Can I ask an administrative agent (haengjeongsa) to handle my immigration paperwork?

Yes, you can ask a registered agency (a lawyer or an administrative agent, haengjeongsa) to handle your immigration paperwork. The foreigner, an employer who hired the foreigner, or the head of the school an international student attends can make this request.

Tasks you can hand over

• Applying for a Certificate of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서)
• Applying for permission for activities outside your status (활동허가)
• Applying for permission to change or add a workplace, and reporting these changes
• Applying for permission to be granted or to change status of stay
• Applying for permission to extend your period of stay
• Other reports, applications, or document pickups set by Ministry of Justice ordinance

Things to check before you hand it over

• The agency must be a lawyer or administrative agent registered with immigration. Ask to see the registration certificate kept at the office.
• The agency must sign an agency service contract with you. It may only charge a fee that is reasonable by common social standards.
• The agency submits documents to the immigration office that covers the client's home address or place of stay.
• The agency must not submit forged or altered documents, or documents with false content. If you suffer a penalty because of such documents, it can be a serious problem for you.

⚠️ Warning

Do not ask an unregistered person or a broker to act for you. An agency's registration can be cancelled if it fails to take proper care, for example by losing documents or not submitting them on time.

For urgent cases, such as when your period of stay is about to expire, first check with HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or the Immigration Contact Center (외국인종합안내센터, 1345) before you hand it over.