How to Apply for Permission for Activities Outside Your Sojourn Status — Adding Another Activity to Your Current Visa

Procedure

1. 1. Check whether permission is required

   This applies when you keep the activities of your current status and add an activity belonging to another status (Immigration Control Act, Article 20). Changing or adding a workplace within the same status is handled separately as a workplace change or addition permit, so first confirm which status the intended activity belongs to.

2. 2. Consider whether it would be the main activity

   When reviewing the application, the office must direct the applicant to obtain a change of sojourn status if the new activity is recognized as the main activity (Enforcement Rules, Article 29). Organizing whether the original activity continues and how much time and weight the new activity takes makes it easier to decide which permit to apply for.

3. 3. Prepare the application form and documents

   Attach your passport, alien registration card and the documents specified for each status in Annex 5-2 of the Enforcement Rules to the integrated application form (Form No. 34) (Enforcement Decree, Article 25(1); Enforcement Rules, Article 76(2)). Documents issued abroad must bear an apostille or consular confirmation from a Korean mission (Annex 5-2 notes).

4. 4. File with the competent office and pay the fee

   The application is submitted to the head of the immigration office or branch office, which forwards it with its opinion to the Minister of Justice (Enforcement Decree, Article 25(1) and (2)). The fee is 120,000 KRW, or 20,000 KRW where the Minister of Justice recognizes it, such as part-time work by D-2 (Study) and D-4 (General Training) holders (Enforcement Rules, Article 72(2)).

5. 5. Start the activity after confirming the permit

   If granted, a permit stamp or sticker is placed in the passport, or a permit certificate is issued where there is no passport, etc. If not granted, the applicant is notified of the refusal in writing (Enforcement Decree, Article 25(3) and (4)). Start the new activity only after receiving the permit.

Required documents

• Integrated application form (Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Control Act, Form No. 34)
• Passport
• Alien registration card (if registered)
• Documents required for each status (check the 'permission for activities outside sojourn status' column for your current status in Annex 5-2 of the Enforcement Rules)
• Documents explaining the new activity (employment contract, copy of the workplace's business registration certificate, etc., per Annex 5-2)
• Originals of documents issued abroad with an apostille or consular confirmation
• Fee of 120,000 KRW (20,000 KRW for part-time work by D-2/D-4 holders, etc.)

Fees

Fees paid to the immigration office are separate. Our office fee starts from the amount shown above and may vary depending on the status, the new activity and the volume of supporting documents; 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 Control Act, Article 20
• Immigration Control Act, Article 94
• Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Control Act, Article 25
• Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Control Act, Article 29
• Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Control Act, Article 72
• Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Control Act, Article 76 and Annex 5-2
• Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Control Act, Form No. 34

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-17

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

• Starting the new activity before permission is granted may be punishable, so begin only after receiving the permit.
• If the new activity carries significant weight, you may be directed to a change of sojourn status instead, so also prepare materials showing that your original activity continues.

Frequently asked questions