Starting Next Month, Unregistered Military Service Individuals Can Also Obtain '10-Year Multiple Passports'

Starting next month, individuals who have not completed their military service will also be able to receive multiple-entry passports valid for 10 years.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 11th, from May 1st, multiple-entry passports valid for 10 years will be issued to those who were previously eligible only for 5-year multiple-entry passports, such as those in the military service preparation category, supplementary service, alternative service, and reserve seamen service who have not completed their military service. This is in accordance with the revision of the Passport Act Enforcement Decree and Passport Act Enforcement Rules, which abolishes the validity period restriction on passports for those who have not completed military service.

The removal of the passport validity period restriction will apply to passport applications submitted on or after May 1st, Korean time. Applicants can apply for passports without submitting military-related documents or undergoing military information verification procedures. If they have previously been issued an electronic passport, online application is also possible.

Meanwhile, the overseas travel permission system for those who have not completed military service (under the jurisdiction of the Military Manpower Administration) and administrative sanctions on passports for unauthorized overseas stayers (under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) will continue regardless of this revision. Therefore, those who leave the country without obtaining overseas travel permission or fail to return within the permitted period may be subject to passport surrender orders under Article 19 of the Passport Act.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Through this revision, approximately 170,000 young people annually will be able to receive passports without validity period restrictions, greatly enhancing their convenience for overseas travel. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to actively promote improvements in passport administrative services centered on the citizens."