Hello, everyone!
This is Vijob. 👋
Are you planning to start an internship at a company in Korea with a D-10-1 job-seeking visa?
Internship experience is very important in the job-preparation process, but if you start internship activities under D-10 status, you must also know that you need to report the “start of training” to immigration.
Even the Ministry of Justice guidance states that the start of training and change of training institution under job-seeking (D-10) status are subject to a change notification for alien registration information, and that you must report within 15 days from the date the reason occurs.
🚨 Can’t I just start the internship?
D-10 is, as the name suggests, a status of stay for job-seeking activities.
However, if certain requirements are met, you may take internship activities in specialized fields corresponding to professor (E-1) through specific activities (E-7) during the job search process. Simply having a D-10 visa does not mean you can work freely in any job.
Therefore, before starting an internship,
✔ Is the activity allowed under my specific D-10 status?
✔ Does the internship work fall within an allowed field?
✔ Has the internship notification been completed properly?
It is important to be sure to check.
📌 D-10 internship notification: key points only!
Who must report: Foreigners who begin internship activities in fields permitted under D-10 status
What to report: Start of training (internship) or change of training institution
Reporting deadline: Within 15 days from the date the reason occurs
How to report: Reporting through the competent immigration office or by FAX is available. (1577-1346)
📑 What documents do I need to prepare?
When preparing an internship notification, you will generally need to check the following documents.
- Integrated application form
- Passport copy
Alien registration card copy
Internship contract
Business registration certificate
Employment insurance subscriber list
In the internship contract, it is important to clearly state the actual job duties and contract period.
In particular, D-10 internships require a connection to the permitted specialized field, so if the duties in the contract differ from the duties actually performed, problems may arise.
Also, depending on the competent immigration office and the applicant’s situation, additional documents may be requested, so we recommend checking with the Immigration Contact Center (외국인종합안내센터) at 1345 before submitting.
📞 Is the report finished if I only send it by FAX?
This is where you need to be especially careful.
You should not assume the report has been completed just because you sent it by FAX.
The Ministry of Justice guidance also separately explains that a reply to a FAX civil petition only informs you that the documents have arrived at the processing agency, and does not mean that the report has been properly received or processed.
Therefore, after sending a FAX report, it is safer to keep track of FAX transmission → confirmation of receipt → review and supplementation status → final processing confirmation.
⏱️ How long can a D-10 internship last?
You need to pay especially close attention here, because the system was recently changed.
The Ministry of Justice improved the D-10 system for foreign students who graduated from Korean universities, expanding the job-seeking period from a previous maximum of 2 years to a maximum of 3 years.
It also expanded the internship period at the same company from a maximum of 6 months to a maximum of 1 year.
👨💻 Not just any internship is allowed!
In principle, internship activities for general D-10 job seekers are limited to activities connected to E-1 to E-7 specialized fields.
Therefore, simply signing a contract for general serving, simple production, packaging, and similar work under the name “internship” does not mean it will be recognized as a D-10 internship activity. The Ministry of Justice guidance also explains the scope of D-10 internship activities for general job seekers as E-1 to E-7 fields.
What matters more than the job title is the actual job content.
⚠️ Internship notification may seem small, but make sure to handle it!
Because job hunting can feel urgent, some people start working immediately after signing a contract with the company, but for foreigners, it is very important that the status of stay and the actual activities match.
If you fail to report even though you are required to, or if you perform work that is not allowed, it can cause problems later when extending D-10 status or changing to another work visa.
Therefore, not only foreign job seekers but also company staff hiring foreigners as interns should check the status of stay and reporting procedures before work begins.
💙 Prepare for work in Korea with Vijob!
For foreigners preparing to work in Korea, all of these steps are connected.
Vijob will continue to provide the employment, visa, and daily-life information you need so that you can not only find a job, but also work in Korea and build your career stably.
If you’re starting an internship on a D-10 visa, make sure to check the “internship notification” before signing the contract! ✅
And if you have any questions about D-10 internship notification or work and visas in Korea, feel free to leave a comment!
Or write a post directly in the Vijob Community (Vijob 커뮤니티) and ask your question. Senior foreigners who have already experienced finding jobs and changing visas in Korea can help based on their own experience. 🙌
Rather than searching and worrying alone, share information with real experienced people in the Vijob Community! 💬