For a registered foreigner who visits home or travels abroad for a short time, the re-entry permit is the system to get right so that coming back goes smoothly. People sometimes get confused over whether a permit is needed or they are exempt. This guide covers the basic structure of the permit, exemption rules and how to extend when you cannot return in time.
Key points
- A registered foreign national who leaves and wants to re-enter within the stay period generally needs a re-entry permit (Article 30(1)).
- Permanent residents and persons set by Ministry of Justice rule may be exempt (Article 30(1) proviso, Enforcement Rule Article 44-2).
- Permits are single (one re-entry) or multiple (two or more) (Article 30(2)).
- If you cannot return within the permitted period, you must obtain an extension before it ends (Article 30(3)).
1. What is a re-entry permit?
Article 30(1) says that when a foreigner who is registered or exempt from registration leaves and wants to re-enter within the stay period, the Minister of Justice may permit re-entry on application. Under Enforcement Rule Article 39-7, submit a re-entry permit application with documents explaining the reason to the office head. The permit period is set within the permitted stay period, and if granted the passport is stamped or given a sticker. Check the permit fee in the HiKorea fee guide.
2. Single and multiple permits and periods
Article 30(2) divides re-entry permits into single, allowing one re-entry, and multiple, allowing two or more. The maximum periods under Enforcement Rule Article 41 are as follows.
| Type | Maximum period |
|---|---|
| Single re-entry permit | 1 year |
| Multiple re-entry permit | 2 years |
| Multiple (certain investors in D-8 or F-2) | 3 years |
The criteria for multiple permits are set separately by the Minister of Justice considering reciprocity and similar factors (Enforcement Rule, Article 40). The immigration manual tells those returning more than 1 year but within 2 years after leaving, within the stay period, to apply for a multiple permit, and notes that some nationalities face restrictions on multiple permits. Check with your office whether this applies to you.
3. Who is exempt?
Under the proviso to Article 30(1), Enforcement Rule Article 44-2 exempts the following people from the permit.
- F-5 holders: re-entry within 2 years of leaving
- Holders of statuses from A-1 to F-3 and from F-6 to G-1: re-entry within 1 year of leaving (or the remaining stay period if shorter than 1 year)
People subject to an entry ban under Article 11 and those whose visa issuance needs the Minister's approval under Article 10 of the Rule are excluded. The manual also says people under entry or visa issuance restrictions must visit the office for their place of residence to obtain a permit. Once the exemption period passes, the exemption does not apply, so count the days.
4. If you cannot return in time
If illness or other unavoidable reasons prevent re-entry within the permitted period, you must obtain the Minister of Justice's extension of the re-entry permit period before it ends (Article 30(3)). Under Enforcement Decree Article 38, the authority is delegated to heads of overseas missions, and it covers exempted persons who cannot return within the exemption period as well as permit holders. The application goes to the head of an overseas mission, and the extension runs up to 3 months from the end of the permit period but cannot exceed the permitted stay (Enforcement Rule, Article 39-8); extending the exemption period follows the same rule (Article 44-2(3)). This procedure is not available after the period ends, so if something happens abroad, contact the nearest overseas mission right away.
5. Checklist before and after leaving
- Check your status and remaining stay period. The exemption period can be shorter depending on the remaining stay.
- Decide whether you are exempt. With entry restrictions you may not be.
- If a permit is needed, apply before leaving. Prepare the application and documents explaining the reason.
- Check what to do with your registration card on departure. The return duty does not apply if you hold a re-entry permit or are exempt and will return within the period (Article 37(1)).
- If returning gets difficult, ask about an extension before the period ends. Use an overseas mission.
6. What an administrative scrivener can do
We prepare and submit re-entry permit applications, check whether you are exempt, guide you on extension procedures, and translate foreign documents. Investigation and criminal trial defense after a complaint is outside the scope of an administrative scrivener and we do not handle it.
Once your departure date is set, check exemption and remaining stay first. If you are worried about entry restrictions, see the entry ban removal guide too.