Your student visa is approved, and your bags are almost packed! Moving from Nepal to South Korea to study is an incredible milestone. It is completely normal to feel a mix of intense excitement and pre-travel nervousness.

Adapting to a new language, a high-tech lifestyle, and a unique university system takes a little time. This quick pre-departure guide will help you smooth out the transition so you can land in South Korea with total confidence.

Do not pack these in your checked luggage. Keep the originals in your backpack/carry-on bag and leave a set of photocopies with your family in Nepal.

• Valid Passport with your stamped South Korean Student Visa (D-2 or D-4)
• Standard Certificate of Admission (COA) or Certificate of Visa Issuance (CVI)
• University Tuition Fee Payment Receipt & SWIFT copy
• Original Academic Transcripts and Certificates (Embassy-verified/Apostilled)
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Education, Nepal
• Medical/Health screening reports (from Patan Hospital)
• At least 10 passport-sized photos ($35 \times 45\text{ mm}$ with a white background)
• Address and contact number of your university’s International Office
• Doctor’s prescriptions for any personal medications you are bringing

Most airlines flying from Kathmandu to Incheon allow 20 kg to 30 kg for checked luggage and 7 kg for hand carry. Double-check your ticket’s exact weight allowance.

What to Pack:

• Clothing: South Korea experiences four extreme seasons. Pack a mix of light summer clothes and heavy winter jackets. (Winter temperatures in Seoul routinely drop below $-5^\circ\text{C}$).

• Electronics: Your laptop, smartphone, and valid bills. South Korea uses 220V, 60Hz electrical outlets with round two-pin plugs (Type C and F). Buy a universal adapter before leaving Kathmandu.

• Daily Essentials: A sturdy backpack, basic stationery, personal towels, and a few familiar snacks to get you through the first week.

Crucial Rule: Never agree to carry a bag or package for someone else. South Korean customs laws are exceptionally strict, and you will be held legally responsible for its contents.

The local currency is the South Korean Won (KRW). Do not carry large amounts of paper cash.

• Initial Cash: Bringing around $500\text{ USD to }1,000\text{ USD}$ exchanged into KRW cash is usually plenty to cover your meals, airport transit, and initial transport card setup.

• You will be able to open a local Korean bank account once your school orientation starts and your Alien Registration Card (ARC) is in progress.

1. Customs Declaration

On the airplane, you will be handed a Arrival Card and a Customs Declaration Form. You must declare if you are carrying agricultural products, meat, or specific foods. Failing to declare local Nepali food items like sukuti (dried meat) can lead to immediate fines. Pass through the Green Channel if you have nothing to declare, or the Red Channel if you do.

2. Airport Pickup & Sim Cards

If you signed up for a university airport pickup, head directly to the designated meeting point mentioned in your university guide. It is highly recommended to buy a temporary prepaid SIM card at Incheon Airport so you can access maps and call your family immediately.

3. Health Insurance

International students in South Korea are automatically enrolled in the National Health Insurance (NHI) system. Your university will guide you on payments and activation during orientation week.

To keep your D-2 or D-4 student visa valid, you must strictly follow South Korea’s immigration regulations:

• Full-Time Enrolment: You must remain enrolled as a full-time student. Dropping below required credit thresholds can cancel your visa.

• High Attendance: Attendance is tied directly to immigration. For language students (D-4), falling below 80% or 90% attendance can lead to immediate visa cancellation and deportation.

• Part-Time Work Restrictions: You cannot work immediately upon arrival. You must obtain official permission from your university and the Immigration Office first. Once approved, you can typically work 20 hours per week during semesters (varies by your TOPIK Korean language level) and full-time during vacations.

• Punctuality: Korean society runs on precise time. Being even 2 minutes late to a class, meeting, or work shift is viewed as highly disrespectful.

• The Learning Culture: Korean universities require deep independent research, active group assignments, and continuous presentations. Rote learning will not work. You are expected to voice your thoughts dynamically.

• Social Etiquette: Respect for elders and seniors is embedded in the language and lifestyle. Always use two hands when giving or receiving objects (like money, business cards, or documents).

• Public Order: People stand in disciplined queues for trains, buses, and restaurant orders. Pushing or skipping lines is considered unacceptable behaviour.