Miss your stay expiry date by even one day and you are committing a criminal offense under Korean law. Every foreign resident on a time-limited visa must get extension of stay permission (체류기간 연장허가) before that date arrives. This guide covers the complete process: when to start, whether you apply online or in person, what you pay, and what to do if your expiry date is close.
This guide covers stay extensions only. Changing your visa status to a different type is a separate process not covered here.
The countdown that matters: your four-month window
Under Article 25(1) of the Immigration Control Act (출입국관리법), you must apply before your stay period ends. The filing window opens four months before your expiry date and closes on the expiry date itself.
Most residents think of renewal as a two-week task. It is not. Here is why the four-month window matters.
For the online path (전자민원), you can apply any weekday through HiKorea without an appointment. Starting a few weeks before expiry is workable, though earlier is safer.
For the in-person path (방문신청), you need an advance reservation (방문예약). At busy offices, including major Seoul offices like Mapo Immigration and the Yongin branch in Gyeonggi-do, available appointment slots can be three to six weeks out during peak periods. If your expiry is in four weeks and every slot near you is full, you have a problem. Book the moment the four-month window opens.
One important distinction from some local government guidance: two months before expiry is a practical recommendation about appointment availability, not a legal deadline. The legal deadline is the expiry date. But waiting until two months out means slots at busy offices may already be gone.
Online or in person: choose your path first
Before doing anything else, check whether your visa type can use the online path.
Most registered foreigners (등록외국인) can apply online. If you have an Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) and an active HiKorea account, go to hikorea.go.kr and check whether your visa type appears in the Electronic Civil Affairs (전자민원) stay extension menu.
Some visa categories must apply in person. Categories confirmed to require in-person filing include industrial trainee (D-3) holders and certain E-7 subcategories. The complete current list is on HiKorea. Check your own visa type before assuming either path is available to you.
If your visa type cannot use the online path, go directly to the in-person section below and book your reservation as soon as possible.
The online path: step by step
Online applications are processed through HiKorea. Confirm the current available hours on the HiKorea website before you begin, as service hours may change.
Step 1. Go to hikorea.go.kr and log in with your Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) number and password, or with a digital certificate.
Step 2. Click "Electronic Civil Affairs (전자민원)" in the top navigation menu.
Step 3. Select "Stay (체류)" and then "Extension of Stay Permission (체류기간 연장허가)."
Step 4. Verify your personal information on the pre-filled screen: name, ARC number, and current visa status.
Step 5. Complete the integrated application form (통합신청서) and upload the supporting documents required for your visa category. The document list for your category is available on HiKorea under Stay Extension, or by calling 1345.
Step 6. Pay the extension fee: ₩60,000 for most visa types, or ₩30,000 if you hold an F-6 marriage migrant visa (as of the January 23, 2026 Enforcement Rule revision).
Step 7. Submit the application and save the confirmation number. Check your application status at any time through HiKorea My Page under Electronic Civil Affairs Status (전자민원 처리현황).
The in-person path: the reservation bottleneck
In-person applicants must book a visit reservation (방문예약) online before going to any immigration office. This requirement has been mandatory since April 2021. Arriving without a reservation results in rejection, even if you have all your documents.
How to book: Go to hikorea.go.kr and select Visit Reservation (방문예약), then Extension of Stay (체류기간 연장). Book in your own name. Same-day reservations are not permitted: the system opens slots from the day after you submit the booking request.
Tip on slot availability: New appointment slots at popular offices often appear just after midnight KST. If every visible slot is full, check again at midnight or just after.
Exemptions from the reservation requirement: Pregnant women, mothers within one year of birth, infants, persons with disability grades 1 through 3, and persons aged 70 or older do not need a prior reservation and may visit the immigration office directly.
At the appointment: Bring your completed integrated application form (통합신청서), valid passport, Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증), proof of residential address, one passport-sized photograph (3.5cm x 4.5cm, white background, taken within six months), and the extension fee in Korean won. The exact document list for your visa category is on HiKorea. Confirm it before your appointment, not on the day.
