The short version
Your visa type sets what you can do and the deadlines you have to keep. Knowing exactly what your visa allows prevents most problems before they start.
Last verified:
Deadlines that matter
End of your stay period, and extension
By when: Before the expiry date, usually you apply before it expires
If you miss it: An overstay has serious penalties. Check the deadline at the immigration office before it is late.
Right now
- 1Confirm exactly what your status of stay (visa type) is.
- 2See what that status allows for work, study and length of stay.
- 3If there are extension or registration deadlines, put them on your calendar.
What to have ready
- Passport and visa
- Alien Registration Card: Bring it if you have one.
- Documents about your status of stay
Phrases you can copy and paste
Step by step
- 1
Confirm exactly what your status of stay is
What you can and cannot do differs by visa type. Do not guess, confirm your exact status.
- 2
See the scope your status allows
- Where:
- Immigration office, HiKorea
Whether you can work, whether you can take a part-time job, how long you can stay, all differ by status. Confirm it in official guidance.
- 3
Handle deadlines ahead of time
Extensions, changes and registration usually have to happen before expiry. Find out by when first.
- 4
Check in advance when something changes
Changing jobs, changing schools or changing status each have their own conditions. Confirm it is allowed before you act.
The Korean words
- 체류자격cheryu-jagyeok· status of stay
- The visa category that decides what you can do.
- 초과체류chogwa-cheryu· overstay
- Staying past your permitted period. The penalties are serious.
- 체류기간 연장cheryu-gigan yeonjang· extension of stay
- Applying to lengthen your stay, usually before expiry.
- 하이코리아HiKorea· immigration portal
- The online portal for immigration matters.
Easy to miss
- Guessing what your visa allows is risky. Official confirmation is the safe way.
- An extension or change filed right up against expiry runs late. Confirm with time to spare.
You can skip this if
- If a company or school handles your visa procedures, follow their guidance first.
When it is time for a person
- If your visa conditions are tangled and hard to judge alone, a person who can help with settling in more broadly may be worth it.
Where this comes from
Rules, fees and deadlines change and depend on your exact case. Please confirm the details with the official sources before you act.