Korea Immigration Revenue Stamp: What You Pay, Where to…

One small slip of paper. Then everything stops.

You booked the appointment on HiKorea. You filled in the forms and waited an hour for your number. Then the officer asks for the fee, and you don’t have a revenue stamp. Some applicants get sent downstairs to a bank counter. Others lose their slot and have to rebook. immigration office appointment HiKorea

This happens to students on D-2 visas, E-7 workers, F-6 marriage migrants, and F-4 overseas Koreans alike. The stamp itself is simple. The rules around it are not written in one place. So here they are together.

Why does a small stamp hold up your whole immigration visit?

A revenue stamp (suip inji, 수입인지) is how Korea collects fees for many government permits. The Immigration Act requires a fee for most permits, from ARC issuance to stay extensions. At the counter, the officer needs proof that you paid before your file moves forward. No proof, no processing, even if every other document is perfect.

The law behind the fee

The fee is not an office habit. It’s written into the law. The Immigration Act, published in English on MOLEG, sets the rule in Article 87:

“A person who intends to obtain a permit, etc. under this Act shall pay fees prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.”

That Ordinance is the Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act. It lists the exact amounts for each type of application. The Korea Immigration Service, which sits under the Ministry of Justice, applies that table at every office.

Paper stamps vs electronic stamps

You may picture a gummed sticker. That’s mostly history. Today, the common form is the electronic revenue stamp (jeonja suip inji, 전자수입인지). You pay, and you get a printed slip with a unique stamp number. The officer checks that number in the system, so the same stamp can’t be reused.

The revenue stamp system is managed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Immigration is just one of its users. Courts and other agencies also take revenue stamps, which is why you’ll see the stamp menu offer more than immigration fees.

Who needs one

Almost every registered foreign resident does, at some point:

• A D-2 student registering for an ARC in the first 90 days
• A D-10 job seeker switching to E-7 after landing a job
• An F-6 spouse extending their stay
• An F-4 holder reporting a change that triggers a new card

So how much should that stamp be worth? It depends on one line in a fee table.

How much is the revenue stamp fee for ARC issuance and other permits?

Per the HiKorea fee table, the revenue stamp fee for ARC issuance is 30,000 won. A stay extension costs 60,000 won. A change of status costs 100,000 won. These amounts come from the Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act. The table is revised from time to time, so check HiKorea the week you apply.

The fees most residents actually pay

Most registered residents who leave and return within one year don’t need a re-entry permit at all. It’s in the table because some people still do.

Here’s the catch

The fee is per person, per application. A family of four extending together pays four fees. A parent can’t cover a child’s extension with one stamp.

A few categories are exempt under the Enforcement Rule. Recognized refugees and people covered by certain treaties are examples. If you think you qualify, bring proof and ask the officer before you buy anything.

Real examples

• A D-10 graduate who gets an E-7 offer files a change of status. That’s 100,000 won.
• An E-7 engineer who moves to a new company files a workplace change. That’s 120,000 won.
• A D-2 student who loses their ARC on the subway pays 30,000 won to replace it.

Knowing the number is half the job. Getting the stamp before you leave home is the other half.

How to buy an e-revenue stamp online before your appointment

You can buy an e-revenue stamp on the government’s e-Revenue Stamp site with a Korean card or a bank transfer. Pick the amount, pay, and print the stamp slip. Bring that printout to the counter. If your payment goes through on the first try, the whole thing takes about 10 minutes.

Step by step

1. Open the e-Revenue Stamp site on a computer with a printer nearby.
2. Choose the menu for buying a stamp for paper documents (종이문서용).
3. Enter the exact fee amount. For an ARC, type 30,000.
4. Enter your details as the site asks. Use the name exactly as it appears on your passport.
5. Pay with a Korean card, a bank transfer, or another method the site lists.
6. Print the stamp. Check that the stamp number and barcode are clear.

