[2026 Guide] Behind the Scenes: Korea Immigration Office Field Tour Schedule

For many expats living in Korea, visiting the Immigration Office (출입국·외국인청) can be a stressful experience filled with visa paperwork and long waiting times. But what if you could experience it from the other side of the desk?

The Ministry of Justice has officially announced the "2026 Immigration Field Tour," offering foreigners a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the Korean immigration system works. If you've ever been curious about the visa screening process or want to hear real stories directly from immigration officers, this is an opportunity you shouldn't miss!

What is the Immigration Field Tour?

Running since 2008, this special program is designed to help expats and citizens better understand the duties of the immigration office. Participants get to:

• Experience the actual work environment of immigration officers.
• Learn about the step-by-step immigration and visa processes.
• Listen to vivid, real-life stories and experiences from the staff.

2026 Official Tour Schedule by Month

The tours will be held at various immigration offices across Korea throughout the year. The February tour in Busan has already successfully concluded, but there are plenty of upcoming dates!

🗓️ Here is the full schedule for 2026:

• 👉 March: Incheon Airport / Seoul
• 👉 April: Incheon / Gwangju
• 👉 May: Daejeon
• 👉 June: Incheon Airport / Seoul
• 👉 July: Incheon
• 👉 September: Incheon Airport / Seoul
• 🔥 November (Grand Tour): Incheon Airport, Incheon, Daejeon, Seoul, Busan, Gwangju

How to Apply for the Tour

The recruitment notices for each month's tour will not be open all year round. Instead, specific application details will be posted shortly before each month's tour date.

You can check the upcoming application announcements (especially for the highly anticipated March tours in Seoul and Incheon Airport) through:

1. The official HiKorea website
2. The Ministry of Justice's official SNS channels (Facebook, Kakao Channel, YouTube)

Understanding how the system works can make your life in Korea much easier and less intimidating. If a tour is coming to your city, we highly recommend applying! It’s a great way to gain valuable insights and maybe even make a few connections.

📌 Bookmark this page and keep an eye on HiKorea so you don't miss the application window for your local office! Have you ever visited the immigration office? Let us know your experience in the comments below!

Source: Ministry of Justice, Korea Immigration Service (법무부 출입국·외국인정책본부)