Two fee schedules apply: consular fees in USD when you apply abroad, and won-denominated fees on HiKorea once you are inside Korea.
Overview
South Korea charges immigration fees at two separate points, set by two separate authorities. Visa issuance abroad is handled by Korean embassies and consulates under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: the standard schedule is USD 40 for a single-entry visa for stays up to 90 days, USD 60 for a single-entry visa over 90 days, and USD 90 for a multiple-entry visa — but reciprocity agreements mean the actual amount varies by nationality, so the Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr) figure for your passport governs. Once you are in Korea, domestic permissions are charged by the Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) under the Immigration Act's fee rules and paid at immigration offices or through HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr): KRW 30,000 for the residence card (KRW 33,000 with postal delivery), KRW 60,000 for an extension of stay, KRW 100,000 for a change of status, and KRW 30,000–50,000 for re-entry permits. Verified against overseas.mofa.go.kr consulate fee schedules, visa.go.kr and hikorea.go.kr as of June 2026.
Consular Visa Fees (Applying Abroad)
Fees are paid to the Korean embassy or consulate (or the outsourced Korea Visa Application Centre) at application and are not refunded if the visa is refused.
| Visa type | Standard fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry, stay up to 90 days | USD 40 | Short-term visit, single use |
| Single entry, stay over 90 days | USD 60 | Covers most long-term categories applied for abroad: D-2, D-8, D-10, E-2, E-7, F-series |
| Multiple entry | USD 90 | Validity depends on nationality and agreement |
| Reciprocity rates | Varies | Bilateral agreements override the standard schedule — e.g. some nationalities pay more, some are fee-exempt; check visa.go.kr for your passport |
Domestic Fees Once in Korea (Korea Immigration Service / HiKorea)
Domestic fees are set under the Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act and paid by revenue stamp, card or cash at the immigration office, or electronically on HiKorea. E-applications on HiKorea receive a fee discount for some permission types.
| Permission | Fee (KRW) | When you pay it |
|---|---|---|
| Residence card (foreign resident registration) | 30,000 (33,000 with mail delivery) | Within 90 days of entry for stays over 90 days |
| Extension of period of stay | 60,000 | Before your current period of stay expires; apply via HiKorea or at the immigration office |
| Change of status of stay | 100,000 | E.g. D-10 job seeker → E-7, or E-7 → F-2-7; higher-tier statuses such as F-5 carry their own fee — check the HiKorea schedule |
| Re-entry permit (single) | 30,000 | Generally waived for registered residents returning within 1 year, but verify your category before travel |
| Re-entry permit (multiple) | 50,000 | For statuses that still require one |
| Engagement in activities outside current status | 120,000 | E.g. a D-2 student taking employment beyond permitted part-time work |
What the Main Long-Term Routes Cost End to End
- E-7 skilled worker: USD 60 consular fee (single entry) if applying abroad, or KRW 100,000 status change if converting in Korea (e.g. from D-10 or D-2), plus KRW 30,000 residence card and KRW 60,000 per later extension. Employer sponsorship documents are the real cost driver, not the government fee.
- D-8 corporate investment: Same consular/status-change fees as above; the substantive threshold is the foreign direct investment itself — at least KRW 100 million per the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, registered through a foreign-exchange bank or KOTRA before the visa stage (see KOTRA's Visa Guide for Investing in Korea on investkorea.org).
- F-2-7 points-based residence: KRW 100,000 change of status if you qualify in-country, plus card and extension fees. Supporting costs include TOPIK (KRW 40,000–55,000 paper-based) or KIIP test fees for the language points.
- F-1-D digital nomad (workation): Standard consular fee; the gate is income of at least double Korea's previous-year GNI per capita plus private medical/repatriation insurance of at least KRW 100 million in cover. Launched 1 January 2024.
- F-5 permanent residence: Application is a change of status with its own (higher) fee tier — confirm the current amount on HiKorea before applying, and budget for KIIP/KIPRAT test costs and apostilled home-country criminal record certificates.
- K-ETA: Visa-exempt nationals entering for short stays need a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (k-eta.go.kr) instead of a visa — KRW 10,000 fee, valid for multiple trips during its validity; several nationalities are temporarily exempted under tourism-promotion measures, so check before paying.
