Entry & Stay

General Guide

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    1. A foreigner who plans to enter the Korea has to meet the entry requirements as below:

      • You must possess a valid passport. Immigration officials will reject your entry if you present him/her an expired or fake/false passport.
      • You must possess a valid visa. You must enter before the expiry date of your visa. Moreover, immigration officials may reject your entry if your Visa type does not match with your entry purpose.

        • ※ You can enter without a visa, if you are:

        • A person who will enter the Korea before the expiry date of his/her re-entry permit or has been exempted from his/her re-entry permit.
        • A citizen of a country who is exempted in accordance with the visa exemption agreement between his/her country and the Korea
        • A person specially approved by the Presidential Decree who will enter the Korea to contribute to international relations, national interests and the tourism industry of Korea.
        • A person who has been issued a refugee travel document and will enter Korea before the expiry date
      • You must not have any grounds for entry restrictions in accordance with the Immigration Act.
      • Single-entry Visa : You can enter once before the expiry date
      • Double-entry Visa : You can enter twice before the expiry date (6 months)
      • Multiple-entry Visa : You can enter unlimited times before the expiry date (1 year, 3 years, 5 years)

    3. A foreigner entering the Korea has to go through immigration at the port of entry. Please present your passport along with the completed arrival card (Form No.41-2) that states the purpose of your entry, location of residence, etc to immigration officials.

    1. Foreigners under the conditions below have to register with their jurisdictional immigration offices within 90 days from the date of entry:

      • A foreigner who plans to stay for more than 90 days from the date of entry
      • A foreigner who has lost his/her Korean nationality upon the acquisition of foreign nationality, or who plans to stay for more than 90 days from the date on which his/her status was granted after being born in Korea.
      • Diplomats, foreign government officials, those exempted in accordance with international agreements, and their family members (A-1, A-2, A-3)
      • A foreigner who is engaged in important tasks such as diplomacy, industrial development, or national defense, and his/her family members, or a foreigner who is recognized by the Minister of Justice for exemption
      • Foreigner from Canada who falls under the qualifications below and plans to stay for less than 6 months → Korean Arts and Culture (D-1), Religious Worker (D-6), Family Visitor (F-1), Dependent Family (F-3), Miscellaneous (G-1)

    3. Immigration (branch) office that has jurisdiction in the area of your residence

      • A foreigner who plans to stay for more than 90 days → within 90 days from the date of entry
      • A foreigner who has been granted status of stay or permission to change status → at the time of permission being received (immediately)
      • Passport
      • Application form (Form No.34)
      • 1 colored photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm)
      • Fee: 30,000 won (approximately US$30)
      • Additional required documents depending on the type of visa Please refer to the Hikorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) website for more information on the additional required documents depending on the type of visa. (Information -> Immigration Guide -> Foreigner Sojourn -> Alien Registration -> Required documents for alien registration)
      • Foreigners residing in Korea must possess their passport or alien registration card at all times (Not applicable for foreigners under 17).
      • Foreigners must present their passport or alien registration card upon request by an immigration officer or anyone of the equivalent authority (including public officials in charge of registration at local governments.)
      • In accordance with the Immigration Act, foreigners will be punished for not possessing/presenting their passport and alien registration card upon request.

    7. Foreigners (or their legal representatives) under the circumstances below must notify the Immigration Office, within 14 days, of any changes in their alien registration information.

      (Foreigners who fail to submit notification of changes in their alien registration information to the Immigration Office will be fined for violation of Article 35 of the Immigration Act)

      1. Circumstances for Notification
        • Change in name, gender, date of birth, or nationality
        • Change in passport number, expiry date, or date of issue
        • Change in affiliated organization or department of a foreigner with the status of - Korean Arts and Culture (D-1), Student (D-2), General trainee (D-4), Long-term News Coverage (D-5), Religious Worker (D-6), Intra-company Transferee (D-7), Corporate/Foreign Investor (D-8), or International Trade (D-9)
        • Name change in affiliated organization and department of a foreigner with the status of - Long-term News Coverage (D-5), Religious Worker (D-6), Intra-company Transferee (D-7), Corporate/Foreign Investor (D-8), or International Trade (D-9)
      2. Required Documents:
        • Passport and alien registration card
        • Change notification of alien registration information
  • Foreigner’s range of activity and employment
    • Foreigners can stay in the Korea according to their status of stay and durations of stay as stated on the visa.
    • Foreigners must possess status of stay for employment to work in the Korea, and can only work for the assigned jobs.
    • Eligible status of stay for employment are as below:

      • Short-term Employee (C-4), Professor (E-1), Foreign Language Instructor (E-2), Researcher (E-3), Technical Instructor/Technician (E-4), Professional (E-5), Arts/Athlete (E-6), Foreign National of Special Ability (E-7), Non-professional (E-9), Maritime Crew (E-10), Resident (F-2), Overseas Korean (F-4), Permanent Resident (F-5), Marriage Migrant (F-6), Working Holiday (H-1), Work and Visit (H-2)

    • Despite the possession of qualifying status of stay for employment, working for an employer other than the ones stated on the visa application forms, without receiving prior permission from or reporting in advance to the Immigration Office, is considered as violation of the terms and conditions of the visa.
    • For any changes in employer, work location, etc., you must check the proper procedure from the immigration office or Immigration Contact Center (1345 without area code) and make a report or apply for permission in advance or within the specified date.