Required Documents for Foreigners Part4: Required Documents for Extension of Stay and Change of Status of Residence

2025-11-14 | fact-insight
외국인 체류기간 연장 체류자격 변경 필수 서류 가이드 - 비자 연장 신청 서류 총정리

The Complete Guide to Required Documents for Foreigners series

Current: Required Documents for Aliens Part 4 | Required Documents for Extension of Stay and Change of Status

View the full comprehensive guide

All about required documents for foreign nationals

For foreigners in Korea Extending your stay and changing your statusis an essential procedure for a stable life. Failure to provide the required documents in a timely manner may result in loss of status.and may be ordered to leave the country. As of 2025, the More than 800,000 applications for extensions and changes of stay per yearand the rejection rate for lack of documentation is approximately 151 TP3T. This guide details all the documents you need to extend your stay and change your status, and how to prepare them.

Basic documents for extending your stay

To extend your stay How to increase your stay in Korea while maintaining your current status of residence. You can apply up to 4 months before your stay expiresand should be applied for at least one month prior to expiration to ensure smooth processing.

1Required documents common to all statuses

Regardless of immigration status Basic documents that all foreign nationals must submit to extend their stayare required. Note that if any of these are missing, your application will not be accepted.

Required submissions

  • Integration Application: at the immigration office or online
  • Original passport: Must have at least 6 months of validity remaining
  • Alien registration card: Must bring original
  • Fees: 60,000~130,000 won (depending on immigration status)

Things to check before applying

  • Expiration date of your stay: Check the back of your Alien Registration Card
  • Application period: 4 months before expiration to the day of expiration
  • Jurisdictional offices: Immigration office with jurisdiction over your current residence
  • Processing duration: 2-4 weeks on average

2Additional documents by immigration status

Depending on your immigration status Additional documentation to support your purpose of stayis required. We've organized the required documents for the most common immigration statuses.

Immigration status Key additional documents Issued by Validity period
D-2 Study Abroad Transcripts, transcripts Your University 3 months from issue date
D-4 Study Abroad Proof of enrollment, attendance Your language school 3 months from issue date
E-7 Specific Activities Labor contracts, proof of employment Your company In-contract
E-9 Nonprofessional Employment Labor agreements, standard labor agreements Employer In-contract
F-6 Marriage Immigration Marriage license, family license Civic Center 3 months from issue date

💡 Note: All certificates must be current, and non-Korean language documents must be notarized translations
⚠️ Caution: If documents are expired, they must be reissued and submitted; submitting fake documents will result in eviction
📈 TIP: Speed up your application by having scanned documents ready when applying online

3Financial verification documents

For most extensions of stay Ability to cover the cost of living in South Koreato support your application. The amount and documentation required depends on your immigration status and your circumstances.

International student financial verification

  • Proof of balance in your name: 1,000 KRW or more (per semester)
  • Proof of parental income: 20 million won or more per year
  • Scholarship certificate: School-issued original
  • Financial certificates: Proving income and assets for financial witnesses

Employer financial verification

  • Paystubs: Last 3 months
  • Earned income withholding stubs: Previous year
  • Proof of four major insurance policiesIssued by the National Pension Service
  • Passbook transaction history: Last 6 months

💡 â 팁: If financial proof is difficult to obtain, Korean Financial Witnessor set the Proof of scholarshipcan be used instead. The financial witness must be a Korean citizen with an annual income of KRW 25 million or more, and the financial certificate must be notarized.

Documents to apply for adjustment of status

To change your status How to change your visa type to stay in Korea for a different purpose than your current one. For example, an international student (D-2) changing to employment (E-7) after graduation, or an employee changing to marriage (F-6) after marriage.

1Basic documents to change status

Even if you change your status Basic identification documents and applicationsare commonly required. They are more difficult to review and take longer to process than extensions.

Basic submission documents

  • Integration ApplicationFor change of status
  • Passports and alien registration cards: Original
  • Proof of residencyA copy of the lease
  • Fees: 100,000~20,000 won (depending on qualification)

Things to keep in mind when applying

  • When to apply: Must apply before the expiration of the current period of stay
  • Processing duration: 1 to 3 months on average
  • Interviewing: Some qualifications will be interviewed
  • If not allowed: Give yourself time to prepare for departure (usually 30 days)

2Documentation by major change type

The most frequent Required documents for each type of change of statusEach type of change requires significantly different documentation, so make sure you know exactly what you're getting into.

Change type Current→Change Core documents Additional requirements
Study abroad→Career D-2→E-7 Graduation certificates, labor contracts Bachelor's degree or higher, major match
Language→Study abroad D-4→D-2 Acceptance letters, TOPIK scores TOPIK level 3 or higher
Work→Marriage E-9→F-6 Marriage license, spouse ID Completion of KIIP or TOPIK Level 2
Study abroad→Job search D-2→D-10 Graduation certificate, job search plan Bachelor's degree or higher, GPA of 3.0 or higher

⚠️ Important: Adjustment of status is strictly reviewed and may be denied if you don't meet the eligibility requirements. If you're denied, you'll have to leave the country, so check your eligibility before applying.

