Visa & arrival

From selection letter to Incheon

Once NIIED confirms your selection and your university issues the Certificate of Admission, you apply for a Korean student visa in India. Start the moment your documents arrive — visa slots and police formalities take time.

D-2 or D-4?

  • D-4 (general training) — issued when you begin with the one-year Korean language programme
  • D-2 (degree study) — issued for the degree portion; converted in Korea after language training where applicable
  • Your university's international office states which visa to apply for; follow their instruction, not general advice

Documents typically required in India

  • Completed visa application form with a recent passport photo
  • Passport with sufficient validity and a copy of the bio page
  • Certificate of Admission issued by the Korean university
  • GKS selection confirmation / scholarship certificate from NIIED
  • Standard Admission Letter and Business Registration Certificate of the university where required
  • Academic transcripts and highest degree certificate
  • Tuberculosis test report from an approved hospital, as required by Korean immigration for Indian applicants
  • Visa fee payment receipt

The Korean Embassy and KVAC publish the definitive checklist and it changes periodically. Verify on the official visa page before booking your appointment.

How the application works

  1. 1

    Book at KVAC

    Korean visa applications from India are processed through the Korea Visa Application Centre (KVAC) in cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

  2. 2

    TB screening

    Indian applicants generally need a tuberculosis test from a designated hospital before submission.

  3. 3

    Submit and pay

    Submit the full set with the fee; keep the acknowledgement receipt.

  4. 4

    Processing

    Usually around 5–15 working days, longer in peak August intake season.

  5. 5

    Collection

    Collect your passport with the visa sticker and verify the visa type and validity immediately.

After you land

  • Attend the NIIED orientation and university registration
  • Complete the mandatory medical check-up in Korea — failing it can end the scholarship
  • Apply for your Alien Registration Card (ARC) within the legal window
  • Open a Korean bank account for allowance disbursement
  • Register for National Health Insurance as instructed by your university
  • Get a Korean mobile number and T-money transport card

What to carry from India

  • All original academic documents plus apostilled copies
  • Passport-size photographs (Korean formalities consume many)
  • Prescription medicines with a doctor's letter
  • Indian currency exchanged for a small amount of KRW for the first week
  • Winter clothing budget planned — Korean winters are colder than most Indian students expect
Official InformationExpert Advice
Official source:
Embassy of the Republic of Korea in India visa notices; Korea Immigration Service; NIIED scholar guidelines
Applicable cycle:
GKS 2027 cycle
Last updated:
2026-07-27
Version:
v1.0 — revision history maintained per guideline release