Home / Visa, Immigration, Residency
November 5, 2024
IMMIGRATION CONTACT CENTER CALL 1345
Call 1345 from a Korean phone to reach the Immigration Contact Center, a central information desk for all Immigration questions, and it includes English. The Immigration Contact Center consists of Hi Korea, which is portal site for helping foreigners with online information guidance in 4 languages, including Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese, and electronic civil affairs service, and ☎1345 telephone counseling services in 20 languages. https://www.immigration.go.kr/immigration_eng/1862/subview.do
You retired in Korea and no longer have SOFA status, an A-3 visa or and the umbrella of protection it provided. Time to apply for a Korea Visa if you wish to remain here. Below are some basic guidelines about Visa's and URL links to official websites for their details. With so many different situations each of us can encounter, we do not list every Visa or every case for a Visa here.
Remember - You Are Just Another U.S. Citizen in Korea Now
It is important to keep in mind that as a retiree in Korea you are basically just another US citizen in Korea. Your military retiree status gives you nothing extra as an expat here. On-base you have privileges, but off-base, nothing special than any other American in Korea. USFK will do basically nothing to help you out of any jams you might find yourself in.
A couple important notes
Appointments
When visiting any immigration office, you must make a reservation/appointment, UNLESS you are 70 years old. Immigration offices do not require appointments when you reach 70, walk-in is fine. Visit the HiKorea website to make reservations https://www.hikorea.go.kr/resv/ResvIdntR.pt#this
Use a Lawyer?
Some hire/use an immigration lawyer in Korea to fill out paperwork and forms for your signature. A Google search or asking friends are good ways to find them. A couple of websites that may help are:
https://www.expatkidskorea.com/listing/immigration-lawyers-in-korea
https://www.expatguidekorea.com/seoul/best-immigration-lawyers-korea
The Korean government requires an FBI Identity History Summary Check, i.e. background check for all new F-type visas. The FBI has implemented an option to electronically submit and receive responses for these background checks called Electronic Departmental Order (eDO). The eDO background check option is found on the FBI website at https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks and allows faster processing times of requests, which the FBI estimates to be 3-5 business days upon their receipt of your fingerprint card. Visit the https://www.edo.cjis.gov for details and How To Submit A Request. During the process you will need to:
Korea Visa Portal / Family Visitor - Dependent Family
https://www.visa.go.kr/
Eligible Applicant Example(s)
A retiree living with a Korea born spouse, who has an F-4 Visa and is a US citizen, is eligible for a multiple-entry F-1 Visa, specially an F-1-9 (Spouse, minor children and parents of F-4 visa holder). F-1 visa holders cannot typically work. The period of stay is up to 2 years and can be extended.
Korea Visa Portal / Overseas Korea
https://www.visa.go.kr/
Eligible Applicant Example(s)
Retiree spouses with Korean heritage, even if they are a U.S. Nationalized Korean, are eligible for an F-4 visa.
Eligible Applicant Example(s)
A multi-entry visa for foreigners with no connection to a Korean relative, but wish to stay in Korea long-term. If you leave Korea after obtaining an F-5 visa, you must return to Korea every 2 years in order to keep it active, You must renew the Visa every 10 years. An F-5 Visa holder may also work in Korea. This is a difficult Visa to get.
Requirements and How to Apply: https://www.visaskorea.com/f-5-permanent-residency-visa/
Korea Visa Portal / Marriage / Immigrant https://www.visa.go.kr/
Eligible Applicant Example(s)
A retiree married to a Korea born spouse who is NOT a US citizen, is eligible for a multiple-entry F-6 Visa. F-6 Visa allows the Visa holder to work in the Republic of Korea for two years.
How to Apply, Korea Visa Portal: https://www.visa.go.kr/openPage.do?MENU_ID=10105
Korea Visa Portal ( Short Term Visit ) https://www.visa.go.kr/
Eligible Applicant Example(s)
A person who plans to stay for a short period of time on the purpose of visiting relatives, investing in public business, participating in a non-official sport games, attending events or meetings, performing cultural art, engaging in a training, taking lessons, attending a religious ceremony, collecting documents for academic research, or any other equivalent activities.
Tourists expected to stay of 90 days or less.
You must complete a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) online either before you travel or at the airport when you arrive. Requires departure from Korea every 90 days to restart the 90 day clock. At the 90 day point, or prior, many individuals fly to Japan, Okinawa, Guam etc for the day and then return. Upon returning to Korea, the 90-day clock restarts, but requires another K-ETA.
