What is Foreigner Residence Card?

Foreigners staying in Korea for more than 90 days must register for a Residence Card (RC) at a local immigration office within 90 days from the date of entry. Simply receiving your visa is not the last step to registration, and those with visas must receive a RC to finalize their sojourn documentation. It is illegal to stay in Korea for more than 90 days without being registered, regardless of your visa at entry. Please be sure to check for the most recent information at HiKorea website before your visit, or by calling the immigration hotline at 1345(no area code needed)

Eligibility

• Foreigners intending to stay in Korea for more than 90 days after entry.
• A former Korean who has acquired a foreign nationality after losing the Korean one or a foreigner born in Korea, who is given residence status and intends to stay for more than 90 days.
• Exceptions to Foreigner Registration
  The following are exempt from registering as foreigners
  • Those carrying out Diplomacy (A-1), Official business (A-2), or Conventions/Agreements (A-3) and their family members
  • Those undertaking diplomatic, industrial, or other important duties for the national security, their family members, and other foreigners found to be unnecessary to register as foreigners by the Minister of Justice
  • Foreigners from Canada intending to stay for less than 6 months, who have the following visa status → Cultural Arts (D-1), Religious Affairs (D-6), Family visitation (F-1), Dependent Family (F-3), Miscellaneous (G-1)

Where to Visit to Register for Foreigner Residence Card

You (and any visa dependents) need to visit your appropriate Immigration Office in person with the required documents.

It takes approximately 6 weeks for the Immigration Office to process the application. Please be aware that applicants must leave their passports with the Immigration Office under appropriate jurisdiction during the entire approval period. You can locate the immigration office directory and reserve a visit at HiKorea

Visa agency service(group application)

Yonsei OIA will be operating a visa agency service(group application) to assist international students for each semester. The foreigner residence card application will be open early March or early September when the new semester begins. Yonsei OIA will send the details to the international students by email.

Required Documents

• Application Form
• Passport
• 1 Color Photo (3.5cm X 4.5cm)
• Proof of Residence
• Application Fee of KRW 30,000

Additional Documents

Foreigner Residence Card Re-Issuance

Residence Cards are reissued at the Immigration Office under the appropriate jurisdiction

Eligible Circumstances

• Lost or stolen residence cards
• Damaged residence cards
• Lack of space for necessary information
• Changes in details on the existing card (name, sex, date of birth, or nationality)
  * Note: Application for a new card must be made within 15 days of the above reasons.

Reporting Changes of Particulars of Foreigner Residence Card

If any of the following happens to registered foreigners, the changes to the registration details must be reported to the local Immigration Office within 15 days from its occurrence.

Changes that must be reflected on the Foreigner Residence Card

• Name, gender, date of birth or nationality
• Passport number, date of issuance or expiration date
• Details of the organization (including name changes) that Cultural Arts (D-1), Overseas Study (D-2), General Training (D-4) status holders belong to
• Details of the organizations (including name changes) that Journalism (D-5), Religious Affairs (D-6), Supervisory Intra-company Transfer (D-7), Corporate Investment (D-8), Trade Management (D-9) status holders belong to

If a registered foreigner does not report the aforementioned changes to the details of the foreigner residence card within 15 days of the change, he/she will be considered to be in breach of Immigration Act Article 35 and will be fined accordingly.

In case of expiration of permission of stay, the foreigner shall receive permission for an extension of stay if he/she desires to stay continuously in Korea.

The visa expiration date for D-2 visa holders will most likely be March or September(this is so that when international students graduate in the end of February or August, they have 30 extra days to depart from Korea). A visa extension can be applied starting from 4 months before the expiration date. If students stay in Korea after their visa has expired, they can be regarded as illegal immigrants and will have to pay fines to the Immigration Office. Thus, don't forget to extend the visa in advance to the expiration date.

How to Apply for Permission for an Extension of Stay

Principal or principal’s agent shall prepare the required documents to the Immigration Office having the jurisdiction.

Visa extension can only be done through Korean Immigration Office while the foreigner is actually residing in Korea. Visa extension is not possible through the Korean consulate or Embassy in other countries.

Application Period for Extension

The foreigner shall apply 4 months before current expiration date to the expiration date. In case of applying for the extension after the expiration date, the individual shall pay the penalty according to Article 25 of Immigration Act.

Visa Extension Procedure

• Option 1. Individual application :
  • Visit the Immigration Office or Apply Online
  • Principal or principal’s agent shall prepare the required documents (See the documents by the qualification) for the Immigration Office having the jurisdiction.