Why online purchases fail for foreigners

Most failures are payment problems, not stamp problems. Foreign-issued cards often don’t work on Korean government payment pages. Identity checks may also need a Korean mobile number in your own name.

If you just arrived and have neither, skip this route. Buy the stamp at a bank counter instead (more on that below). open bank account Korea foreigner

When you don’t need a stamp at all

Some applications can be filed online through HiKorea’s e-application menu. Extensions are the most common example. When you file there, you pay the fee inside the system. No separate stamp is needed.

That sounds easier. It often is. But not every application type is offered online, and first-time ARC registration still requires a visit.

So what happens if you show up at the office empty-handed? It depends on which office you walk into.

Revenue stamp vs card payment at the immigration office: what actually works?

Payment options differ by office. Many immigration offices have a bank branch or a stamp sales point in the building. Some take card payment for fees. Others expect a printed e-revenue stamp at the counter. The fastest way to know is to call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 before your visit. It offers help in English and other languages.

Where to buy a revenue stamp near the immigration office

Your realistic options, in order:

• The bank counter inside the office building. Larger offices often have one. Ask the information desk on arrival.
• A nearby bank branch. Partner banks sell e-revenue stamps at the teller window. Bring your passport and cash or a card.
• Your phone, on the spot. Only if you have a Korean card and can show the stamp in a form the officer accepts. Many offices still want paper.

Watch the clock

This one catches people. Korean bank branches usually close their counters at 4 p.m. Immigration offices stay open later. If your appointment is at 4:30, the on-site bank may already be shut.

Book a morning slot if you can. Or buy the stamp a day early.

Card payment: helpful, but not universal

Card payment at the counter has spread in recent years. That’s good news. But don’t assume your office has it. And don’t assume a foreign card will work if it does.

So you paid. The answer is no. What happens to the money?

Revenue stamp refund if your application is rejected

A rejection does not return your fee in most cases. The fee pays for reviewing your application, and that review took place. A stamp you bought but never used is different. Unused e-revenue stamps can be refunded through the e-Revenue Stamp site or where you bought them, within the period that site sets.

Used vs unused: the line that matters

Once the officer registers your stamp number with your application, the stamp is used. A denial after that point is still a completed review. Most applicants won’t see that money again.

An unused stamp is another story. Maybe you bought 60,000 won for an extension, then filed online instead. Or you bought the wrong amount. In those cases, request a refund through the site’s refund menu. If you bought at a bank counter, ask that bank.

Two tips save trouble later:

• Keep the printed slip and your payment receipt until the refund clears.
• Don’t stockpile stamps for future visits. Fees change, and refund windows end.

What to do after a denial

You have options. None of them gives back the first fee.

• Reapply with the missing documents. A new application means a new fee.
• File an administrative appeal under the Administrative Appeals Act. The deadline is 90 days from when you learn of the decision.
• File an administrative lawsuit in court. Many people talk to a lawyer before this step.

If you’re on a tight deadline because your stay is about to expire, act fast. Ask at the counter what status you hold while you prepare the next step. visa extension denied Korea

One more step turns all of this into a smooth visit. It happens the night before.

What should you check the night before your appointment?

Confirm three things: the exact fee for your application on HiKorea, how your office takes payment (call 1345), and whether you can buy the stamp in advance. If you can, buy it the day before and print it. If you can’t, plan to reach the office bank counter well before 4 p.m.

A short checklist

• Appointment booked on HiKorea, confirmation saved
• Fee checked against the current HiKorea table
• Stamp printed, or payment plan confirmed with 1345
• Passport, current ARC (if any), photo, and forms in one folder
• Supporting documents from Government24 printed if your application needs them

One step further

If you’re on a long path, like E-7 to F-2 or F-6 to F-5, the fees add up over the years. Every extension, change, and card replacement has its own stamp. Programs like the KIIP can count toward some of those status changes, so plan your route early.

The stamp is the smallest document in your folder. Treat it like the most important one, and the counter won’t stop on you.