For those retirees still working federal jobs here with SOFA Status
You must be a U.S. government employee to be eligible for an A-3 Visa i.e. Civil Service (GS/NAF/WG/GG etc), Invited Contractor with a form 700-19, AAFES, and also includes non full-time employees as NAF, Civil Service, and AAFES (but not Invited Contractors) that are less then 40 hours a week flex or intermittent time (usually 20-36 hours a week).
Common Question: I am currently under a A-3 visa with SOFA status, and even have a Korea Registration Card. I am about to terminate my government position here in Korea and prepare to move out of Korea. How long may I remain in Korea before I must leave the country?
Answer: You retain SOFA status under your A-3 Visa for 30 days after employment end date, at which point you must leave the country and return under another visa status. If returning as a tourist (C-3), then you must leave the country every 90 days. That 90 days does not begin immediately after losing A-3/SOFA status i.e. staying in Korea 30 days + 90 days consecutive after termination government employment. If you have a Korea Registration Card (called ARC previously), as your A-3 is expiring, you must update your ARC card visa status at an Immigration office. Your ARC card does not automatically extend that 30 day requirement and allow you to remain longer in Korea past the 30 days. Even if you re applying for an F-5 or F6 visa to remain, that new visa must be obtained within the 30 days.
TIP: If you are a retiree or veteran living in Korea it is almost imperative to have a Residence Card, because just about everything you do in any official or government office requires one. The Residence Card is a Korean national identification card for foreigners, providing a form of ID and Korean ID Number. It is required for signing up for services like cell phone plans, internet, banking, and health insurance.
What we all knew as the Alien Registration Card (ARC) was changed to Registration Car in January of 2021 in response to criticism over the term “alien”. There is a good article at https://www.korvia.com/the-new-residence-card-in-south-korea-whats-changed-and-how-to-obtain-it/. If you have a current ARC card that is not expired, it is still good as-is! When you get it renewed you will get the updated Registration Card.
Aain, Registration Cards are a must have for non-SOFA status personnel, but SOFA status folks with an A-3 visa are still highly encouraged to get one. It's pretty easy and painless.
Residence Card (most common for retirees): Issued to foreigners who intend to stay in the Republic of Korea for more than 90 days from the date of entry and have completed resident registration.
Permanent Resident Card: Issued to foreigners who hold permanent residency status, and it is valid for 10 years.
Overseas Korean Resident Card: Issued to foreigners who are overseas Koreans with foreign nationality and have reported their place of residence in Korea.
- If you are retiring in Korea
- If If you intend to stay more than 90 days in Korea
- If you lost SOFA status, but will remain in Korea
Download the application form on the Hi Korea official website at https://www.hikorea.go.kr/board/BoardApplicationListR.pt?page=1&locale=EN.
You must go to an Immigration Office downtown in your area, but you must make a reservation online for your office visit. Go to the immigration homepage at https://hikorea.go.kr/resv/ResvIntroR.pt#this to Reserve a Visit (book a date and time). Apply at the Immigration Office in your residential area. Offices outside of your addressed area will not serve you.
NOTE: If you currently have an A3 SOFA Visa, you can apply at the Osan AMC Terminal Immigration window or at the USAG Humphreys SOFA Stamp Issuing office in Maude Hall (OneStop 2nd floor). No appointment needed to apply, but you must go in-person to the Immigration Office to pick up your card, which in the Osan area is the Pyeongtaek Immigration Office in Songtan. It's published name however is Suwon Immigration Office, Pyeongtaek Branch (directions using Waze).
Click here to open 2022 revision of the ARC Application Form
Click here to go to Hi Korea Forms page for ARC Application Form (called 'Integrated application form')
You do have the option to have your ARC card delivered to you via Korea Post mail, but make sure to ask the immigration agent about it. They do not automatically tell you about it, but if you ask then they will. You of course can also return to the immigration office and pick it up.
For your spouse to apply for residency in the US, start by going to the U.S. Department of State FAQ page for DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/online-immigrant-visa-forms/ds-260-faqs.html
Korea's Smart Entry Service (SES) is a state-of-the-art system. that registers passport information and biometric information. (fingerprint, face) in advance under the name of the Automated. Immigration System in Korea, and then uses it to conduct immigration inspection at the Smart Entry Service Gate at airports and sea ports and verify travelers. SES is available at many airports in Korea, including: Incheon Airport, Gimhae Airport, Gimpo Airport, Jeju Airport, Daegu Airport, Cheongju Airport
To use SES, travelers must:
To learn about SES: Who can use it, How to register, etc, go to https://www.immigration.go.kr/immigration_eng/1859/subview.do
Special Note for all ARC Card holders:
Recently, the Korean government has automatically added all ARC cards into the SES system. This means if you have an ARC card, you can use SES at the airports, BUT there is a catch you need to be aware of:
Click images to enlarge
Websites with more information
