Visa guides
The latest rules and recent changes on extension of stay, change of status, invitations and more.
- Extension of stay
Extension of stay in 2026: what has changed and what is planned
This article covers a longer stay for parents of foreign children attending school in Korea (until the child turns 24), permission for foreign victims of violence to apply at the immigration office covering their shelter, and a planned longer stay for marriage migrants' family members from their home country.
- Change of status
International students (D-2, D-10): what changed in 2026
This article sums up the 2026 changes for international students: specialized technical training programs and the new K-CORE (E-7-M) work visa, the revised wide-area regional visa that puts international students first, the student visa reform under discussion, and crackdowns on part-time work without permission.
- Change of status
How H-2 ethnic Koreans can change to Overseas Korean (F-4) status: the 2026 merger of statuses of stay for ethnic Koreans
Since February 12, 2026, statuses of stay for ethnic Koreans have been merged into Overseas Korean (F-4) status. This article covers how to change from H-2 to F-4, the fee waiver, periods of stay based on Korean language ability, 10 newly allowed jobs and eased income requirements for permanent residency.
- Invitation
Foreign seasonal worker checklist for farms (2026)
This article sums up the changes that farms hosting seasonal workers in 2026 need to know: penalties for brokers, the mandatory standard employment contract, housing standards, issues found in inspections, and training and alien registration handled at the same time.
- Residency · Naturalization
For those preparing for permanent residency or naturalization: what changed in 2026
This article sums up 2026 news on permanent residency and naturalization: intensive processing of nationality restoration for ethnic Koreans (13 months → 9 months), more recommenders for special naturalization of outstanding talent, eased permanent residency income requirements for ethnic Koreans, and the direction of KIIP reform.
- Registration · Reports
Useful immigration service news to know (2026)
Here is useful news on immigration services: certificates of entry and exit for minor children issued on Government24, option 1 on the 1345 line for reporting human rights violations, stay applications at the immigration office covering a victim's shelter, more support centers for ethnic Koreans, and dedicated counters for immigration application agents.
- Invitation
New and changed visas in 2026 at a glance
This article sums up the visas that are new or changed in 2026: the digital nomad visa now officially in operation, the Top-Tier visa expanded to professors and researchers, a pilot for E-7-3 slaughterers and aquaculture technicians, and visa-free entry and fee waivers for group tourists.