Some people living in Korea — including recognized refugees, humanitarian stay permit holders, asylum seekers, and stateless persons — can extend their period of stay even without a valid passport. If visiting your home country’s embassy is difficult, or your passport has already expired, there is no need to worry.
Why Does This Exception Exist?
Since 1 July 2021, the Ministry of Justice has required that registered foreigners’ periods of stay be granted only within the validity period of their passport. This policy was introduced to reduce problems such as people being turned away at the border because they had not renewed their passport, or being fined for failing to report a renewal.
However, many refugees and humanitarian stay permit holders already hold expired passports, and visiting their home country’s embassy can be dangerous for them. Reflecting this reality, the policy includes an important exception.
Who Can Extend Their Stay Without a Valid Passport
People with the following residence statuses are eligible to extend their period of stay even without a valid passport.
- F-5 Permanent residents
- F-2 Recognized refugees
- F-1 Family members of recognized refugees
- G-1-6 Humanitarian stay permit holders and their family members
- G-1-5 Asylum seekers and their family members
- Stateless persons
You must apply to extend your period of stay before your current stay period expires. Applying after it has expired may result in being treated as an overstayer, so please be careful. Before applying, check the latest information with the Immigration Contact Center 1345 or your local Korea Immigration Service.
Step-by-Step Overview
- 1. Check your residence status
Look at your Alien Registration Card to confirm your residence status (F-2, G-1-5, G-1-6, etc.).
- 2. Prepare your documents
Prepare the application form (Form No. 34), your Alien Registration Card, proof of address, and any other documents required for your specific residence status.
- 3. Make an appointment or apply online
Book a visit through HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr), or submit your application directly through the online civil affairs system.
- 4. Visit the Korea Immigration Service or submit documents
Visit your local Korea Immigration Service on your appointment date, or attach and submit your documents online.
- 5. Check the result
You can check the outcome through the "My Application Inquiry" menu on HiKorea, or you will be notified directly by the office.
If You Get a New Passport: Reporting a Change in Registration Details
If you are able to obtain a new passport, you must notify the Korea Immigration Service that your passport information has changed. This is called a change of registration details report. Because your original passport information was submitted when you first registered as a foreigner, you need to update that information when you receive a new passport. For detailed instructions on how to do this online, please see How to Report a Change of Passport Information for Foreigners (HiKorea Online Civil Affairs).
Reporting Deadline
If a registered foreigner’s passport number, issue date, or expiry date changes, they must report this to the Korea Immigration Service (branch office or sub-office) responsible for their place of residence within 15 days. You can report in person at your local Korea Immigration Service, or online through HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr). If you visit in person, you must make an advance appointment through HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr).
| Situation | Reporting Deadline |
|---|---|
| If you received the passport directly | Within 45 days of the passport’s issue date |
| If you received the passport more than 45 days after its issue date | Within 15 days of the date you received it |
- If you received your passport more than 45 days after its issue date, you must also submit a document showing the date you received it (for example, a receipt of collection).
Missing the deadline can result in a fine, so please be careful. Before applying, check the latest information with 1345 or your local Korea Immigration Service.
How to Report
- In-person report: Make an appointment and visit your local Korea Immigration Service.
- Required documents: Application form (Form No. 34), new passport, Alien Registration Card
- For help filling out the form, please refer to How to Fill Out and Submit the Integrated Application Form for Foreign Residents.
- Online report: Go to HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) — Civil Affairs Application — Online Civil Affairs — Change of Registration Details Report
- Processing time: Immediate
If you have recently moved to a new address, please also remember to file a change of address report at the same time as your change of registration details report.
If You Have Missed a Deadline or Are Unsure What to Do
If you have missed a deadline or are not sure what to do, please do not worry alone. You can visit your nearest Korea Immigration Service in person to receive guidance. You can also call the Immigration Contact Center 1345, which offers support in multiple languages around the clock. If you are an asylum seeker and would like to understand your full range of stay-related obligations, please also read Asylum Seekers’ Stay Obligations and Fines: Extending Your Stay, Reporting Address Changes, and Reporting Passport Changes.
Specific figures and deadlines are subject to change, so please confirm the latest information with 1345 or your local Korea Immigration Service before applying.
Reference Links
- Ministry of Justice Korea Immigration Service Notice (Extension of Stay Within Passport Validity Period)
- Government24: Change of Registration Details Report for Registered Foreigners (Passport Change)
- Government24: Extension of Stay Permit for Registered Foreigners
- HiKorea Online Civil Affairs Portal
- Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice
- Immigration Contact Center: 1345 (24 hours, multilingual support)