You must be physically present in Korea on the date you apply. Overseas remote applications and full proxy submissions where the applicant is abroad are not possible.
What you pay: extension fee versus ARC re-issuance fee
Two separate fees can apply at extension time. People frequently confuse them.
Extension fee. This is the fee for the stay permission itself.
| Visa type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Most visa types (standard) | ₩60,000 |
| F-6 marriage migrant | ₩30,000 |
| Fee waiver cases (see below) | ₩0 |
Fee waivers apply in two situations: foreigners who have completed their permitted activities and are seeking a short temporary stay before departure, and foreigners who cannot depart due to unavailable transportation or other unavoidable circumstances beyond their control.
ARC re-issuance fee. If immigration issues you a new physical Alien Registration Card at the same appointment, a separate ₩35,000 fee applies (effective January 1, 2025, increased from ₩30,000). This is not always required at extension. It depends on whether your card is expiring, being updated, or needs replacement.
These are two separate line items. Pay both if both apply. Paying the extension fee does not cover the ARC re-issuance fee.
What the receipt actually means
In-person applicants: When you submit your documents at the immigration office, the officer keeps your original ARC and gives you a receipt (접수증, jeopsujeung). This is proof that your application is under review. It is not approval of your extension. The receipt may show an estimated card-ready date. Keep this document: you may need it as temporary identification while your ARC is being processed.
Online applicants: You do not receive a physical receipt. Your application status is viewable through HiKorea My Page under Electronic Civil Affairs Status (전자민원 처리현황).
Standard processing takes roughly two to four weeks, though times vary by office and visa type and can run longer during busy periods or for complex cases. Check your status online rather than calling repeatedly.
If your expiry date is close and you have not filed yet
Call the Korea Immigration Information Center (외국인종합안내센터) at 1345 immediately. The center is available in Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other languages.
Tell them your visa type, your expiry date, and your situation. They can advise on urgent appointment availability and next steps.
Key points if your expiry is near:
- File before the expiry date. Not the day before: now.
- Do not leave Korea to "reset" your stay. Departure does not extend your permitted period and may create additional complications.
- Do not leave Korea while an application is already pending. Departure typically voids the application.
- The online path may be faster than waiting for an in-person slot if your visa type is eligible.
There is no statutory grace period confirmed by primary sources that would protect you from being treated as an overstayer if your expiry date passes with no approved extension. Do not rely on one existing.
The real cost of overstaying
Overstay (체류기간 초과) is not an administrative slip. It is a criminal offense.
Criminal penalty. Under Article 94(17) of the Immigration Control Act, staying past your permitted period without an approved extension carries up to three years imprisonment or up to a ₩30 million fine.
Administrative fine. Separately from the criminal penalty, immigration officers can impose an administrative fine (범칙금) under Article 102(1) of the Immigration Control Act. The current schedule applies as of the 2026 Enforcement Rule revision. Call 1345 for the amount that applies to your specific situation. Do not rely on older figures from before 2026.
Deportation. Article 46(1)(8) of the Immigration Control Act makes overstayers subject to compulsory deportation (강제퇴거).
Re-entry ban. After overstay and departure or deportation, the Ministry of Justice may impose a re-entry ban (입국금지). The duration is discretionary, not fixed by statute. Voluntary departure (자진출국) before being caught typically results in a shorter ban than forced deportation (강제퇴거). The ban is generally proportional to how long you overstayed. For guidance on your specific situation, call 1345.
Effect on future visas and permanent residency. Overstay is recorded and creates a significant obstacle to future visa approvals. It affects applications for work visas, the F-5 permanent residence visa, and naturalization. Any overstay must be declared in future applications.
Extension versus status change
This guide covers renewing on your existing visa type only. If you want to change to a different visa status, for example moving from an E-7 work visa to an F-2 residence visa, that is a separate procedure with different eligibility rules, documents, and timelines. The processes are not interchangeable. Contact 1345 or a licensed immigration attorney to understand the status-change process before starting it.
