G-1-8 (Long-Term Resident Child) Korea Visa Guide | 2026

1. What G-1-8 Is

The manual does not contain a standalone definition table for G-1-8. The single confirmed appearance is in the D-2 (유학) status-change eligibility rule: long-term legal stayers in Korea are generally allowed to change status, EXCEPT holders of 기술연수(D-3), 계절근로(E-8), 비전문취업(E-9), 선원취업(E-10), 인도적체류허가자(G-1-6), and 'other G-1' status holders EXCLUDING 장기체류 아동(G-1-8, 13, 14). In other words, G-1-8/13/14 (grouped together as '장기체류 아동' / long-term-staying children) are carved OUT of the general G-1 restriction on changing to D-2 — meaning they are permitted to change status to Student (D-2), unlike most other G-1 subtypes.

2. Eligibility Checklist

• G-1-8 is never defined on its own — it only appears bundled with G-1-13 and G-1-14 under the single label 장기체류 아동
• This is a status-change exemption rule (for D-2/유학 status change), not a general definition of who qualifies for G-1-8
• No second, independent location in either manual (e.g. a document-requirement table) names G-1-8 specifically, so the code-to-label mapping cannot be cross-confirmed beyond this one exemption clause
• Confidence capped at medium per instructions: the label is confirmed by literal text, but only from a single occurrence, and the manual gives no substantive eligibility criteria for who qualifies as G-1-8 (e.g. no age threshold or years-of-stay figure is visible in the extracted text)

3. Criteria Summary

• G-1-8 is not a points-based category.
• NOTE ON SOURCING: the manual names this code only in passing rather than defining it in a subtype table, so the description above is drawn from the limited text available. Confirm the current treatment with the immigration office before relying on it.
• Numeric thresholds, stay periods and fees are set in the manual's tables and annexes and are deliberately not reproduced here — confirm the current figures before filing.
• Where a rule depends on another status, check that status's own criteria too; several of these codes take their conditions from a principal holder.

4. Salary and Contract Rules

• The manual does not attach a salary or contract framework to this code specifically.
• Where income or financial capacity is assessed, it is evidenced with the documents named under that requirement rather than against a published floor.
• If your circumstances involve employment, verify separately whether this status authorises it — several of these categories do not.
• Do not assume the salary rules of a neighbouring code apply; they are set per status.

5. Employer and Workplace Change Rules

• Employer sponsorship is not the organising basis of this code.
• Any economic activity must fall within what the status authorises; where it does not, activity-outside-status permission is the mechanism.
• Report changes of circumstance that bear on the ground for the status.
• Keep the evidence that established eligibility available for extension reviews.

6. Required Documents

• Application form, passport, standard photograph and the fee.
• Evidence establishing the ground on which this status is claimed, as described above.
• Residence and identity documents as required at the counter.
• Any further documents the reviewing office considers necessary.

7. Fees and Processing

• Fees follow the published schedule for the application type rather than the subtype.
• Processing time varies by office workload and by how clearly the qualifying ground is evidenced.
• Where a principal holder's status governs the period granted, the principal's expiry date is the practical constraint.
• Apply with margin before any existing permission expires.

8. Common Rejection Reasons

• The qualifying ground for this specific code is not established by the evidence.
• The circumstances fit a neighbouring code better, making this a category mismatch.
• Supporting documents are incomplete, inconsistent, or out of date.
• An underlying condition the status depends on has ceased to apply.
• Unresolved immigration compliance history.

9. FAQ