Re-entry permit exemption — check before a long trip abroad
This page is machine translated from Ieumi's guide written in Korean. If the meaning is confusing, please look at the Korean original text. View original text (Korean)
If you return within 1 year of departure (2 years for F-5 permanent residents), no re-entry permit is needed. Stay out longer and you lose your status — and there is no way to fix it from abroad. If you plan to stay abroad beyond the exemption period, get re-entry permission before you leave.
Part of this item is still available in Korean only. This label will disappear once translation is complete. The content is exactly as in the official source.
Deadline
If your remaining period of stay is shorter than 1 year, you can only re-enter until your stay expires — whichever date comes first is the limit. For F-5 permanent residents it is 2 years.
📍 Where to go
Your local immigration office, before departure (if you plan to be away beyond the exemption period)
❗ What happens if you don't
This cannot be undone
Your residence status is lost. Permanent residency is no exception.
If it is already late
If you are already abroad past the period, please contact the Korean mission abroad (embassy or consulate) before you come back. In some cases you have to obtain a new visa. If you are in Korea, please check with 1345 before you leave whether re-entry permission is needed — checking is free and takes only a few minutes.
See also
Basis
- 출입국관리법 시행규칙 제44조의2(재입국허가 면제기준 등) 제1항 (법제처 국가법령정보센터, 시행 2026-01-23)
- 하이코리아 「전자민원 안내」 신청 가능 민원 — 「재입국허가(복수)」 전자민원 · 방문예약(CAT_SEQ 7203) — 크롬으로 열어 확인 2026-10-31 (D-936 ③)
This content was checked on 2026-10-31.