ADVISORY: MEDICAL TESTING AND TREATMENT OF ILLEGAL RESIDENTS WITH COVID-19 AND THE PROCEDURES FOR THEIR VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul wishes to share with the Filipino Community in South Korea of the following measures taken by the Korean Government with regard to illegal residents of foreign nationality who need testing and medical treatment for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as procedures for their voluntary departure:
• The Korean Government does not require medical institutions to report the identity of illegal residents who visit them to be tested for COVID-19.
• Medical expenses for illegal residents who have contracted COVID-19 will be borne by the Korean Government.
• The Korea Immigration Service (KIS) will extend the deadline for the voluntary declaration of the illegal residents who could not depart on their desired date due to quarantine measures.
- In accordance with the "Illegal Resident Reduction Plan", illegal residents who voluntarily leave Korea before 30 June 2020 are allowed to reenter Korea with a short-term visa 3 to 6 months after their departure.
• On 11 March 2020, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) launched the "Online Preliminary Declaration of Voluntary Departure" for illegal residents. Under this scheme, illegal residents who opt for voluntary departure can submit an online application.
- The Online Preliminary Declaration is accepted within 3 to 15 calendar days prior to departure.
Further information on these procedures, please visit the KIS website at www.hikorea.go.kr. END.
16 March 2020