Who needs it
Anyone staying longer than 90 days on a long-term visa registers as a foreign resident (외국인등록). Overseas Koreans on an F-4 visa make a domestic residence report (국내거소신고) instead and receive a similar card.
How to register
- Book a visit on Hi Korea (하이코리아 → 방문예약). Book with your own account: since January 2026, immigration offices no longer accept reservations made on your behalf by a school or agency. Newly arrived people without an account can book with their visa number. Enter your name as family name first, then given names.
- Go to the office with your passport, a passport-style photo, the fee and the documents your visa type requires (often proof of where you live). Requirements differ between offices and visa types, so check the list on Hi Korea or call 1345.
- Collect the card when you are told it is ready. Your fingerprints and photo are taken at the office.
Lost, stolen or damaged card
Apply for a replacement (재발급) at the immigration office. The fee is the same ₩35,000.
When you leave Korea for good
Hand your card back to immigration when you leave Korea permanently — at the airport on departure. See the leaving Korea checklist.
Related
- Moved house? Report your new address within 15 days — change of address report.
- Need proof of your registration on paper? Get a certificate of alien registration.
Official websites
- Hi Korea (하이코리아) www.hikorea.go.kr
- Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인정책본부) www.immigration.go.kr
KoreaSum is not a government website.
We link only to official sites and re-check these guides, but fees, rules and screens change and can differ between offices. Before you go, confirm on the official site or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 (multilingual).