Immigration fees in Korea are charged for each permission duty, so the amount you pay depends on what you are applying for rather than on how long you have lived here. Extending your stay, changing your status and getting a new residence card are all priced separately. Visa issuance fees are set in US dollar terms, while permission of stay fees inside Korea are set in Korean won.
This guide lists the published permission of stay fees and visa issuance fees, explains what each fee covers, and shows how the amounts differ by application type. It also covers who is exempt, which applications carry no fee, and the details that change with your status, passport or nationality.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who pays immigration fees in Korea | Foreign nationals applying for permission duties in Korea, and people applying for a Korean visa |
| Extension of stay | KRW 60,000, or KRW 30,000 for F-2 and F-6 holders |
| Change of status | KRW 100,000 |
| Residence card issue or reissue | KRW 35,000, cash only |
| Visa issuance fee | Amount equivalent to USD 40 to USD 90, depending on entries and length of stay |
| Highest listed stay fee | KRW 120,000, for activities beyond your status or a change of company of employment |
| Exemptions | Foreign diplomatic and public official passport holders, plus some nationalities by reciprocity or agreement |
| Questions by phone | The 1345 Immigration Contact Center, Monday to Friday 09:00 to 22:00, excluding public holidays, call charged |
Who Pays Immigration Fees in Korea
Immigration fees in Korea come in two groups. The first group is the permission of stay fee, which is charged for permission duties handled while you are in Korea. The second group is the visa issuance fee, which is charged on a visa application.
A prescribed fee is required for the following permission duties.
- Permission for extension of stay
- Change of status
- Granting status of stay
- Re-entry permit
- Permission to engage in the activities beyond the current status
- Changes or additions of the place of employment
- Issuing of Foreigner Registration card, or reissuing
Each duty on that list has its own set amount, so two separate applications are charged separately. For some duties the amount also depends on your status of stay, because F-2 and F-6 holders pay a lower amount for certain applications.
HiKorea provides online application services, and the fee that applies is tied to the application you actually file. If you are not sure which permission duty your case falls under, the 1345 Immigration Contact Center answers questions Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 22:00, excluding public holidays. Calls are charged, and there is a separate number for inquiries from overseas.
⚠️ Issuing or reissuing a residence card is cash only, so do not rely on a card for that payment.
Permission of Stay Fees: What Each Application Costs
The table below shows the published amount for each permission duty. All of these amounts are in Korean won.
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Permission for extension of stay | KRW 60,000 (F-2 or F-6: KRW 30,000) |
| Change of status | KRW 100,000 |
| Granting status of stay | KRW 80,000 (F-6: KRW 40,000) |
| Re-entry permit, single entry | KRW 30,000 |
| Re-entry permit, multiple entry | KRW 50,000 |
| Permission to engage in the activities beyond the current status | KRW 120,000 |
| Changes or additions of company of employment | KRW 120,000 |
| Issuing or reissuing residence card | KRW 35,000, cash only |
Two statuses pay a reduced amount. F-2 and F-6 holders pay KRW 30,000 for an extension of stay instead of KRW 60,000, and F-6 holders pay KRW 40,000 for granting of status of stay instead of KRW 80,000.
The re-entry permit fee depends on how many entries you need. A single-entry re-entry permit is KRW 30,000, and a multiple-entry re-entry permit is KRW 50,000. Decide which one your travel plans require before you file, because the two are priced differently.
The two highest amounts on the list are both KRW 120,000. One is permission to engage in the activities beyond your current status, and the other is permission for changes or additions of your company of employment. Students’ time limited employment is exempt from the fee for activities beyond the current status.
Visa Issuance Fees and Group Tourism Visas
Visa issuance fees are set as an amount equivalent to US dollars. The amount depends on how many entries the visa allows and, for single-entry visas, on the length of stay.
- Single-entry visa for less than 90 days: amount equivalent to USD 40
- Single-entry visa for more than 91 days: amount equivalent to USD 60
- Double-entry visa: amount equivalent to USD 70
- Multiple-entry visa with unlimited entries: amount equivalent to USD 90
- Tourism group visa for China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and India: amount equivalent to USD 15 per person
The length of stay changes the single-entry fee, so a short visit and a long stay are not priced the same even though both allow one entry only. A double-entry visa costs more than either single-entry visa, and a multiple-entry visa with unlimited entries is the highest listed visa amount.
The tourism group visa is the only listed visa fee charged per person in a group, and it applies to nationals of the six countries named above. Because these fees are stated as an amount equivalent to US dollars, confirm the exact amount you will be asked to pay where you apply before you go.
The visa issuance fee is exempted for nationals of countries under a fee-exempt agreement with the Republic of Korea. The next section lists those countries together with the condition attached to each one.
Who Is Exempt from Immigration Fees in Korea
Fee exemptions for stay permissions are granted on three bases: international customs, reciprocity, and agreement. Each basis covers a different group of applicants, so check which one matches your passport and your status.
