Residency
South Korea — Residency: Processing Times
The Korea Immigration Service's English stay guide does not publish processing times for visa or residence decisions. It does set the application windows and deadlines that govern timing: extension applications, appointments, resident registration and reporting changes. Ask the local immigration office or the 1345 contact centre for current decision times.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceKorea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) – Visa Navigator: Customized Stay Guide for Foreign Residents (English edition, 2022/2023)Last reviewed: 2026-10-27
Key facts
- The guide gives no processing-time figures for visa, status-change, extension or permanent-residence applications.
- An extension of stay may be filed no earlier than four months before the status expires and must be submitted by the expiry date (online, the day before expiry at the latest).
- Applicants for granting or changing status, extension of stay, foreign resident registration and workplace changes must book an appointment online before visiting their local immigration office (Art. 34-2 of the Enforcement Decree); pregnant women and their spouses are among those exempt.
- Foreigners staying 90 days or more must apply for foreign resident registration within 90 days of entry.
- A change of address must be reported within 15 days (14 days for F-4 holders), and a new passport within 45 days of its issue date.
- Permanent residents (F-5) must get their 10-year permanent resident card reissued before it expires or face a fine of KRW 100,000 to 2 million depending on days overdue.
- The English guide is dated 2022 to 2023; check HiKorea for current rules.
Timelines
- Extension window: Up to 4 months before expiry
- Foreign resident registration: Within 90 days of entry
- Change-of-address report: Within 15 days (14 for F-4)