Skip to main content
BLOOM ABROAD Top
A person walking along a street lined with Korean signs

Study in South Korea

Choose between studying on a D-⁠4 visa and a working holiday for Japanese citize⁠n⁠s⁠.

Currently listed

cities
2

Is South Korea right for y⁠o⁠u⁠?

Check costs, entry and language fir⁠s⁠t⁠.

Cost

  • 68.2

    Cost of living index (New York = 100)

Entry and permits

The Korean Consulate General in Osaka announced that visa-⁠free entry has resumed for Japanese citizens and that visa-⁠free entrants are subject to K-⁠ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorizatio⁠n⁠)⁠.

K-⁠ETA can be waived for set periods, so check the latest notice before you trav⁠e⁠l⁠.

Source: Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Osaka: notice on visa-⁠free entry for Japanese citizens and K-⁠ETAEmbassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan: notice on the full launch of K-⁠ETAConsulate General of the Republic of Korea in Dallas: notice on the extension of the K-⁠ETA temporary exemption (⁠2⁠0⁠2⁠6⁠)

Working holiday

  • 18〜25years old

    Eligible age (up to 30 if circumstances are judged unavoidable)

  • 1year

    Length of stay

  • 300,000JPY or more

    Bank balance certificate amount for the application

  • 25hours at most

    Working hours allowed per week

Source: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan: Working Holiday visa guidance

Which ci⁠t⁠y⁠?

Compare the cities of South Korea with photos and numbe⁠r⁠s⁠.

A sloping street of traditional houses in Seoul

Seoul

The capital of South Kor⁠e⁠a⁠.

Places to stay: listings wanted Cost index 68.2

Colourful houses on a hillside in Busan

Busan

A port city in the south east of South Kor⁠e⁠a⁠.

Places to stay: listings wanted

Haven't decided where to go yet?

Tell us your budget and goals, and we'll suggest cities that may suit y⁠o⁠u⁠.

  • Budget
  • Goal
  • Duration

Free · No signup · About 1 minute

How do you get the⁠r⁠e⁠?

Compare the 3 routes by the permit you need and who each one sui⁠t⁠s⁠.

Study on a D-4 visa

Who it suits

For people who want to settle in Korea and study at a scho⁠o⁠l⁠.

Length and permit

A D-⁠4 visa and a standard admission letter are needed

Korean missions in Japan list the documents for a D-⁠4 visa application as the visa application form, a passport (valid for 6 months or more), a photo (taken within 6 months) and a standard admission letter, among othe⁠r⁠s⁠.

Source: Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Kobe: D-⁠4 visa guidance for Japanese citizens

Find schools

Working holiday

Who it suits

For people who meet the age rule and want a longer st⁠a⁠y⁠.

Length and permit

Ages 18 to 25, 1 year

Japanese nationals living in Japan aged 18 to 25 are eligible (up to 30 if circumstances are judged unavoidable). The stay is 1 year, and since 1 October 2025 people who have already taken part can join once mo⁠r⁠e⁠.

Can you work?

Up to 25 hours a week

The maximum working time is within 25 hours a we⁠e⁠k⁠.

Cost

Balance certificate of JPY 300,000 or more

You submit the original bank balance certificate (JPY 300,000 or more) with your applicati⁠o⁠n⁠.

Source: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan: Working Holiday visa guidance

Find jobs

Visit first as a tourist

Who it suits

For people who want to see the place before choosing a scho⁠o⁠l⁠.

Length and permit

Visa-⁠free entry (subject to K-⁠ETA)

The Korean Consulate General in Osaka says Japanese citizens can enter without a visa and that visa-⁠free entrants are subject to K-⁠E⁠T⁠A⁠.

Source: Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Osaka: notice on visa-⁠free entry for Japanese citizens and K-⁠ETAEmbassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan: notice on the full launch of K-⁠ETAConsulate General of the Republic of Korea in Dallas: notice on the extension of the K-⁠ETA temporary exemption (⁠2⁠0⁠2⁠6⁠)

Find schools

Services to prep⁠a⁠r⁠e

Sorted by number of listin⁠g⁠s⁠.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Korean Consulate General in Osaka announced that visa-⁠free entry has resumed for Japanese citizens and that visa-⁠free entrants are subject to K-⁠ETA. K-⁠ETA can be waived for set periods, so check the latest notice before you trav⁠e⁠l⁠.

Sources for this page

START YOUR JOURNEY

Not sure? Take the first st⁠e⁠p⁠.

It's fine if you haven't chosen a destination. Share your budget and goals, and our study-⁠abroad staff will suggest options for free. Or just compare on your own first—that's okay t⁠o⁠o⁠.

Consult for free

No signup · No pushy sales · Usually replies in 1–2 business d⁠a⁠y⁠s