Foreign job seekers in Korea to be allowed three-year stay with D-10 visa

Foreign job seekers will be able to stay in Korea for an additional year with the D-10 visa, according to new policies announced by the Ministry of Economy and Finance Thursday.

Attendees look through pamphlets at a job fair for international students in Busan, held in July. [NEWS1]

Foreign job seekers will be able to stay in Korea for an additional year with the D-10 visa, with further visa support promised for this year.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced new economic policies for 2024 Thursday, including changes to visa policies.

The job seeker visa, or the D-10 visa, will allow foreigners to stay in Korea up to three years. Currently, D-10 visa holders are allowed an initial six-month stay and can extend it up to two years.

The ministry did not specify when the change will take place.

Policies that will allow talented students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to easily transition into residency visas will be announced within the first half of this year, the ministry said.

More STEM students will be selected for the government's Global Korea Scholarship, which offers full tuition and additional living expenses to international students.

The Ministry of Justice also announced new quotas for certain work visas relevant to companies that hire foreign workers.

The government can issue up to 49,286 E-8 seasonal worker visas in the first half of the year, with E-8 visa holders eligible for stays of up to five months. E-9 visas have a quota of 165,000, E-10 visas a quota of 22,000 and E-7-4 visas a quota of 35,000.

Power transmission engineer is a new occupation that foreigners are allowed to work in under the E-7-3 visa category, assigned a quota of 300 this year. Aircraft part manufacturer is another new occupation for E-7-3 visa holders, also with a quota of 300 in 2024.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]