3Documentation of education and experience

When changing to employment-related status (E-1 through E-7) Documentation of your education and experienceis required, especially for professionals (E-7), which means your degree and experience must be relevant to the job.

Proof of education

  • Final degree certificate: Bachelor's - Master's - Doctorate
  • Transcripts: Previous year's report card
  • Verify the apostilleFor international degrees
  • Korean translation: Notarized translation required

Documentation of experience

  • Credentials: Issuing a previous job
  • Proof of employment: specify working period
  • Proof of income: Proof of paycheck receipt
  • Portfolio: Work Performance Resources

Additional documentation for special circumstances

In addition to the usual cases, the Additional documentation required in special circumstancesin the application. If this applies to you, prepare ahead of time to avoid delays in your application.

1Criminal History and Identity

For some status changes Background and criminal background checksis required, especially when applying for long-term resident status (F-series) or permanent residence (F-5).

Proof of criminal background

  • Home country criminal background check: Issued by your home country government
  • Verify the apostille: Foreign Affairs Certification
  • Korean translation: Notarized translation required
  • Validity period: 6 months from issue date

Background checks for

  • F-2 residency status: Criminal background check required
  • F-5 Green Card: Criminal Background - Credit Reporting
  • F-6 Marriage Immigration: Home country marriage certificate
  • Apply for Naturalization: Submit all identity documents

2Family documents

When applying for a marriage (F-6) or companion (F-3) visa Proof of family relationshipis required. Must be submitted if you are married to or have family in Korea.

Document Name Issued by Purpose Remarks
Marriage certificate Civic Center F-6 Marriage Immigration Spousal consent required
Proof of kinship Civic Center F-3 Accompany Combined home country family documentation
Birth certificates Home country government With children Requires an apostille
Adoption certificate Courts Accompanying an adopted child Court decisions

3Health and insurance related

For some statuses, the Check your health and insurance statusis required, especially for long-term residency status or inviting family members to join you.

Medical certificates: Designated Hospital, E-9 and some extended stay required
Proof of health insuranceIssued by the National Health Insurance Service, resident for 6 months or more
Proof of private insuranceFor D-4 and other short-term residents
Immunization certificate: Required when traveling with children (issued by health center)

💡 â 팁If you have health insurance arrears Visa extension not availableYou can. Before applying, contact the National Health Insurance Service (1577-1000) to check if you have any arrears, and if so, pay them before applying.

Application process and notes

If you've prepared your documents perfectly Apply at the right time and with the right processto apply. Processing time and results may vary depending on how and when you apply.

1When and how to apply

Failure to file timely will result in loss of statusYou can, so make sure you know exactly when and how to apply.

Online Application (Hi-Korea)

  • ProsNo visit required, 24 hour application
  • Submit documents: Upload scans (PDF, JPG)
  • Paying fees: Credit card, bank transfer
  • Confirm progress: Get real-time processing status

Apply in person (immigration office)

  • Pros: Documents available for consultation, instant confirmation
  • Scheduling: We recommend using the walk-in reservation system
  • Required documentation: Bring original and copy
  • Processing: On-site pickup by mail
When to apply Apply for an extension Request a change Remarks
The best time to do it 2-3 months before expiration Immediately upon qualification Prepare with time to spare
When it's available 4 months before expiration to today During your stay Minimum 1 month lead time required
Processing duration 2 to 4 weeks 1 to 3 months More time during peak periods
Deadlines Until the day of the expiration date Before your stay expires Unlawful presence after the deadline

2Document rejection prevention checklist

To prevent rejections due to lack of documentation Final checks are required before applyingfor your application. Use the following checklist to make sure you're not missing any documents.

Check document validityCheck if all certificates are within their validity period
Verify translation notarization: Notarization of Korean translations of foreign language documents
Verify the apostille: Apostille authentication of documents from home country
Have the original: Check if you can submit a copy or need an original
Signature-Verify signatureMissing signatures on applications and consent forms
Photo specifications: Passport size photo (3.5×4.5cm, no older than 6 months)
Prepare feesIdentifying and preparing the correct fee amount
Provide contact information: Provide the correct phone number and email in the application

Reapply at ⚠️ if rejected: If your documents are rejected, you must resubmit them within the deadline to complete them (usually 7-14 days) or your application will be automatically withdrawn. Fees may also apply again when you reapply, so it's important to be prepared the first time.

📋

Key Points for Preparing Extension of Stay and Change of Status Documents

✅ Basic documents (Unified Application, passport, alien registration card) are required for all applications.

✅ Know exactly what additional documents you need for each status and have up-to-date copies on hand

✅ Financial, educational, and work history documentation should be specific and objective.

✅ Foreign language documents must be accompanied by a notarized translation and apostille confirmation

✅ Start preparing 2-3 months before the expiration date to ensure you don't miss out on the application.

🏢 Who to contact to extend or change your status

Extension and Change of Status Consultation Service (Multilingual)

🔍 More in-depth series on required documents for foreigners

Once you've gotten your Alien Registration Card, it's time to check all the documents you need for your immigration status.