Most people arriving in Korea need a regular visa or visa-waiver entry. But foreign government officials, diplomats, and staff of international organizations operating in Korea enter on A-series visas — a special category that sits entirely outside the normal immigration system. This guide explains the three A-series categories, who qualifies, and the rules around family members and side activities.
A-1 status is reserved for:
A-1 visa validity: For permanent diplomatic missions, a multiple-entry visa valid for the duration of the posting is standard. For countries that issue multiple-entry visas to Korean diplomats on a reciprocal basis (including the US, Japan, China, Russia, and Uzbekistan), reciprocal multiple-entry A-1 visas are issued. For temporary or conference-purpose diplomatic travel, a single-entry visa with a 3-month validity is issued.
A-2 covers a broader category of government-linked officials who are not full diplomatic-rank personnel:
For A-2 visa issuance: those on long-term posting receive a 1-year multiple-entry visa. Conference participants and short-term official visitors receive single-entry visas valid up to 90 days.
A-3 is a catch-all category for foreign nationals who are exempt from alien registration requirements under a specific bilateral or multilateral agreement Korea has concluded.
The most notable A-3 example: Fulbright exchange participants. Under the Korea-US educational exchange agreement, Fulbright scholars and researchers are issued A-3-99 visas. The stay period and validity are set according to the scholarship duration stated in the Korea-US Educational Commission cooperation letter.
Other A-3 holders include individuals covered by specific SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) provisions or other bilateral agreements that explicitly exempt them from Korea's normal alien registration and visa requirements. A-3 visas require: application form, passport, a dispatch/employment certificate OR a letter from the relevant ministry confirming official status.
The definition of 'family' for A-2 accompanying family purposes (as published in the visa manual) includes:
Family members of A-1/A-2 holders receive the same visa category as the main holder. Family members who wish to work in Korea can apply for a 체류자격외활동허가 (activity outside status) covering all work categories except unskilled manual labor (D-3, E-9, E-10, H-2).
For international organizations headquartered inside Korea (such as the Green Climate Fund in Incheon), a domestic Visa Issuance Confirmation (사증발급인정서) process is available. The organization can apply through the local immigration office on behalf of incoming staff, facilitating faster visa issuance at the Korean consulate in the staff member's home country.
The GCF (Green Climate Fund) has a specific provision: not only spouses and minor children, but also household family members financially supported by the GCF employee can receive activity-outside-status permission — slightly broader than the standard A-2 family definition.
A-1/A-2/A-3 holders do not need to register as aliens (외국인 등록 면제). They are outside the scope of normal Korean immigration enforcement in most respects — they enjoy the diplomatic immunities established by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations or the relevant international agreement.
This means:
Diplomatic immunity does not exempt A-1/A-2 holders from all Korean laws in all circumstances — the scope of immunity depends on the specific Vienna Convention provisions and the individual's rank.
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Our specialists handle korea's a-1, a-2, and a-3 diplomatic & official visas explained cases regularly and know exactly what Korean immigration officers look for.
Find a SpecialistI'm a Fulbright scholar. Do I need to register as an alien in Korea?
No. Fulbright scholars on A-3-99 visas are exempt from alien registration requirements under the Korea-US educational exchange agreement. Your A-3-99 status covers your entire scholarship period as stated in the Fulbright appointment letter.
My spouse holds an A-2 visa as an embassy staff member. Can I work in Korea?
Yes, as an A-2 accompanying family member you can apply for a 체류자격외활동허가 (activity outside of status) to work in Korea. This covers professional employment, skilled work, and most employment categories — excluding unskilled labor sectors (E-9, E-10, H-2 type roles).
I work for the Green Climate Fund in Incheon. How do I get my new staff member a visa quickly?
The GCF's HR/legal team can apply for a domestic Visa Issuance Confirmation (사증발급인정서) through the Incheon immigration office on behalf of incoming staff. This speeds up the Korean consulate's visa issuance process in the staff member's home country. Contact the Korea Immigration Service or your GCF administrative team for the current process.
Does A-series status apply to private contractors working at an embassy?
Generally no. A-series visas are for official government or international organization personnel. Private contractors performing services for an embassy (IT support, cleaning, catering, etc.) would typically hold ordinary long-stay work visas appropriate to their occupation (E-7, E-9, etc.).