South Korea is broadening its research visa programs to attract more international talent. Previously, D-2-5 visas were limited to master’s and doctoral degree holders and foreign undergraduate students invited by specific research institutions, such as the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST). This restriction prevented other domestic universities from inviting foreign undergraduate students, hindering their ability to recruit potential researchers.
The Ministry of Justice has now expanded the eligibility criteria. Domestic universities ranked among the top in the world can now invite foreign undergraduate students in science and technology fields using the D-2-5 visa. This includes universities ranked in the top 200 of the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings or in the top 500 of the QS World University Rankings.
Additionally, the E-3 visa, which was previously only available to master’s and doctoral degree holders with more than three years of experience, has been revised. Concerns were raised that this requirement made it difficult to attract researchers. In response, the Ministry of Justice has decided that master’s degree holders can obtain the E-3 visa without work experience if they graduated from a world-class university or have been listed as an author on a world-renowned academic paper.
“We plan to expand the scope of research-related visas to attract global talent in science and technology,” the ministry stated.
