Graduation ends your degree program, but international students still have several administrative decisions to make. You may need official graduation certificates and transcripts, a new immigration status if you remain in Korea, new enrollment documents if you continue to graduate school, and a clear plan for housing, banking, insurance, and departure. Students who want to work in Korea may be able to change from D-2 to D-10 job-seeking status or directly to an eligible employment status when the requirements are met.
Graduating from a Korean university is an important milestone, but the administrative process does not end on graduation day.
International students need to think about academic documents, immigration status, employment or graduate school plans, housing, and whether they will remain in Korea or leave.
The most important point is that D-2 is a student status.
Once your degree is complete, you should prepare the immigration status that matches what you plan to do next.
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Graduation Ceremony and Official Graduation Are Not Exactly the Same Thing
Your university may hold a graduation ceremony in February or August, but the ceremony itself is not the only thing that proves you earned the degree.
What matters administratively is that the university has officially completed your graduation process and can issue the appropriate academic documents.
Before making visa, employment, or graduate school plans, confirm your official graduation or degree-conferral date with the university.
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Get Your Graduation Certificate
A graduation certificate is one of the most important documents you will use after university.
It may be requested for employment, immigration, graduate school applications, professional qualifications, or other administrative procedures.
Seoul National University currently issues undergraduate Certificates of Graduation in both Korean and English. Korea University and Yonsei University also provide graduation certificates through their certificate-issuance systems.
Whenever possible, learn how to access your university’s certificate service before graduation.
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Get an Official Academic Transcript
Your transcript records the courses, credits, and grades you completed.
Graduate schools and employers may ask for either an unofficial copy for initial review or an official university-issued transcript later in the process.
SNU lists Academic Transcripts among its Korean- and English-language certificates, while Yonsei and Korea University provide online or service-center issuance options for graduates.
Keep a digital copy for reference and know how to obtain a new official copy when needed.
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Certificate of Graduation and Diploma Can Serve Different Purposes
The physical diploma or degree document you receive around graduation may be important personally and academically.
However, an employer, university, immigration authority, or government agency may ask for a specific official certificate issued through the university’s academic records system.
When an organization asks for proof of degree, check exactly which document it accepts:
Graduation certificate / degree certificate / transcript / diploma copy / verified electronic certificate
Do not assume they are interchangeable.
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English Certificates Are Useful for International Applications
If you may apply for jobs or graduate programs outside Korea, check whether your university can issue your graduation certificate and transcript in English.
SNU currently provides Korean and English undergraduate graduation certificates and transcripts. Yonsei and Korea University also provide English-language certificate services.
This can save time later when an overseas institution requests official records.
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Check Whether Authentication Is Required Abroad
If you plan to use your Korean academic documents in another country, the receiving institution may require additional authentication.
Depending on the destination and purpose, this can involve verification, an Apostille, consular procedures, or another form of document authentication.
Do not authenticate every document automatically.
First ask the employer, university, licensing body, or government authority exactly what it requires.
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Keep Access to Your University Portal
Graduates often continue to need university systems after leaving campus.
You may need to:
Issue transcripts / request graduation certificates / confirm grades / access alumni services / update contact information / obtain scholarship or tuition records
Korea University, for example, currently allows online certificate issuance and provides procedures for graduates who need portal access.
Before graduation, make sure your personal email and phone information are up to date.
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Your D-2 Student Status Does Not Become a Work Visa
A D-2 visa allows you to study in Korea.
Graduating from a Korean university does not automatically give you permission to begin full-time employment.
If you plan to remain in Korea after completing your degree, determine which immigration status matches your next activity.
The appropriate route may be job seeking, full-time employment, graduate study, start-up preparation, or another eligible status.
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D-10 Is a Common Job-Seeking Route
The Korean government’s Study in Korea guidance currently lists graduates or expected graduates of Korean associate-degree programs and bachelor’s degree or higher programs among applicants who may qualify for Job-Seeking status.
D-10 can cover professional job-seeking activities, qualifying internships before formal employment, and certain start-up preparation activities.
Eligibility depends on the specific D-10 category and your circumstances.
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Documents for D-2 to D-10
Study in Korea currently lists core documents for D-2 holders changing to job-seeking status, including:
Application form / passport / Residence Card / fee / proof of educational background or academic transcript / job-seeking activity plan / applicable qualification certificates.
Some academic documents may be exempt when immigration can verify the information electronically.
Requirements can change, so confirm the current checklist before applying.
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Apply When Your Status Changes
Current Study in Korea guidance says applicants should apply to the immigration office responsible for their residence when their status changes, including an anticipated change.
This matters for graduating students.
Do not rely only on the expiration date printed on your Residence Card.
Plan your next immigration step before graduation whenever possible.
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You May Be Able to Change Directly to an Employment Status
Not every graduate needs to use D-10 first.
If you already have a qualifying job offer and meet the requirements of the relevant employment status, direct change from D-2 to an employment category may be possible.
Study in Korea currently states that eligible graduates or expected graduates can apply for employment statuses such as E-1 through E-7 when the job and applicant satisfy the applicable conditions and an employment contract has been signed.
The exact eligibility depends on the occupation and immigration category.
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A Job Offer Alone Is Not Enough
Receiving an employment offer does not automatically authorize you to work full time.
You need the immigration status that permits the job.
Before starting employment, confirm:
Job category / employment contract / required degree or qualifications / employer documents / immigration application / approval date
Your employer’s HR team may assist, but make sure your status is valid before beginning work.
