Last updated: October 9, 2026 · Registration deadlines, residence-card fees, 2026 employment reporting and mobile ID procedures rechecked
Korean Residence Card application · Korea Actually guide illustration
If you're moving to South Korea for more than a short visit, one piece of plastic will soon become surprisingly important: your Korean Residence Card, still commonly called the ARC (Alien Registration Card).
For many foreign residents, it's the ID that makes everyday life easier, from banking and mobile-phone verification to employment paperwork, contracts and online services.
The difficult part isn't understanding why you need it. It's knowing when to register, which immigration office handles your address, what documents to bring and how to avoid a second trip.
If you intend to stay in Korea for more than 90 days and are subject to foreigner registration, you generally must register within 90 days of entry.
Confirm your immigration jurisdiction and visa-specific documents, reserve a visit through HiKorea, attend the responsible immigration office and submit your application.
The standard Residence Card issuance fee is ₩35,000.
Some people granted or changing their status of stay in Korea have a different registration deadline. Confirm the rule for your situation before assuming you have 90 days.
This guide takes you through the process, including the proof-of-address problem, the 2026 employment-information requirement, what happens while you wait for the card and how the mobile version works.
ARC / Residence Card at a Glance
| Who | Foreign residents subject to registration |
| Usual deadline | Within 90 days of entry, with status-specific exceptions |
| Where | Immigration office responsible for your Korean residential address |
| Documents | Application, passport, photo, residence proof and applicable supporting documents |
| Photo | 3.5 × 4.5 cm, recent passport-style photograph |
| Card issuance fee | ₩35,000 |
| Official help | HiKorea / Immigration Contact Center 1345 |
Use these details as a starting point, not a substitute for the checklist that applies to your exact status of stay. A student, employee, spouse and corporate transferee may need different supporting documents.
1. Why the Residence Card Matters
A short-term tourist can manage much of a Korean trip with a passport, international payment card and working mobile data.
Living in Korea is different.
Many services depend on identity verification tied to a Korean registration number. Once you're registered, your Residence Card identifies you as a foreign resident and provides your foreigner registration number.
Depending on your status and the service provider, you may need it for a long-term phone contract, bank services, account authentication, employment procedures or proof of residence.
Having the card doesn't automatically make every service available. Banks, phone carriers and digital platforms can have additional eligibility or account-verification requirements.
But it removes an important obstacle. That's why a Residence Card often feels much more useful in daily life than newcomers expect.
A visa or approved status allows you to stay under its conditions. If you're required to register, you still need to complete the separate registration process within the applicable deadline.
2. Who Needs to Register — and When?
Under Article 31 of Korea's Immigration Act, foreigners who intend to stay for more than 90 days generally must register within 90 days of entering the country.
There are exemptions, including specified diplomatic and official categories. The correct answer depends on your status, not simply on whether you're a foreign national.
There is also an important distinction for people whose status is granted or changed while they're already in Korea.
If you're granted a status of stay under the relevant immigration provisions, or receive permission to change status in circumstances covered by Article 31, registration may be required at the time the status is granted or changed rather than under a new 90-day countdown.
If you're changing from a short-term stay to a long-term status, don't assume the original entry-date rule gives you additional time. Ask how registration is handled as part of the permission process.
Visit reservations can fill up, especially when many students arrive at the same time. Check your registration obligation, document requirements and appointment availability early. Booking a late appointment is not the same as satisfying the legal registration deadline.
Korea Immigration Act — Article 31, Foreigner Registration →
3. Documents: Build Your ARC Folder Before Booking
One of the easiest ways to waste an immigration appointment is to follow a document list written for somebody with a different visa.
Start with these common items:
- Valid passport
- Integrated Application Form — the appropriate immigration form
- Recent 3.5 × 4.5 cm photograph
- Proof of your actual residence in Korea
- Supporting documents required for your status of stay
- Applicable fee and payment arrangements
Depending on your status, additional documents may relate to university enrollment, employment, family relationships, business activities or other requirements.
Some applicants may also have nationality- or circumstance-specific documentary requirements. Don't assume that every document used for one foreign resident applies to another.
