G-1 Visa for Medical Treatment in Korea: How Patients Stay…

Treatment rarely runs on schedule.

One surgery turns into rehab. Rehab turns into follow-ups. Then your doctor says you need four more months, but your visa runs out in three weeks.

Maybe you came in on a medical tourism visa. Maybe you already live here on a D-2, E-7 or F-6, and an illness has upended your normal routine. Either way, you have the same question. How do you stay legally while you recover?

For most long-term patients, the answer is the G-1 visa. Few people have heard of it, and almost nobody plans for it. But it exists for exactly this moment. C-3 visa status change

Why does a medical tourism visa run out before treatment does?

Korea splits medical stays by length. The C-3-3 medical tourism visa covers treatment of up to 90 days. Longer care moves into the G-1 (Miscellaneous) category. Its treatment subtype, G-1-10 in the immigration manual, is usually granted for up to one year per approval. People who already live here and then fall ill use a separate G-1 route.

The 90-day line, in one table

In English, HiKorea labels G-1 “Miscellaneous.” That name hides how broad the category is. The same code also covers refugee applicants, people in lawsuits and wage-dispute cases. Only the subtype tells officers why you’re here.

So check your visa sticker or ARC (Alien Registration Card) carefully. “G-1” alone tells you very little. The subtype tells you why you’re allowed to stay.

Applying from abroad? You apply at a Korean embassy or consulate. The Korea Visa Portal lists visa categories and the e-visa options available through designated agencies.

There’s one catch. G-1 lets you stay in Korea, but it doesn’t let you work or settle here. So who gets approved?

Who qualifies for a long-term treatment stay?

To qualify for a long-term treatment stay, you need three things. First, a Korean medical institution has to confirm that you need care lasting more than 90 days. Second, you have to show that you can pay for it. Third, your purpose has to be treatment, not work or study. A family member or caregiver who comes with the patient can usually apply in the same category with proof of relationship.

Test 1: a real medical need

The doctor’s opinion is the center of your file. It should name the condition, the treatment and how long it will take. A letter that says “further observation may be needed” is weak. A letter that says “inpatient rehabilitation for 6 months” is strong.

Test 2: the money

Treatment in Korea is expensive without insurance. Officers want to see that your money won’t run out halfway through. The section on proving you can pay explains how.

Test 3: the hospital itself

Korea regulates hospitals that recruit foreign patients. Under the Act on Support for Overseas Expansion of Medical Services and Attraction of International Patients, these hospitals and agencies register with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) runs the Medical Korea program that supports this system. If you’re coming from abroad, a registered hospital makes the visa side much smoother.

Switching from C-3-3 inside Korea

What if you’re already here on C-3-3 and treatment runs longer than planned? Most short-term visitors can’t change status inside Korea. Medical patients are a recognized exception. You apply for a change of status at the immigration office for your address. Do it before your 90 days end. The standard change-of-status fee is 100,000 won.

But qualifying is only half of it. Your paperwork decides the rest.

Which hospital documents make or break your file?

For a G-1 medical file, you’ll usually need three hospital documents. The first is a diagnosis certificate (jindanseo) from a Korean doctor. The second is a treatment plan or medical opinion that states how long treatment will take. The third is proof that you’re admitted or still attending as an outpatient. Extensions also need receipts showing you’ve paid. Each document should come from the hospital treating you.

Your core checklist

1. Integrated Application Form (tonghap sincheongseo), which you can download from HiKorea
2. Passport, plus your ARC if you already have one
3. One color photo, 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm
4. Diagnosis certificate (jindanseo) showing the doctor’s name and license number
5. Treatment plan or doctor’s opinion letter with a specific treatment period
6. Admission certificate (ipwon hwaginseo) or confirmation of outpatient visits
7. Medical bill receipts or a payment statement (for extensions)
8. Proof of funds or a guarantee letter (see the next section)
9. Proof of your address in Korea, such as a lease or an accommodation confirmation
10. The application fee

Caregivers also need proof of their relationship to the patient, such as a marriage certificate or family register. Documents issued abroad usually need an apostille or consular legalization, plus a Korean or English translation.

Three mistakes that slow files down

• No end date. A diagnosis code without a treatment period gives the officer no basis for deciding how long you can stay.
• Mismatched names. The spelling on your hospital records must match your passport. Ask the billing desk to fix it before they print anything.
• Old paperwork. A certificate from months ago doesn’t prove that you need treatment now. Ask for fresh copies close to your appointment.

Ask the hospital’s international patient center for these papers. Most large hospitals in Seoul have one, and the staff write visa letters all the time.

Even a perfect medical file can fail, though. Your proof of funds has to hold up too.

How do you prove you can pay, and when does a sponsor help?

