Once your appointment to KAIST is made official, you should apply for a visa at the Korean embassy or consulate in your country. In order to do so, you need a visa issuance permit number. Please take note of the following information carefully and make sure to have the proper visa before you come to Korea.

If you are staying in Korea for more than 90 days, you must complete your alien registration within 30 days of arrival to Korea.

Your alien registration card (ARC) and permitted sojourn period (printed in the back of your ARC) should be kept valid during your contract with KAIST.

Once you enter Korea, your permitted sojourn period (printed in the back of your ARC) will automatically become your valid visa period. You must extend the period before it expires to continue working in Korea. If not, you will be in violation of immigration law for working without a proper visa.

You must have a valid ARC to re-enter Korea after leaving for sabbatical, sick leave, research leave, etc. If your ARC expires during your stay overseas, you must obtain a new visa before re-entering Korea. If not, a fine will be levied to both you and KAIST. To apply for a new visa, please make a request to ISSS through your department office.

*By immigration law, your ARC and visa will automatically expire regardless of the original valid period if you were not in Korea for a consecutive period of one year or longer, unless you apply for a re-entry permit before you leave Korea. Applying for a re-entry permit is possible only if your ARC will still be valid when you come back to Korea. To apply for a re-entry permit, contact ISSS at isss@kaist.ac.kr.

If your ARC is not valid when you return to Korea, you may be asked to return your ARC at the international airport. Afterwards, you must apply for a new alien registration card since your ARC and visa is no longer valid.

If you are staying in Korea for more than 90 days, you must complete your alien registration within 30 days of arrival to Korea. When alien registration is completed, you will receive your alien registration card (ARC). Be reminded that your permitted sojourn period printed in the back of your ARC will automatically become your valid visa period. ISSS can apply for alien registration on your behalf. However, you must visit the Daejeon Immigration Office to complete the registration by registering your fingerprints. ISSS can also pick up your ARC for you if you submit the application receipt, named the Certificate of Application for Permit of Stay (체류허가신청확인서).

Note that it will take about 2~3 weeks for your ARC to be ready. Therefore, it is highly recommended to get a Certificate of Alien Registration (외국인등록 사실증명서) upon application for an alien registration card(ARC) at the Immigration Office (cost: 2,000 won). The Certificate can temporarily act as a substitute for your ARC and will be used for school affairs until you receive your ARC. (The certificate cannot be used to open a bank account or for mobile phone subscriptions). If you would like ISSS to apply for your ARC on your behalf, submit the following documents to ISSS.

Required Documents

• Application form (available at ISSS)
• Passport (original & copy, including the visa page)
• A passport photo (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, taken against a white background)
• Fee: 30,000 won in cash
• KAIST Business Registration Certificate (available at ISSS)
• Proof of Residency*

* The Proof of Residency form is available on the IO website or the ISSS office.

If you live in an on-campus residence, please fill in the Proof of Residency form and get it signed by the General Affairs Team (E14, 4F). If you llive off campus and not in a KAIST accommodation, please fill out the form and have it signed by the house owner or house provider. Also, a copy of your house contract must be attached to the form.

If you lose your alien registration card, you must report the loss to the Immigration Office within 14 days of occurrence. If you do not report within the given time period, you will be fined. To report the loss of ARC and apply for re-issuance, please visit the ISSS office.

You must report any changes in alien registration, as listed below, within 14 days of occurrence. If you do not report within 14 days, you will be fined.

• Change of name, sex, date of birth, or nationality
• Change of passport number, issuance date, or its expiration date
• Change in address of residence in Korea
• Change of university, workplace, or details of the organization you are part of (including name changes)

You may choose to report the change of address at the Yuseong District Office, but all other reports must be done at the Immigration Office.

Required Documents

• Application form
• Passport (original & copy)
• Alien registration card
• Additional documents to prove change of information

A registered foreigner must apply for an extension of sojourn (which is normally called visa extension or extension of stay). Extension is possible from 60 days before the expiration date. If you would like to apply through ISSS, please bring all required documents listed below to ISSS at least two weeks from the date your sojourn period ends. You can also apply for extension through the online immigration system (www.hikorea.go.kr). For online applications, the extension fee will be discounted from 60,000 won to 56,000 won. If you apply for extension after the expiration date, a fine will be levied to both you and KAIST according to Article 25 of the Immigration Act.

Required Documents

• Application form
• A copy of your Passport (ID page)
• Alien registration card(original and copy)
• A copy of employment contract
• Fee: 60,000 won in revenue stamps (available at Woori Bank in W2) glued to the application form
• KAIST Business Registration Certificate (available at the ISSS office)
• Proof of Residency

There is no need to get permission for certain activities, such as delivering one-time lectures related to your major in other institutions. However, permission is needed in the following cases:

• If the activity is more than a one-time event
• The period is longer than the contract period with KAIST
• The pay is higher than the pay from KAIST

The simplest way to get the F-3 visa for your family is to apply along with your Application for Confirmation of Visa Issuance before you come to Korea. However, if you are already in Korea and your family wishes to join you, they must apply for their visas at the Korean embassy in their country.

Alien Registration Card

• Application form
• Passport (original & copy including the visa page)
• A passport photo
• Fee: 30,000 won in cash
• Copy of alien registration card of spouse or parent (E-1 or E-3 holder)
• Proof of Residency*

* Note that minors (under 18 years) do NOT have to register their fingerprints

Extension of Sojourn Period (visa extension)

Application for extension is possible from 60 days before the expiry date.

• Application form
• A copy of your Passport (ID page)
• Alien registration card (original and copy)
• Fee: 60,000 won in revenue stamps (available at Woori Bank in W2) glued to the application form
• Copy of Alien Registration Card of spouse or parent (E-1 or E-3 holder)
• Proof of Residency

* If you wish for ISSS to apply on your behalf, please hand us the documents at least 2 weeks before the date of expiry.

Parents who have a child born in Korea must apply for alien registration for their child within 90 days of birth. Since it may take several months to get a baby’s passport from your country, please apply for it as soon as possible.

Required Documents

• Application form
• Baby’s passport from your home country (this process may take some time, so please proceed promptly).
• 1 passport photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm)
• Birth Certificate from your country’s embassy
• A copy of parent (KAIST employee)’s alien registration card (front & back)
• Fee of 110,000 won

If your visa is for single entry but you wish to leave Korea for a trip, make sure you receive your alien registration card (ARC) before leaving. Otherwise, you cannot re-enter Korea on the same visa. If you have completed your alien registration, the single entry visa is automatically changed to a multiple entry visa.

* Note
Those with the C4 single entry visa cannot return to Korea on the same visa.

If you need more information on immigration procedures or other related issues, please contact the Korea Immigration Call Center.

• Services provided in 18 languages including English
• Operating hours: 09:00~18:00, Monday to Friday
• Telephone number: 1345 (no area code needed)
• Website: www.hikorea.go.kr, www.immigration.go.kr

Address: 16-8, Jungchon-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon (대전 중구 중촌동 16-8) *Beside the Sun Hospital.

By Bus

By Taxi