What Is Visa Extension (체류기간연장허가)?

Most Korean visas are issued for a fixed period (often 1 year for work visas, per-semester or per-year for student visas) and must be actively extended before expiration; a visa does not renew itself automatically. The extension application is filed at the immigration office with the passport, ARC, and category-specific supporting documents — an updated employment contract and tax filing for an E-7 work visa, enrollment confirmation for a D-2 student visa, or a marriage-status update for an F-6. Missing the extension deadline, even by a few days, can result in overstay penalties, fines, or a re-entry ban depending on how long the lapse is and the visa holder's history. Some categories also cap the total number of extensions or years allowed before a different visa type is required.

Overstay consequences in Korea escalate quickly — fines, entry bans, and complications for future visa applications — and most overstays happen from a missed deadline rather than a denied application. A 행정사 tracks the expiration date, prepares the renewal documents in advance, and files with enough lead time that a processing delay at the immigration office doesn't turn into an overstay.