Re-Entry Permits in Korea: Do You Need One to Leave and Come Back?

What a re-entry permit is

A re-entry permit lets a foreign resident leave Korea and re-enter on their existing visa status without the status lapsing. Under the current system, most Alien Registration Card (ARC) holders are automatically exempt from needing a permit — as long as they return within a set window after departure. You only need to actually apply for a permit if your trip abroad will run longer than that window; otherwise the immigration system can treat the departure as ending the stay, and your visa status can be lost.

The permit applies per trip: a single-entry permit covers one return, and a multiple-entry permit covers repeated returns within its validity. The rules and fees are set by the Ministry of Justice and reviewed periodically.

Who needs one — and who does not

This is a duration test, not a category test. Most registered foreigners are exempt by default and only need to apply for a permit when a trip runs longer than their exemption window:

• Most ARC holders (most E, D and F visa categories) — exempt if returning within 1 year of departure, or before their ARC stay period expires, whichever is earlier.
• F-5 permanent residents — exempt if returning within 2 years of departure.
• F-4 overseas Koreans — exempt if returning within their remaining stay period.
• Refugee travel document holders — exempt if returning within the document’s validity.

If your trip will fit inside your exemption window, you can travel on your ARC without applying for anything. You only need a re-entry permit — and only need to pay for one — when you know a trip will run longer than that window, for example an extended trip home or an assignment abroad. Confirm your exact window with Hi Korea or the immigration hotline (1345) before booking travel, since it depends on both your category and how much time is left on your ARC.

How to apply

The permit is applied for before departure, in one of two ways:

• Online through Hi Korea — the portal has a re-entry permit application; you can pay the fee online and receive the permit before you travel.
• At the airport — immigration desks at the airport process re-entry permit applications for departures, as a last-minute option (fees may differ and queues are possible).

What you need: your passport, your Alien Registration Card, and the application fee. Single-entry and multiple-entry permits have different fees, set by the Ministry of Justice notice. Once issued, carry the permit (or the online confirmation) with your ARC when you travel.

What happens if you travel without one

If your trip runs longer than your exemption window and you leave without a permit, the departure can be treated as terminating your visa status — the ARC may be invalidated on exit, and returning requires a fresh visa or status. In practice:

• Check before departure — the cheapest fix is confirming your exemption window and applying early if your trip will exceed it.
• Airport application — if you arrive at the airport without a permit, immigration can issue one at the counter for that departure, so it is not automatically a lost trip, but it is an avoidable risk.
• Overstay awareness — a re-entry permit does not change the length of your stay; your ARC’s validity and visa conditions still apply when you return.

If you are also handling other immigration matters, our immigration office guide covers appointments and documents for status-related visits.

Practical checklist

• Confirm your exemption window (1 year for most ARC holders, 2 years for F-5) and how much ARC stay period you have left.
• If your trip will run longer than that window, apply through Hi Korea before the trip, or at the airport on departure day.
• Choose single or multiple entry based on how many times you plan to return.
• Carry the permit confirmation with your ARC when travelling.

Note — exempt categories, fees and procedures change. Confirm the current rules on the Hi Korea portal and with the 1345 hotline before travelling.