Government Official / Official Duties
공무 — Short/long-term official (non-immigrant) status for foreign government and international-organization personnel
At a glance
Foreign nationals who come to Korea to perform official duties for a foreign government or an international organization, and their accompanying family members.
Tied to the period of the official assignment.
Employment is restricted to the official duties for the foreign government or international organization that form the basis of the status.
Fee: Commonly exempt (무료). Visa fees for holders of diplomatic/official passports performing government or international-organization duties are frequently waived under reciprocity agreements; the exact fee (or exemption) depends on the applicant’s nationality and the bilateral arrangement, so confirm with the issuing Korean embassy/consulate. (Exact amount not fixed — often fee-exempt.) · Time: Consular processing is typically around 2-3 weeks for Korean visa applications, and…
Who can apply
- ✓Foreign nationals who come to Korea to perform official duties for a foreign government or an international organization, and their accompanying family members.
- ✓This is defined in Attachment 1 (별표1) of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act as ‘persons performing official duties for a foreign government or an international organization, and their families’ (외국정부 또는 국제기구의 공무를 수행하는 사람과 그 가족).
- ✓Typical holders include staff of foreign government offices/agencies posted to Korea who are not covered by full diplomatic status (A-1), personnel of international organizations, and — under Korea’s visa sub-code system — foreign military and their families dispatched to the United Nations Command.
- ✓A-2 is distinct from A-1 (Diplomat, for accredited diplomatic/consular staff) and A-3 (for persons and families covered by a status-of-forces or similar agreement, e.g.
- ✓USFK).
Documents you'll need
- Visa application form (사증발급신청서) with one photo
- passport (usually an official/diplomatic or service passport)
- official note / note verbale (공한) or dispatch/assignment letter from the sending foreign government or international organization confirming the official duties and posting
- supporting documents proving the official mission and the applicant’s status
- for accompanying family, proof of family relationship (marriage/birth certificate). Applications are normally lodged through diplomatic channels or a Korean embassy/consulate
- the exact document set is set by the receiving consular post — confirm the current list with the relevant Korean embassy/consulate or MOFA. (Document set not published as a fixed public checklist for A-2 — verify per post.)
How to apply
- Overseas embassy visa (사증) through official/diplomatic channels (MOFA), based on an official note from the sending government or international organization; not the Certificate of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서) route.
- A-2 visas are generally arranged through official/diplomatic channels and issued by a Korean embassy or consulate (MOFA), often on the basis of an official note from the sending government or organization, rather than through the domestic Certificate of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서) route used for ordinary work visas.
- Holders of an official or diplomatic passport are typically processed under reciprocity arrangements.
Stay & extension
Tied to the period of the official assignment. Under the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act the maximum period of stay per grant for A-2 is set as the period of performing the official duties (공무수행기간); accompanying family are granted the same period as the principal (the period fixed for the accompanying person, 동반하는 본인에게 정하여진 기간).
There is no fixed statutory number of years — the stay tracks the length of the official posting.
Extension of stay is granted in line with the continuation of the official assignment. An application to extend (체류기간 연장허가) is made before the current period expires, supported by an updated official note / assignment document confirming that the official duties continue.
Because A-2 is tied to the mission period, extensions are handled through the same official channels as the original grant.
Working on this visa
Employment is restricted to the official duties for the foreign government or international organization that form the basis of the status. A-2 does not grant general work authorization; any activity outside the official mission would require separate permission and generally does not fit this status.
Accompanying family are admitted as dependents, not for employment.
Requirements in detail
No labor-ministry endorsement; arranged via MOFA on the basis of the sending government or organization’s official note.
Sub-types
A-2-1foreign-government officialA-2-2international-organization officialA-2-3foreign military/family under UN CommandA-2-4other official duties. (unverified against MOJ manual)Reported sub-codes:
Accompanying family are admitted under A-2 for the same period granted to the principal.
Not applicable — A-2 holders are exempt from foreigner registration, so they receive no ARC and cannot issue the mobile Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) (from 2025-01-10).
2025–2026 policy updates
- No A-2-specific policy change was found in official Korean government sources for 2025-2026.
- A-2 is a stable diplomatic/official category and was not part of the 2025-2026 employment/residence visa reforms (e.g.
- Top-Tier F-2, points-based changes), which do not apply to official statuses.
- (No verified 2025-2026 update specific to A-2.)
Common mistakes
- Confusing A-2 with A-1 (Diplomat) — A-1 is for accredited diplomatic and consular staff, while A-2 covers other official/government and international-organization duties.
- Confusing A-2 with A-3 (SOFA/agreement personnel such as USFK members and families).
- Assuming A-2 allows general employment — it is limited to the official mission.
- Assuming time on A-2 counts toward permanent residence — official statuses generally do not.
Where this leads
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