Korea eases visa extension rules for foreign victims of crime

The Ministry of Justice has revised rules to let foreign victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse and other human rights violations apply for stay extensions and other permits at immigration offices linked to the shelters where they are staying, Friday. The change is meant to keep victims from having to return to their registered addresses and risk exposing their whereabouts to perpetrators. It took effect Aug. 24 and applies to foreign nationals seeking legal remedies under the Immigration Act.

Before the revision, foreign nationals had to apply for immigration permits at offices covering their registered addresses.

The new rule applies to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse and human trafficking under the Immigration Act.

The Ministry of Justice said the policy change is intended to prevent victims from being put at additional safety risk while seeking immigration permits.

Published Sep 4, 2026 4:02 pm KST

A sign for the Ministry of Justice is seen at Government Complex Gwacheon in Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Yonhap

Foreign nationals who are victims of crimes such as domestic violence will now be able to apply for permission to remain in the country, through immigration offices with jurisdiction over the shelters where they are staying.

According to the Ministry of Justice, Friday, it has revised the rules to allow foreign victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse and other human rights violations to apply for extensions of stay and other permits at the immigration offices with jurisdiction over the shelters where they are staying, rather than their places of residence.

Previously, foreign nationals were required to apply for immigration permits at offices covering their registered addresses.

Concerns had been raised that requiring victims who fled domestic violence or other abuse to visit immigration offices near their former residences could expose their whereabouts and put their safety at risk.

In response, the ministry expanded the rules so the foreign victims would not have to risk returning to the area of their registered address and potentially encountering the perpetrator of the crime.

The measure, which took effect Aug. 24, applies to foreign nationals seeking legal remedies after experiencing domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse or human trafficking, as stipulated under the Immigration Act.

The ministry said it will continue to improve related measures to ensure that foreign victims of violence can maintain their legal status without facing additional safety risks while applying for immigration permits.

司法部于周五修订了相关规定，允许遭受家庭暴力、性暴力、虐待儿童和其他侵犯人权行为的外国受害者在其所居住的庇护所所属的移民局办事处申请延长居留期限及其他许可。此举旨在避免受害者被迫返回其登记住址，从而降低其行踪暴露给施暴者的风险。该规定已于8月24日生效，适用于根据《移民法》寻求法律救济的外国公民。

修订前，外国公民必须在其注册地址所在地的办事处申请移民许可。

新规适用于《移民法》规定的家庭暴力、性暴力、虐待儿童和人口贩运的受害者。

司法部表示，这项政策改变旨在防止受害者在申请移民许可时面临额外的安全风险。

发布于2026年9月4日下午4:02（韩国标准时间）

周四，在京畿道果川市政府大楼内，可以看到司法部的标志。（韩联社）

遭受家庭暴力等犯罪侵害的外国公民现在可以通过对其所居住的庇护所具有管辖权的移民局申请留在该国的许可。

据司法部周五表示，已修改相关规定，允许遭受家庭暴力、性暴力、虐待儿童和其他侵犯人权行为的外国受害者，向其所居住的庇护所所属的移民局申请延长居留期限和其他许可，而不是向其居住地所属的移民局申请。

此前，外国公民需要到其注册地址所在地的办事处申请移民许可。

有人担心，要求逃离家庭暴力或其他虐待的受害者前往其以前居住地附近的移民局，可能会暴露他们的行踪，危及他们的安全。

对此，该部扩大了相关规定，使外国受害者不必冒着返回其登记住所地并可能遇到犯罪者的风险。

该措施于 8 月 24 日生效，适用于根据《移民法》规定，在遭受家庭暴力、性暴力、虐待儿童或人口贩运后寻求法律救济的外国公民。

该部表示将继续完善相关措施，以确保遭受暴力侵害的外国受害者在申请移民许可时能够维持其合法身份，而不会面临额外的安全风险。