If you will stay in Korea longer than 90 days, you must register as a foreign resident (외국인등록) within 90 days of the day you entered. You then get a residence card (외국인등록증), still widely called the ARC, with your own registration number. Missing the deadline is a criminal offence, usually settled with a fine.
Key facts
| Who | Anyone staying over 90 days, apart from diplomats and a few exempt groups |
| Deadline | Within 90 days of entry (Immigration Act art. 31) |
| Where | The immigration office (출입국·외국인관서) for the area you live in, by appointment |
| Fee | ₩35,000 for the card, as of October 2026 |
| Late fine | Standard amount ₩200,000 if under 1 month late, rising to ₩10 million after 2 years |
| Help | 1345 Immigration Contact Center |
If you change status inside Korea and will stay past 90 days, you register at the same time the change is approved.
What the card is for
Your registration number (외국인등록번호) is the foreigner version of the Korean resident number. You need it to open a bank account, get a phone contract in your name, join National Health Insurance, receive a salary and file taxes. Many websites also need it for identity checks.
The card shows your status of stay and address. A mobile residence card (모바일 외국인등록증) with the same legal effect can be issued to your phone, and it lets you report some changes online.
Children under 17 are registered, but the office may choose not to issue them a card. When they turn 17, they must apply for a card within 90 days.
How registration works
- Book a visit on HiKorea. In busy cities slots can be weeks away, so book early. Some universities and employers apply for groups.
- Bring the documents: passport, application form, one passport photo (3.5 × 4.5 cm), the fee, proof of address (lease contract or dormitory certificate), and the documents for your status, such as an employment contract or certificate of enrollment.
- Give fingerprints and a photo. Foreigners aged 17 and over have their fingerprints and face recorded.
- Collect the card in person or by mail, usually a few weeks later.
For a step-by-step story of the visit, see our ARC registration guide.
Ask for the receipt or certificate of application when you apply. Banks and phone shops sometimes accept it while the card is being made.
Fines for late registration
Failing to register is a crime under art. 95 of the Immigration Act (up to 1 year in prison or a ₩10 million fine). In practice, a first-time late registrant is usually given a fine notice (통고처분) from the immigration office. The standard amounts are:
| How late | Standard fine |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 month | ₩200,000 |
| 1 to 3 months | ₩500,000 |
| 3 to 6 months | ₩1,000,000 |
| 6 months to 1 year | ₩2,000,000 |
| 1 to 2 years | ₩5,000,000 |
| 2 years or more | ₩10,000,000 |
The office can raise or lower these by up to half, depending on your circumstances and any earlier violations.
You entered on 1 March. Your 90th day is 29 May. You book a visit for 20 June, which is about three weeks late.
Expect a standard fine of around ₩200,000 when you register. Booking earlier would have cost nothing.
Keeping your registration correct
After registering, you must:
- Report a new address within 15 days of moving in.
- Report changes to your name, nationality or passport within 15 days.
- Get permission before changing employer, in most work statuses.
Details are in Reporting Changes to Immigration.
A lost or damaged card is reissued for ₩35,000. Permanent residents (F-5) must renew their card every 10 years.
Returning the card
When you leave Korea for good, you must hand the card back to the immigration officer at departure. You keep it if you are leaving temporarily and will return within your re-entry period. Not returning it can bring a fine of up to ₩1 million. See Leaving Korea for Good.
Common questions
I’m on a 90-day visa-free entry. Do I need to register?
No. Registration is only for stays over 90 days. If your status changes to a long-term one, you register at that point.
Can I travel before my card arrives?
Ask at the office when you apply, or call 1345 before booking flights. Whether you can come back without problems depends on your status and your permitted period of stay.
My registration date is close and there are no slots. What now?
Check HiKorea again for cancelled slots, ask your school or employer whether they can apply for you, or call 1345. Keep proof that you tried to book. Do not just let the deadline pass.
Does the card prove my legal stay?
The card shows your status, but your current permitted period is on HiKorea and in the immigration system. Check the date there after every extension.
Official sources
This guide explains the general rules as of the date above. Rules change and every case is different, so confirm with the office named here (or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center) before an important decision. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.