Exact status of stay → Current official checklist → Residence proof → Supporting documents → Photo and application → Reservation
If your university or employer is helping with a group registration process, ask which parts it handles and which original documents you must provide yourself.
For the current checklist, use HiKorea or contact 1345. A general article can tell you how to prepare, but it cannot determine every document for an individual immigration case.
4. Proof of Residence: Check the Name on the Housing Document
Immigration needs to establish where you actually live.
If you have a rental contract in your own name, your evidence may be straightforward. Things can become more complicated when you're staying in a university dormitory, employer-provided housing, a friend's home or accommodation booked by someone else.
A reservation confirmation alone may not always be sufficient evidence of actual residence.
Depending on the circumstances, immigration may require confirmation from the person providing accommodation, supporting identity or property documents, or another accepted form of address evidence.
The exact combination depends on your housing arrangement and applicable immigration requirements.
Does my document show where I really live?
Is the accommodation in my name or somebody else's?
If another person provides the housing, what additional confirmation does immigration require?
If you can't answer those questions, call 1345 or check the official residence-evidence instructions before traveling to the office.
A missing signature or unsuitable address document can turn one visit into two.
5. ARC Photo Requirements
Prepare a recent color photograph measuring 3.5 × 4.5 cm. Official residence-registration guidance generally specifies a photograph taken within the previous six months.
Use a clear, front-facing passport-style image that meets the immigration photo specifications. Don't assume that an old student ID picture, casual selfie or heavily edited portrait will be accepted.
A photo studio in Korea should recognize an application for an 외국인등록증, but explain the purpose rather than requesting a generic ID photo.
Oegugin deungnokjeung sajin jjigeuryeogo haeyo.
I need a photo for my Residence Card.
3.5 곱하기 4.5 센티미터로 해 주세요.
Please make it 3.5 × 4.5 cm.
Before printing several copies, verify the current official requirements for background, face position, head coverings and other photo conditions.
6. Make Your Immigration Appointment on HiKorea
The usual individual registration route involves reserving a visit through HiKorea and attending the immigration office responsible for your Korean residential address.
The address is the part many newcomers overlook.
Don't choose an immigration office simply because it's closest to your hotel, school or workplace. Jurisdiction is normally determined by your place of residence.
If your school or another authorized organization is arranging an approved group application, follow the process provided for your case instead of creating a conflicting reservation.
HiKorea → Visit reservation → Correct immigration office → Relevant service → Available appointment → Save confirmation
Check the address and appointment time carefully. Different immigration services can operate from different offices or service areas.
Save a screenshot of the confirmed reservation, but follow the instructions shown in your actual HiKorea account and confirmation.
If you're having trouble identifying the correct office or reservation category, contact 1345 before making the trip.
HiKorea — Official English Website →
7. Important 2026 Update: Employment Information Reporting
Korea introduced an updated online reporting system for foreigners' employment information on January 2, 2026.
This matters if your status is covered and you're engaged in for-profit activities. It is separate from the basic question of whether you must register as a foreign resident.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the covered statuses for people engaged in for-profit activities include:
E-1 through E-10
F-2, F-4 and F-6
H-2
D-7, D-8 and D-9
The official employment-information reporting requirement excludes F-5 permanent residents.
The report concerns employment information such as occupation, industry and annual income information. The requirement can also apply to self-employed people in the covered categories.
Employment information is generally reported at the relevant registration stage. If someone wasn't engaged in for-profit activity when registering but later begins such activity, the Ministry of Justice instructs them to report the information within 15 days of starting.
Changes to previously reported occupation, industry or annual-income bracket information generally must also be reported within 15 days.
How to report through HiKorea
For a covered applicant booking an immigration appointment, the employment-information screen is designed to appear during the HiKorea visit-reservation process.
When no office visit is planned, the Ministry of Justice describes a separate route under HiKorea e-Application for initial or changed employment information.
The government's implementation guidance allowed online and paper reporting during the January–June 2026 pilot period and specified online-only reporting from the second half of 2026.
If you're applying in October 2026, don't rely on an old paper-only guide. Follow the current HiKorea instructions that apply to your status.
Employment-information reporting is not the same thing as permission to work. Filing employment information does not create work rights outside those allowed by your immigration status or any required authorization.
