Last reviewed: October 11, 2026 · This is a hub guide. Deadlines, fees and documents for each procedure are kept in the linked guides.
Quick answer
- HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) is Korea’s official immigration portal for foreigners, run by the Ministry of Justice with the trade and labor ministries. It is available in Korean, English and Chinese.
- You use it for two main things: e-applications (filing some procedures online without visiting) and visit reservations (booking a date at your immigration office).
- E-applications can be filed on weekdays from 07:00 to 22:00. Visit reservations can be made 24 hours a day.
- Online stay extensions are available for many statuses, but not for E-7, F-2, F-4, F-5, F-6, D-8 or G-1. Those holders book a visit instead.
- Since 2026, foreign workers also report job information (occupation, industry, income) on HiKorea after logging in, so an account is now hard to avoid.
Creating a HiKorea account
HiKorea has separate member types for registered foreigners (with an alien registration card), short-term visitors, overseas Koreans, companies and registered immigration agents.
- Choose Sign up and the member type that matches you. Registered foreigners give their name, nationality, sex, date of birth, email, mobile number and ARC number.
- Applicants under 14 need consent from a parent or legal guardian.
- After signing up, click the verification link sent to your email. You cannot use the site until you do.
- Log in with your ID and password. Some e-applications also require a joint certificate (공동인증서); the site tells you when one is needed.
If you forget your ID, you can find it with your name, date of birth and email or ARC number. To reset a password you need your ID, name and the email you registered with.
If you registered for SES (Smart Entry Service) before, HiKorea offers a separate “SES member conversion” sign-up path.
What you can file online and what needs a visit
HiKorea’s official list shows which procedures can be filed online (e-application) and which need a booked visit. An online permit has the same legal effect as one granted at the office.
| Procedure | Online (e-application) | Visit reservation | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stay extension (registered foreigners) | Yes, for listed statuses only | Yes | See the note below |
| Change of status (registered foreigners) | Yes, with conditions | Yes | — |
| E-9 workplace change | Yes, after Job Center approval | Yes | E-9 workplace change |
| Address change report | Yes | Yes | ARC address change |
| Passport change report | Yes, if only the number or dates changed | Yes | Renewed passport |
| D-2 / D-4-1 part-time work permit | Yes | Yes | Student part-time work |
| Multiple re-entry permit | Yes | Yes | — |
| Extension of stay for departure | Yes | Yes | — |
| Employment change reports (H-2, E-9 and others) | Yes | Yes (E-9/H-2 combined report online only) | — |
| Alien registration (first ARC) | No | Yes | ARC guide |
| ARC reissue | No | Yes | ARC guide |
| Permission for activities outside your status | No (general case) | Yes | — |
| Status change for short-term visitors | No | Yes | — |
| Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance (CCVI) | No | Yes | E-7 documents |
Source: HiKorea “list of applications available” page, checked October 11, 2026. Conditions for each item are on HiKorea’s item guide pop-ups.
Online extension rules worth knowing
- You can file from 4 months before your stay expires until 1 working day before it expires.
- You must be in Korea when you apply. Leaving before your application is reviewed can lead to it being rejected.
- If the system fails on your last possible day, visit your immigration office instead and report the problem to 1345.
- People who have received a criminal penalty in Korea cannot change status online and must visit.
E-7-4 and E-7-4R: online only
Changes of status to E-7-4 (K-point skilled worker) and E-7-4R (regional skilled worker) are filed only as e-applications, on a weekday set by the last digit of your birth year: Monday 1 or 6, Tuesday 2 or 7, Wednesday 3 or 8, Thursday 4 or 9, Friday 5 or 0. E-7-4R holders must collect the new ARC in person.
How an e-application works
- Log in and open Applications → e-Application.
- Choose the procedure and fill in the form.
- Upload scanned documents, for example your passport photo page or proof of address. For E-9 workplace changes, the employment permit and contract are loaded from the Job Center.
- Pay the fee online, if the procedure has one. The amount is shown on HiKorea’s item guide and at payment. Fees for processed applications are not refunded. Some procedures are free, such as passport change, address change and student part-time work permits.
- Wait for the review, then check the result (see below).
For E-7 fees and processing stages, see E-7 processing time and fees.
