F.A.Q

Depending on your nationality, it could be visa-exempt or a landing visa. It may also be necessary to obtain an appropriate visitor visa before leaving your home country.

A proper work visa will be required depending on your assignment type. In addition, if you are going to stay in South Korea for 91 days or more, it is mandatory to apply for your ARC (Alien Residence Card).

You need to get a new visa under your new company’s sponsorship.

Visitors, those who attend meetings / conferences / exhibitions and do not perform any other work duties, will be considered as business travelers. Depending on their nationality, they may come to South Korea under visa waiver or enter with short-term visit visa.

Work permits are required for any expatriate who will be performing work duties in South Korea no matter whether the period is short or long.

Minimum 6 weeks ~ maximum 12 weeks will be required to complete entire visa/ARC application process.

Actual duration can be changed based on applying visa type, applicant’s nationality, public holidays, and government officers’ judgement.

You need to check expiry date stated on your ARC, not on your visa stamp.

Most ARC applicants are granted 1-year validity and are generally extended by 1~3 years.

Dependent visa holders are not allowed to work in South Korea. All foreigners in South Korea must obtain a work permit in order to work in South Korea.

Housemaid visa can be applied only after his/her employer’s South Korean ARC is issued. Housemaid visa may not be allowed depending on the employer’s visa type and salary.

Dependent visa can be issued only when you have marriage certificate stating your partner as a legal spouse/wife/husband.

Unmarried couples will not be recognized as a legal family in South Korea.

Same sex couples will not be recognized as a legal family in South Korea.

Children under the age 19 are eligible to obtain dependent visa.

However, age 19 or above will not be recognized as dependents.

Child(ren) who passes their 19th birthday cannot obtain/maintain their dependent visa. They need to obtain another visa as a main applicant. (e.g. Student visa, employment visa).

Yes. You can apply for a dependent visa for your adopted children if you can provide valid documentation to support your adoption.

All ARC holders must need to report their status changes to their district immigration office within 2 weeks from its occurrence. Administrative fine will be imposed for those who does not report their changes within reporting term.

Since March 2016, Tuberculosis (TB) Test result certificate is required from all applicants from the below listed (High TB-burden) 19 countries:

Bangladesh / Cambodia / China / East Timor / India / Indonesia / Kyrgyzstan / Laos / Malaysia / Mongolia / Myanmar / Nepal / Pakistan / Philippines / Russia / Sri Lanka / Thailand / Uzbekistan / Vietnam / Laos

You can apply for your ARC extension from 3 months prior to its expiry date. You must stay in South Korea while your ARC extension application is under review which takes maximum 2 weeks.

Yes, all ARC holders are guaranteed for multiple entries until their ARC expiry date.

No.

As contract processing takes around 3~4 weeks after you have selected your property, it is generally best to aim to come for your home finding tour around 6~8 weeks before your assignment start date. 10% security deposit should be settled down as a down payment when the conducting the contract and the balance should be settled down before the lease starts.

Depending on how many areas you will be looking and how much time you want to spend at each property, but generally a full day tour will allow you to view anywhere between 8-10 properties un up to 2-3 different areas. We do recommend not too many per day as the blend together.

Yes. In most cases the landlord will be require you to have a valid visa. However, majority of cases the contract will be in the company’s name and they will be signing on your behalf.

Brining pets with you will limit the rental options, however there are some landlords willing to accept pets. Negotiation will be required.

For foreign rental properties in Korea, large appliances such as a refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner etc., are normally included. However, furniture may or may not be included. Some cases a furniture allowance can be negotiated into the rent. For Korean local market, the properties are not equipped with any appliances and furniture.