E-9 Stay Extension and Re-employment (4 Years 10 Months in Total)

When Does This Apply to You?

• You came to Korea and have worked with E-9 status for almost 3 years.
• You want to keep working at your current company, and your employer also wants to keep you.
• The end date of your employment period has not passed yet.

The end date of your employment period may be different from the period of stay on your 외국인등록증 (Residence Card). To be safe, check the exact date with the 고용센터 or by calling 1345.

Steps

1. Employer applies for re-employment – The employer applies from 3 months before until 7 days before the end of your employment period. The employer can visit the local 고용센터 or apply online on the Employment Permit System website (www.eps.go.kr).
2. Write an extended 근로계약서 (employment contract) – You write a new standard employment contract for the extended period. Check the wages, working hours, and housing and meal conditions again, and sign it.
3. Receive the employment period extension confirmation – When the 고용센터 approves re-employment, a confirmation document is issued. It is good for the worker to get a copy too.
4. Apply for the stay extension permit – The worker applies personally. You can apply from 4 months before until the last day of your period of stay.
   • Online: 하이코리아 (www.hikorea.go.kr) e-Application
   • In person: the local 출입국·외국인관서 (after making a visit reservation on 하이코리아)
5. Pay the fee and check the result – The fee for the stay extension permit is 6만 원. When it is approved, the period of stay on your 외국인등록증 is extended.

What to Prepare

Re-employment application (prepared by the employer)

• Application form for extension of the employment period for workers whose period is ending
• The extended 근로계약서
• Business registration certificate (for farming or livestock: agricultural business registration confirmation)
• Copies of the 외국인등록증 and passport
• If a representative visits: a letter of authorization, the representative's ID, a certificate of employment, etc.

Stay extension permit (prepared by the worker)

• Application form for stay extension permit (Form No. 34)
• Passport, 외국인등록증
• Employment permit, 근로계약서
• Employment period extension confirmation
• Letter of guarantee (a document in which someone guarantees you)
• Proof of address (lease contract, dormitory confirmation, etc.)
• Fee: 6만 원

Important Points

• Only the employer can apply for re-employment. If the employer does not apply, your work ends after 3 years and you must leave Korea. If you want to keep working, it is good to tell your employer early, 3 to 4 months before the end date.
• Re-employment is possible only once. After you complete 4 years and 10 months, it cannot be extended again. After that, your options are re-entry employment for faithful workers, or changing your status to skilled worker (E-7-4).
• Re-employment approval and stay extension are different procedures. Even if the 고용센터 approves your re-employment, your period of stay will end if you do not apply for a stay extension at the immigration office.
• If you apply after your period of stay has ended, you must pay a fine (출입국관리법 제25조 / Immigration Act, Article 25). It is good to apply on time, not even one day late.
• You can change workplaces during the re-employment period, but you can change only 2 times during this period.

Schedule Before the End Date

When	What to do	Who does it
4–6 months before the end date	Talk with the employer about continuing to work	Worker and employer
3 months before the end date	Re-employment application can start	Employer
4 months before until the end date	Stay extension permit application possible	Worker
7 days before the end date	Deadline for re-employment application	Employer
On the end date	Deadline for stay extension permit application	Worker

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What can I do if my employer does not re-employ me? A. Re-employment needs an application from the employer. If you want to move to another company and get re-employment there, you must first finish the workplace change procedure before your employment period ends. You can get advice at a nearby 고용센터.

Q. How long exactly is the re-employment period? A. The law says "only once, for less than 2 years." In practice, 1 year and 10 months is applied.

Q. If I change companies during re-employment, what happens to my remaining period? A. Your remaining employment period continues. But during the re-employment period, you can change workplaces only up to 2 times.

Q. Can I apply for a stay extension only online? A. You can apply through 하이코리아 e-Application. If you have many documents or need something checked, you can also make a visit reservation and apply at the local 출입국·외국인관서.

Q. When 4 years and 10 months end, do I have to leave Korea for good? A. If you meet the requirements, you can come back to Korea 1 month after leaving through the re-entry employment program for faithful workers. If you meet the points requirements, you can also change your status to skilled worker (E-7-4) and stay in Korea.

Where to Get Help

• Immigration Contact Center (외국인종합안내센터) 1345 (many languages, questions about stay and visas)
• 고용노동부 (Ministry of Employment and Labor) Customer Center 1350 (questions about re-employment and work problems)
• 하이코리아 www.hikorea.go.kr (e-Application, visit reservation)
• Employment Permit System website www.eps.go.kr
• Your nearby 고용센터, your local 출입국·외국인관서