Immigration Fines

Korea Immigration Fine Schedule — Complete Guide

A breach of Korea's Immigration Act attracts either a fine or an administrative penalty, set by the type of breach and how long it lasted — or how many times it happened. The amounts below are those fixed in Tables 7 and 8 of the Enforcement Rule, Table 2 of the Enforcement Decree, and the Table to the Enforcement Decree of the Overseas Koreans Act.

16 breach types · 101 bands|See the full schedule →

Staying beyond your status or permitted period

Fine · Immigration Act art. 94(7)

Remaining in Korea outside the scope of the status of stay granted to you, or beyond the period permitted — the most common form of overstay.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 1 month	KRW 2,000,000
1 – 3 months	KRW 3,000,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 4,000,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 7,000,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 10,000,000
2 – 3 years	KRW 15,000,000
3 – 5 years	KRW 20,000,000
5 – 7 years	KRW 25,000,000
7 years or more	KRW 30,000,000

Working without a work-eligible status (worker)

Fine · Immigration Act art. 94(8)

Imposed on the foreign national who worked without holding a status of stay that permits employment.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 1 month	KRW 2,000,000
1 – 3 months	KRW 3,000,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 4,000,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 7,000,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 10,000,000
2 – 3 years	KRW 15,000,000
3 – 5 years	KRW 20,000,000
5 – 7 years	KRW 25,000,000
7 years or more	KRW 30,000,000

Engaging in activities outside your status without permission

Fine · Immigration Act art. 94(12)

Carrying out activities that belong to another status of stay, in addition to your current one, without obtaining prior permission.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 1 month	KRW 2,000,000
1 – 3 months	KRW 3,000,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 4,000,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 7,000,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 10,000,000
2 – 3 years	KRW 15,000,000
3 – 5 years	KRW 20,000,000
5 – 7 years	KRW 25,000,000
7 years or more	KRW 30,000,000

Staying without having been granted a status of stay

Fine · Immigration Act art. 94(15)

Where a foreign national who came to reside in Korea — for example by birth — continued to stay without applying for a status of stay.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 1 month	KRW 500,000
1 – 3 months	KRW 1,000,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 2,000,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 5,000,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 10,000,000
2 – 3 years	KRW 15,000,000
3 – 5 years	KRW 20,000,000
5 – 7 years	KRW 25,000,000
7 years or more	KRW 30,000,000

Changing to another status without permission

Fine · Immigration Act art. 94(16)

Engaging in activities under a different status of stay without first obtaining a change-of-status permit.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 1 month	KRW 500,000
1 – 3 months	KRW 1,000,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 2,000,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 5,000,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 10,000,000
2 – 3 years	KRW 15,000,000
3 – 5 years	KRW 20,000,000
5 – 7 years	KRW 25,000,000
7 years or more	KRW 30,000,000

Overstaying without an extension permit

Fine · Immigration Act art. 94(17)

Continuing to stay past the expiry of your permitted period without having obtained an extension of stay.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 1 month	KRW 500,000
1 – 3 months	KRW 1,000,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 2,000,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 5,000,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 10,000,000
2 – 3 years	KRW 15,000,000
3 – 5 years	KRW 20,000,000
5 – 7 years	KRW 25,000,000
7 years or more	KRW 30,000,000

Employing a foreign national without work eligibility (employer)

Fine · Immigration Act art. 94(9)

Imposed on the employer who hired a person without a work-eligible status. The amount rises with the number of workers employed, and the joint-penalty provision can extend it to the company or the individual.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 3 months	KRW 3,000,000 – KRW 30,000,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 5,000,000 – KRW 30,000,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 7,000,000 – KRW 30,000,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 9,000,000 – KRW 30,000,000
2 years or more	KRW 11,000,000 – KRW 30,000,000

The lower figure applies to one worker employed; the upper figure to 50 or more.

