Immigration & Visas
Getting into Korea is one thing. Getting your visa, your ARC, and keeping your stay legal is another. Start with the basics here.
Guides
Start with the ARC — everything else needs it.Getting your ARC (Residence Card)
The 90-day deadline, documents, HiKorea booking, fees and the mistakes to avoid.
Visa types explained
D, E, F, H — a plain-English map of Korea's visa families and which one fits you.
Extensions & status changes
HiKorea deadlines, the 14-day reporting rules, switching to D-10, and avoiding overstay.
Path to permanent residence
The E-7 → F-2-7 → F-5 ladder, income and TOPIK rules, and the year-one moves that decide approval.
Working Holiday (H-1)
A year living in Korea with no sponsor — who qualifies, what work is allowed, and how to apply.
The E-7 skilled work visa
Korea's main professional work visa — subcategories, 2026 salary floors, and how sponsorship works.
The F-6 marriage visa
For the spouse of a Korean national — income, language, genuineness, and settling for good.
The D-2 student visa
Study, work part-time legally, and launch a career — the student visa explained.
The F-3 family visa
Bring your spouse and children — who qualifies, the 2025 changes, and can they work.
The F-4 overseas Korean visa
For people of Korean descent — near citizen-level rights, and the big 2026 H-2 merger.
The D-10 job-seeker visa
Stay in Korea legally while you job-hunt — the bridge from study to your career.
F-2 residence visa
Korea's points-based visa: score 80+ and break free from employer sponsorship.
Naturalization & citizenship
F-5 for life, or a Korean passport? The routes, the KIIP test, and the dual-nationality catch.
Re-entry & travel
Leave and come back without losing your status — the 1-year rule and the traps.
Overstay & visa fixes
Overstayed or about to? Why acting early and honestly is almost always the best move.
Reporting changes
Moved, changed jobs, or renewed your passport? What to report to immigration, and when.
Nationality & military
Korean-heritage nationality and the draft — the rules, the deadlines, and who to ask.
Refugee & humanitarian
Seeking asylum in Korea — the process, your rights, and where to get free legal help.
Immigration guides — the full set.
From your first ARC to naturalization, plus admin and niche cases. The D-8 startup visa is covered under Jobs.