Korean Job Discussion Forums

[urion43]

Hi, I'v been looking everywhere but can't find some info i need about staying in Korea. I want to stay with my girlfriend who is working in korea as a teacher for 1 year. I do not want to work, i plan to just tour Korea and do some online courses. As a Canadian I can stay in korea for up to 6 months on a no-visa entry. Does anyone know if it is possible to extend that time? How about if i go to Japan and get a new no-entry visa? Basically, can i stay in Korea for a year?


THANK YOU!

[urion43]

sorry about the typo in the title:)

[Otherside]

Yup that's right.
Arrive in Korea, get a 6month stamp in your passport. Before that 6 months runs out...leave the country (i.e. go to Japan, for an hour, or a month doesn't matter) come back get another 6 months. Obviously, you may need to do this more than once if you want to stay a full year and the dates don't match up perfectly. (i.e. Stay in Korea for 5 months, go to Japan for 2 weeks...and come back, meaning you only have a 6month visa...but 6 and a half months to kill)

[urion43]

sorry, im not sure i understand. So i will be able to stay for the full year for sure? As long as i go out an renew my no visa entry? Also i heard that you have to register with koreas consulat if you stay over 90 days, what does that entail?

thanks.

[urion43]

......i guess i do understand actually I just want to be sure that i will be able to stay if i follow your advice about visa runs. That and the regestration thing.

[urion43]

One more thing; i have to buy a return trip right? So what do i do, buy an open ended one?

[losing_touch]

[i_teach_esl]

op: b/c youre canadian, you are allowed to come to korea with just your passport so long as you dont stay for more than 3 months. at the end of 3 months, you can go to japan (most choose japan b/c it's closest) and come back in as little as a day and you'll have a stamp in your passport to allow you to stay for another 3months. do this over and over again, and you can stay until korea makes you stop. you'll be classified as a tourist, so you are not allowed to work.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html#countries

[ttompatz]

[i_teach_esl]

ok. sorry.

[urion43]

thanks all! So just to make sure, I will be able to stay a whole year as long as i make a few trips to Japan when i need too?

[ttompatz]

[dean_burrito]

I do know about people here in the same situation that explain the situation to immigration and get tourist visa extensions without even leaving the country. It's no guarantee as immigration isn't always consistent across the board. But keep this in mind before spending your girlfriends money (jk) on trips to Japan.