Leaving Korea for a long period

Without checking before departure, your residence status may be gone when you return.

Check before you leave

1. Whether you need a re-entry permit — it depends on your status and how long you'll be away. See reentry-permit.
2. Your permission-to-stay expiry date — expiry while abroad causes problems. See stay-extension-overview.
3. Tax and insurance settlement — check for unpaid health insurance or tax. See tax-clearance-departure.
4. Wages and severance pay — far harder to recover once you have left. See unpaid-wages.
5. Lump-sum pension refund — claimable depending on your country and the criteria.
6. Deposit and utility settlement — if you're giving up your home. See move-out-deposit.
7. Whether to keep bank accounts and cards — closing them makes later transfers difficult.

The process

1. Check re-entry requirements with 1345 or HiKorea.
2. Enquire or apply at the immigration office if needed.
3. Settle resignation or leave with your employer — check your contract.
4. Settle utilities and telecom bills and cancel direct debits.
5. Gather key documents — passport, residence card, contracts, employment certificates, medical records.

What you need

• Passport and alien registration card
• Your flight schedule
• Employment contract or certificate of employment, if relevant
• Bank account details

Where to go

• 1345 Immigration Contact Centre (multilingual)
• HiKorea www.hikorea.go.kr
• Your local immigration office
• 1355 National Pension Service (lump-sum refund)
• 1577-1000 National Health Insurance Service

Questions people ask

How long away becomes a problem? The threshold differs by status. Always check your own situation with 1345.

My family stays while I go. Family status is sometimes tied to yours. Check together.

I'm not sure I'll return. All the more reason to settle accounts and paperwork properly before leaving. Handling it remotely later is hard.

I have to leave urgently. Bereavement or a personal emergency is sometimes recognised. Explain the circumstances to 1345.

Take care

"I'll just pop back for a bit" is the most common mistake. Without checking re-entry permission and your stay period, you may be unable to return or may lose your status. Checking with 1345 takes only minutes.

Related

reentry-permit · arc-return-on-departure · tax-clearance-departure · multiple-reentry · stay-extension-overview

Source

Ministry of Justice, HiKorea www.hikorea.go.kr / As of 2026-08