🇰🇷 South Korea

Do you need to do anything?

South Korea has no EU-directive temporary protection and no common deadline for Ukrainians. Your deadline is the date on your Alien Registration Card (ARC) or visa, and it does not renew itself: you must apply for an extension of stay (체류기간 연장허가). WHEN. The filing window runs from 4 months before the expiry date up to and including the expiry date: "현재의 체류기간이 만료하기 전 4개월부터 만료 당일까지 신청하여야 합니다". Check your date today; do not leave it to the last day. WHERE. In person at your local immigration office (출입국·외국인청 / 사무소 / 출장소; a 방문예약 booking is normally required), or online via the HiKorea portal, hikorea.go.kr. Note: for short-term stay extensions HiKorea accepts an online application no later than 1 working day before the expiry date (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays). Check the document list for your status in the "체류자격별 안내매뉴얼" on HiKorea, or call the foreigner information line 1345. IF YOU FILE LATE. An application after the expiry date means you have already overstayed: a penalty payment (범칙금) is imposed, and the law allows forced removal (Immigration Act art. 46(1)8) and up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 30 million (art. 94(17)). IF YOUR CURRENT STATUS CANNOT BE EXTENDED (studies finished, short-term visa). Say so at the office and ask directly about the Ministry of Justice humanitarian special stay measure for Ukrainians of 28.02.2022. Under it, Ukrainians unable to return were switched to a temporary status with the right to work, "until the situation in Ukraine stabilises", with no end date; those who had already overstayed were promised no forced departure. The figure "3,843 people as of 31.01.2022" in the press release is a headcount, not an eligibility condition — the Ministry named no cut-off date. The Ministry later continued humanitarian concessions (e.g. on 30.01.2023 for stateless persons from Ukraine holding G-1 status with an expired travel certificate). But there is no current official page confirming the measure still applies today. So do not plan around it: first check at the office or on 1345 whether it applies in your case. And remember: a promise not to deport does NOT restore lawful status and does NOT grant the right to work. Sources: hikorea.go.kr and gov.kr (filing window and method), easylaw.go.kr (procedure and penalties), the Ministry of Justice press release of 28.02.2022 on moj.go.kr. Source: https://www.hikorea.go.kr/info/InfoDatail.pt?CAT_SEQ=181&PARENT_ID=140 (checked 03.09.2026).