Status of Stay

Important
Change of visa type
Extension of period of stay
Other applications related to status of stay
Service

Important

When foreigners get a visa issued, they will have status of stay in Korea. So, basically a visa is the same as status of stay and also you can call status of stay as visa status.

Applicants must stay in Korea to apply for permission related to visa status. Even after the delegation contract.

The period of stay will be allowed only within the valid time remaining of the passport. However, there are exceptions such as permanent resident (F-5), refugee (F-2-4), humanitarian status holder (G-1-6), refugee applicant and family, and stateless persons.

Short-term visa holders including visa free visitors cannot change to another visa. However, there are exceptions such as German and Canadian. Contact me for more information.

Applicants need a reservation to visit the competent immigration office.

Change of visa type (Change of status)

Foreigners can get a permit to change their status of stay in Korea instead of departure and reentry.

National of countries with high tuberculosis risk must submit a TB test clearance certificate when they didn't submit that before.

In principle, foreign documents need to have apostille or consular attestation and translation.

Review time is usually 1 month.

When getting a permit to change the visa, new registration card will be issued.

Extension of period of stay

You must apply to extend the period to stay from 4 months before the expiration date until the expiration date. Some visa types can be applied online.

National of countries with high tuberculosis risk must submit a TB test clearance certificate when they stayed in certain country with high tuberculosis risk for over 6 months within 1 year from the date of application.

Review time is usually 2 weeks to 2 months.

When getting a permit to extend the period, new period of stay will be added to the registration card.

Foreigners can apply for an extension of period of stay for departure due to some reasons like tour, farewell event, no plane/ship, etc. Copy of plane or ship ticket is required for application.

Immigrants who married a Korean and suffered from domestic violence can get a permit to extend the period of stay during the legal process.

Victims of domestic violence, sexual crime and child abuse and their protector can get a permit to extend the period of stay during the legal process such as investigation and suit.

1. Grant of status of stay

Child born in South Korea must get a status of stay within 90 days after the birth. Check related visa types on this website.

If you lost Korean nationality for some reasons like marriage with a foreigner, you must get a new status of stay within 60 days after the incident.

Application process is almost the same with a change of status.

2. Activities not covered by status of stay

Foreigners living in Korea can get a permit for activities not covered by their own visa status.

However, if those activities are not supplementary, foreigners must depart and enter Korea with a different visa or get a permit to change visa status in Korea.

No need to get a permit for activities such as tour, study, Korean language training etc.

Holders of short-term visas (B-1, B-2, C-1, C-3, C-4) cannot get a permit for this.

Application process is almost the same with a change of status.

3. Addition and change of workplace

Workers should get a permit to change or add workspace. Some workers of a specific visa type can report within 15 days after changing or adding workspace instead of permission.

Service

I can provide the services below for you.

I can guide whole requirements and documents for these applications.
I can write certain documents required.
I can prepare and submit documents to get visa issuance certificate on behalf of you.
I can apply online on behalf of you.

Can I depart Korea after submitting an application?

You must stay in Korea after submitting an application. If you depart Korea before the final result, your application will be rejected immediately with some exceptions like an F5 visa.