Immigration wants proof that you can pay for treatment and living costs. You can submit a bank balance certificate in your own name. Or a sponsor in Korea can sign a letter of guarantee (sinwon bojeungseo) under Article 90 of the Immigration Act. The sponsor then becomes responsible for your stay and departure costs. That’s why officers check the sponsor’s income and visa status as well as yours.

Option A: your own funds

Most offices accept a bank balance certificate in English. Pair it with the hospital’s cost estimate. Together, they tell a clear story: the treatment costs this much, and the patient has this much.

There’s no published minimum balance for this category. Officers compare your funds to your treatment plan. A large balance with no cost estimate convinces them less than a modest balance that clearly covers the quote.

Option B: a sponsor financial guarantee letter

With a sponsor financial guarantee letter, someone else shares the financial risk. The sponsor is usually a Korean citizen or a long-term resident, often a relative. They typically submit:

• The signed guarantee form
• A copy of their ID card or ARC
• Proof of income, such as an earned income certificate or tax payment record

The guarantee has a legal limit. Under the Immigration Act’s enforcement rules, a guarantee can last no longer than four years.

Sponsors should read Article 90 on MOLEG before they sign. Signing has real consequences. If the patient leaves costs unpaid or has to be removed from Korea, the government can recover those costs from the sponsor.

What about health insurance?

Don’t assume NHIS covers you. The National Health Insurance Service automatically enrolls many foreign residents after six months, but only those with statuses on its list. Check whether your G-1 subtype is on that list before you plan your budget. If it isn’t, plan to pay the full cost yourself or buy private insurance. NHIS for foreigners

Approval can feel like the finish line. It isn’t, because your stay period starts counting down right away.

How does the extension procedure work, and how early should you start?

The extension procedure has a strict deadline: you must apply before your permitted stay ends. HiKorea accepts most extension applications from four months before expiry. Bring an updated diagnosis, a new treatment plan, payment records and fresh proof of funds. The standard fee is 60,000 won. Each extension usually covers only the period your doctor says you still need treatment.

“A foreigner who intends to continue to sojourn in the Republic of Korea beyond the permitted period of sojourn shall obtain permission for extension of the period of sojourn from the Minister of Justice before the period of sojourn expires, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.” (Immigration Act, Article 25, English translation via MOLEG)

Step by step

1. About six weeks before your stay expires, ask your doctor for an updated diagnosis and treatment plan.
2. Book a visit through HiKorea’s online reservation system (bangmun yeyak) at the immigration office for your address. Appointments in Seoul fill up fast. HiKorea immigration office reservation
3. Gather everything on the hospital checklist above, plus your current ARC.
4. Go to the appointment, hand in your documents and pay the fee.
5. Keep your application receipt. It proves that you applied on time.
6. Collect your result. If you’re approved, your new stay period is added to your ARC record.

What if you miss the deadline?

Then you’re overstaying, even if you’re only one day late. The Immigration Act sets fines for overstaying, and they grow the longer you stay. Officers can also refuse the extension and order you to leave. They may take a medical reason into account, but it doesn’t cancel the violation.

How many times can you extend?

No fixed limit is published for treatment stays. Each application is judged on whether you need treatment right now. Expect harder questions with each new extension. Officers may ask why you can’t continue treatment in your home country. A clear explanation from your doctor helps here. The Korea Immigration Service publishes policy notices when the rules change.

So you’ve been approved and extended. What can you actually do while you’re here?

What can you do on a G-1 medical visa, and what’s off limits?

The medical G-1 lets you stay in Korea for treatment, and that’s all. You can’t take a job without separate permission under the Immigration Act. If you stay longer than 90 days, you must register for an ARC. Health insurance isn’t automatic. Registered foreigners can take short trips abroad, but leaving the country can weaken a stay that’s based on treatment. Talk to your hospital before you book flights.

Work

Article 18 of the Immigration Act allows employment only on statuses that permit it. The medical G-1 doesn’t. Under Article 20, any activity outside your status needs permission in advance. Don’t count on getting that permission for a job.

Registration

Under Article 31, foreigners staying longer than 90 days must register within 90 days of arriving. The ARC issuance fee is 35,000 won. Your ARC becomes your ID for banks, phone plans and hospitals. ARC application Korea

Travel

Registered foreigners generally don’t need a re-entry permit if they return within one year and before their stay expires. Before you book anything, ask yourself one question. Will this trip interrupt the treatment your visa depends on? If so, your next extension gets harder.

When treatment ends

Your G-1 depends on your treatment. When treatment ends, you’re expected to leave Korea or switch to a status that fits your new situation. The same applies to a caregiver whose status depends on yours.

Your next steps

• This week, ask your hospital’s international patient center for a diagnosis certificate and a dated treatment plan.
• Write down your expiry date, then set a reminder for four months before it.
• If a sponsor is helping you, have them read Article 90 before they sign.
• Confirm your subtype and current fees on HiKorea, or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 for help in several languages.