Re-entry Permit and Re-entry Permit Exemption Guide

At a Glance

• A foreigner who has completed alien registration, or is exempt from registration, and wants to leave and re-enter within the period of stay can obtain a re-entry permit, which is divided into single and multiple.
• Exemption: re-entry within 2 years from the date of departure for permanent residence (F-5), and within 1 year from the date of departure (or within the remaining period of stay if it is shorter than 1 year) for statuses A-1 through F-3 and F-6 through G-1.
• A person who has reported domestic residence as an overseas Korean (F-4) does not need a re-entry permit when leaving and re-entering within the period of stay.
• Fees: 30,000 KRW for single, 50,000 KRW for multiple; online applications get a reduction of 2/10 of the fee.

Who Needs It

• A registered foreigner, or a foreigner exempt from registration, who wants to re-enter after staying abroad longer than the exemption period.
• HiKorea describes the persons who can apply for a multiple re-entry permit as holders of A-1 to A-3, D-1 to F-3 and F-6 to H-2 status who want to re-enter after staying abroad for 1 year or more, up to a maximum of 2 years, from the date of departure.
• The maximum period of a re-entry permit is 1 year for single and 2 years for multiple, and a person who meets the requirements, such as a D-8 holder who has invested at least a set amount, can get a multiple permit of 3 years.

Where to Apply

• Apply to the immigration and foreigner office, office or branch office with jurisdiction.
• HiKorea guides you to apply either by visiting an immigration office or through the HiKorea e-civil service.
• If you cannot come back from abroad within the permitted period, apply to a Korean diplomatic mission abroad for an extension of the re-entry permit period.

What to Bring

• Re-entry permit application form and documents explaining the reason
• HiKorea guide (multiple re-entry permit): passport, alien registration card, integrated application form
• HiKorea guide: A-1, A-2 and A-3 status holders additionally submit one document that confirms the term of office, such as a diplomatic ID card, an official cooperation letter from the embassy or a certificate of employment.

Costs

• The amounts in the table are the prescribed fees, and the online amounts are calculated with the online application reduction rule.
• Fee exemptions include holders of A-1 to A-3 and D-8 status, and re-entry permit applications for D-1, D-2 and D-4 activities by persons invited with the government or a similar body covering their living expenses in Korea. HiKorea also lists nationals of Argentina (under age 14), Taiwan and Tunisia as exempt.

Procedure

• Step 1: Check whether your time abroad is within the exemption period (1 year, 2 years for permanent residence). If it is, you can re-enter without a re-entry permit.
• Step 2: If you will go beyond the exemption period, apply for a single or multiple re-entry permit by visiting the office with jurisdiction or through the HiKorea e-civil service.
• Step 3: Once granted, a re-entry permit stamp is placed in your passport and the permitted period is written in, or a sticker is attached. The permitted period does not exceed your permitted period of stay.
• Step 4: If you cannot come back within the period for an unavoidable reason such as illness, obtain an extension from a Korean diplomatic mission abroad before the period ends. The extension is within 3 months from the expiry date and cannot exceed the period of stay. This rule also applies, mutatis mutandis, to extending the exemption period.

Common Sticking Points

• If your remaining period of stay is shorter than 1 year, the 1-year exemption applies only up to the end of the remaining period of stay.
• Overseas Koreans (F-4) are not on the list of those exempt from a re-entry permit for 1 year; if they have reported domestic residence, the Overseas Koreans Act rule on re-entry within the period of stay applies.
• The extension must be obtained before the permitted period ends.
• Persons subject to an entry ban and others are excluded from the re-entry permit exemption.

This guide is general information and does not judge whether something is possible in your individual case. Laws and fees can change, so check the original text through the official links and with the competent authority.