Permanent residence, overseas Koreans & family stay
F-4 (Overseas Korean) Extension of Stay and Residence Card Reissue — 60,000 Won and 35,000 Won Fees, 14 Days to Report a Move
The period of stay for F-4 (Overseas Korean) is up to 3 years at a time, and to keep staying you must obtain permission to extend before the period ends (Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans, Article 10(1) and (2); Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Article 31). The extension fee is 60,000 won, the reissue fee for a domestic residence report card is 35,000 won, and a move must be reported within 14 days (Overseas Koreans Act, Article 6(2)).
Procedure
- 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.
- Issuance Difficulty Low
A certificate, apostille or consular legalization is issued once the prescribed documents are submitted. With documents that meet the issuance criteria, it is usually processed quickly.
1. Check the expiry date and grounds for refusal
Check the expiry date of the period of stay on the residence card and whether any ground for refusal applies. An extension may be refused if you violated the Overseas Koreans Act or the Immigration Act (excluding one fine that has been paid) or were sentenced to imprisonment without labor or a heavier punishment (Enforcement Decree of the Overseas Koreans Act, Article 16(1)).
2. Prepare the integrated application and attachments
Prepare the Overseas Korean (F-4) integrated application form (Enforcement Rule of the Overseas Koreans Act, Form No. 1) with your passport and residence card (Enforcement Rule, Article 12-2). A first-time applicant for extension submits a family relationship record certificate or removed family register showing the renunciation or loss of nationality (Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Annex 5-2).
3. Apply before the period of stay ends
Apply for permission to extend at an immigration office before the period of stay ends (Enforcement Decree of the Overseas Koreans Act, Article 16(3); Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Article 31(1)). The fee is 60,000 won (Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Article 72(6)). If the expiry date passes, it becomes an overstay issue rather than an extension.
4. Report a move within 14 days
Within 14 days of moving to a new residence, report to the city, county, district, eup, myeon or dong office of the new residence or to the competent immigration office, and you may also report online (Overseas Koreans Act, Article 6(2); Enforcement Decree, Article 11). Failure to report is subject to a fine of up to 2,000,000 won (Act, Article 17(1)).
5. Reissue the residence card if lost or details change
If the card is lost or damaged, has no space left, or your name, sex, date of birth or nationality has changed, apply for reissue with supporting documents and 1 photo attached to the reissue application (Enforcement Decree of the Overseas Koreans Act, Article 13). The fee is 35,000 won (Enforcement Rule, Article 12(1)1), and for reasons other than loss you also return the existing card.
Required documents
- Overseas Korean (F-4) integrated application form (Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans, Form No. 1)
- Passport
- Domestic residence report card
- Family relationship record certificate or removed family register showing renunciation or loss of nationality (for a first extension)
- Documents proving that nationality was not renounced or lost to evade military service (men aged 18 to 38 applying for a first extension on or after December 29, 2005, excluding those who completed or were exempted from military service)
- 1 photo and supporting documents for loss or changes (for reissue of the residence card)
- Fees (60,000 won for extension of stay, 35,000 won for reissue of the residence card)
Fees
The government fees are 60,000 won for permission to extend the period of stay and 35,000 won for reissue of a domestic residence report card. Our office fee starts from the amount shown above and may vary depending on whether a change of residence report or reissue is handled together with the extension and whether family relationship documents must be prepared for a first extension; we will give you an exact quote after reviewing your documents.
Legal basis and review date
- Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans, Articles 6, 7, 10 and 17
- Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans, Articles 11, 13 and 16
- Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans, Articles 12 and 12-2, Form No. 1
- Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Article 31
- Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Article 72(6) and Annex 5-2
Check these first
- Once the expiry date passes, it becomes an overstay rather than an extension application, so file before the expiry date.
- Receiving fines 2 or more times for not reporting a change of residence may count as a violation that is a ground for refusing an extension.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I get when I extend an F-4 visa?
When can an F-4 extension be refused?
What should I do if I lose my residence card?
By when must I report a change of residence after moving?
If I file an F-4 residence report, do I also need alien registration?
Can an administrative agent handle the F-4 extension and residence card reissue for me?
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.
📍 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.