Young Foreigners Who Have Grown in Korea Can Have a Job and Stay.

As of April 1, 2025, 18 to 24 years old foreigners who have stayed long in South Korea can a job without college degree.

Who

You must have meet the entire requirement below.

1. You are 18 to 24 years old (inclusive) and stay in Korea legally.
2. You have stayed here for more than 7 years before 18.
3. You did not stay overseas for more than 3 years consecutively between 10 and 18.
4. You have graduated from elementary, middle and high school including expected graduation or the certificate of equivalent level of education in Korea.

However, you are still eligible when you meet one of two cases below even if you cannot meet the 4th requirement above. It also includes expected graduation or the certificate of equivalent level of education in Korea.

• You have graduated from middle and high school including expected graduation in Korea. In this case, you must pass the standard course of KIIP.
• You have graduated from elementary school and one of middle or high school in Korea. In this case, you must pass the advanced course of KIIP.

Overseas Koreans are excluded if give up Korean nationality without serving military duty.

Job search (D10-1)

Foreigners who meet the entire requirements above can change their visa to D10-1 (D-10-1) visa even if they cannot meet two standard requirement for D10-1 visa such as the scoring system and the assets for accommodation.

Intership activity is allowed for almost every job type except gamble, night industry, etc.

Domestic grown youth workers (E7-Y)

Foreigners who meet the entire requirements above can change to E7-Y (E-7-Y) visa if you can a job in most industries except gamble, night industry, etc.

Education and career requirements are exempted.

Talent for specific regions (F2-R)

D10-1 or E-7-Y visa holders can change to F2-R (F-2-R) visa when they have stayed in the specific regions where population is decreasing for more than 4 years.

2 years after changing to F2-R, you can move to other regions where population is also decreasing in the same province or metropolitan city.

Source: the ministry of justice