Overview
The rules that apply to every application matter as much as status-specific requirements. Applications are often returned because a document has passed its validity period.
The manual sets out these common rules at the outset and makes clear above all that approval is determined by review.
Requirements, documents and periods in this article follow the Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) Foreign Residence Guide Manual (March 2026) and the Immigration Act and its Enforcement Decree/Rules (law.go.kr). The manual is supplementary guidance; approval is decided by the reviewing officer. Always confirm your own case with the competent Immigration Office.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Document validity | Documents issued in Korea must be dated within 3 months unless another validity applies |
| Already filed | Documents already on file in the alien registration record need not be resubmitted |
| Letter of guarantee | Recognised for up to 4 years even if the guarantee runs longer; the permitted period cannot exceed the guarantee period |
| Sealed submission | Health certificates, drug tests and pre-employment medicals must be submitted sealed by the issuing hospital (do not open) |
| Where you must be | You must be in Korea when applying; departing after filing may result in refusal |
| Fees | Screening fees are non-refundable once the application is accepted |
Scope of Activity
- Procedural rules applying in common to all residence permit applications
Who Qualifies
- Applicants for a change of status of stay
- Applicants for an extension of the period of stay
- Applicants for an out-of-status activity permit
- Those registering as a foreign resident or reporting changes
- Applicants for a certificate of visa eligibility
Required Documents
- Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34)
- Passport and Alien Registration Card
- Fee
- Status-specific attachments (Article 76 of the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act)
- Proof of residence
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
- Where a document is voluminous, extract only the relevant parts and avoid filing unnecessary papers.
- Documents verifiable through shared administrative information under Article 36(1) of the e-Government Act — resident registration abstracts, family relation certificates, business registration certificates, tax payment certificates, fishing licences and the like — need not be filed, unless the data subject withholds consent.
- Agency filing by an immigration application agent is not available for foreign nationals who are outside Korea.
- Screening fees are collected under Article 87 of the Immigration Act and Article 72 of its Enforcement Rules, and are not refunded once the application is accepted.
- The common section also covers granting the period of stay within passport validity, the duty of employment-eligible foreign residents to report occupation and annual income, the duty to submit school enrolment certificates for residents aged 6 to 18, and the tuberculosis certificate requirement.
- 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. How recent must my documents be?
A. Documents issued in Korea must be dated within three months unless another validity period applies.
Q. Can I leave Korea after filing?
A. You must be in Korea to apply, and departing after filing may result in refusal.
Q. Do I get the fee back if refused?
A. No. Screening fees are not refunded once the application has been accepted.
Q. What is this article based on?
A. Requirements, documents and periods in this article follow the Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) Foreign Residence Guide Manual (March 2026) and the Immigration Act and its Enforcement Decree/Rules (law.go.kr). The manual is supplementary guidance; approval is decided by the reviewing officer. Always confirm your own case with the competent Immigration Office.