GURI-CITY

Approval on Extending Length of Stay(Extending Visa)

Any foreigner who desires to remain in Korea beyond his or her authorized period of stay must apply for an extension of stay. Any application to extend one’s length of stay in Korea should be made at least two months prior to the expiry date of the visa currently held

• Required documents
  • Application form
  • Passport and certificate of alien registration
    (in case of completing alien registration)
  • Other necessary documents depending on visa type
• Application method
  • The person concerned or an agent (please check to confirm because there are agents who are not qualified, such as a spouse of a Korean national (F-6), etc.) may submit the application to the Daegu Immigration Office, with jurisdiction over your address, after having prepared all of the necessary documents for submission (please refer to the required documents by stay status).
  • However, in cases where the person concerned is in Korea, on the date of the application, the person concerned may make application in person (civil application and application by agent made from overseas is not allowed).
    A penalty is imposed if the application to extend the period of stay is made after the expiry date of the current period of stay.

Change of Qualification of Stay

This refers to cases where a foreigner staying in the Republic of Korea wants to stop the activities that fall under their current qualification of stay and conduct activities that fall under a different qualification of stay.

• Basic principles to change the qualification of stay
  • In principle, in cases where a foreigner wants to stop the activities that fall under the current qualification of stay and conduct activities that fall under a different qualification of stay, he/she should enter the only re-enter the country after receiving the visa for the applicable qualification for stay after leaving the country.
  • However, in cases where the foreigner has satisfied the necessary conditions to change the applicable qualification of stay in Korea, he/she may restrictively change their qualification of stay after going through a strict screening process.
• Application period for changing the qualification of stay
  • The foreigner must gain approval to change their qualification of stay from the immigration office that has jurisdiction over their home address, before conducting activities that fall under a different qualification of stay.
  • In cases where persons with the diplomacy (A-1), government affairs (A-2) or agreement (A-3) qualification to stay want to change their qualification because of a change of status, he/she should gain approval to change their qualification of stay within thirty days from the date of the change of status.
• Documents to be submitted
  • Application form to change the qualification of stay.
  • Passport.
  • Foreigner registration certificate (in cases where foreigner registration has already been obtained)
  • Accompanying documents according to the qualification of stay
• Cases where an application has to be made to gain approval to change the qualification of stay (example)
  • In cases where a foreigner conducting activities with a short-term visitor (C-3) wants to make an investment in the Republic of Korea (D-8).
  • In cases where a foreigner has finished a language study program (D-4) and wants to continue studying at university.
  • In cases where a foreigner who has married a Korean national has to change their stay status to marriage immigrant (F-6).