If you are living in Korea as an asylum seeker, there are several legal obligations you must follow. Failing to do so can result in fines (범칙금/과태료, penalty fees) or restrictions on extending your stay. Please read the information below carefully so you can prepare in advance and avoid any disadvantages.

Obligations at a Glance

ObligationIf You Do Not ComplyDeadline
Extend stay before expiryFine or detentionBefore the expiry date
Report change of addressMinimum 100,000 KRW ~ maximum 1,000,000 KRW fineWithin 15 days of moving
Report change of passport informationMinimum 100,000 KRW ~ maximum 1,000,000 KRW fineWithin 15 days of the change
Pay taxes and health insurance premiumsStay extension limited to 6 monthsBefore applying for extension

Fee amounts, fine amounts, and detailed criteria are subject to change. Always check for the latest information with the Immigration Contact Center (1345) or your local Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인청) office before applying.

Process Overview

  1. 1. Check your expiry date

    Check the expiry date of your period of stay on the back of your Alien Registration Card. You may apply for an extension up to 4 months before the expiry date.

  2. 2. Book an appointment on HiKorea

    Book a visit date at your local Korea Immigration Service office through HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr).

  3. 3. Prepare your documents

    Prepare the integrated application form, your passport or Alien Registration Card, your refugee application receipt, and proof of your address.

  4. 4. Visit the Korea Immigration Service office

    Visit your local Korea Immigration Service office in person on your appointment date to apply for a stay extension.

  5. 5. Check the result and receive your card

    Check the processing result in the "E-Service Status" menu on HiKorea. Once approved, print and keep the approval confirmation document.

How to Apply and Report

Online via HiKorea

If you hold a refugee (F-2-4) or asylum seeker (G-1-5) visa, you can handle the following two types of notifications online through the HiKorea online civil service portal:

After submitting your application, check the processing status in the E-Service Status menu on HiKorea. Once your application is approved, you can print your approval confirmation from the same page — please keep it somewhere safe.

Visiting a Korea Immigration Service Office in Person

Extending your period of stay cannot be done through the online portal (it is excluded from the G-1 miscellaneous status online option). You must first book an appointment on HiKorea and then visit your local Korea Immigration Service office in person.

If you are reporting a new passport that contains changes to your personal information (such as your name, date of birth, or gender), you must also report this in person.

If you are not familiar with how to fill out the integrated application form, please refer to How to Fill Out and Submit the Integrated Application Form for Foreign National Stay Services.

1. Always Extend Your Stay Before It Expires

Asylum seekers who hold an Alien Registration Card are generally granted a stay of 6 months at a time. Always check the expiry date printed on the back of your Alien Registration Card, and make sure you complete your extension application before that date.

How to Apply for an Extension

  1. First, book an appointment date through the HiKorea appointment system.
  2. Visit your local Korea Immigration Service office in person on your booked date to submit your application.

Book your appointment early! As your expiry date approaches, the number of available appointment dates may decrease. Appointment bookings can only be made up to one business day before the expiry date (weekends and public holidays do not count).

Example: If your expiry date is Sunday, December 24, you cannot visit on Saturday the 23rd, so you must visit on Friday, December 22 at the latest.

You may begin applying for an extension up to 4 months before your expiry date. If an officer refuses your application on the grounds that it is too early, please seek help from a nearby human rights organization.

If you need to apply for an extension without a passport, please refer to How Refugees and Humanitarian Status Holders Can Extend Their Stay Without a Passport.

Required Documents

DocumentNotes
Integrated application form (Annexed Form No. 34 of the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act)Available at Immigration Service offices or downloadable from HiKorea
Passport or Alien Registration CardSubmit if you hold one; if visiting your home country’s embassy is difficult, an alternative document related to passport renewal may be accepted
Refugee application receipt
Proof of addressRental contract, utility bill, etc.

In some cases, the officer handling your application may additionally request a written statement of reasons. If this happens, please seek help from a nearby human rights organization.