How visit reservations work
Under the Immigration Control Act Enforcement Decree, you must book online before visiting for stay extensions, status changes, workplace changes, granting of status, activities outside your status and alien registration. Pregnant women, people with disabilities and some other groups may visit without booking if they bring proof.
- Go to Applications → Visit Reservation and choose member or non-member booking. Non-members verify identity with an ARC number and issue date, a passport, or a visa number.
- Choose your office, the procedure and a date. Pick a date before your stay expires or before the legal deadline.
- Enter your name exactly in the order shown on your ARC, without hyphens.
- On the day, bring your documents. If you recently paid health insurance arrears at a kiosk or by giro, bring the receipt.
Seoul: the Seoul Immigration Office moves to a new building at 55 Jeongui-ro, Songpa-gu from October 19, 2026, and stops working at the old Mokdong building (HiKorea notice, October 6, 2026). Check the address on your booking. Directions are in our Seoul Immigration Office new location guide.
Checking your result
- E-applications: log in and go to My Page → e-Application status.
- If approved, print the permit confirmation from the same page and keep it. After an online status change, you then apply for a new ARC.
- Visit applications not decided on the day can also be checked in the application status menu.
- Visa issuance certificates (CCVI) can be checked under Information → Application results.
- Someone else, such as an employer, can confirm an online permit with the “e-application permit verification” menu.
Useful lookups without logging in
- Stay expiry date lookup by passport number and nationality, mainly for short-term visitors.
- ARC validity check and lost ARC report.
- Which immigration office covers your address.
- Visa Navigator and status-by-status manuals in the information section.
The mobile ARC is issued through the government’s Mobile ID app, not through HiKorea. See our ARC guide.
2026 changes to know
From January 2, 2026, registered foreigners in paid work on many statuses (including E-1 to E-10, F-2, F-4, F-6, H-2, D-7, D-8 and D-9; F-5 excluded) report their occupation, industry and income on HiKorea. The report screen appears during visit reservations, or you can file it as an e-application. MOJ said that after the January–June 2026 pilot, reporting would be online only, even for people who use agents or visit without booking. Details are in our guide to online employment reporting.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Cannot log in after signing up | Check your email and click the verification link first. |
| “e-Application not available now” | E-applications only open on weekdays, 07:00–22:00, not on weekends or public holidays. |
| Name not recognized | Use the name order on your ARC, one space between surname and given name, no hyphens. |
| Forgot password | Use password recovery with your ID, name and registered email. Fax requests can take several working days. |
| Your status is not offered for online extension | It is probably on the excluded list. Book a visit instead. |
| Site looks different or asks for unusual payments | Check that the address is www.hikorea.go.kr over https. HiKorea warns that addresses not ending in go.kr may be phishing sites. |
| Service outage | Planned outages are posted in HiKorea notices. If a deadline is at risk, visit the office. |
Help: call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 (weekdays 09:00–22:00, paid call; +82-2-1345 from abroad). Help is available in 20 languages during the day; after 18:00, only Korean, English and Chinese. HiKorea also offers chat consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Is HiKorea the only official immigration website?
For residence procedures, yes: the address is www.hikorea.go.kr. Entry pre-approval uses separate official sites, such as K-ETA and the e-Arrival Card.
Can I extend my E-7 visa on HiKorea?
Not as an e-application. E-7 is excluded from online extension, so you book a visit on HiKorea and apply at the office.
Can I use HiKorea without an ARC?
Yes. Short-term visitors can create an account, and visit reservations are possible without membership. Some lookups, such as the stay expiry check, need only a passport number.
Does a HiKorea reservation count as filing on time?
No. A reservation only books a date. Choose a date before your deadline, or visit before the deadline if no date is free.
Is an online permit valid without a stamp from the office?
Yes. HiKorea states that a permit granted through an e-application has the same effect as one granted at the office. Print and keep the permit confirmation.
What are the HiKorea hours?
E-applications: weekdays 07:00–22:00. Visit reservations: any time. Phone help (1345): weekdays 09:00–22:00.
Official references
- HiKorea · list of applications available online · visit reservation
- Ministry of Justice — online employment information reporting (December 16, 2025)
- Immigration Contact Center 1345
Information notice: This guide gives general information based on HiKorea and Ministry of Justice pages checked October 11, 2026. Menus, conditions and fees can change; follow the instructions on HiKorea when you apply. It is not individual legal advice, and your immigration office decides individual cases.