King Sejong Institute (세종학당) course.
- Associate degree, and bachelor's years 1-2 — TOPIK level 3, or KIIP stage 3 or higher completed or a pre-assessment score of 61 or above, or King Sejong Institute Intermediate 1 or higher.
- Bachelor's years 3-4, master's and doctoral — TOPIK level 4, or KIIP stage 4 or higher completed or a pre-assessment score of 81 or above, or King Sejong Institute Intermediate 2 or higher.
If you do not meet the standard, associate and bachelor's students may work 10 hours per week and master's and doctoral students 15 hours per week. At this level there is no separate allowance for weekends or vacations.
If you do meet it, associate and bachelor's students may work 25 hours on weekdays and master's and doctoral students 30 hours, and there is no hour limit on weekends, public holidays or vacations. If you additionally qualify through enrolment at a certified university, academic excellence or high Korean proficiency, the weekday limit rises to 30 and 35 hours respectively.
| Case | Associate / bachelor's | Master's / doctoral | Weekends, public holidays, vacations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korean proficiency standard not met | 10 hours on weekdays | 15 hours on weekdays | Not counted separately |
| Standard met | 25 hours on weekdays | 30 hours on weekdays | No hour limit |
| Standard met, plus certified university, academic excellence or high Korean proficiency | 30 hours on weekdays | 35 hours on weekdays | No hour limit |
| Thesis-stage students after completing coursework | — | 30 hours per week | No-limit rule does not apply |
This table comes from the Ministry of Justice manual for each status of stay (『체류자격별 통합 안내 매뉴얼』) and took effect in July 2023. "No hour limit" applies only within the workplace and duties written on your permit; it does not mean you may work anywhere.
Certain kinds of work are off limits
- Manufacturing and construction under non-professional employment (E-9), and crew employment (E-10). Manufacturing is allowed as an exception if your Korean proficiency is level 4 or above.
- Professional activities (E-1 to E-7). Conversation instruction (E-2) at foreign-language facilities for minors is the typical example.
- Work as a dependent contractor: parcel delivery driver, delivery-agency rider, substitute driver, insurance planner, study-paper tutor, door-to-door salesperson.
- Employment through dispatch, subcontracting or brokerage; work far from your home or campus; and businesses barred from visa issuance over past illegal-employment penalties.
- Any activity contrary to public morals or social order.
Conversely, safety and play assistant roles at English kids' cafés and English camps, part-time or full-time seasonal work, and internships during vacation for degree-course students are permitted as exceptions.
Procedure and cost
Apply at the immigration office with jurisdiction over your registered address, or online through HiKorea. The basic documents are the application form for activities outside the status of stay, your passport, your alien registration card, and a certificate of enrolment. Once approved, a permit stamp or sticker is placed in your passport; if you have no passport, a permit certificate is issued instead.
The fee is set by Article 72(2) of the Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act. Permission for activities outside the status of stay normally costs 120,000 won, but for part-time work by D-2 and D-4 holders it is 20,000 won. Gov.kr lists processing as within 14 days, usually completed in about 3. If the procedure is unclear, the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 gives multilingual guidance on weekdays from 09:00 to 22:00.
What happens if you break the rules
Working without the permit is not a matter of a small fine.
- Engaging in activities outside your status of stay without permission is punishable by up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million won (Immigration Act, Article 94(12)).
- Where the violation is minor, you may be issued a departure recommendation, which sets a departure deadline of up to 5 days from the date it is issued (Article 67).
- You may be subject to deportation (Article 46(1)8).
Your hourly wage cannot fall below the minimum
The 2026 minimum wage is 10,320 won per hour. It applies identically to every workplace regardless of industry, so the hourly rate written into your contract may not be lower. The contract should state the workplace, your duties, the contract period, the hourly wage, and your working days and hours — and your permit is valid only for the workplace and duties named in it.
Permitted hours and eligible industries are revised whenever the Ministry of Justice updates its guidelines. This article reflects the position as of September 2026. Always confirm the hours and conditions that apply to you against your issued permit, your university's international office, HiKorea, and the Immigration Contact Center (1345).
Sources
- 법제처 「찾기쉬운 생활법령정보 — 외국인유학생 > 유학 중 아르바이트 > 시간제 취업(아르바이트)」 (2026-08-15 기준)
- 하이코리아 「출입국/체류안내 — 체류자격외활동허가 절차/방법」
- 정부24 「유학생(D-2) 및 어학연수생(D-4-1) 시간제 취업 허가」 — 처리기간
- 고용노동부 「2026년 적용 최저임금 시간급 10320원」 (2025-08-05 확정·고시)
- 국가법령정보센터 「출입국관리법」
- 국가법령정보센터 「출입국관리법 시행규칙」
Information on this page is current as of September 2026.