For a Korean student visa, the proof of funds is a bank statement (or an accepted substitute) showing you can pay about one year of tuition and living costs, and the required amount is not the same everywhere. A Korean embassy page for the UK lists a minimum of $15,000 for capital-region universities and $13,000 for regional ones, while a Yonsei University visa page mentions roughly $21,000, or $25,000 for freshmen. Because the number depends on the university and the embassy handling your case, the safest first step is to ask your admitting school and your local Korean embassy or consulate for the figure that applies to you.
Which visa the funds requirement belongs to
According to the Study in Korea portal, the D-2 visa is for regular courses at institutions offering associate degrees or higher, with sub-types D-2-1 (associate), D-2-2 (bachelor’s), D-2-3 (master’s), D-2-4 (doctoral), D-2-5 (research), D-2-6 (exchange students) and D-2-7 (work-learning linked study). The same page describes the D-4 visa as the status for training at institutions that do not qualify for D-2, such as Korean language centres (D-4-1).
The Korean Embassy in the UK adds that stays under 90 days fall under D-2-8 rather than D-2. If you are a short-term exchange student, ask your host university which category it will use, because the funds rule differs by category.
How much money the sources mention
The figures below come from different institutions and are not interchangeable. Treat them as examples of how much the rule varies.
| Source | What it says about funds |
|---|---|
| Korean Embassy in the UK (MOFA visa page) | Minimum $15,000 for capital-region universities, $13,000 for regional universities; funds should remain in the account for at least one month |
| Seoul National University immigration guide | An amount equal to one year of tuition and living expenses, stated as $13,000 |
| Yonsei University visa page | A statement covering one year of tuition and living expenses, approximately $21,000 ($25,000 for freshmen), issued within 30 days before the visa application |
The Study in Korea page lists “proof of financial ability” among the required documents but does not give a specific amount. Do not treat any single figure as universal. The same figure can also differ between a school’s own page and the page of the embassy that actually reviews your file.
What counts as acceptable proof
The Korean Embassy in the UK says a standard bank statement should be recent, within two weeks in its wording, and that statements printed from an ATM or internet banking are rejected. Yonsei gives a different window, a statement issued within 30 days before the application. The practical lesson is to request the statement as late as possible and to confirm the issue-date limit with the office that will review it.
The embassy page also lists alternatives to a personal bank statement:
- A student loan certificate covering the expenses in Korea.
- A parental affidavit, with copies of the parents’ passports, a signed agreement and the parents’ bank statements.
- A scholarship certificate that states the amount and the recipient.
Yonsei likewise says scholarship recipients may submit proof of their award in place of a bank statement. If your scholarship covers only part of your costs, ask the university whether you must show the rest in a bank statement.
The documents that travel with the funds proof
The embassy and university pages describe a similar document set. Your exact list may differ, so use these as a starting checklist.
- Completed visa application form and a passport photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm on the UK embassy page).
- Original passport.
- Certificate of Admission or official admission letter. Yonsei says you receive the certificate after admission and tuition payment.
- Certificate of the school’s business registration, which both the embassy page and the Study in Korea page list.
- Proof of your previous education.
- Financial proof as described above.
- Tuberculosis test results if they apply to your nationality. Yonsei says this applies to nationals of 35 specified countries.
- Visa fee. Study in Korea lists approximate fees of $40 for single entry up to 90 days, $60 for single entry over 90 days, $70 for multiple entry (up to two) and $90 for unlimited multiple entry.
The embassy page notes that nationals of certain countries (it names China, Cuba, Syria, Macedonia and Kosovo) need a visa issuance confirmation number instead of the standard set. SNU’s guide describes the same for Chinese students, where the university obtains a visa issuance number before the student applies at an embassy or consulate.
Common mistakes and what to verify
- Using an old statement. Statements dated outside the accepted window can be refused. Check the window with your embassy.
- Printing an online statement yourself. The UK embassy page says ATM and internet statements are rejected. Ask the bank for a stamped or signed statement.
- Moving money in right before applying. The embassy page expects funds to stay in the account for at least one month. A sudden deposit may raise questions.
- Copying a number from a blog. The amounts above differ by university and embassy. Take the figure from your admission documents.
- Mixing up D-2 and D-4. A language-course place is processed under a different status from a degree place.
- Forgetting what happens after arrival. SNU’s guide says foreigner registration must be completed within 90 days of arrival at an immigration office. It also says D-2 holders may work part-time with a recommendation from an academic adviser, up to 20 hours a week for undergraduates and 30 for postgraduates, with no time limit during holidays. Do not plan your budget around work income before you have that permission.
Rules change: confirm with the official body
This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Visa categories, document lists, fees and funds thresholds are set by the Korean immigration authorities and applied by each embassy and university, and they can change. Before you buy a bank statement or book an appointment, confirm the current requirements on HiKorea, with the Korean embassy or consulate that will receive your application, and with your admitting university’s international office. The Immigration Contact Center number given on the Yonsei page is 1345.
Sources
- D-2 (Study Visa to Attend Regular Schools & Summer school) – Korean Embassy in the UK, MOFA – eligibility, funds minimums, accepted alternatives and document list
- Immigration Guide for Foreign Students – Seoul National University – funds example, registration deadline, part-time work rules
- Applying for a student visa – Yonsei Global One-Stop Service Center – Certificate of Admission steps and the financial statement requirement
- Student Visa and Stay Status – Study in Korea – D-2 and D-4 sub-types, document list and fees