Fee Traps and Practical Points
- Refused = forfeited: Neither consular fees nor domestic permission fees are refunded on refusal. Reapplication means paying again, which is why document completeness matters more in Korea than the modest fee suggests.
- Reciprocity surprises: The USD 40/60/90 schedule is the default, not a promise — citizens of some countries pay substantially different amounts or nothing under bilateral arrangements. Always confirm on visa.go.kr or your local Korean mission's fee notice.
- Visa issuance number ≠ visa: Some employer- and investment-sponsored routes start with a Confirmation of Visa Issuance applied for by the Korean sponsor at the immigration office; you then pay the consular fee when collecting the visa at the embassy.
- Late registration penalties dwarf the fees: Missing the 90-day residence card deadline or the 15-day reporting deadlines for address and registration changes triggers administrative fines that can run to KRW 1 million or more — far above the KRW 30,000 card fee.
- Pay in the right currency: Consulates charge in USD or local currency per their published notice; domestic offices take won. Some consulates accept money orders only — check the mission's payment instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a long-term work visa for Korea actually cost?
The government fees are modest: USD 60 for a single-entry visa for stays over 90 days if you apply at a Korean embassy, or KRW 100,000 if you change status inside Korea. Add KRW 30,000 for the residence card you must obtain within 90 days of arrival, and KRW 60,000 for each later extension of stay. The expensive part is the evidence: apostilled degree and criminal record certificates, employer sponsorship paperwork, and for some nationalities a TB certificate from a designated hospital. None of the fees are refunded if the application is refused.
Why is my visa fee different from the USD 40/60/90 schedule I see published?
Korea sets visa fees on a reciprocity basis. The USD 40 (single entry, up to 90 days), USD 60 (single entry, over 90 days) and USD 90 (multiple entry) amounts are the standard schedule, but bilateral agreements override it — some nationalities pay more, some less, and some are exempt for certain visa types. The authoritative figure is what the Korea Visa Portal (visa.go.kr) or your local Korean embassy's fee notice states for your passport. Fees also change periodically, with consulates publishing validity windows for their schedules.
What do I pay when I extend or change my visa status inside Korea?
An extension of your period of stay costs KRW 60,000; a change of status of stay costs KRW 100,000 (some categories, including permanent residence, sit in higher fee tiers — check HiKorea). You apply at your jurisdictional immigration office — visit reservations are made through hikorea.go.kr — or fully online for eligible categories, and e-applications attract a small discount for some permission types. Apply before your current stay expires: overstaying while you assemble documents converts a routine KRW 60,000 extension into a fine-and-departure problem.
Is there a government fee for the residence card, and what happens if I'm late?
Yes — KRW 30,000, or KRW 33,000 if you have the card posted to you. Anyone staying beyond 90 days must apply for foreign resident registration at their jurisdictional immigration office within 90 days of entry, with biometrics taken at the appointment. The fine for missing the deadline scales with the delay and can reach KRW 1 million or more under the Immigration Act's penalty provisions, and a violation record can complicate later extensions, status changes and permanent residence — so the card fee is the cheapest part of compliance.
What does the D-8 investor route really cost beyond the visa fee?
The visa fee itself is the standard USD 60 single-entry (or KRW 100,000 status change), but the route's real threshold is the investment: at least KRW 100 million of foreign direct investment per investor, notified under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act through a foreign-exchange bank or KOTRA before immigration will look at the visa. You will also pay company-formation costs, registered-office costs, and the usual residence card and extension fees. KOTRA's Visa Guide for Investing in Korea (investkorea.org) sets out the documentation chain.
Does Korea's digital nomad visa have a special fee?
No special fee — the F-1-D workation visa, launched 1 January 2024, is charged at the normal consular rate for your nationality. The qualifying hurdles are financial instead: annual income of at least twice Korea's previous-year GNI per capita (set annually — roughly KRW 85–88 million in recent cycles), at least one year working in your field, employment or self-employment income from outside Korea, and private medical and repatriation insurance with at least KRW 100 million of cover. It is granted for one year and renewable once, for a maximum two-year stay, and it does not permit working for Korean employers.