If you want to know how to apply for permission of stay in Korea, start with the rule that shapes everything else: all applications must, by default, be made personally. You go yourself, with your own documents, and you answer any questions the office has about your situation.
This guide uses official immigration and stay guidance to explain which applications are covered, who may act as your agent, what the agent must bring, and which visa statuses need a letter of guarantee of reference.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who it applies to | Foreign nationals applying for stay permissions such as granting of status, change of status, extension of stay, re-entry permit, or foreigner registration |
| Basic rule | All applications must, by default, be made personally |
| When a proxy is allowed | Persons under 17 years of age, or those unable to apply personally due to illness or family or business related issues |
| What an agent brings when applying | Written power of attorney, agent identification, and a document proving the relationship with the principal |
| What an agent brings when collecting the result | ID cards and the application reference certificate |
| Reference guarantee | Required for D-3, E-2, E-6, E-7, E-8, E-9, E-10, F-1, F-2, F-5 and G-1, with listed exemptions |
| Personal reference | A legal adult residing within the Republic of Korea who has secure employment |
| Cost and processing time | Varies by case, so check the current details on the official page |
How to Apply for Permission of Stay in Korea: Which Applications Are Covered
Permission of stay is not one single form. It is a group of immigration applications that share the same handling rules, including the rule that you apply personally and the limited rules on using an agent. The same proxy rules apply across this whole group of applications.
These are the applications and receptions that may be made by proxy.
- Permission for engagement in activities beyond the current visa status
- Change of place of employment and additional permission
- Granting visa status
- Permission for change of status
- Permission for extension of stay
- Reentry permit
- Issuance of a certificate for Recognition of Visa Issuance
- Foreigner registration
- Reporting change of foreigner registration details
- Receipt of foreigner registration card
- Reporting employment of foreigners
Being on this list does not make a proxy automatic. It means a proxy is possible when both your reason and your agent meet the official conditions.
Applying in Person and When Someone Else May Apply for You
The default is personal application. You are expected to attend and submit the application yourself, because the office may want to ask you directly about your reasons for applying and your conditions of stay.
There are two recognised reasons for using an agent. An agent with a proxy request form may submit the application on your behalf if you are under 17 years of age, or if you cannot apply personally because of illness or family or business related issues.
The agent must also be eligible under the Ministry of Justice bulletin on applications and proxy submissions of permission for engagement in activities beyond the current visa status and others. Eligibility is tied to your status of stay. Even then, a proxy submission may be restricted whenever it is deemed necessary to make personal inquiries to you, and in that case you must apply personally.
Who May Act as Your Agent, by Status of Stay
The list of eligible agents is set separately for each status category. The table shows examples from the official guidance, so you can see the pattern.
| Status of the principal | Examples of those eligible to act as agent |
|---|---|
| Temporary Journalism (C-1), Journalism (D-5) | Employees of local press bodies or the local branch of foreign press bodies |
| Temporary Visiting (C-3) | Employees of local organisations or branches related to your local activities; locally residing relatives who fall under Civil Law Article 777, only when your purpose of entry is tourism, transit, recreational or visitation |
| Short-term Employment (C-4), E-1 to E-10 | Employees of the local organisation that hired you, the employer, or a training recommendation organisation |
| Family visitation (F-1), Residency (F-2), Dependant family (F-3) | Those willing to take care of you locally, or those willing to invite you |
| Others (G-1) | The party who has invited or will invite you, the party who is medically treating you, a legal representative where persons are involved in legal suits, or a guarantor where such a guarantor exists |
| Working Holiday (H-1) | An employee of the organisation that has hired you, or a person who has hired you |
Your own status decides who may act for you. If the person helping you does not fall inside the category listed for your status, the office may refuse the proxy submission and ask you to come in person.
How to Apply for Permission of Stay in Korea: Documents and Steps
Work through the steps in order. The first decisions, such as which application you need and whether your status requires a letter of guarantee of reference, change which documents you must prepare.
- Confirm which permission of stay application you need, such as extension of stay, change of status, or foreigner registration
- Check whether your status requires a letter of guarantee of reference, and arrange one if it does
- Decide whether you will apply personally, which is the default, or whether you qualify to use an agent
- If you use an agent, confirm the person is eligible for your status category and prepare a proxy request form
- Submit the application with the required documents, and ask at the counter how and when the result will be given to you
- Return to collect the result; when an agent collects it on your behalf, ID cards and the application reference certificate must be submitted
What the agent submits when applying
- A written power of attorney
- Identification for the agent, such as a national identification card, driver’s licence, passport or foreigner registration card
- A document that verifies the principal’s relationship with the agent, such as a family register, resident registration or certificate of incumbency
The written power of attorney may be omitted in special circumstances. These include cases where the principal is under 17 years of age, where the proxy application is made by a family member or by the head of an association or company, or where the principal is absent from Korea.
When an agent collects the result on your behalf, ID cards and the application reference certificate must be submitted. The official guidance sets out these documents for receipt by proxy. Collecting the result is a separate step from applying, so if you will collect it yourself, ask the office what you need to bring back.
