Eligibility is rarely the obstacle. Shift patterns and language are. Practice runs 09:00 to 20:00, every day of the year, taught in English.
Morning sessions before an afternoon shift, or evenings after a day shift
Need
Valid ARC
Practice
09:00–20:00
Open
365 days
Class 2
765,000 KRW
Can foreign workers get a Korean driver's licence?
Generally yes as a registered resident with a valid Alien Registration Card, and an employment visa does not restrict which licence class you may hold. The real obstacles are usually schedule and language. Our practice sessions run 09:00 to 20:00 every day of the year including public holidays, and instruction is in English throughout. The written test itself is offered in several languages at examination centres, including English, Chinese and Vietnamese, selected at the terminal.
Ask about your Korean licence as a worker
Tell us your shift pattern and we will fit the practical hours around your rota.
Check your own status
Can foreign workers in Korea get a driver's licence?
Generally yes as a registered resident. The obstacles for E-7 and E-9 holders are usually schedule and language rather than eligibility.
What we can and cannot tell you
A valid Alien Registration Card is the practical requirement
Employment visa type does not restrict which class of Korean licence you may hold
If you change employer, your ARC and residence status may be in transition — resolve that before applying
Your ARC must still be valid on the day you apply, not just when you enrol
Where your workplace holds your documents, arrange access before booking anything
We are a driving academy, not an immigration adviser. Nothing here guarantees that any particular visa status qualifies you for a Korean licence — that is determined by the licensing authority on the day, against your own documents. Confirm your position before you spend money on anything.
Shift work
Fitting a Korean licence course around shift work
Most driving academies in Korea run office hours. That is the single biggest practical barrier for shift workers, and it is the one we designed around.
Practice 09:00 to 20:00
Morning sessions before an afternoon shift, or evening sessions after a day shift.
Open 365 days
Including public holidays, when most academies are shut and many factories are not.
Book an hour ahead
Short notice is fine. You do not need to commit to a fixed weekly slot.
Three-month window
All training hours must be used within three months of your start date.
Written test needs a weekday
Examination centres run Monday to Friday. This is the only part that needs time off.
Saturday theory
One fixed Saturday afternoon, 13:00 to 16:00. No booking needed.
Language
Taking the Korean licence process without Korean
Available in more than English
The written theory test is delivered on a touchscreen at licensing examination centres and offers several languages, including English, Chinese and Vietnamese. You choose the language at the terminal before the test starts.
There is no separate booking, no surcharge and no need to arrange an interpreter for the test itself.
Where language is still a problem
Counter service at examination centres varies considerably
Most driving academies teach only in Korean
Forms and notices are frequently Korean only
Our instruction is in English throughout, and we will write down in Korean what you need to say at the counter.
Why it matters
What a Korean licence changes for a foreign worker
Industrial areas are badly served by public transport
A great many manufacturing and industrial sites in Gyeonggi-do and beyond sit well outside the subway network, reached by a company shuttle that runs on the company's schedule rather than yours. A licence changes what your days off look like as much as your commute.
Independence from shuttle timetables
Access to larger supermarkets and to medical appointments
Some roles pay more where a licence is held
A Class 1 Regular licence covers light trucks and 15-seat vans, which matters in some industries
Saturday Korean theory class in English for foreign workers
Three hours, walk-in, no deposit. If your Saturday is free, this is the easiest part of the whole process to arrange.
Every Saturday, 13:00–16:00
Three hours of mandatory road safety education, in English
Arrive by 12:00 with your Alien Registration Card to register
No booking needed — walk in
Everything else fits around work
Course and road practice run 09:00 to 20:00, and we are open 365 days a year. Book each session at least one hour in advance and complete your hours within three months.
Pricing
Korean licence course prices for foreign workers
Class 2 Regular covers ordinary cars. Class 1 Regular covers light trucks and 15-seat vans, which is worth considering if it affects your work.
All prices include 10% VAT. Three-month interest-free card instalments available.
Examination fees are 55,000 KRW each for the skills test and the road test.
Three-month interest-free card instalments split the cost across three pay cycles. Ask about this at registration rather than after you have paid in full.
Practical
Documents and employers in the Korean licence process
What you need in your own hands
Your original Alien Registration Card
Your passport
Photos, 3.5 × 4.5 cm
If your employer holds your documents
An employer should not be holding your passport or ARC. If yours does, you will need them physically returned before you can apply for anything — copies are refused at the counter.
If you are having difficulty getting your own documents back, support is available through government and civil channels for foreign workers, and that is worth pursuing separately from the licence question.
Why SDA
Why foreign workers choose our Korean driving school
Built around shift patterns
Practice 09:00 to 20:00, open 365 days including public holidays.
Instruction in English throughout
Ten years and more than 50 nationalities, with written support for Korean-language counters.
Interest-free instalments
Three months, no interest, which spreads the cost across pay cycles.
FAQ
Korean licences for foreign workers — frequently asked questions
Can I get a Korean driving licence on an E-7 or E-9 visa?
Generally yes, as a registered resident holding a valid Alien Registration Card. Employment visa type does not restrict which class of licence you may hold. Confirm your own status before spending money, particularly if you have recently changed employer and your residence status is in transition.
Can I take driving lessons if I work shifts?
Yes. Practice sessions run from 09:00 to 20:00 and we are open every day of the year including public holidays, so morning sessions before an afternoon shift and evening sessions after a day shift both work. Book each session at least an hour in advance.
Do I need time off work for the Korean licence?
One weekday morning, for the written test. Driver's licence examination centres run Monday to Friday and registration closes well before the building does. Everything else — the Saturday theory class and all practical training — can be arranged around a shift pattern.
What languages is the Korean driving test available in?
The written theory test is delivered on a touchscreen at examination centres and offers several languages including English, Chinese and Vietnamese. You select the language at the terminal before the test starts, with no separate booking or surcharge.
Can I pay for the course in instalments?
Yes. Three-month interest-free card instalments are available, which spreads the cost across three pay cycles. Ask at registration rather than after paying in full.
My employer is holding my passport and ARC. Can I still apply?
Not without them — copies are refused at the licensing counter and you need the originals in your own hands. An employer should not be holding those documents, and if you are having difficulty getting them back, support is available through government and civil channels for foreign workers.
Should I get Class 1 or Class 2?
Class 2 Regular covers ordinary cars and passenger SUVs, which suits most people. Class 1 Regular covers light trucks and 15-seat vans and is worth considering if it affects your work or pay. Class 1 is 795,000 KRW for the programme against 765,000 for Class 2.
Get started
One message and your Korean licence route is clear
Tell us your rota and we will build the course around your shifts rather than the other way round. Only one weekday morning is needed, for the written test.
