Visa Process
Definition
The sojourn period is the length of time a foreigner is authorized to remain in South Korea under a given visa status. It is stamped in your passport at entry and printed on your ARC, and it must not be exceeded without an extension.
Korea's immigration system grants each foreigner a specific 'sojourn period' (체류기간) — the maximum number of days they may stay in Korea on each authorized stay. For single-entry or short-stay visas, this is the total allowed stay from entry. For long-stay visa holders with an ARC, it refers to the duration of the current authorized period before the next extension or departure is required. The sojourn period is distinct from visa validity: a visa may be valid for 5 years but each stay period within it may still be limited to 1 or 2 years at a time. When your sojourn period expires, you must either have filed a successful extension, have changed your status, or have departed Korea.
Confusing visa validity with sojourn period is one of the most common immigration mistakes. A multiple-entry visa with a 5-year validity date does not mean you can stay 5 years continuously — it means you can enter and re-enter over 5 years, but your actual stay on each visit or period is determined separately. Always check both dates: the visa validity date and the sojourn period expiry stamped at entry.