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The same visa comes out differently by school
Every year the Korean government evaluates how well universities manage international students (IEQAS certification). Certified schools get simplified visa processing; schools that fail can have new student visas restricted. Choosing a school is choosing your visa risk.
What the three tiers mean
| Tier | Effect on your visa |
|---|---|
| Certified (incl. top-tier) | Simplified visa screening. In the 2025 round, 181 degree-program and 123 language-program schools were certified (MOE·MOJ announcement, 2026-02-12). |
| Uncertified | Standard screening: no penalty, but no fast track either. |
| Visa-restricted schools | New student visas are restricted. The 2025 round designated 16 degree + 4 language programs, restricted for one year from fall 2026 (same announcement). An admission letter from these schools may not get you a visa. |
The designated lists change every year, so we do not print school names here. Checking this year’s list yourself through the official channels below is the only safe method.
How to check (5 minutes)
Find the school in the certified-university list
The Study in Korea certified-university list carries this year’s certified-university list. If the school is there, it is certified; if not, go to step 2 (this list does not mark restricted schools separately).
Check the MOE·MOJ press release for the restricted list too
The joint government press release PDF (announced 2026-02-12, applies to the 2026 academic year) has both lists in its attachments: certified universities and visa-restricted (intensive-screening) universities. It is a Korean PDF: search the school’s name in Korean. Link checked 2026-09-05.
Still unsure? Ask with this exact sentence
Paste the Korean sentence below as-is to ☎1345 (multilingual) or the school’s international office. "Certified" means go; "restricted" means stop. Their answer is the reference, not your agency’s.
이 학교가 2026학년도 교육국제화역량 인증대학인가요, 아니면 비자 발급 제한(정밀심사) 대학인가요?