Dongtan-gu Office: Korea Passport Renewal Guide (2026)

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Online Passport Renewal: Processing Times

My Experience at Dongtan-gu Office

Recently, as I prepared for an upcoming trip, I pulled out my passport only to discover it had less than two months of validity left! Many countries require at least six months of remaining passport validity for entry. To avoid any travel headaches, I decided it was time for a renewal, and I'm here to share my detailed experience.

I debated whether to apply for my passport renewal online or in person. Since my schedule was tight, I opted for the online application process. However, going through the entire journey from application to pickup, I quickly realized it wasn't quite what I expected!

It turns out that applying in person can often be much faster, and even if you apply online, you still have to visit an office to pick up your physical passport!

For those of you also looking to renew your passport, I'll walk you through my experience with online passport renewal and my visit to the Dongtan-gu Office (동탄구청) for pickup.

1. Online Passport Renewal: Processing Time & Experience

First, to apply for passport renewal online, simply go to the Government 24 (정부24) website and search for "passport renewal." You'll find a button labeled "Apply for Online Passport Renewal" as shown in the pictures above!

The process there is quite straightforward. For my passport photo, after some deliberation, I decided to get it taken at a professional photo studio. I received the photo file via email and uploaded it the same day to complete my online application.

My personal experience with online passport renewal took about two weeks. Please note that this period included a major public holiday, which extended the processing time. Generally, it's said to take around 4-5 business days.

However, because of the holiday period, mine took closer to two weeks. So, if you're applying right before or during a long holiday, definitely factor in extra time!

Once your passport is ready, you'll receive a notification via KakaoTalk from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Passport Information service, similar to the image above. This message will also include instructions on where to pick up your new passport, based on the location you selected during your application.

2. Dongtan-gu Office Passport Pickup: Location, Hours, & What to Bring

I chose the Dongtan-gu Office (동탄구청) as my pickup location and visited the Civil Service and Passport Division on a weekday afternoon. You'll need to head straight to the 5th floor.

Good news for drivers: the parking lot is usually quite spacious, and you get 1 hour and 30 minutes of free parking without needing to register your vehicle!

Once on the 5th floor, proceed to the Civil Service and Passport Division. They operate Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, so plan your visit within those hours.

You might be thinking, "If I applied online, shouldn't I receive it online?" Unfortunately, no. ㅠㅠㅠ

Even if you apply online, you still have to go in person to receive your physical passport. However, if you apply in person, you can actually have your passport delivered to your home, though there is a delivery fee. So, one way or another, you'll have to make a trip!

Anyway, I pulled a waiting ticket, and thankfully, there was no one else in line, so the process was incredibly quick!

If you're renewing a passport that still has some validity left, like mine, you absolutely must bring your old passport and a valid ID.

My old passport was green, and they punched holes through it, marking it 'VOID.' This is to ensure it can't be used by anyone else, which is a good safety measure! Don't worry, you get to keep your old, voided passport as a souvenir!

My new passport felt very sturdy. Unlike the old one, the front page isn't just paper; it has a tough, coated finish. This makes it much less likely to tear or get damaged, which is a great improvement!

Also, remember that you have six months to pick up your new passport after it's issued. If you don't collect it within that timeframe, it will be canceled. So, don't procrastinate – schedule your pickup promptly!

Based on my direct experience applying for and collecting my passport online:

If you need your passport quickly, an in-person application is generally faster. Even with an online application, you still need to visit a district office for pickup. My online renewal process took approximately two weeks. Keep these points in mind when planning your passport renewal!

I hope this detailed guide helps those of you preparing for passport renewal in Korea!

Wishing you all safe and enjoyable travels! ✈️

👇Dongtan-gu Office Passport Renewal Location👇