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Permanent residence, overseas Koreans & family stay

Extending G-1 (Miscellaneous) Status and Working — Application Documents for Stays for Litigation, Treatment or Refugee Applications

G-1 (Miscellaneous) is a status of stay granted to persons who do not fall under any status from A-1 (Diplomacy) to H-2 (Working Visit) or F-5 (Permanent Residence) and whom the Minister of Justice recognizes (Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Annex 1-2). The maximum period of stay per grant is 1 year, so if the reason for staying continues you must obtain an extension before your period of stay ends. G-1 is not a status that permits employment, so separate permission is required to work.

Written by Hwang Yunsang, Administrative Agent · Published 2026-10-23 · Updated 2026-10-23

Procedure

Procedure type
  • Permit Difficulty High

    A procedure that allows a business, activity or stay that the law generally restricts, after review; licenses fall into this type. The authority reviews facility standards, location and consultation with other agencies, and a permit can be refused if the standards are not met.

We will fill out the necessary application documents for alien registration and extension of stay. We will check the proof of immigration status and guide you through the electronic civil service/visit application and identity verification procedures.

Scope & fee
Prepare foreigner registration documents for applicant's in-person filing
We will prepare an alien registration application form and proof of each qualification for 1 applicant. We will provide you with your identity and residence information and guide you through the visit and fingerprinting procedures. Office visit submission, stay extension, and qualification change are separate.
Official fee source ↗
Foreigner registration with 1 in-person filing in the Seoul metropolitan area
We will prepare alien registration documents for 1 applicant and submit them in person at the Seoul metropolitan area jurisdiction. You will be provided with proof of your identity, place of residence, and qualifications, and your fingerprints and identity verification will be performed by you. Extensions, qualification changes, and additional on-site visits are separate.
Official fee source ↗

  1. 1. Check the reason for stay and remaining period

    G-1 is granted when the Minister of Justice recognizes a reason to remain in Korea, such as ongoing litigation, medical treatment or a wage arrears remedy procedure. First check the permitted period on your residence card and whether the reason still continues. The cap is 1 year per grant (Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Annex 1).

  2. 2. Prepare documents proving the reason for stay

    Prepare documents showing the purpose of stay, such as a summons from a court or a doctor's opinion, and documents showing that you can pay litigation or treatment costs (Enforcement Rule, Annex 5, G-1 row). If the case status or treatment plan has changed, obtain updated documents.

  3. 3. Apply for extension of the period of stay

    Before your period of stay ends, submit an application for extension with the attached documents to the competent immigration office (Immigration Act, Article 25; Enforcement Decree, Article 31). The fee is 60,000 won (Enforcement Rule, Article 72, item 6). Applying after expiry means you will have overstayed, so file before the deadline.

  4. 4. If you need to work, apply for permission for activities outside status

    The statuses that allow employment are C-4 (Short-term Employment), E-1 (Professor) through E-10 (Crew Employment), and H-2 (Working Visit), so G-1 holders cannot work as is (Enforcement Decree, Article 23(1)). To work, you must first obtain permission for activities outside your status of stay (Immigration Act, Article 20); the fee is 120,000 won (Enforcement Rule, Article 72, item 2).

  5. 5. Follow up on the decision

    If the extension is granted, the new permitted period is entered on your residence card (Enforcement Decree, Article 31(3)). If it is denied, check the departure deadline in the notice, and if the reason for stay has ended, review whether you can change to another status.

Required documents

  • Application for extension of period of stay (Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Form No. 34)
  • Passport and residence card
  • Documents proving the purpose of stay (court summons, attending doctor's opinion, etc.)
  • Documents proving ability to pay litigation or treatment costs
  • Proof of residence (lease agreement, accommodation confirmation, etc.)
  • If work is needed, documents on the activity such as an employment contract for permission for activities outside status
  • Fees (extension 60,000 won; permission for activities outside status 120,000 won)

Fees

Administrative service fee
  • Prepare foreigner registration documents for applicant's in-person filing from KRW 300,000
  • Foreigner registration with 1 in-person filing in the Seoul metropolitan area from KRW 500,000
All administrative service fees exclude 10% VAT.

Government fees are 60,000 won for an extension of stay and 120,000 won for permission for activities outside status. Our office fee starts from the amount shown above and may vary depending on the reason for stay, the volume of supporting documents, and whether permission for activities outside status is filed together; we will give you an exact quote after reviewing your documents.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

  • Immigration Act, Articles 18, 20 and 25
  • Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Articles 23 and 31, Annex 1-2
  • Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Article 18-3, Annex 1
  • Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Article 72
  • Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Article 76, Annex 5
  • Refugee Act, Article 40

Checked against the statutes on

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

  • Applying for an extension after your period of stay has expired means you will have overstayed, so file before the permitted period ends.
  • Applying with a reason different from your actual one or submitting false documents violates the Immigration Act, so submit your actual reason and documents as they are.

Frequently asked questions

How long can I get G-1 status for at one time?
The maximum period per grant is 1 year (Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Annex 1). The actual period may be shorter depending on how long the reason for stay, such as litigation or treatment, is expected to last.
Can I work part-time while staying on G-1?
Not without permission. G-1 is not among the statuses that allow employment (Enforcement Decree, Article 23(1)), so you must first obtain permission for activities outside your status (Immigration Act, Article 20).
When can refugee applicants start working?
Once 6 months have passed from the date of the refugee application, the Minister of Justice may permit employment (Refugee Act, Article 40(2)). Passing 6 months does not by itself allow work; you work after receiving permission.
My lawsuit is not over but my period of stay is about to end. What should I do?
Apply for an extension before your period of stay ends (Immigration Act, Article 25). Submit a court summons or case progress documents showing the case is ongoing, together with proof that you can cover your living costs.
What is the fee for a G-1 extension?
The fee for extension of the period of stay is 60,000 won (Enforcement Rule, Article 72, item 6). Permission for activities outside status costs a separate 120,000 won.
Can an administrative agent file a G-1 extension for me?
Yes. Hwang Yunsang Administrative Office prepares the application for extension and the application for permission for activities outside status, organizes the documents proving your reason for stay, and submits them to the immigration office on your behalf.

Other guides in this area

Contact us

Hwang Yunsang Administrative Office in Songdo, Incheon prepares and submits administrative documents and explains the procedure. If your situation is similar, send us a message.

📞 Call 010-3374-2687 KakaoTalk Book a free 1-hour consultation WhatsApp ✍️ Request a consultation for this service
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📍 2697, 26F POSCO Tower-Songdo, 165 Convensia-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea · 📞 010-3374-2687 · 🌐 hwangadmin.com

This guide is general information based on public sources. Requirements, documents and deadlines differ by case and by the competent agency, so please confirm them before you proceed.