“‘Is It Hard to Return Home Due to Pregnancy or Childbirth? Key Points of the G‑1‑9 Pregnancy and Childbirth Visa’

 This is Administrative Attorney Seong-In Kim. I once handled a case for an Indian family who had entered Korea from India on tourist visas. Their departure deadline was approaching, but the mother in the family was in the final month of pregnancy, so they asked me to take on their visa case, and I successfully handled it. Based on that case, I would like to summarize the G‑1‑9 Pregnancy and Childbirth Visa below.

 

Foreigners who find it difficult to leave Korea immediately due to pregnancy or childbirth can stay in Korea legally for a certain period through the G‑1‑9 Pregnancy and Childbirth Visa. Because this is a humanitarian status of stay created in consideration of situations where departure is difficult for medical and safety reasons, it is important to understand precisely the eligibility, duration, and document requirements.

 

Overview of the G‑1‑9 Pregnancy and Childbirth Status of Stay

 

G‑1 is an ‘Other (G‑1)’ status of stay that does not fall under general statuses such as Diplomat (A‑1), Marriage Migrant (F‑6), Visit and Employment (H‑2), or Permanent Resident (F‑5), but is granted to persons whose stay is recognized by the Minister of Justice on humanitarian grounds. Among these, G‑1‑9 is a specific status granted to ‘persons for whom it is difficult to leave the country immediately due to pregnancy or childbirth,’ and it is a system that allows them to stay in Korea for a certain period to protect the health and safety of the mother and fetus.

 

For all G‑1 statuses, the maximum period of stay that can be granted at one time is generally set at one year, and G‑1‑9 is also granted within this range.

 

Eligibility and Period of Stay for G‑1‑9

 

o Eligible persons

- Persons ‘for whom it is difficult to leave the country immediately due to pregnancy or childbirth’ are eligible for G‑1‑9.

- This status is considered as a humanitarian measure in cases where existing statuses (for example, short‑term visit, work visa, etc.) do not sufficiently accommodate the pregnancy or childbirth situation, or where the period of stay is about to expire and departure would otherwise be required.

 

o Period of stay

- As a rule, G‑1‑9 is granted with a one‑year period of stay.

- If it is demonstrated that departure is still difficult for health reasons even after that, an extension of stay of up to six months can be granted, and medical certificates proving the ‘need for extension’ play a crucial role at that stage.

 

Required Documents for Applying for G‑1‑9

 

For the Pregnancy and Childbirth Visa, objective proof of the grounds is the key, so the outcome can vary greatly depending on how clearly the medical documents are prepared.

 

o Basic common documents

- Application form (Annexed Form No. 34).

- Passport and one standard‑size ID photo.

- Application fee.

 

o Evidence related to pregnancy and childbirth

- Medical certificates or similar documents issued by a medical institution that prove it is difficult to leave the country immediately due to pregnancy or childbirth.

- It is advantageous to ensure that the certificate clearly states the expected delivery date, current week of pregnancy, and any risk factors (such as high‑risk pregnancy). In the case of my Indian client, there was a medical certificate stating that, although air travel might be possible in terms of timing, the patient’s specific condition needed to be taken into account, and this was duly considered.

 

o Other documents

- Letter of guarantee (if there is a guarantor).

- Documents proving the place of residence (such as a lease contract, accommodation provision certificate, notices of impending expiration of stay, utility bill receipts, or dormitory fee receipts).

 

Points to Note When Extending G‑1‑9

 

Because the Pregnancy and Childbirth Visa is granted based on ‘current difficulty in leaving the country,’ during the extension stage the authorities will re‑examine whether that difficulty still exists.

 

o Extension period

- Extensions for persons who require unavoidable humanitarian consideration due to pregnancy or childbirth are generally granted for up to six months.

- The period is determined by comprehensively considering the pre‑ and post‑partum recovery period, the newborn’s health condition, and the need for postpartum medical care.

 

o Documents required for extension

- Application form (Annexed Form No. 34), passport, alien registration card, and the application fee.

- Medical certificates or similar documents that prove the ‘necessity of extension’ (for example, management during the postpartum period, treatment of complications, medical care for the newborn, etc.).

- Letter of guarantee and documents proving the place of residence (such as a lease contract, accommodation provision certificate, or utility bill receipts).

 

At each extension, the key to increasing the likelihood of approval is to explain concretely, together with the doctor’s opinion, ‘why it is still difficult to leave the country.’

 

Possibility of Employment and Links with Other G‑1 Statuses

 

According to the immigration guidelines, there is no separately defined employment‑permission category specifically for G‑1‑9 itself, whereas there are clear provisions regarding permission for activities outside the authorized status for categories such as G‑1‑7, G‑1‑11, and G‑1‑99. Since the primary purpose of G‑1‑9 (pregnancy and childbirth) is humanitarian stay for medical care and rest, the emphasis is placed on health and childbirth rather than employment.

 

However, in practical cases:

- After the grounds related to pregnancy and childbirth have ceased to exist, it may be appropriate to consider switching to other G‑1 sub‑statuses such as G‑1‑2 (for illness and long‑term treatment), G‑1‑3 (for litigation), or G‑1‑6 (for humanitarian stay); and

- It is often necessary to plan in conjunction with the spouse’s status of stay after childbirth and the registration and status of stay for the child (G‑1‑12, G‑1‑99, or other family‑related statuses).

 

Therefore, G‑1‑9 should be understood as a ‘temporary humanitarian status’ to ensure safe stay during the pregnancy and childbirth period, and it is safest to design it together with a subsequent stay strategy.

 

How Administrative  Attorney Seong- In  Kim Can Help?

 

o Situation analysis and choice of status

- Based on the current status of stay, week of pregnancy, health condition, and expected delivery date, the timing of switching to G‑1‑9 and the necessary documents can be planned.

 

o Preparation of medical and stay‑related document packages

- It is possible to provide detailed guidance on what information should be included in the medical certificate to make it persuasive, and on how to organize and submit documents related to place of residence, letters of guarantee, and means of livelihood.

 

o Post‑childbirth stay strategy

- Depending on the health condition of the mother and baby after childbirth, it is possible to determine whether to extend G‑1‑9 and, if necessary, to consider switching to other G‑1 statuses or family‑related statuses (such as G‑1‑12 or G‑1‑99).

 

Because situations involving pregnancy and childbirth are not just simple stay issues but also involve medical safety and the future of the entire family, the most stable option is to seek help from a professional administrative agent from the beginning and to plan in one step both ‘how to give birth safely’ and ‘what stay strategy to adopt afterward.’ The end.