IMM · 101

Re-entry & travel

Leave and come back without losing your status — the 1-year rule and the traps.

In short

Once you have your ARC (residence card), most long-term residents can leave and re-enter Korea freely — no separate re-entry permit needed for trips under 1 year.
Stay abroad 1 year or more and you must get a multiple re-entry permit before leaving, or your visa is cancelled.
F-5 permanent residents get a longer window: re-enter within 2 years without a permit.
Two catches: the exemption can't exceed your remaining stay period, and if your ARC application is still pending, leaving can cancel it.

Good news: Korea dropped the routine re-entry permit years ago. For everyday trips home or holidays abroad, registered residents just travel on their passport + ARC. But a few rules protect your status — get them wrong and you can lose your visa. Always confirm your case with 1345 or HiKorea.

The core rule

If you're a registered foreigner (you have your ARC) and re-enter Korea under the same status:

Within 1 year of departure → no re-entry permit needed (exemption). Applies to most long-term statuses (A, D, E, F-1/2/3/6, G, H, etc.).
1 to 2 years abroad → you must apply for a multiple re-entry permit before you leave (free, via HiKorea or an immigration office). A 2-year period is granted.
Over 2 years abroad → generally not covered; your status lapses. Plan carefully.
F-5 permanent residents: exempt if re-entering within 2 years (not 1).
F-4 overseas Koreans: follow separate Overseas Koreans Act rules — re-entry within the authorized stay; different from ARC holders. Don't mix them up.

The trap that catches people: "within 1 year is OK" only up to your remaining period of stay. If your ARC expires in 4 months and you go abroad for 6, the exemption ends at your expiry — you'd return to an expired status. Check your ARC expiry against your trip, and count the year from your departure date.

Before you travel: checklist

Check your ARC expiry vs your return date. If your stay would run out while abroad, sort an extension or re-entry permit first.
Check passport validity — stay permission is usually only granted within your passport's validity.
Going abroad 1+ year? Apply for a multiple re-entry permit before departure (HiKorea e-application or immigration office).
ARC still processing? Don't leave — a pending application is usually cancelled if you depart. If you must go, call 1345 at least ~5 business days ahead to confirm.
Moved recently? Report your address change within 14–15 days — an unreported move plus a trip can cause problems on return.
Owe taxes/health insurance? Arrears can bring stay-period disadvantages at your next extension — clear them.

Students & special cases

D-2/D-4 students: same 1-year exemption, but if your academic status changes (withdraw, leave of absence, graduation), your visa can expire regardless of the ARC date — you may have to leave within 30 days. Check with your school's international office.
Short-term/visa-free visitors: the K-ETA itself acts as a multiple re-entry authorization for short stays (K-ETA becomes required again from Jan 1, 2027; a waiver runs through end-2026 for many nationalities). This is separate from resident re-entry.
Returning your ARC = permanent departure. If you hand in your card at the airport, your status ends. Only do this if you're leaving for good.

Common questions

Do I need a re-entry permit for a holiday abroad?

No — with your ARC, trips under 1 year (2 for F-5) need no permit, as long as it's within your remaining stay period.

I'll be abroad 14 months — what do I do?

Apply for a multiple re-entry permit before leaving (free, HiKorea/immigration office). Without it your visa is cancelled.

My ARC is still being processed — can I travel?

Best not to; leaving usually cancels a pending application. If unavoidable, confirm with 1345 well in advance.

Does leaving reset an about-to-expire visa?

No — extend before you travel. Re-entry doesn't extend your period of stay.

Sources: Korea Immigration Service / Ministry of Justice re-entry rules (enforcement rules effective Nov 2025), HiKorea, university international-office guidance, and 2026 re-entry guides. F-5: 2-year window; general long-term: 1-year exemption.

Last verified: July 2026. Re-entry rules and K-ETA dates change and vary by status — confirm with HiKorea, 1345, or a licensed 행정사 before travelling. General information, not immigration advice.

Planning a trip abroad?

Double-check your case with others who've done it — post in the community and tag it Immigration.

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