Guide · as of 2026-08-08
Extension of stay: the mechanics
An extension of period of stay (체류기간 연장허가) can be filed from 4 months before the current expiry date up to the expiry date itself, either online through HiKorea e-application (전자민원) or in person at the jurisdictional immigration office (출입국·외국인청/사무소). In-person visits require a visit reservation (방문예약) made on HiKorea. The fee is ₩60,000, with one carve-out: F-6 (marriage immigrant) holders pay ₩30,000 (출입국관리법 시행규칙 §72, fee schedule effective 2026-01-23).
When
- Window: from 4 months (120 days) before expiry. Filing on time, even on the last day, preserves lawful stay while the application is pending; the pending status is annotated.
- After expiry: an application filed late is a violation; overstay incurs administrative fines scaled to the overstay length and can trigger entry bans. The departure-preparation extension (출국을 위한 체류기간 연장) exists for winding down and is fee-exempt.
Where
- HiKorea e-application (hikorea.go.kr → 전자민원): available for many status/extension combinations; requires a registered account, scanned documents, and card payment. Eligibility to e-file depends on status type and case history; the portal validates this at submission.
- Immigration office visit: jurisdiction follows the address on the foreigner registration. Walk-ins without reservations are generally not accepted for extension filings; the 방문예약 menu on HiKorea books a date, time, and office. Reservation slots at Seoul-area offices fill weeks ahead (unverified: current slot lead times).
Fees (시행규칙 §72, in force 2026-01-23)
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Extension of period of stay | ₩60,000 |
| — F-6 holders | ₩30,000 |
| Change of status (체류자격 변경) | ₩100,000 (to F-5: ₩200,000) |
| Grant of status (체류자격 부여) | ₩80,000 (F-6: ₩40,000) |
| Workplace change/addition (근무처 변경·추가) | ₩120,000 |
| Re-entry permit (single / multiple) | ₩30,000 / ₩50,000 |
Fee exemptions exist for diplomatic/official passport holders, nationals of reciprocity-agreement countries, government-scholarship students, and departure-preparation extensions (HiKorea fee guidance).
Documents
The universal set: passport, foreigner registration card, application form (통합신청서), fee. On top of that, status-specific proof that the basis of stay continues: enrollment and transcripts (D-2), employment certificate and business registration (E-series), family relation certificates (F-series), balance or income proof where the status carries a maintenance requirement. Housing/lease evidence (체류지 입증) is standard at most offices.
Decision and after
- Decisions range from same-day (simple e-applications) to weeks; the result posts to HiKorea and the new expiry prints against the foreigner registration record.
- A refusal typically converts the stay into a short departure-preparation period rather than immediate illegality.
- Extension does not reset other clocks: maximum-stay caps by status (e.g., D-10’s 3-year total) and sojourn-based eligibility (F-5, naturalization) count the same days.
Related data
- /fees: the full official fee schedule with legal citations
- /visa/d-2, /visa/e-7, /visa/f-6: status-specific data pages
- /tools/entry-check: entry requirement checker
- /methodology: how this site sources numbers