My visa expired a few weeks ago and I am still in Korea?
My visa expired a few weeks ago and I am still in Korea. What happens now? What are the penalties for overstaying, and what should I do?
Note: This is an editorial persona question created from common experiences of foreign residents in Korea.
1 Answer
Overstaying accrues a fine that grows with how long you've stayed past your permit, and it can lead to an entry ban, so acting fast matters. If you plan to leave, you can use the voluntary departure route, and reporting yourself before you're caught usually means a lower fine and a shorter or waived re-entry ban. If you want to stay legally, go to immigration or call 1345 right away to see whether an extension or status change is still possible in your case. Don't keep working or ignore it, since the penalties and ban get worse the longer you wait.