Work and Visit(H-2)
| Procedures for Issuing a Visit-Work (H-2) Visa | ◈ Regarding family invitations for visit-work, relatives within the second degree of kinship or immediate in-laws may apply at an overseas diplomatic mission, while relatives within the 3rd–8th degree of kinship or 3rd–4th degree of in-laws may apply at the Immigration Office (branch office or local office) under the inviter’s jurisdiction.
□ Required Documents by Specific Eligibility ○ [Visa Issuance at Overseas Missions] Applicants and required documents for visa issuance at overseas missions are as follows : ① Relatives with Personal Ties (Eligibility – Required Documents) * Persons who were Korean nationals at birth and are listed in the Family Relations Register, Closed Register, or Family Registry * Certificate of family relations or copy of the family registry * Persons whose relationship with the Korean inviter is within the second degree (parents, siblings, etc.) * If confirmed in the domestic family registry: Korean family relations certificate (family relation certificate, basic certificate, marriage certificate) or copy of family registry * If not confirmed in the domestic registry: Birth certificate or original/copy of household register, resident card, inviter’s family relation statement and guarantor, invitee’s family relation verification * Persons whose relationship with a permanent resident (F-5/F-7) inviter is within the second degree * Birth certificate or original/copy of household register, resident card, copy of foreigner registration, inviter’s family relation statement and guarantor, invitee’s family relation verification * Persons who have made special contributions to Korea or have contributed to Korea’s national interest * Certificate of awards or commendations from central administrative authorities, official documents proving they are a compatriot * Persons falling under “national merit and support” laws or “independence merit” laws, including their relatives * National merit certificate, independence merit certificate, or certificates for family members, and official documents proving they are a compatriot * Persons applying for a visa using a Visit-Work (H-2) visa issuance acknowledgment * Visit-Work (H-2) visa issuance acknowledgment number ② Stateless/Unattached Compatriots (Eligibility – Required Documents) * Chinese compatriots with a C-3-8 visit visa * Visit-Work (H-2) visa applicants by quarter for 2024 (excluding under 18) based on C-3-8 visa issuance dates: * Q1: C-3-8 issued before March 31, 2023 * Q2: C-3-8 issued before June 30, 2023 * Q3: C-3-8 issued before September 30, 2023 * Q4: C-3-8 issued before December 31, 2023 * Total quota for Visit-Work (H-2) visas: 250,000 (adjusted annually considering domestic labor market, social integration, and early adaptation programs; adjustments may be made for future trends) * Persons who previously stayed under H-2 but voluntarily left the country due to infectious diseases, natural disasters, etc. within a 3-month violation period * Official documents proving they are a compatriot * CIS region compatriots * Official documents proving they are a compatriot ③ Compatriots Re-entering after Departure (Eligibility – Required Documents) * Persons who voluntarily left Korea according to the Ministry of Justice’s procedures, aged 60 or below at complete departure, with at least one month elapsed * Official documents proving they are a compatriot ※ Re-entry H-2-7 visas can also be issued at the overseas mission under the applicant’s discretion, without jurisdictional restrictions ○ [Domestic Visa Issuance Acknowledgment] Applicants and required documents for issuance at Immigration Office (branch/field office) : * Blood relatives within 3rd–8th degree or in-laws within 3rd–4th degree invited by a Korean citizen residing in Korea * If confirmed in domestic registry: Korean family relation certificate or family registry copy * If not confirmed: Birth certificate or original/copy of household register, resident card, inviter’s family relation statement and guarantor, invitee’s family relation verification * Blood relatives within 3rd–8th degree or in-laws within 3rd–4th degree invited by a permanent resident (F-5/F-7) residing in Korea * Birth certificate or original/copy of household register, resident card, foreigner registration copy, inviter’s family relation statement and guarantor, invitee’s family relation verification * Persons who have contributed to Korea or national interests * Certificate of awards or official documents proving they are a compatriot * Parent or spouse of a student (D-2) enrolled for at least one semester * Documents proving family relation with the student, official documents proving the invitee is a compatriot □ Common Required Documents 1. Korean language proficiency certificate * Refer to Korean language proficiency submission criteria 2. Overseas criminal record certificate * Refer to overseas criminal record submission criteria □ Health Status Confirmation * Target: Foreign nationals entering Korea under Visit-Work (H-2) status * Documents: Health status confirmation form, handwritten by the applicant, submitted when applying for a visa at an overseas mission * Includes personal declaration of infectious diseases (TB, Hepatitis B, syphilis), drug use history, and treatment for mental disorders |
| Visit-Work (H-2) Status Stay Management Procedures | The domestic stay management procedures for compatriots entering Korea with a Visit-Work (H-2) visa are as follows :