  Applicant

  Application of Permission for Extension of Stay

  Examination

  Permission

  • Permission for extension affixed on the passport
  • Description on Foreign Residence Card

  Rejection

  • Informing the cause
  • Departure order

  [Period]
  Before the Expiration Date

  [Attached Documents]

  
  
  

  • Application of Permission for Extension of Stay
  • Passport
  • Foreign Residence Card
    (If applicable)
  • Attached Documents per Status of Stay
  • Fee

  
• Option 2. Collective (group) application through the university :
  • March and September of every year(Detailed information will be notified on GOSC website News and Announcement every February and August.)

  Individual applications will take more time to process than collective applications, so the use of collective application service(held every March and September) is highly recommended. Yonsei OIA informs the details on GOSC website before the application.

Required Documents

• Application Form
• Passport
• Foreigner Residence Card
• Certificate of Attendance(재학증명서)
• Transcript
• Proof of Residence
• Document of Financial Statement(only for those who have an overall GPA less than 2.0 or in the case of application for extra semester)
• Confirmation of Extra Semester(if applying for an extra semester for undergraduate students) or Confirmation Form for Faculty Advisor on a Student's Thesis Schedule(if applying for an extra semester for graduate students) → Forms
• Fee of 60,000 KRW

Reporting Changes of Particulars of Foreigner Residence Card

If any of the following happens to registered foreigners, the detail in changes to the registration must be reported to the local Immigration Office within 15 days from its occurrence.

Changes that must be reflected on the Foreigner Residence Card

• Name, gender, date of birth or nationality
• Passport number, date of issuance or expiration date
• Details of the organization (including name changes) that Cultural Arts (D-1), Overseas Study (D-2), General Training (D-4) status holders belong to
• Details of the organizations (including name changes) that Journalism (D-5), Religious Affairs (D-6), Supervisory Intra-company Transfer (D-7), Corporate Investment (D-8), Trade Management (D-9) status holders belong to

Change of Residence (Address)

If you change your residence (address) within South Korea, you must report it within 15 days of the moving date.

Report can be made at the Local Immigration Office, District Office (동사무소) of your new location or online at HiKorea.

New address will be written on the back of your RC ONLY when you make the report in person (not online).

You MIGHT find some inconvenience when the change of your new address is not written directly on your Residence Card (RC).

You must have an account on HiKorea in order to report online. Also, the online service might not be available to all people depending on the status.

Required Documents

• Passport & Residence Card
• Application
• Proof of Residency

Items subject to change depending on individual circumstances.

Please refer to the HiKorea website for detailed information.

Obligations to Report < 출입국/체류안내 < 하이코리아 (hikorea.go.kr)

If a registered foreigner does not report the aforementioned changes to the details of the foreigner residence card within 15 days of the change, he/she will be considered to be in breach of Immigration Act Article 35 and will be fined accordingly.

Those who have an invalid visa must change their visa type to an appropriate one before the university begins.

Process

• Individual application: Visit the Immigration Office or apply Online

Required Documents

• Application Form
• Passport
• Foreigner Residence Card
• Certificate of Enrollment
• Transcript
• Proof of Residence
• Document of Financial Statement(only for those who have an overall GPA less than 2.0)
• Confirmation of Extra Semester(if applying for an extra semester for undergraduate students) or Confirmation Form for Faculty Advisor on a Student's Thesis Schedule(if applying for an extra semester for graduate students)
• Fee of 60,000 KRW

Persons Exempted from Re-entry Permit

Eligibility

Those falling under any of the following (ⓐ to ⓓ) are exempted from the Re-Entry Permit and will be allowed to re-enter the ROK within the relevant period, without obtaining a Re-entry Permit

• ⓐ Registered Foreign Resident: Diplomat (A-1) through International Agreement (A-3), Korean Arts and Culture (D-1) through Dependent Family (F-3), Marriage Migrant (F-6) through Work and Visit (H-2) status holders, for Re-entry into the ROK within 1 year from the date of departure

  Re-entry will be allowed until the validity of stay for persons with a period of stay of less than l year

• ⓑ Permanent Resident (F-5): For re-entry within 2 years from the date of departure
• ⓒ Overseas Korean (F-4): For re-entry within the authorized period of stay
• ⓓ Holders of Refugee Travel Document: For re-entry within the validity period of the document

Persons Required to Apply for Multiple Re-Entry Permit

Eligibility

Registered foreigners (A-1 to A-3, D-1 to F-3, F-6 to H-2 status holders) should apply for a multiple Re-entry Permit to re-enter the ROK after spending more than 1 year and up to 2 years abroad from the date of departure

How to Apply

Through in-person visit to an Immigration Office, by proxy application through an administrative agency, e-Application services on the HiKorea website

Required Documents and Fees

• Documents to submit: Passport, Foreign Resident Registration Card(Residence Card)