Changing or adding a workplace without permission

Fine · Immigration Act art. 95(6)

Where your status requires prior permission to change or add a workplace, and you moved or took on an additional workplace without it.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 3 months	KRW 1,000,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 2,000,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 3,000,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 5,000,000
2 years or more	KRW 10,000,000

Failing to complete alien registration

Fine · Immigration Act art. 95(7)

Where a foreign national intending to stay more than 90 days did not register within 90 days of entry or of the event giving rise to the duty.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 1 month	KRW 200,000
1 – 3 months	KRW 500,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 1,000,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 2,000,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 5,000,000
2 years or more	KRW 10,000,000

Failing to report a change of residence

Fine · Immigration Act art. 98(2)

Where a registered foreign national did not report the move within 15 days of taking up the new place of residence.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 3 months	KRW 100,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 300,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 500,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 700,000
2 years or more	KRW 1,000,000

Entering without a valid passport or visa

Fine · Immigration Act art. 94(2)

Entering Korea without the passport and visa required by law (art. 7(1) and 7(4)); the amount rises with the number of violations.

Number of violations	Standard amount
1st violation	KRW 5,000,000
2nd violation	KRW 15,000,000
3rd violation or more	KRW 30,000,000

Employer's duty to report (breach)

Admin. penalty · Immigration Act art. 100(1)(1)

Where an employer of a foreign national failed to report a dismissal, resignation, death, unknown whereabouts, or a material change to the employment contract within 15 days of learning of it.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 3 months	KRW 100,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 300,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 500,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 1,000,000
2 years or more	KRW 2,000,000

Failing to report a change or addition of workplace

Admin. penalty · Immigration Act art. 100(1)(3)

Where a holder of a status that may change or add a workplace by notification alone — such as professionals in knowledge, technology or skills — did not report within 15 days.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 3 months	KRW 100,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 300,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 500,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 1,000,000
2 years or more	KRW 2,000,000

Failing to report a change to registered particulars

Admin. penalty · Immigration Act art. 100(2)(1)

Where changes to name, sex, date of birth, nationality, passport number, issue date or validity, or affiliated organisation were not reported within 15 days.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 3 months	KRW 100,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 300,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 500,000
1 year or more	KRW 1,000,000

Breach of the duty to apply or report on another's behalf (under 17)

Admin. penalty · Immigration Act art. 100(2)(2)

Where the legal representative of a foreign national under 17 failed to file, within the statutory period, applications or reports such as out-of-status activity, change of status, extension of stay, alien registration, change of particulars or change of residence.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 1 year	KRW 100,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 300,000
2 – 3 years	KRW 500,000
3 years or more	KRW 1,000,000

Overseas Korean: failing to report a change of domestic residence

Admin. penalty · Overseas Koreans Act art. 17(1)

Where an overseas Korean who filed a domestic residence report — for example on an F-4 status — did not report the move within 14 days of relocating.

Length of breach	Standard amount
Under 3 months	KRW 100,000
3 – 6 months	KRW 300,000
6 months – 1 year	KRW 500,000
1 – 2 years	KRW 1,000,000
2 years or more	KRW 2,000,000

📌 Received a Fine Notice?

Fines must be paid by the stated deadline. Late payment results in surcharges and may lead to forced collection or a departure ban. Check the notice immediately and consult a specialist.

⚠️ Fine vs Administrative Penalty vs Criminal Punishment

Immigration violations may result in a fine (administrative notification), a penalty, criminal punishment (fine or imprisonment), or a combination. Illegal employment, use of forged passports, and long-term overstay can lead to criminal prosecution and deportation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. I received a fine notice. What should I do?

A. Pay by the deadline shown on the notice. If you dispute the amount, you may file an objection with the immigration office. Failure to pay on time results in surcharges and potential forced collection.

Q. Can I still be deported after paying the fine?

A. Yes. Paying the fine resolves the administrative penalty, but deportation is decided separately through an immigration review. Violations such as illegal employment or drug offences can lead to deportation proceedings regardless of fine payment.

Q. I overstayed by only a few days. Is this a serious problem?

A. Short overstays (< 1 month) attract the lowest fine tier, but a re-entry restriction may still apply upon voluntary departure. The fine and deportation risk escalate sharply with longer overstays. Seek advice as soon as you are aware of the situation.

For fine notices, illegal employment issues, overstay, or any immigration matter, contact Sunshine Administrative Agency Office for immediate assistance.

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The amounts on this page are those fixed in the statutory schedules. The sum actually imposed may be increased or reduced according to the circumstances, repeat violations and the number of workers employed, and the decision depends on the reviewing officer's judgement. This page is general information, not legal advice on an individual case.

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