⚠️ Confirm the current document requirements, fees and processing details on the official page before you submit.
Visa Types That Need a Letter of Guarantee of Reference
Some statuses require a letter of guarantee of reference before a stay permission can be granted. This applies to granting of status of stay, extension of stay, change of status, and change or additions to the place of employment.
| Status group | Statuses that require a letter of guarantee of reference |
|---|---|
| Training and teaching | Industrial training (D-3), Foreign Language Instructor (E-2) |
| Arts and specialised work | Arts & Performances (E-6), Special Occupations (E-7) |
| Employment and crew | Employed Trainee (E-8), Non-professional employment (E-9), Vessel crew (E-10) |
| Family and residence | Family visitation (F-1), Residency (F-2), Permanent residency (F-5) |
| Other | Others (G-1) |
Who is exempt
- D-3 holders who are recommended trainees from the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (D-3-2), the National Federations of Fisheries Cooperatives (D-3-3), the Construction Association of Korea (D-3-5), or the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (D-3-6) industries
- E-7 holders recommended by the head of ministries as foreign high-tech workforce in information technology, electronic business, biotechnology, nanotechnology, advanced materials, transportation machinery, digital machinery, or environmental energy
- Those with, in the official wording, ‘Family visitation (F-1) status that are overseas adoptee, household servants of diplomatic and consular personnel in Korea, who are also under 20 years of age’
- F-5 holders who are Korean-Chinese who entered before the government establishment date of August 15th of 1948, and Japanese spouses of Korean nationals and their direct descendants who carry Residency (F-2) status
- G-1 holders who are victims of an industrial accident, the victim’s guardians, or those who departed Korea due to an industrial accident and are re-entering
If you hold Family visitation (F-1) status, confirm the age condition before you rely on this exemption. The official wording places the phrase about being under 20 years of age after both groups, so ask the office that will handle your application.
Who can be your personal reference
A personal reference must be a legal adult residing within the Republic of Korea who has secure employment. Unless stated otherwise, the personal reference must be made by the head of the organisation or association to which the foreigner belongs.
Under Article 79 of the Immigration Act, those responsible for applications include parents or legal guardians, a brother or sister, a personal reference of identification, and other cohabitants. Those required to make any given application are not required to have a personal reference.
For foreign spouses of Korean citizens, the Korean national generally provides the personal reference. If there are unforeseen reasons such as absence from Korea, that person’s guardian, brother or sister, or other cohabitants may act instead. If the marriage ends through death or divorce, the foreign spouse’s relatives or other third parties may provide it.
⚠️ Official endorsement guarantees of reference were abolished as of September 25th 2005.
Common Mistakes and What Depends on Your Case
Most problems come from assuming a proxy is always possible, or from treating the personal reference as a formality.
- Sending a colleague or friend who does not fall within the agent categories set for your status of stay
- Assuming a proxy is accepted when the office needs to ask you directly about your reasons for applying
- When an agent collects the result, arriving without ID cards and the application reference certificate
- Forgetting a document that proves the relationship between you and your agent
- Overlooking a required letter of guarantee of reference for a status such as E-2, E-9, F-1, F-2, F-5 or G-1
- Relying on remembered fees or timelines instead of checking the current official information
If a proxy makes an application through false or other unlawful means, the permission may be cancelled or altered. So check what is submitted in your name, even when a company or school handles the paperwork. If your personal reference is withdrawn, a new one must be designated as soon as possible.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone else apply for a stay permission on my behalf?
Sometimes. The first rule in how to apply for permission of stay in Korea is that all applications must, by default, be made personally. An agent with a proxy request form may apply for you if you are under 17 years of age, or if illness or family or business related issues prevent you from applying personally, and if the agent is eligible for your status of stay.
What does my agent have to bring to the office?
A written power of attorney, identification for the agent, and a document that verifies your relationship with the agent, such as a family register, resident registration or certificate of incumbency. The power of attorney may be omitted in special circumstances, for example when you are under 17, when the agent is a family member or the head of an association or company, or when you are absent from Korea. For receipt by proxy, the official guidance lists ID cards and the application reference certificate.
Which visa types need a letter of guarantee of reference?
D-3, E-2, E-6, E-7, E-8, E-9, E-10, F-1, F-2, F-5 and G-1 holders must submit one to obtain stay permissions, including granting of status, extension of stay, change of status, and change or additions to the place of employment. Several groups within these statuses are exempt, so check the exemption list that matches your case.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
This varies by case, so check the current amount and timeline on the official page rather than relying on figures from other applicants. What you must bring can also depend on your status of stay and on the application you are making.
Before you go, confirm which application you need, whether your status requires a letter of guarantee of reference, and whether you must attend personally or may send an eligible agent. If an agent will apply, prepare the power of attorney and relationship documents in advance, and remember that when an agent collects the result, ID cards and the application reference certificate must be submitted. Rules on how to apply for permission of stay in Korea differ by status of stay and by case, so confirm the current requirements on the official page before you submit.
Last checked: October 22, 2026. Rules, fees and required documents in Korea change often, and some depend on your visa type and district office. Always confirm the current details on the official pages below before you go.