🇰🇷 Complete Guide — Applying for a D-2 Student Visa for South Korea (Epitech Paris Students)

Guide for Epitech Paris students going on an exchange program in South Korea.

Official PDF

You should still read the official KVAC guide carefully — this guide is only here to simplify the process.

1. What is the D-2 Visa?

The D-2 visa is the Korean student visa intended for:

• university exchange programs

• degree studies

• foreign students enrolled in Korean universities

This is the visa used by most Epitech students going to South Korea for one semester or one year.

⚠️ Important:
The D-4 visa is different and mainly concerns Korean language schools.

2. When should you start the process?

Start the process as soon as you receive the documents from your Korean university.

Usually:

Fall semester

• process starts: June → August

⚠️ Important:
KVAC and the embassy may take several weeks during busy periods.

The official PDF states that:

• processing time can exceed 3 weeks during peak season

• busiest periods are:

  • June → August

Do NOT wait until the last minute.

3. Who handles Korean visas in France?

All applications go through:

KVAC Paris

(Korea Visa Application Center)

⚠️ Important:
KVAC does NOT decide whether your visa is approved.

All decisions are made by:

• the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Berlin

4. Documents sent by your Korean university

Your Korean university will send you several mandatory documents.

Usually:

• Certificate of Admission

• Business Registration Certificate

5. Check ALL your documents carefully

Before sending your application:

Verify:

• first and last name

• passport number

• nationality

• semester dates

• university stamp

⚠️ Any mistake may cause:

• delays

• correction requests

• visa refusal

6. Documents you must prepare

A. Visa Application Form

The form must:

• be completed in English or Korean only

• be printed

• be signed by hand

⚠️ Electronic signatures are NOT accepted.

B. Passport

You must send:

• your ORIGINAL passport

• valid for at least 6 months

⚠️ KVAC keeps your passport during the entire process.

C. ID Photo

Required format:

• 35 mm × 45 mm

• white or light background

• recent (less than 6 months old)

⚠️ Non-compliant photos are rejected.

D. Certificate of Admission

Document provided by your Korean university.

The official university stamp must be visible.

E. Business Registration Certificate

Administrative document from the university.

⚠️ It must be less than 3 months old.

7. IMPORTANT document rules

The official KVAC guide specifies:

Documents must:

• be printed single-sided only

• be readable

• be in:

  • English

  • Korean

Common mistakes

❌ Do NOT:

• staple documents

• send photos of documents

• send blurry scans

8. Visa fees

The fees include:

• KVAC service fee: 60€

• visa fee: 54€ for France

• postal fee (optional)

9. Bank transfer

KVAC bank information

Account holder:

INTERNATIONAL ORG. FOR MIGRATION

Bank:

CITIBANK EUROPE PLC, GERMANY BRANCH

IBAN:

DE60502109000220043673

BIC:

CITIDEFF

10. IMPORTANT — Transfer reference

In the transfer reference, you MUST write:

LAST NAME + PASSPORT NUMBER

Example:

PETIT XX1234567

⚠️ If the reference is incorrect:

• the payment may be rejected

11. Send proof of payment

After the transfer:

Send an email to KVAC with:

• proof of payment

• your name

• nationality

• visa type

• payment details

Example:

Visa fee
Service fee
Courier fee

⚠️ The official guide states:

• no need to wait for KVAC confirmation

• wait 2–3 days after the transfer, then send your application

12. Additional KVAC documents

A. KVAC Waiver Courier

Document for passport return by mail.

Fill in:

• first name

• last name

• full address

B. KVAC Consent Form

Consent document.

On the line:

I have the right to contact IOM at _____

write:

Paris

Then sign it.

13. Final application checklist

Final checklist

• signed visa application form

• original passport

• ID photo

• Certificate of Admission

• Business Registration Certificate

• proof of payment

• KVAC Waiver Courier

• Consent Form

14. Sending the application

By mail

Address:

OIM - KVAC Paris
56 Rue Crozatier
75012 Paris

⚠️ Important:
Write on the envelope:

• your name

• your address

• visa type

Example:

D-2 Student Visa

15. After sending your application

KVAC:

• reviews your documents

• contacts you by email if something is missing

• then sends the file to Berlin

16. Tracking your visa

Tracking is done through:

Korea Visa Portal

⚠️ Important:
When checking your application:

• select:

Visa Application Center

And enter:

• your EXACT name as written on your passport

17. Processing time

Usually:

• up to 3 weeks

But it may take longer during:

• summer

⚠️ Your flight ticket does NOT speed up the process.

18. Receiving your visa

Korean visas are NO LONGER stickers inside the passport and must be collected in PARIS at KVAC.

You will receive:

a Visa Grant Notice

This document is your actual visa.

19. Check your Visa Grant Notice carefully

Immediately verify:

• name

• passport number

• D-2 visa type

• duration

• dates

⚠️ If there is any mistake:
Contact KVAC immediately.

20. Once you arrive in Korea

With a long-term visa:

• you must apply for an ARC
  (Alien Registration Card)

⚠️ Mandatory for:

• opening a bank account

• getting a Korean phone number

• working

• staying legally

Everything is usually handled with your university once you arrive.

Do not book too early

KVAC clearly states:

• processing times are never guaranteed

Insurance

Get international insurance before departure.

Some universities require it.

Do not spam KVAC

The official guide specifies that:

• email spam

• repeated calls

• aggressive behavior

• abusive urgent requests

may result in:

• refusal

• future restrictions

Good luck with your departure to Korea 🇰🇷 ✈️