2026 List of Universities Subject to Study Visa Restrictions Announced… Even If Accepted, You May Not Be Able to Enter Korea

From the 2026 academic year, the list of universities that are subject to restrictions on the issuance of visas to their admitted international students has been released, raising alarm among prospective international students. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Justice announced that they will select universities with inadequate international student management capabilities and impose the strong sanction of visa issuance restrictions.

This measure aims to exclude or penalize universities whose rates of illegal overstays exceed the threshold or whose academic management and support infrastructure for international students are deficient. The government has conducted an annual 'Survey on Recruitment and Management of International Students', but starting in 2026, it will further strengthen evaluation criteria and penalties to strictly sanction underperforming universities.

The biggest problem is that even if a student is accepted to a university designated as subject to visa issuance restrictions, the issuance of a study visa (D-2) and a language training visa (D-4) for that student may be effectively denied. Because this is a serious issue that can cause irreversible time and financial losses for prospective international students, it is essential to carefully check the status of target universities before submitting applications.

Education experts recommend cross-checking via university admissions office websites and official Ministry of Education announcements whether the university you plan to apply to is an institution recognized for excellence in recruiting and managing international students, or whether it is included on the list of universities subject to visa issuance restrictions. Even if you proceed through intermediaries such as study-abroad agencies, applicants themselves must verify that the information provided is up to date to prevent harm.

A government official emphasized, "This measure is an unavoidable decision aimed at improving the overall quality of studying in Korea and protecting the educational rights of bona fide international students." Applicants planning to study abroad should, rather than relying solely on university name recognition, prioritize proven international student support and the likelihood of visa issuance when making enrollment plans.