If the screen appears and you don't understand why you're being asked to report, confirm your status and reporting obligation through 1345 rather than entering guessed employment information.
Ministry of Justice — 2026 Employment Information Reporting Guide (PDF) →
8. What Happens at the Immigration Office?
On appointment day, arrive early enough to find the correct entrance, floor and service desk.
Immigration offices can be busy, and the waiting system may be different from one building to another. Follow the appointment confirmation and the instructions displayed at the office.
1. Arrive at the correct office and service area.
2. Confirm the appointment or queue instructions.
3. Wait to be called.
4. Present your passport and application documents.
5. Answer any questions about your status or address.
6. Complete biometric procedures when required.
7. Follow the applicable payment instructions.
8. Keep the receipt and card-collection information.
This is a typical sequence, not a guarantee that every office follows the same order. The officer may ask for additional documents or clarification.
If a document is missing, ask exactly what is needed and how the application should proceed. Don't assume you must start everything again without first checking the officer's instructions.
Keep the application receipt, any payment record and the instructions for receiving the finished card.
9. How Much Does the Residence Card Cost in 2026?
The official issuance fee for Korea's Foreign Residence Card is ₩35,000.
The Ministry of Justice raised the fee from ₩30,000 on January 1, 2025, alongside the introduction of the updated IC-chip Residence Card.
Older guides may still quote ₩30,000. That amount predates the change.
Additional costs may arise from photograph services, document preparation or any optional delivery arrangement. Check what the immigration office requires rather than assuming every payment must be made in cash or every card will work.
Holders of older valid physical cards weren't required to replace them solely because the new IC version was introduced. Reissuance and replacement situations have their own requirements.
Ministry of Justice — Residence Card Fee Change →
10. What Do You Do While Waiting for the Card?
You shouldn't assume that the physical Residence Card will be issued during your appointment.
Ask how collection works, whether you need another office visit and how you'll know when the card is ready. Keep the application receipt and any instructions you receive.
During the waiting period, some banks, phone carriers and digital services may not be able to complete their normal resident-verification procedures for you.
Registration processing, the physical card and a provider's own identity-verification system don't necessarily become available at exactly the same time.
Keep your passport, Korean address, immigration receipt and working mobile-data connection accessible. If a bank or phone contract is urgent, ask the provider which documents and registration status it requires.
Don't book an important appointment with another service provider based solely on an assumed card-issuance date.
11. Korea's Mobile Residence Card: New and Old Cards
Korea began issuing the updated physical Residence Card with an IC chip in January 2025. The government also introduced a Mobile Residence Card for eligible registered foreign residents.
The mobile card has the same legal validity as the corresponding physical ID, but individual institutions and online services may differ in how they support it.
The Ministry of Justice says the mobile version is available to eligible registered foreign nationals aged 14 or older who meet the smartphone and identity-verification requirements.
If you have the newer IC Residence Card
An eligible holder can use the official Mobile ID application and follow the card-reading and identity-verification process on a compatible phone registered in their own name.
The device needs to meet the official operating-system, NFC and security requirements.
If you still have an older physical card
You aren't automatically excluded.
The Ministry of Justice provides a separate mobile-card issuance procedure for older non-IC cards. It involves visiting an immigration office for QR-based identity verification and following the instructions in the official Mobile ID app.
This distinction matters. You shouldn't assume that you must buy a replacement physical card simply to find out whether you can use the mobile-ID service.
New IC card: Use the compatible smartphone and official Mobile ID card-reading procedure.
Older non-IC card: Follow the immigration-office QR identity-verification route.
Before applying: Check your phone ownership, compatibility and current issuance instructions.
Official mobile-ID support is also expanding across banks and other service providers. Confirm whether your particular institution accepts the mobile card for the transaction you need.
Korea Immigration's official English-language video explains the new physical Residence Card, mobile-ID eligibility and the different issuance routes for new and existing cardholders.
Published by Korea Immigration in 2025. Use the video for the official mobile-ID explanation and confirm any current app or device details before applying.
Open on YouTube →Ministry of Justice — Mobile Residence Card Application Guide (PDF) →
12. Survival Korean for Immigration Day
I'm here to register as a foreign resident.
