To stem the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Ministry of Justice announced on April 9 that it has extended for three months the visas of about 60,000 foreign nationals in Korea whose periods of stay expire soon. The photo above shows people on April 1 waiting at the Korea Immigration Service to settle civil matters. (Ministry of Justice)
By Lee Kyoung Mi and Lee Jihae
The Ministry of Justice has extended for three months the visas of about 60,000 registered foreign residents whose periods of stay will soon expire.
The ministry on April 9 said this decision was made to allow foreign nationals to renew their visas without having a large number of them gather at immigration offices this month to do so, thus preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
As of April 9, the visas of approximately 60,000 registered foreign nationals staying legally in the country will expire by May 31, and thus their periods of stay will be extended for three months from their original expiration dates.
Authorized by the justice minister, the extension will apply to all foreign residents so that they need not visit an immigration office.
The extension, however, does not apply to foreign residents whose whereabouts are unknown, those undocumented, those who have already applied for an extension either on- or off-line, and those who neither paid taxes nor subscribed to national health insurance. Those with the visas for arts and entertainment (E-6-2), working holiday (H-2), visiting or joining family (F-1-11) or marriage immigrant parent (F-1-5) can get extensions within the time period set under law.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that those ineligible for this automatic extension, such as those with visas for non-professional employment (E-9) and vessel crew (E-10), should apply for an extension online or have their employers file for a group extension instead.