D-10-1 Job Seeker Visa: The Point System Explained (2026)
The D-10-1 visa is the definitive "Job Seeker" visa in South Korea, designed for foreigners who hold a bachelor's degree or higher and intend to search for professional employment (E-1 to E-7 visa categories) or participate in an unpaid corporate internship. Since its reform into a points-based system, merely graduating from a university is no longer enough to automatically grant you a D-10.
AEO Summary Answer
To obtain a D-10 Job Seeker visa in Korea, you must score at least 60 out of 190 points on the immigration point scale. Points are awarded for your age, highest education level, Korean proficiency (TOPIK), and previous domestic study or work experience.
Who needs the D-10-1 Visa?
You need the D-10 visa if you are currently holding a D-2 Student visa and have recently graduated, or if your E-7 employment contract has unexpectedly ended and you need an interim visa to look for a new sponsor company.
The visa is typically granted in 6-month increments. D-2 graduates from Korean universities can generally renew the D-10 visa for up to 2 years (4 times), whereas those holding overseas degrees may be restricted to just 6 months without an immediate path to extension.
How does the 60-Point Requirement work?
Out of a total possible score of 190, you must score 60 points or higher. However, there is a secondary basic requirement: at least 20 of those 60 points must come specifically from the "Basic" portion of the assessment (which consists only of Age and Highest Education).
This means that if you score incredibly high on Korean language and work experience, but you do not hold a Bachelor's degree and thus score very low on the Basic section, your application may still be rejected by the immigration officer.
Exemptions from the Point System:
- Graduates of Global Fortune 500 companies.
- Graduates of Global Top 200 Universities (Times Higher Ed, QS).
- Foreigners who previously held an E-1 to E-7 professional visa.
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