Korean Job Discussion Forums

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

hi all

I meant to post this last week. Maybe I'm one of the few who didn't know about this but just in case, here is an important FYI:

Anyone who gets a new or renewal passport while working here is required to appear at immigration with 14 days FROM THE DATE of ISSUE, not the date it is received. (a bit unreasonable considering some embassies take 2 weeks to issue and send the passport). In any case, if said passport is not registered within those 14 days, there is a penalty fee to pay and a black mark will be put against your name in their system, which could cause problems if you want to return to Korea in the future.

I found this out the hard way last week when I innocently went into immigration for an entirely different matter and discovered that I couldn't do anything until my new passport was registered. Had I even gone in the day before, I would have avoided this little fiasco and still been within that 14 day grace period.

They're apparently very strict about this at immi even though the officer I dealt with personally thought it was a ridiculous technicality and tried her hardest to get around it, calling just about every superior she could find to see if they could avoid penalizing me.

But at the end of the day, I was in violation of their policy and had to pay the penalty... and what's worse, now I have that little black mark against my name. This is the way their computer system is set up to deal with this sort of thing.

Also, for each day that you're late in registering, the penalty fee goes up. Mine was 100 thousand won and I was only one day late.

I guess the same goes for any other type of change to a passport as well, no matter how minor it is. Immigration and our embassies really need to post this or make us aware of it. I work for a government training program and my employer had no knowledge of this either, nor was she pleased about it.

Hope this post prevents at least somebody from going through the same thing...

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

jvalmer · Joined: 06 Jun 2003

I don't know, I got a new passport a few years ago. I went to immigration and they said it's no big deal, but told me to keep the old one handy for when I leave the country so the customs official can see the stamp in my old passport. So far no problem. I've left the country numerous times since.

joyfulgirl · Joined: 05 Jan 2006

nope, not everyone knows it.

this is my 2nd gig in korea, and the timing has worked that i've had to get my passport renewed both times.

the first time, from 2003-2006, it never even occurred to me to go to immigration, and i carried on as normal. i never was fined anything. i seem to remember going to immigration for some reason during that time, and just showing my new passport, and nothing happening. i remember flying in and out of seoul too, and getting odd looks at the passport - i assumed 'cause my visa wasn't in it, or the numbers weren't matching...but still being allowed to go on my way.

now, this time, i had read here that you had to go to immigration...but i asked the lady who processed my new passport application at the Canadian Consulate about it, and she point blank told me i didn't have to go to immigration...just to carry my old and new passport with me.

anywhos...if i went now, i'd be fined lotsa money? what if i never go, and just leave the country at the end of my contract in 5 months, as I plan to do. i don't plan on coming back, so i'm not too worried about black marks with immigration. can anyone ask me to pay a penalty of some sort AT the airport??

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

The British Embassy recently posted my renewed passport in about 4 days from the date of issue.
Immigration can be notified of passport changes via the hikorea.go.kr website to save yourself a trip to an immi office. You can also make an online reservation for other things (in and out in 15 minutes).

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

Immigration offices can very well vary on policies from province to province but I was told that this is national and that it applies regardless of the visa you carry.

Then again, as we've seen in Korea, things can change in the blink of an eye. I still think it's better safe than sorry. I suppose if you're leaving the country (as I am), with no intention of returning to work here, the black mark or marks won't be an issue.

As for the fee, if you never set foot in immigration after receiving a new passport, I don't really know what they can do about it.

Still, it can't hurt to visit immigration regardless, if there any changes. It's a hassle I realize, but it may save you from a much bigger hassle later on down the road!

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Carla · Joined: 21 Nov 2008

Sorry about the fine and mark, but at least the fine was small and the mark will eventually lose value if you stay here long enough. Much like if you get caught teaching illegally, you are banned from Korea for 2(?) years, but eventually, they let you back in. If you stay here long enough, no problem. If you leave and go home, no problem.

This is a good post for people who are new to traveling abroad.

You must remember the only reason you are allowed in this country is because our governments have agreements with each other. Your passport is the only thing that says your government and the Korean (other) government are good to go when it concerns you. That's why any little change is so important to register.

That being said.... come on, 2 weeks? At least 2 weeks from date of receipt (provided you can show proof).

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

I recently heard about this too a few weeks ago in another thread. Recently I had just got my passport renewed. As soon I had read that I slapped my head as I had so thought about doing that early as soon as I got my passport back.

Anyways that day I remember I had to report the change - which had been a few weeks after it was returned, so I rushed to immi. Filled out a form (at the same time changed my address and submitted my new passport. The clerk never batted an eye or commented how late I was updating my passport change. No fines nothing - Iasked it everything Ok. She said fine! ????

I hope I am lucky - I think got away with it.

mateomiguel · Joined: 16 May 2005

what if you get a new passport and then immediately leave the country and come back? An immigration official told me that was enough for them to know that I had a new passport. Can I get some confirmation on that?