Questions? Call 1345
The Korea Immigration Information Center (외국인종합안내센터) answers questions about visa extensions, appointment availability, document requirements, and urgent overstay situations. Available in Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other languages.
Call 1345 before your appointment if you are unsure about documents. Call 1345 immediately if your expiry date is close and you have not filed.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply to extend my stay in Korea?
You can apply from four months before your expiry date up to and including the expiry date itself. For the in-person path, book an appointment as early as that four-month window opens: appointment slots at busy offices fill weeks in advance. For the online path, you can apply any weekday through HiKorea, but do not wait until the last week before expiry.
Can I apply for a stay extension online?
Most registered foreigners can apply online through HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) under Electronic Civil Affairs (전자민원). Some visa categories must apply in person. Check your specific visa type on HiKorea before assuming you can use the online path. If your visa type is listed as in-person only, submitting online will not be accepted.
How much does it cost to extend my stay in Korea?
The standard fee is ₩60,000 for most visa types. Marriage migrants on an F-6 visa pay ₩30,000. These amounts apply as of the January 23, 2026 Enforcement Rule revision. If immigration also issues a new Alien Registration Card at the same appointment, a separate ₩35,000 ARC re-issuance fee applies on top of the extension fee.
Do I need an appointment to visit the immigration office for an extension?
Yes. Since April 2021, a prior online reservation (방문예약) is mandatory for all in-person immigration office visits. Book at hikorea.go.kr before going. Same-day reservations are not allowed. You must book the reservation in your own name. Exemptions apply for pregnant women, mothers within one year of birth, infants, persons with disability grades 1 through 3, and people aged 70 or older.
I submitted my extension application. Can I leave Korea while it is pending?
No. Do not leave Korea while your extension application is pending. Departure typically voids the application, and you would need to re-enter on a new visa. Stay in Korea until you receive the approved extension. If your expiry date is approaching and no decision has come, call the Korea Immigration Information Center at 1345.
I got a receipt after filing. Does that mean my extension is approved?
No. The receipt (접수증) you receive at the immigration office is proof that you submitted your application. It shows the application is under review. The extension is not approved until you receive a formal decision. Check your application status via HiKorea My Page under Electronic Civil Affairs Status (전자민원 처리현황) for online submissions, or call 1345.
How long does it take to process a stay extension in Korea?
Standard cases typically take two to four weeks, though processing times vary by office and visa type and can be longer during busy periods. Check your application status through HiKorea My Page. For in-person submissions, the receipt may note an estimated card-ready date. Confirm current processing times with your local immigration office or call 1345.
What happens if I stay past my visa expiry date without extending?
Staying even one day past your expiry date without approved extension is a criminal offense under Article 94(17) of the Immigration Control Act. The penalty is up to three years imprisonment or up to a ₩30 million fine. Separately, immigration officers can impose an administrative fine (범칙금) and initiate deportation under Article 46(1)(8). Overstayers are also subject to a discretionary re-entry ban. Call 1345 immediately if your expiry date has passed or is about to pass without an approved extension.
Will overstaying affect my future visa applications or permanent residency?
Yes. Overstay is recorded and creates a significant obstacle to future visa approvals, including work visas and the F-5 permanent residence visa. The length of any re-entry ban imposed depends on how long you overstayed and whether you departed voluntarily or were deported. Any overstay history must be declared in future applications. Call 1345 for guidance specific to your situation.
What documents do I need to extend my stay?
The required documents vary by visa type. Across most categories, you will need: the integrated application form (통합신청서), your valid passport, your Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) if you are registered, proof of residential address, a passport-sized photograph (3.5cm x 4.5cm, white background, taken within six months), and the extension fee. The complete list for your visa category is on HiKorea under Stay Extension, or call 1345 before your appointment.