Overview
Miscellaneous (G-1) is the status for activities that fit none of the statuses from Diplomat (A-1) through Marriage Migrant (F-6), Working Holiday (H-1) and Visit and Employment (H-2). Eligible persons are those recognised by the Minister of Justice. Unlike a work visa it has no single activity; it is split into sub-codes by reason, such as industrial accident, medical treatment, litigation, unpaid wages and refugee application.
The maximum period granted at one time is one year, but the permitted period and extension documents differ by sub-code. This article goes code by code and points you to the right place to check other matters, such as health insurance and the four social insurances.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scope of activity | Activities not covered by Diplomat (A-1) through Marriage Migrant (F-6), Working Holiday (H-1) or Visit and Employment (H-2) |
| Eligible persons | Persons who do not fit A-1 to H-2 or Permanent Resident (F-5) under item 2 of Annex 1-2 of the Enforcement Decree and are recognised by the Minister of Justice |
| Maximum per grant | One year |
| Initial permitted period | Within one year for G-1-1, G-1-2, G-1-9 and G-1-11; within six months for G-1-3 and G-1-4; up to one year for G-1-10 |
| Refugee-related | Refugee applicants (G-1-5): six months to one year; humanitarian stay permit holders (G-1-6): one year from notification |
| Extension period | Basically within six months for industrial accident, illness, litigation, unpaid wages and pregnancy/childbirth; refugee applicants six months to one year each time |
Scope of Activity
- Who each G-1 sub-code covers and the initial permitted period on change of status
- Documents for extending the period of stay (G-1 status review confirmation, proof of residence, etc.)
- Whether you may work (permission for activities outside the status)
Who Qualifies
- Persons filing industrial-accident claims or under treatment, or needing long-term treatment after illness or accident, and their families
- Persons in civil, criminal, family or administrative litigation, or in labour-office mediation over unpaid wages
- Refugee applicants and those refused refugee status but granted humanitarian stay, and their families
- Foreign patients (G-1-10) with accompanying family and caregivers, and persons who cannot leave immediately because of pregnancy or childbirth
Required Documents
- Common (change of status): application form (Form No. 34), passport (plus ARC for registered foreigners), one standard photo, fee
- Industrial accident (G-1-1): industrial-accident compensation review or re-review request, hospital diagnosis, livelihood-support capacity review confirmation (families add proof of family relationship or guardian)
- Illness or accident (G-1-2): medical opinion proving the need for treatment, proof of ability to pay treatment and stay costs, letter of guarantee
- Litigation (G-1-3): copy of the complaint, certificate of filing, copy of the legal-aid decision, etc., plus letter of guarantee / Unpaid wages (G-1-4): copy of the complaint filed with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, confirmation of unpaid wages, plus letter of guarantee
- Refugee applicants and humanitarian stay holders (G-1-5, G-1-6): refugee application receipt or similar proof of status, proof of residence (including residence confirmations from support organisations)
- Pregnancy or childbirth (G-1-9): diagnosis or similar proof, letter of guarantee / Victims of sexual violence etc. (G-1-11): litigation documents or other proof of legal remedy, letter of guarantee
- Foreign patients (G-1-10): medical opinion proving the need for long-term treatment, proof of ability to pay treatment and stay costs, proof of family relationship or caregiver, proof of residence
- On extension: application form, passport, ARC, fee and proof of residence; for industrial accident, illness, litigation and unpaid wages also the G-1 status review confirmation (Attachment 2 form)
Application Process
- Check eligibility — confirm your current status, career, degree and contract type match the requirements.
- Prepare documents — foreign public documents need a translator's certification plus an apostille (or consular confirmation for non-member states).
- Book a visit — reserve a slot at your Immigration Office via HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr), or file online where e-Application is available.
- File and pay — submit the Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34) and pay the screening fee.
- Review — respond to any request for supplementary documents within the deadline.
- Result — on approval, the period of stay and status are granted; reissue your ARC if required.
Key Points
- Extension periods differ by code. Industrial-accident claims and treatment are in principle within six months (one year for severe cases); illness or accident treatment and litigation (G-1-3) within six months each time; unpaid wages (G-1-4) within six months (three months for those granted a deferral of the departure deadline); refugee applicants six months to one year each time; humanitarian stay holders within one year per grant; foreign patients up to one year.
- Whether you may work depends on the code. Family of persons who died in an accident (G-1-7), victims of sexual violence etc. (G-1-11) and other reasons (G-1-99) may, with permission for activities outside the status, take simple labour jobs outside the restricted fields for up to one year. Refugee applicants become eligible for simple labour permission (excluding restricted sectors) in cases such as after six months from applying; humanitarian stay holders are treated the same but may also work in construction. For other codes, do not assume; ask the Immigration Office with jurisdiction.
- Foreign patients (G-1-10) are persons who entered on B-1, B-2 or C-3 and are recognised, through a medical examination or similar, as needing long-term treatment or recuperation, plus accompanying family and caregivers. At the visa stage there are separate procedures: the single-entry medical tourism visa (C-3-3) and the visa issuance confirmation on invitation by a registered institution (C-3-3, G-1-10).
- For codes not covered here, such as long-term resident children (G-1-8, 13, 14), and for enrolment in health insurance or the four social insurances, please ask the relevant agencies.
- Documents issued in Korea must normally be dated within 3 months unless another validity period applies.
- Documents already on file in your alien registration record need not be resubmitted.
- Health certificates, drug test results and pre-employment medical reports must be submitted sealed by the issuing hospital (do not open).
- You must be in Korea when applying; leaving the country after filing may result in refusal.
- Screening fees are non-refundable once the application is accepted.
- The head of the Immigration Office may add or waive documents where necessary for review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What G-1 visa types are there?
A. G-1 sub-codes include industrial-accident claims and treatment (G-1-1), treatment for illness or accident (G-1-2), litigation (G-1-3), unpaid-wage mediation (G-1-4), refugee applicants (G-1-5), humanitarian stay holders (G-1-6), family of persons who died in an accident (G-1-7), pregnancy or childbirth (G-1-9), foreign patients (G-1-10), victims of sexual violence etc. (G-1-11), family of humanitarian stay holders (G-1-12) and other reasons (G-1-99).
Q. How do I extend a G-1 visa?
A. Before your period of stay ends, submit the application form (Form No. 34), passport, ARC, fee and proof of residence. For industrial accident, illness, litigation and unpaid-wage cases, further documents such as the G-1 status review confirmation (Attachment 2 form) are added. The permitted period differs by code.
Q. Can I work on a G-1 visa?
A. It depends on the code. G-1-7, G-1-11 and G-1-99 holders can take simple labour jobs outside the restricted fields once they obtain permission for activities outside the status, and refugee applicants and humanitarian stay holders can also be permitted under certain conditions. For other codes, confirm with the Immigration Office with jurisdiction.
Q. How do the stay periods of G-1-5 and G-1-6 differ?
A. Refugee applicants are granted six months to one year, and extensions are six months to one year each time. Those refused refugee status but granted humanitarian stay receive one year from the date of notification, and can be extended within one year per grant until the reason ceases.
Q. Can I join health insurance or the four social insurances on a G-1 visa?
A. Please ask the insurance administrators and the Immigration Office with jurisdiction whether you can enrol.