Exemptions for permission of stay fees
- As per international customs: holders of foreign diplomatic or public official passports
- On a basis of reciprocity: Argentinean citizens aged under 14
- On a basis of reciprocity: Taiwanese nationals, for the re-entry permit fee for both single and multiple entry
- On a basis of reciprocity: Canadians holding Culture/Arts (D-1), Visit and Stay with family (F-1), Family dependency (F-3) or others (G-1) status who intend to stay for less than 6 months and apply for change of status, extension of stay period, or issue of Foreigner Registration card
- As per agreement: fees exempted under visa waiver agreements, or for citizens of countries that have entered into agreements on fee exemption
Exemptions for visa issuance fees
The visa fee exemption is tied to the country and, in most cases, to a condition such as the length of stay, the type of passport you hold, or the purpose of the visa.
| Country or region | Exempt condition |
|---|---|
| Spain, Italy, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Ukraine | All types of visa, regardless of period of stay |
| Sweden | For visas within 90 days |
| Israel, Barbados, Colombia, Peru, Liberia, Dominican Republic | For visas over 91 days |
| Paraguay, Benin, Romania, Brazil, Uruguay, Guatemala, Cyprus, Mexico, Algeria | For diplomatic or official passport holders, for visas over 91 days |
| Mongolia | For diplomatic or official passport holders, for visas over 31 days; for ordinary passport holders, for visas less than 90 days |
| Philippines | For Business or Tourist purpose (all C-3 types), for visas less than 59 days |
| Australia | For a multiple-entry visa with 1 year validity for Business (C-3-4) purpose, for less than 90 days |
| Germany | For Student (D-2); General Trainee (D-4) for students who received admission to a university and complete a language training course to go to university; Intra-Company Transferee (D-7); Corporate Investor (D-8); International Trade (D-9); and Special Occupation (E-7) for those in marketing |
| China | For a multiple-entry Short-term General (C-3-1) visa with 1 year validity for 90 days of stay, issued to an unaccompanied spouse, children, parents, or parents of spouse of members of a diplomatic mission or consular office |
| Hong Kong, France | H-1 Working Holiday visa |
| Venezuela | Listed among the exempt countries; confirm the condition that applies to your case on the official page |
Most of these exemptions are narrow, so coming from a listed country is not always enough on its own. Read the condition next to your country and compare it with the visa you are applying for, including the passport you hold and the length of stay you are asking for.
Applications That Carry No Fee
Some duties are not charged at all. These are separate from the exemptions above, because they attach to the duty itself rather than to your nationality or passport.
- Reporting change of particulars of your Foreigner Registration Card, such as the employment company name
- Reporting of changes in management of foreign students, employees and trainees
- Applying for As-Korean National Treatment
- Extension of stay, change of status and re-entry permit for national scholars of government and other such public organizations
- Permission for extension of stay for departure under the Ministerial Ordinance of the Immigration Act Article 39, Section 1
Reporting a change is not the same as applying for permission. Reporting a change of particulars such as your employment company name carries no fee, while permission for changes or additions of your company of employment is KRW 120,000. Which of the two your case needs depends on your status and your situation.
Permission for extension of stay for departure is handled by the head of office or the head of a branch office, and permission from the Minister of Justice is also required for extensions greater than 30 days. It can be granted in the following situations.
- You are a registered foreigner who wishes to temporarily extend your stay for travel purposes after completing the original task outlined by your stay status.
- No means of departure is available, or another such unforeseen event occurs.
⚠️ If you think your case is a no-fee duty, confirm that with the office or the 1345 Contact Center before you pay.
Common Mistakes and What Depends on Your Case
The most common error is budgeting one single amount for any visit to an immigration office. The published amounts range from KRW 30,000 for a single-entry re-entry permit up to KRW 120,000 for permission to engage in the activities beyond your current status.
- Bringing only a card for the residence card fee. Issuing or reissuing a residence card is KRW 35,000 and is cash only.
- Assuming the reduced extension amount applies to every status. The KRW 30,000 extension amount is listed for F-2 and F-6 holders.
- Assuming a visa fee exemption covers every visa type. Several exemptions are limited by length of stay, passport type, or visa purpose.
- Choosing between a single-entry and a multiple-entry re-entry permit without checking your travel plans. The two are priced at KRW 30,000 and KRW 50,000.
- Filing a report when permission is what your case needs, or expecting to pay for a report that carries no fee.
What applies to you can depend on your status of stay, your nationality, the type of passport you hold, and the exact application you file. If your case does not match the published list exactly, check the current amount on the official page before you go. The 1345 Immigration Contact Center can also answer questions by phone during its opening hours.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to extend my stay in Korea?
Permission for extension of stay is KRW 60,000, and F-2 or F-6 holders pay KRW 30,000. Some extensions carry no fee, such as permission for extension of stay for departure and extensions for national scholars of government and other such public organizations, so confirm your case on the official page before you pay.
Can I pay the residence card fee by card?
Issuing or reissuing a residence card is KRW 35,000 and is listed as cash only. Bring cash for that payment so you do not have to come back a second time.
Why does my visa cost more than someone else’s?
Visa issuance fees depend on the number of entries and, for single-entry visas, on the length of stay. They run from an amount equivalent to USD 40 for a single-entry visa for less than 90 days up to an amount equivalent to USD 90 for a multiple-entry visa with unlimited entries. Nationals of countries under a fee-exempt agreement with the Republic of Korea pay no visa issuance fee.
Do students pay for permission to work outside their visa status?
Permission to engage in the activities beyond the current status is KRW 120,000, and students’ time limited employment is exempt from this fee. Other immigration fees in Korea still apply according to the application type you file.
Is there a fee for reporting a change of my employment company name?
Reporting change of particulars of your Foreigner Registration Card, such as the employment company name, carries no fee. Permission for changes or additions of your company of employment is a different application and costs KRW 120,000.
Before you go to an office, match your case to the exact permission duty and the exact published amount, and check whether an exemption or a no-fee rule covers you. Immigration fees in Korea are set by application type, so the amount changes with what you file and sometimes with your status, passport or nationality. Fees and exemption conditions can change, so confirm the current amounts on the official page before you apply.
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.