Humanitarian Visa

Korea G-1 VisaHumanitarian Visa

For asylum seekers, humanitarian protection recipients, and other miscellaneous humanitarian and non-standard cases awaiting status determination in Korea.

Reviewed September 2026 — sourced from official Korean government portals Learn how we verify accuracy

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Written by James Chae — Founder, Expert Sapiens

Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney (행정사)Reg. No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회

Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed September 2026

Review & source basis

Reviewed against

James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). License No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Korean Administrative Agents Association). Reviewed against the HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 and cross-checked with Ministry of Justice issuances.

Last reviewed

September 4, 2026

Source references

HiKorea — Korean visa & residency manual

Ministry of Justice Immigration Policy Bureau

Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인정책본부)

Filing caution

Requirements can change by nationality, local immigration office, and filing channel. Confirm exact requirements with HiKorea, the responsible Korean consulate, or a licensed immigration specialist before filing.

Stay Duration

1 year, renewable while the underlying humanitarian or miscellaneous case is pending

Processing

Varies — determined by the underlying case/application review timeline

Visa Fee

≈ $75 (status change to G-1) / $45 (extension)

Fees and processing times sourced from HiKorea & Ministry of Justice. Figures are updated periodically but may change — verify before submitting.

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Overview

The G-1 visa is Korea's broad 기타 (miscellaneous/other) residence category, covering people who fall outside standard visa classifications. On the humanitarian side, this includes refugee applicants pending the outcome of their application under the Refugee Act (난민법) and humanitarian protection recipients (인도적체류자) who don't meet the full refugee definition but are recognized as needing protection. G-1 is not for recognized refugees — once refugee status is formally recognized (난민인정자), the person is issued F-2 residency status directly, not G-1. G-1 also covers a range of non-humanitarian miscellaneous cases the manual groups under the same code: industrial-accident claimants, people involved in ongoing litigation, wage-dispute claimants, foreign patients receiving medical treatment, and victims of sexual violence, among others. G-1 status allows temporary legal residence while the underlying matter is resolved.

Who is the G-1 visa for?

Persons who have applied for refugee recognition in Korea and are awaiting a decision; humanitarian protection recipients (인도적체류자) who don't meet the full refugee definition; and others with compelling humanitarian or other case-specific grounds (litigation, wage disputes, medical treatment, sexual-violence victim status) to remain in Korea who do not fit another visa category. Recognized refugees do NOT fall under G-1 — they receive F-2 residency status.

Eligibility requirements

Filed a refugee application with Korean immigration under the Refugee Act (난민법) — G-1 is automatically issued to refugee applicants during the review period
Humanitarian protection recipient (인도적 체류자) — recognized as needing protection even if not meeting full refugee definition
Other case-specific circumstances the manual groups under G-1: industrial-accident claimants, parties to ongoing litigation, wage-dispute claimants, foreign patients under medical treatment, sexual-violence victims
NOT eligible: recognized refugees (난민인정자) — they are issued F-2 residency status directly, not G-1

Required documents

1.
Valid passport (or travel document if passport is unavailable)
2.
Refugee application filing receipt (for refugee applicants)
3.
Supporting documents for humanitarian claim (evidence of persecution, etc.)
4.
Police or court documents (if applicable to case)
5.
Medical certificates (for medical humanitarian cases)

Get printable G-1 visa document checklist →

How to apply — step by step

1
File refugee application
Submit a refugee application at the port of entry or your local immigration office. Use the official refugee application form and provide a personal statement explaining the basis for your claim.
2
Receive G-1 status during review
Upon acceptance of your refugee application, immigration will issue G-1 status valid for 1 year. This allows you to remain legally in Korea while your case is reviewed.
3
Annual renewal while case is pending
G-1 must be renewed annually. Bring your refugee application reference number and any updates on your case status to the immigration office before expiry.
4
Await final determination
If recognized as a refugee, you will be issued F-2 residency status. If your application is rejected, you have the right to appeal. Humanitarian protection recipients receive G-1 renewable status.

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Key Immigration Terms

Unfamiliar with a term? Browse the full Korea Visa Glossary

Visa Process

Alien Registration Card (ARC)

The Alien Registration Card (ARC) is the official ID card issued to foreigners staying in South Korea for 91 days or longer. It is required to open a bank account, sign a phone contract, and access most public services.

Visa Process

HiKorea

How to use HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) — Korea's official immigration portal for visa extensions, status changes, and ARC renewal. Processing time: 3-10 business days.

Visa Process

Visa Extension (Stay Period Extension)

A visa extension — officially called a 'stay period extension' (체류기간 연장) in Korean immigration law — allows a foreigner to legally remain in Korea beyond the expiry date on their current visa or ARC without leaving the country.

Visa Process

Status of Sojourn Change (체류자격 변경)

A status of sojourn change allows a foreigner already in South Korea to switch from one visa category to another without leaving the country — for example, from a D-2 student visa to an E-7 skilled worker visa upon graduation and employment.

G-1 visa — frequently asked questions

Refugee applicants on G-1 may apply for work authorization (체류자격 외 활동허가) after 6 months from the date of refugee application filing. Recognized refugees and humanitarian protection recipients are generally permitted to work with separate work authorization approval.

The initial review takes up to 6 months, but in practice many cases take 1–2 years or longer due to volume. Appeals can extend this further. G-1 status is renewed annually throughout the process.

A recognized refugee (난민인정자) meets the full 1951 Refugee Convention definition — persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group membership — and is issued F-2 residency status, not G-1. A humanitarian protection recipient (인도적 체류자) does not meet the strict refugee definition but faces serious risk of harm if returned (e.g., armed conflict, civil war), and remains on renewable G-1 status.

Recognized refugees are typically issued F-2 (Long-Term Resident) status, which grants near-unrestricted work rights, access to social welfare, and a path to F-5 permanent residency after 5 years.

Recognized refugees and humanitarian protection recipients may request family reunification in Korea. Refugee applicants (whose cases are still pending) have more limited rights to family sponsorship. Eligibility is assessed case by case.