  Those with type A status (A-1, A-2, A-3) are required to additionally submit a document proving the incumbency period such as a diplomatic identification card, official letter of cooperation from the Embassy, certificate of employment

• Fees: 50,000KRW

  Those exempted from fees

  • Nationals from Argentina (aged 14 years or less ONLY), Taiwan, Tunisia
  • Scholarship students invited by the government such as Korean Arts and Culture (D-1), Student (D-2), General Trainee (D-4) status holders who have submitted a certificate of scholarship or those with exemption requests from the relevant organization
  • Diplomat (A-1), Foreign Government Official (A-2), International Agreement (A-3), Corporate Investor (D-8) Status holders

Departure After Change of Academic Status

D-2 student visa is only valid while the student is enrolled at the university and taking classes. If there is a change of academic status for international students with a D-2 visa, their visa will expire regardless of the maturity date written on the back side of the Residence Card and students MUST leave Korea within 30 days from the date of the change. If a student does not leave the country within 30 days, he or she will be regarded as an illegal immigrant and will have to pay fines to the Immigration Office, so do depart from the country in time.

1. List of changes of academic status that require departure from Korea
   • Leave of absence
   • Dropping out of school voluntarily
   • Expulsion
   • Graduation
   • Completion of Bachelor’s Degree
   • Outbound Exchange Program for more than 2 semesters
2. Departure process
   • Change of academic status > Buy flight ticket > Return Residence Card at the airport

Return to School

Returning students MUST receive a new Certificate of Admission for their new D-2 visa because their previous D-2 visa expired when their academic status changed.

1. Apply for the return through Yonsei Portal website during the announced application period for return.
2. Receive a guideline email regarding re-issuance of the Certificate of Admission for a new D-2 visa from Yonsei OIA.
3. Receive the new Certificate of Admission(COA).
4. Go to the nearest Korean Embassy/Consulate in your country to apply for a new D-2 visa.
5. Upon arrival to Korea, re-apply for a new Residence Card(the number on the issued card is generally the same as your original number).

Required Documents

Refer to GETTING STARTED > New Students > Student Visa Process for more information.

International students with a D-2(Student) visa must obtain permission from the university and Immigration Office before working a part-time job. For those who are planning to do a part-time job, refer to the following requirements and application process below and prepare the necessary documents in advance.

Eligibility

D-2(Student)Visa → Previous semester’s average GPA of C(2.0) or above

KGSP students must check in advance with their KGSP coordinator whether they are eligible for a part-time job

Please check the details at HiKorea.go.kr.

Maximum Amount of Hours per Week (as of July 3, 2023)

The maximum amount of hours the student can work per week depends on the student’s program, year, and Korean Proficiency Level.
ex) Undergraduate Year 4 with TOPIK Level 3 = Maximum 10 hours per week permitted

Restrictions for Part-time Work

• Construction and manufacturing industries (refer to the FAQ for exceptions)
• Foreign language education facilities for minors (English kids’ café, English camps, foreign language academies, etc.)
• Private tutoring and instructional activities
• Courier/Delivery rider, Door-to-door sales, etc.

For detailed information

1. Call 1345 without the area code (Immigration Call Center)
2. Refer to the website : Ministry of Government Legislation

Required Documents

1. Passport
2. Alien Registration Card
3. Application Form
4. Part-Time Work of Foreign Student Confirmation Form
5. Transcript
6. Korean Proficiency Level (expired scores are still acceptable)

   For those who are taking all-English track course(UIC, GSIS), refer to FAQ Q1 & A1

7. Business Registration Certificate of the workplace
8. Employment Contract
9. Part-Time Work of Foreign Student Requirement Abidance Form

   Refer to FAQ Q2 & A2

FAQ

Immigration Offices

Many visas and visa alterations may be applied for through the HiKorea website. Before visiting your assigned immigration office, it is highly recommended that you first attempt to submit an e-application.

It is strongly advised that you make a reservation before you visit the Seoul Immigration Office. It is known to have very high traffic and long wait times. Arriving too late in the day, especially for Chinese nationals, may result in a failure to be seen that day.

Seoul Southern Immigration Office

• Address: 48, Magokseo1-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul
• Jurisdiction: Seodaemun-gu etc
• Directions: Take subway line 5, get off at Magokstation. Then go out exit #1 and walk straight ahead for approximately 5 minutes.
• Telephone: +82-2-6980-4700

Incheon Immigration Office

• Address: 1-31, Hangdong7-ga, Jung-gu, Incheon
• Jurisdiction: Incheon (Except Incheon International Airport)
• Telephone: +82-32-890-6322

For more information about the jurisdictions please check the latest information at https://immigration.go.kr/immigration/2057/subview.do