If you want to study at Mason Korea, you may need to apply for a student visa. Follow along as we walk you through the visa process and answer typical questions regarding student visas in Korea.
Overall: If you're an international (non-Korean) student planning to attend classes for more than 90 days, you will need a D-2 student visa.
You must have your student visa before your first day of class. Taking classes without a proper student visa status can be considered illegal by the Korean immigration authority.
The whole process takes 6-8 weeks to be fully completed. So, plan ahead to make sure you’re in a good position for the first day of class.
D-2-2 (Undergraduate students): Valid for one year initially, up to six years maximum
D-2-8 (Short-term/visiting students): Valid for six months initially, up to one year maximum
For study abroad (George Mason’s Fairfax campus)
Global Gateway (George Mason’s Fairfax campus)
For non-degree undergraduate students
Sojourn = your legal stay period in Korea
Korean visas usually only work for one entry
After you enter Korea, you register as an alien and get a "sojourn period" - this is how long you can legally stay in Korea.
Your sojourn period lets you leave and re-enter Korea multiple times as long as it's still valid.
You're responsible for tracking when it expires and renewing it before it runs out.
Talk to the international student advisor at least two months before your visa expires.
You might not need a D-2 visa if you fit the following categories:
You already have certain visa types:
If you have F-4 or A-3 visa status (and some others), you can keep that visa - you don't need to switch to D-2.
You have Korean citizenship:
You must enter Korea with a Korean passport (not a foreign one)
Please note: Prospective Mason Korea male students who hold Korean citizenship may be subject to Korean military service conscription requirements. The university highly recommends students contact the Korean embassy or consulate in their country of residence to fully understand military implications before entering Korea. You have Korean heritage (parent or grandparent with Korean citizenship):
Students with Korean heritage (parent or grandparent who have or had Korean citizenship), should contact the Korean Consulate as early as possible to determine their process for applying for a visa as the process may require different or additional steps.
You may need to enter Korea with a Korean passport, renounce Korean citizen or any other additional step or paperwork highlighted by the Korean Consulate.
You might still be considered a Korean citizen, in which case the consulate will refuse to issue a student visa.
As these cases are specific to a student’s individual circumstances, students of Korean heritage should discuss with their families and the Korean embassy/consulate prior to committing to the program.