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32-4 · Permanent residence, overseas Koreans & family stay

F-4 Overseas Korean Visa Issuance, Change and Extension

F-4 (Overseas Korean) is the status of stay for foreign nationals of Korean descent under Article 2, Item 2 of the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans, that is, persons who once held Korean nationality or their lineal descendants who have acquired a foreign nationality. Abroad, the visa is applied for at a Korean diplomatic mission; in Korea, a change of status or extension of stay is applied for at the immigration office with jurisdiction over the place of stay, and an extension must be applied for before the permitted period of stay ends. Korean nationality history and family relationship are proved with family relation and removed register documents, and depending on nationality, age and the type of application, it is checked whether additional documents such as a criminal record certificate are required. Employment is relatively free, but work within the restricted scope set by Ministry of Justice notice, such as simple labor, speculative activities and businesses harmful to public morals, is not allowed.

HWANG YUNSANG ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICESONGDO · 37.3892° N / 126.6439° E
#F-4 Overseas Korean Visa Issuance, Change and Extension#Official check#32-4
01

Procedure

Procedure

  1. 01

    Check eligibility and nationality records: Check the Korean nationality history of the applicant or their parents or grandparents and the family relationship leading to the applicant with family relation and removed register documents, and check whether loss of Korean nationality has been processed after acquiring the foreign nationality.

  2. 02

    Confirm the application type and jurisdiction: Distinguish between visa issuance abroad and a change of status or extension of stay in Korea, and check the current status and expiry date. Overseas applications go to a diplomatic mission, and applications in Korea go to the immigration office with jurisdiction over the actual place of stay.

  3. 03

    Review employment plans: Check from the actual work whether the planned job falls under the restricted occupations in the notice, and submit a pledge not to engage in simple labor in Korea when applying. For H-2 (Visit and Employment) holders, the standards currently applicable to conversion to F-4 are checked case by case.

  4. 04

    Prepare evidence and foreign documents: Prepare the integrated application form, passport, photo and proof of Korean descent, and check whether a criminal record certificate and health documents are required. For documents issued abroad, check whether an apostille or consular confirmation and a translation are needed.

  5. 05

    Submit the application and manage the stay: Submit the documents to the authority matching the application type, and for applications in Korea check whether a HiKorea visit booking or online application is available. After approval, manage the expiry date and the obligations to report residence and changes of the place of stay.

  6. 06

    Review extension and permanent residence: Prepare proof of the place of stay and activities needed for extension before expiry. After staying continuously for 2 years or more with F-4, a change to Permanent Residence (F-5) may be considered under Annex 1-3, Item 4 of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, but the requirements for livelihood, good conduct and basic knowledge must be met separately.

02

Filing route

Filing route

Korean diplomatic mission (applications abroad) or the immigration office with jurisdiction over the place of stay (HiKorea visit booking or online application)

Confirm the current filing office, jurisdiction, and online availability on the official website.

Official check
Actual processing agencyCompetent Immigration Office
Statutory and policy authorityCompetent Korean authority or official service
Online routeHiKorea
03

Deadlines & processing notes

Deadlines & processing notes

Check deadlines and next steps against the notice, filing date, and any request for additional documents.Official check
04

Basic documents

Basic documents

Basic documents0 / 8

If loss of Korean nationality has not been processed after acquiring a foreign nationality, the person may remain recorded as a Korean national in the family relation register and processing may be delayed, so this should be checked first when preparing documents.

Scope of services

Scope of services

Hwang Yunsang Administrative Agent Office prepares and translates documents for administrative agencies, submits them on your behalf, and guides you through permit, application, and notification procedures. Services that require the principal’s personal appearance, principal’s application, or electronic signature may be limited in delegation.