예약했어요.
I have an appointment.
이 서류 맞아요?
Is this the right document?
다른 서류가 더 필요해요?
Do I need any other documents?
외국인등록증은 언제 받을 수 있어요?
When can I receive my Residence Card?
You don't have to memorize these phrases. Saving them on your phone can be enough when you need to ask a short question at a busy counter.
13. Seven Mistakes That Can Disrupt Your Application
- Waiting until the deadline. Appointment availability may be limited, and a reservation alone doesn't necessarily satisfy the deadline.
- Choosing the wrong office. Check which immigration office has jurisdiction over your residence.
- Following someone else's document list. Supporting documents depend on the status of stay.
- Bringing inadequate proof of residence. This is especially important when your accommodation isn't in your name.
- Using an outdated fee guide. The standard Residence Card issuance fee is ₩35,000, not the old ₩30,000.
- Missing required employment-information reporting. Check whether the current online system applies to your activities and visa status.
- Losing the application receipt. Keep the documents needed to collect the card or resolve an issue.
Most of these problems can be prevented before the appointment. Check the jurisdiction and supporting documents, and keep the official instructions with your paperwork.
14. What If Your Case Is Unusual?
If you live in housing provided by another person, recently changed status, received conflicting advice from a school or employer, or cannot identify the applicable documents, don't rely on guesswork.
Contact the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 and describe your exact status, entry date, Korean address and the procedure you're trying to complete.
You can prepare a specific question such as: "I'm an E-2 visa holder, I entered on this date, I live at this address, and my housing contract is in my employer's name. Which proof-of-residence documents should I bring?"
That is much easier to answer than a broad question such as "What do foreigners need for an ARC?"
Use blogs and videos to understand the process, but rely on official immigration information for your individual obligations.
15. ARC / Residence Card FAQ
Do I need an ARC for a short visit?
Ordinary short-term visitors generally aren't part of the standard long-term foreigner-registration process. But your actual status and any subsequent status change determine the rule that applies.
Is ARC still the correct name?
ARC remains common in everyday conversation and online searches. Official English materials now generally use Residence Card or Foreign Residence Card. Both terms can help you find relevant information.
Can I visit any immigration office?
Not for an ordinary initial foreigner-registration application. Use the office responsible for your residential address, unless the authorities provide a different approved process for your case.
How much is the card?
The standard issuance fee is ₩35,000. Check whether any separate service or delivery expense applies to your chosen procedure.
Can an older ARC holder get a mobile card?
Yes, eligible holders of older non-IC cards can follow the immigration-office QR verification route. The procedure differs from using a newer IC card with a compatible smartphone.
Can I rely on an old application video?
Use older videos to understand what an immigration office looks like. Don't treat old screenshots as the current authority for fees, online reporting, forms or appointment procedures.
Your Final ARC Checklist
☐ Check whether registration applies to your status
☐ Confirm the relevant registration deadline
☐ Identify the correct immigration office
☐ Check your status-specific document checklist
☐ Prepare the passport and required application form
☐ Prepare acceptable proof of your Korean address
☐ Prepare a recent 3.5 × 4.5 cm photograph
☐ Confirm the HiKorea visit arrangement
☐ Complete employment-information reporting if applicable
☐ Prepare the ₩35,000 issuance fee
☐ Save your receipt and card-collection instructions
The best outcome is a straightforward one: you arrive at the right office with the documents for your own status, complete the application and leave knowing exactly what happens next.
Official Resources
HiKorea — reservations, application forms and e-Application
Official HiKorea English Website →
Application forms
HiKorea Application Forms →
2026 employment-information reporting
Ministry of Justice Official Guidance (PDF) →
Mobile Residence Card
Official Mobile ID Service →
Immigration Contact Center: 1345 (within Korea)
Official checks · October 9, 2026. This guide reflects general foreigner-registration requirements, the Ministry of Justice's 2026 employment-reporting instructions and official Residence Card information. Individual circumstances, permitted status and supporting-document requirements can change the process. Confirm the applicable instructions with HiKorea or Immigration Contact Center 1345.
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