There are generally two types of visa: single entry and multiple entry.

– Single entry visas have a validity of three months from the date of issue.
– Multiple-entry visas have a validity of principally one year from the date of issue.
However, holders of diplomatic and government passports are issued a visa with a
validity of three years. Visas issued by agreement are valid until the date of
agreement.

In practice, the types of visa can be divided into four categories:

1. Visa for foreigners conducting diplomacy, official duty and negotiation (SOFA) and their
families: diplomacy (A-1), official duty (A-2), agreement (A3).
2. Visa for non-profit activities and short-term stay (less than 90 days): temporary news
coverage (C-1), short-term business (C-2) and short-term visitors (C-3).
3. Employment visa: short-term employment (C-4), professors (E-1), teaching foreign
languages (E-2), research (E-3), special technology instruction (E-4), special
occupations (E-5), arts and entertainment (E-6), other particular occupations (E-7),
industrial trainees employment (E-8), non-special employment (E-9),
working holiday (H-1).
4. Others: culture/art (D-1), students (D-2), industrial trainees (D-3), general trainees
(D-4), residence reporters (D-5), religious workers (D-6), intra-company transferee
(D-7), treaty investors (D-8), treaty traders (D-9), visiting and joining families (F-1),
residence (F-2), dependent families (F-3), overseas Korean residents (F-4),
permanent residence (F-5), others (G-1).

Further information about visa issuance: refer to the English homepage of the Ministry of Justice. ww.moj.go.kr/english/index.php