[Visa] Starting an internship on a D-10-1 visa? Be sure to check the “Internship Reporting” requirement!
Hello, everyone!
This is Vijob. 👋
Are you planning to start an internship at a Korean company with a D-10-1 Job Seeking (구직) visa?
Internship experience is very important in the job-seeking process, but if you begin internship activities with D-10 status, you should also know that you must report the “start of training” to Immigration.
The Ministry of Justice guidance also states that the start of training and change of training institution under Job Seeking (D-10) are subject to reporting changes in foreigner registration information, and that you must report within 15 days from the day the reason arises.
🚨 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 engage in internship activities in professional fields corresponding to Professor (교수) (E-1) through Special Activity (특정활동) (E-7) during the Job Seeking process. Simply having a D-10 visa does not mean you can work freely in any field.
Therefore, before starting an internship,
✔ whether the activity is permitted under my specific D-10 status
✔ whether the internship duties fall within the permitted fields
✔ whether the internship report has been properly completed
it is essential to check these carefully.
📌 D-10 internship reporting, summarized!
Reporting target: Foreigners who start internship activities in fields permitted under D-10 status
Reporting contents: Start of training (internship) or change of training institution
Reporting deadline: Within 15 days from the date the reason arises
Reporting method: Reporting through the competent Immigration Office or FAX reporting is provided. (1577-1346)
📑 What documents do I need to prepare?
When preparing an internship report, the following documents are generally checked.
Integrated application form
Copy of passport
Copy of foreign registration card
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, for D-10 internships, the connection to the permitted professional field is important, so if the duties listed in the contract differ from the actual work 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) (1345) before submitting the application.
📞 Is the report finished just because I sent FAX?
This is where you need to be especially careful.
You should not assume that the report has been completed just because you sent FAX.
The Ministry of Justice guidance also separately explains that a reply to a FAX civil complaint only means that the documents have arrived at the processing agency, and does not mean that the report has been properly received and processed.
Therefore, after filing by FAX, it is safest to make sure to check FAX transmission → confirmation of receipt → confirmation of review/completion of supplemental documents → final processing.
⏱️ How long can a D-10 intern work?
This is an area that needs especially careful attention, as the system has recently changed.
The Ministry of Justice improved the D-10 system for foreign students who graduated from universities in Korea, expanding the job-seeking period from a maximum of 2 years to a maximum of 3 years.
It also expanded the allowable 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 D-10 General Job Seeking (일반구직) applicants are limited to activities connected to specialized fields in E-1~E-7.
Therefore, simply signing a contract for ordinary tasks such as serving or simple production and packaging under the name of “internship” does not mean it will be recognized as D-10 internship activity. The Ministry of Justice guidance also explains the scope of internship activities under General Job Seeking (D-10) as fields in E-1~E-7.
What matters more than the title is the actual job content.
⚠️ Internship reporting may look small, but make sure to handle it!
Because job hunting is urgent, there are cases where people start working immediately after signing a contract with a company, but for foreigners it is very important that their visa status matches the actual activities they perform.
If you fail to report when reporting is required, or if you perform work that is not permitted, this may also 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 visa status and reporting procedures together before work begins.
💙 Get ready for jobs in Korea with Vijob!
For foreigners preparing for jobs in Korea, all of these processes are connected.
Vijob will continue to provide the employment, visa, and daily-life information you need so that you can go beyond simply finding a job and actually work in Korea and build a stable career.
If you are starting an internship on a D-10 visa, be sure to check the “internship report” before signing the contract! ✅
And if you have any questions about D-10 internship reporting or jobs and visas in Korea, feel free to leave a comment!
Or post a question directly in the Vijob community. Senior foreigners who have already experienced jobs and visa changes in Korea can help based on their own experience. 🙌
Rather than searching and worrying alone, share information with people who have real experience in the Vijob community! 💬