The Short Answer
Korean law requires you to obtain an extension before your period of stay ends. If you applied in time and the office has not decided yet, immigration offices in practice treat you as remaining in status while the application is reviewed, and your application receipt is the proof. That practice is not spelled out in the Act itself, so confirm your own situation with your immigration office or the 1345 contact centre.
What the Immigration Act Says
Article 25 of the Immigration Act says a foreign national who wants to stay beyond the permitted period must obtain permission to extend the period of stay before it ends. Article 25 itself does not set out a fixed grace period for applications that are still pending on the expiry date, so treat any exact number of days or months you read elsewhere with caution.
What to Do
- Apply early. Do not leave the application to the last week. Reviews take longer at busy times of year, and a request for extra documents adds time.
- Keep the receipt. The receipt shows that you applied before your period of stay ended. Keep it with your passport and registration card. It is proof that you applied, not an approval.
- Answer document requests quickly. A pending file with missing documents is the usual reason a review drags on.
- Check before you travel. Leaving Korea while an extension is pending can end the application, and you would then need a valid basis to re-enter. Ask your immigration office or 1345 before booking any trip abroad.
If the Extension Is Refused
If the extension is not granted, you receive a written notice of refusal. The notice states a deadline to leave Korea, set within 14 days of the date it is issued.
If You Apply After the Expiry Date
An application made after the period of stay has ended is not a timely application. A foreign national who stays beyond the permitted period without an extension can be deported. Go to the immigration office straight away and explain the circumstances. Do not wait.
Documents and Fee
- Application form, passport and registration card
- Documents for your status, such as an employment contract, a certificate of enrolment or family relationship documents
- Fee: ₩60,000 for an extension of stay. For holders of F-6 marriage migrant status it is ₩30,000.
Can You Keep Working?
Whether you can keep working while a timely application is pending depends on your status and on what your immigration office confirms. Do not assume. Ask, and keep a record of the answer.
If the Review Is Taking a Long Time
Call the immigration contact centre on 1345 or visit your immigration office with your receipt. They can tell you whether documents are missing or whether the file is on hold.
Sources for the legal points (the duty to extend before the period ends, the refusal notice and the fees): Immigration Act, Article 25; the Korean government's Easy Law guide on extending a visa (as of September 15, 2026); Immigration Act Enforcement Rules, Article 72. Checked October 2026. The points described above as practice are not from these sources and should be confirmed with your immigration office.
This article is for informational purposes only. For advice on your own situation, consult a qualified Korean immigration specialist.