Fee Waiver (Standard Fee: 60,000 KRW)

The standard fee for extending your period of stay is 60,000 KRW (Article 74, Paragraph 6 of the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act, as of January 23, 2026). The following people may be eligible for a waiver:

  1. People with an illness or disability that makes it difficult to work, and their spouses
  2. Pregnant people, or people raising a child aged 9 or under, and their spouses
  3. People under 18 or aged 65 and over
  4. People receiving livelihood support payments under Article 40 of the Refugee Act
  5. Residents of an Immigration and Foreign Nationals Support Center
  6. Recipients of benefits under the National Basic Livelihood Security Act

To receive a waiver, you must submit supporting documents such as a doctor’s note or other relevant paperwork proving your situation. Fee standards are subject to change, so please check for the latest information with 1345 or your local Korea Immigration Service office before applying.

Fines (Based on Length of Unregistered Period)

If you apply for an extension after your expiry date has passed, the following fines may be imposed, or you may be detained:

Unregistered PeriodFine
Less than 1 month2,000,000 KRW
1 month or more, less than 3 months3,000,000 KRW
3 months or more, less than 6 months4,000,000 KRW
6 months or more, less than 1 year7,000,000 KRW
1 year or more, less than 2 years10,000,000 KRW
2 years or more, less than 3 years15,000,000 KRW
3 years or more, less than 5 years20,000,000 KRW
5 years or more, less than 7 years25,000,000 KRW
7 years or more30,000,000 KRW

These figures are subject to change. Always check with 1345 or your local Korea Immigration Service office before applying.

2. Report Your Change of Address Within 15 Days of Moving

If your address changes, you must report the new address within 15 days of the date you moved.

Where you can report:

  • The district office (구청) or community service center (동주민센터/읍·면사무소) for your new address — you can find the relevant office using the Government24 portal.

If more than 15 days have passed, online reporting is no longer available. You must book an appointment at your local Korea Immigration Service office and visit in person.

Required Documents

  • Passport or alien entry permit
  • Alien Registration Card

Proof of address varies depending on your housing situation:

Housing SituationRequired Documents
Contract in your own nameReal estate rental contract, or mail/utility bill showing your name and new address
Accommodation provided by someone elseConfirmation of accommodation provision + copy of the provider’s ID (if the address on the back of their ID differs from your new address, a rental contract must also be provided)
Church or refugee housing facilityProof of residence issued by the facility

Fines

Depending on how long you went without reporting, a fine of between 100,000 KRW and 1,000,000 KRW may be imposed. The exact amount is determined after review. Please check for the latest information with 1345 or your local Korea Immigration Service office before applying.

3. Report Any Change of Passport Information Within 15 Days

If you have received a new or renewed passport and your passport information has changed, you must report this to the Korea Immigration Service within 15 days.

How to report, depending on what changed:

Changed InformationHow to Report
Passport number, issue date, or expiry date (one or more)Either via HiKorea online or by visiting in person
Name, date of birth, or gender (one or more)Must visit your local Korea Immigration Service office in person

Required Documents

For in-person reporting:

  • Integrated application form (Annexed Forms No. 34, No. 34-2, and No. 34-3 of the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act / Annexed Form No. 1 of the Enforcement Rules of the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans)
  • Alien Registration Card
  • Passport

For online reporting via HiKorea:

  • An image file of the personal information page of your passport

Fines

Depending on how long you went without reporting, a fine of between 100,000 KRW and 1,000,000 KRW may be imposed. The exact amount is determined after review. Please check for the latest information with 1345 or your local Korea Immigration Service office before applying.

4. Make Sure to Pay Your Taxes and Health Insurance Premiums

While living in Korea, you must pay the following:

  • Resident tax (주민세): Foreign nationals registered as residents who have lived in Korea for one year or more and are aged 19 or over are required to pay this tax.
  • Health insurance premiums: If you are enrolled in health insurance, you must pay your premiums every month.

If you have unpaid amounts, this may be discovered during the visa extension process and your extension may be restricted. For more information, check the guidance from the Korea Immigration Service or contact the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) at 1577-1000. For more details on unpaid health insurance premiums and stay extension restrictions, please also refer to Guide for Refugees and Humanitarian Status Holders: Unpaid Health Insurance Premiums, Stay Extension Restrictions, and Household Member Registration.