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If You Want to Continue to Graduate School
If you have been admitted to a master’s or doctoral program in Korea, your immigration plan is different from that of a graduate entering the job market.
You will continue as a student, but the relevant D-2 category and university information must reflect your new degree program.
If you move to another university, new admission and immigration documents will normally be required.
Follow the graduate school’s international office instructions rather than assuming your undergraduate D-2 status automatically continues unchanged.
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Prepare Graduate School Documents Early
Graduate school applications may require your final undergraduate transcript and proof that the bachelor’s degree has been awarded.
If you apply before graduation, you may initially submit a certificate of expected graduation and then provide the final graduation certificate later.
SNU, Yonsei, and Korea University currently provide expected-graduation or graduation-related academic certificates through their academic records systems.
Check the graduate school’s final-document deadline carefully.
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If You Plan to Leave Korea
Graduates who do not plan to remain in Korea should also make a departure checklist.
Consider:
Housing contract / dormitory move-out / utilities / mobile plan / banking / insurance / university certificates / shipping belongings / tax or employment documents if applicable / immigration departure procedures
Do not wait until the final week to close everything.
Some contracts require advance notice, and you may need your Korean phone number or bank account for final payments or refunds.
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Keep Your Korean Bank Account Only If You Still Need It
A Korean bank account can be useful after graduation for final refunds, salary payments, deposits, or other transactions.
However, account access and identity verification can become more difficult after you leave Korea or change your phone number and residence status.
Ask your bank what is required for overseas access and whether you should keep or close the account.
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Check Your Housing Deposit
If you rented privately, make sure you understand when and how your housing deposit will be returned.
Confirm the move-out date, final utility payments, room inspection, and bank account for the refund.
If you are moving to another Korean city for work or graduate school, plan the timing carefully because the new housing deposit may be due before the old one is returned.
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Save Important Academic and Immigration Records
Before leaving university life behind, create a secure digital folder containing:
Passport copy / Residence Card information / graduation certificate / transcript / scholarship records / tuition records / internship certificates / employment documents / TOPIK or English test results / important university correspondence
You may need these records years later for immigration, employment, graduate study, or professional licensing.
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Ask Professors for Recommendations Before You Lose Contact
If you may apply to graduate school or research positions, think about recommendation letters before too much time passes.
Professors are more likely to remember your academic work when you have recently completed their courses, research, or projects.
Keep professional contact information and remind them of the work you completed together when requesting a recommendation later.
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Update Your Resume and Professional Profiles
Graduation is a good point to update your resume, CV, portfolio, LinkedIn profile, or other professional materials.
Add:
Degree / graduation date / major / double major or minor / relevant projects / internships / research / language qualifications / awards
Use the official English name of your university and degree when applying internationally.
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Your Student Email May Not Last Forever
University email and cloud-storage policies vary.
Some universities provide alumni email or extended access, while others limit services after graduation.
Move important personal files, portfolio materials, recommendation correspondence, and non-confidential documents to an account you control.
Do not use a university email address as the only recovery address for important external services.
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Graduation Is Also a Deadline for Career Decisions
You do not need to have your entire career decided on graduation day.
But international students in Korea do need a clear short-term legal and financial plan.
Ask yourself:
Am I leaving Korea? / Am I entering graduate school? / Am I job seeking? / Do I already have an employment contract? / Do I need a new immigration status? / Where will I live?
The answer determines what you should do first.
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A Practical Graduation Checklist
Before graduation:
Confirm all graduation requirements / check official graduation date / prepare visa plan / request expected-graduation documents if needed / apply for jobs or graduate school / check housing dates
After graduation is confirmed:
Issue graduation certificate / issue final transcript / complete D-10, employment, graduate-study, or departure immigration procedure / update resume / save academic records / settle housing and financial matters
If leaving Korea:
Confirm departure requirements / receive housing deposit / settle utilities / review bank and phone access / keep documents for future use
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FAQ
What documents should I get after graduating from a Korean university?
At minimum, know how to obtain your official graduation certificate and final academic transcript. Depending on your plans, you may also need an expected-graduation certificate, degree document, scholarship records, or other certificates.
Can Korean universities issue graduation certificates in English?
Many can. SNU currently lists undergraduate graduation certificates and transcripts in both Korean and English, while Yonsei and Korea University also provide English certificate services.
Can I stay in Korea on D-2 after graduation?
D-2 is a student status, so prepare the appropriate next immigration status when your study activity ends. Confirm the applicable timing with your university international office and immigration.
What is D-10?
D-10 is a job-seeking status used by eligible foreigners for professional job-seeking, qualifying internships, and certain start-up preparation activities.
Can Korean university graduates apply for D-10?
Current Study in Korea guidance includes graduates or expected graduates of Korean associate-degree programs and bachelor’s degree or higher programs among eligible applicant categories, subject to applicable requirements.
Do I need D-10 if I already have a job offer?
Not necessarily. If you meet the requirements for an eligible employment status and have the necessary employment contract, direct change to the relevant employment status may be possible.
Can I start working as soon as I graduate?
Not simply because you graduated. You must have an immigration status that permits the employment.
What if I am going directly to graduate school?
Follow the new graduate program’s admission and immigration procedures. Your student status must correspond to your new program and institution.
Should I keep my university portal account?
Yes, if possible. Graduates may need it to issue transcripts, graduation certificates, and other records.
What is the most important thing to do before graduation?
Decide what your next activity in Korea will be and prepare the matching immigration and administrative process before your student status changes.