□ Common Required Documents 1. Korean Language Proficiency Certificate * Refer to the Korean language proficiency submission standards 2. Overseas Criminal Record Certificate * Refer to overseas criminal record submission standards □ Foreign Registration * Compatriots entering with a Visit-Work visa must register as a foreigner within 90 days of entry at the Immigration Office (branch/field office) corresponding to their residence, submitting the following: * Passport, one color photo (taken within 6 months), foreigner registration application, fee, and early adaptation program completion certificate * For parents of students: additionally, certificate of enrollment of the student and copy of the student’s foreigner registration (not required if applying together with the student) * Health Status Confirmation : * H-2 visa holders must submit a health check form issued by a Ministry of Justice-designated hospital \ * Previous health checks received during employment training may be omitted to avoid duplication □ Scope of Employment Activities for H-2 Visa Holders * Refer to \ * Procedure for Employment within Allowed Sectors : * After entering with an H-2 visa, applicants complete employment training and job application registration, then can be referred to employment or find a job independently * Job applications are registered collectively by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea during employment training * Employer’s Procedure for Employing Compatriots : * If the employer cannot hire domestic workers after a 15-day recruitment effort, they apply for a “Special Employment Eligibility Certificate” at the Employment Support Center of the Ministry of Employment and Labor * Employers may hire compatriots listed in the center’s “foreign job seekers list” within the allowed number specified in the certificate □ Reporting Employment Commencement * Applicable : * H-2 visa holders starting employment in permitted sectors for the first time * H-2 visa holders who change their workplace after initial employment * Timing : * Initial employment : within 15 days of starting * Workplace change : within 15 days of change * Reporting Methods : * Pre-scheduled appointment, online, fax, or via registered agent * Online : Hi-Korea → Electronic Civil Service → “H-2 Employment Commencement / Workplace Change Report” → input required details * Fax : Fill out Employment Commencement Report and send to 1577-1346 * Agent : Apply through a registered agent at the Immigration Office (branch/field office) * Required Attachments : * Copy of Special Employment Eligibility Certificate, standard labor contract, business registration certificate * Penalties : * Violation of reporting obligation: fine up to KRW 1,000,000 per Immigration Control Act, Article 100(2) □ Status Change to H-2 Visa * General Rule : Status change to H-2 is generally prohibited, but certain cases may be allowed after review : * Persons who changed to G-1 (other) due to injury, disease, or humanitarian reasons, provided less than 4 years 10 months have passed since initial entry/change date * Persons with F-1 (visit-family) status after nationality application, provided 3 months have elapsed * Persons who legally entered before April 1, 2004 (including pre-Korea-China diplomatic relations) and later changed to G-1 after nationality application * Foreign-national compatriots aged 18+ residing under F-3-19 or F-3-20 accompanying family * Chinese compatriots with C-3-8 visa and a Social Integration Program pre-assessment score ≥ 41 * Other legally residing foreign-national compatriots deemed necessary for humanitarian reasons by Immigration Office * Notes : * Those who changed to F-1 without leaving after H-2 cannot switch back to H-2, unless H-2 period was less than 3 years and the Ministry of Employment and Labor issues a “Work Period Extension Confirmation” * Required Documents : * Application, passport, documents proving foreign-national compatriot status and other supporting evidence, “Work Period Extension Confirmation” (if extending stay beyond 3 years), proof of residence, fees * Criminal record review may result in denial □ Stay Period Extension * For Employment Purposes : * With “Work Period Extension Confirmation” from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, extension is permitted up to 4 years 10 months from entry or status change date * In case of infectious disease or natural disaster, extension may be granted up to 6 years * For Non-Employment Purposes : * H-2 holders wishing to stay for family visit, child care, or study may extend stay 1 year per application * COVID-19 exceptional measure allows temporary 1-year extension for expired H-2 holders unable to leave the country * Health-Based Criteria : * Applicants diagnosed with TB or suspected TB follow the “Foreign TB Patient Visa Issuance and Stay Management Guidelines” * Foreigner Registration : * Initial entry with H-2 visa allows maximum 3-year stay if Korean proficiency certificate is submitted; otherwise, 1-year stay * Checking Non-Employment H-2 Extension Status : * Hi-Korea ([www.hikorea.go.kr](http://www.hikorea.go.kr)) → Information Inquiry → Foreign Employment and Eligibility → Enter personal info → “Query” * “Employment Possible” → H-2 for work * “Employment Not Possible” → H-2 for non-work purposes □ Penalties for Violations * General Rule : * First offense : fine ≥ KRW 5,000,000 * Repeat offense within 3 years totaling ≥ KRW 7,000,000 → stay denied and deportation * Three or more fines in last 3 years → stay denied regardless of amount * Non-Employment H-2 Holders Engaging in Employment : * Fines may be imposed under the Immigration Control Act |
