What can and can't you do with an F-1 Visiting/Cohabiting visa?

In principle, you can't do paid work (employment or profit-making activities) on an F-1. You can stay only for the original purpose, such as living with family or visiting relatives. Only in some cases can you work, and only if you get permission for activities outside your status of sojourn (체류자격외활동허가) before you start working.

What you can do without permission

• Visit relatives, live with family, be supported by family, and handle household matters
• Attend a regular school, such as elementary, middle, or high school, or a university (within your period of stay)
• Study Korean at a university-run language institute
• Learn traditional Korean culture or arts from an expert

What you must not do

• Any part-time job or employment without permission. This is a stay violation. You can be fined or told to leave Korea.
• Full-time work. If work becomes your main activity, permission for activities outside your status will not be granted. You must change your status or get a new visa.
• Working at gambling-type businesses, entertainment or karaoke bars, or places that ban youth entry or youth employment is also not allowed.

What you can do with permission (main examples)

• Foreign language conversation instructor (E-2) or foreign school teacher (E-7), if you meet the requirements
• Foreign language proofreader for a state agency or public body (E-7)
• Professional work (E-1 to E-7) for ethnic Korean Chinese who meet the job requirements
• Caregiver of a minor child born out of wedlock who has Korean nationality (F-1-4): even simple labor is allowed, except in banned industries.

Apply at the immigration office that covers your address. The fee is usually 120,000 KRW. Documents such as an employment contract, a business registration certificate, or a degree certificate depend on the work you want to do. The longest stay period you can get at one time is 2 years.

The scope of what is allowed differs by detailed code (F-1-5, F-1-9, etc.). Before you start working, be sure to check on HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or by calling 1345 whether your code allows it.