Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) and Number Issuance in South Korea
The Alien Registration Card (ARC, 외국인등록증 Oegug-in Deunglok Jeung) is the identity document Korea issues to foreigners staying beyond 90 days.
Its embedded Alien Registration Number (외국인등록번호, Oegug-in Deunglok Beonho — ARN) is the load-bearing identifier for banking, telecom, National Health Insurance, leases, and re-entry. Apply in person at a Regional Immigration Office within 90 days of entry; late registration carries criminal penalties under Article 95 of the Immigration Act.
Estimated time
Same-day submission at the Regional Immigration Office once a HiKorea slot is held; physical card production 2-4 weeks (up to 6 weeks in peak season); the Alien Registration Number is assigned and printed on the submission receipt at the counter
Cost
₩35,000 issuance fee; ₩4,000 optional postal delivery; ₩30,000 re-issuance; ₩30,000 single or ₩50,000 multiple Re-entry Permit when applicable
What You Need
Tap to check off items as you gather them
Additional Items
- Mobile Residence Card — the Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인정책본부, Chulipguk Oegug-in Jeongchaek Bonbu — KIS) launched a smartphone-resident digital twin on 10 January 2025 with the same legal validity as the physical card. Open the Mobile IDentification App (모바일 신분증, mobail sinbunjeung); the QR-scan route at the immigration office is free; the IC-chip card-tap route costs ₩35,000 but supports self-reinstall after phone changes. Eligibility: registered foreigner aged 14 or older with a smartphone registered in their own name.
- Article 95 of the Immigration Act (출입국관리법, Chulipguk Gwanli Beop) sets late-registration penalties at imprisonment with labour up to one year or a fine of up to ₩10,000,000, plus possible deportation. In practice for short delays of 1-14 days with a credible reason, the office may impose only a fine within an administrative scale.
- Article 36 of the Immigration Act requires the cardholder to file a Report on Change of Place of Stay at the local district office or Regional Immigration Office within 14 days of moving. Failure carries a fine of up to ₩1,000,000.
- Article 27 of the Immigration Act requires foreigners to carry the Alien Registration Card at all times in public. Failure to produce it on demand can incur a fine of up to ₩1,000,000.
- Foreigners who remain in Korea for more than six months are automatically enrolled in National Health Insurance as compulsory subscribers using the Alien Registration Number. Operating without enrolment past the grace period (typically six months from the registration date) incurs back-premium liability.
- Card validity is tied to visa status. Most visas carry a 1-year card validity that must be renewed before expiry; long-term visas (F-2 Residence, F-5 Permanent Residence, F-6 Marriage Migrant) carry longer validities up to the maximum permitted period of sojourn.
Step-by-Step
- 1
Book the Regional Immigration Office Appointment on HiKorea
- Go to hikorea.go.kr and create a HiKorea user account if you do not already have one
- Select 'Visit Reservation' and choose the Regional Immigration Office with jurisdiction over your place of stay — Seoul, Seoul Southern, Incheon, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Suwon, Cheongju, Jeju, or one of around 30 satellite offices
- Choose the 'Alien Registration (new application)' service category and the earliest available slot
- Confirm your reservation by email; bring the printed or screen-captured confirmation to the office on the day
💡 Tip: Slot availability runs up to a month ahead at the larger offices during peak intake months — book within 5 business days of arrival if you arrive in March, September (student-intake), or January (employment-intake).
- 2
Take a 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm Colour Photograph
- Use a photo booth at a subway station or pharmacy near the Regional Immigration Office, or a high-street photo shop that handles Korean ID-style photos
- Specify plain white background and the exact 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm format
- Bring at least one print; some visa categories (notably F-6) require two — confirm with the office in advance
💡 Tip: Standard passport photographs from non-Korean studios often carry off-white tinting or borders the office rejects — Korean booths are the safest source.
- 3
Assemble Visa-Specific Supporting Documents
- Print the visa-specific document checklist from the HiKorea Information menu or request it by calling the 1345 Immigration Contact Center
- Gather the items listed for your visa category — common combinations are listed in the documents section of this guide
- Include proof of residential address (lease, dormitory certificate, or building register) if your visa category requires it
- Bring the original of each item; the office takes copies on site or accepts originals returned at the counter
💡 Tip: Call 1345 (toll-free from within Korea, multilingual) if you are uncertain whether a particular document is needed for your visa subtype — the operators have access to the office-level checklist.
- 4
Visit the Regional Immigration Office in Person
출입국·외국인청
- Attend the Regional Immigration Office (출입국·외국인청 or 출입국·외국인사무소, Chulipguk Oegug-in Cheong / Samuso) in person on the appointment day — representatives are not accepted except for minor children and documented incapacitated dependents
- Submit the Alien Registration Application Form, passport, photograph, and visa-supporting documents at the designated counter
- Purchase a ₩35,000 revenue stamp (수입인지) from the on-site bank counter and present it with the application
- Receive a paper submission receipt — your Alien Registration Number is printed on it and is usable immediately for banking, telco, and other downstream administrative actions
- Choose your card delivery route: free in-person pickup at the issuing office, or registered postal delivery to your address for an additional ₩4,000
💬 Say:
외국인등록을 하러 왔습니다.
oegug-in deunglok-eul hareo wasseumnida
"I have come to complete alien registration."
📋 Use when: At the counter on arrival
- 5
Wait for Card Production and Collection
- Production takes 2-4 weeks in normal periods; up to 6 weeks in peak season
- If you chose in-person pickup, return to the issuing office on the date indicated on the receipt with the receipt and your passport
- If you chose postal delivery, the card arrives by registered mail at your registered address; signature required on receipt
- Use the Alien Registration Number on the receipt for any urgent banking, telco, or National Health Insurance Service interaction while the card is in production
💡 Tip: Article 31(5) and Article 33(1) of the Immigration Act guarantee that the Alien Registration Number is assigned at the moment of submission — banks, telcos, and the National Health Insurance Service can process applications on the number alone before the physical card is delivered.
- 6
Activate the Mobile Residence Card (Optional)
Available to registered foreigners aged 14 or older with a smartphone registered in their own name
- Install the Mobile IDentification App (모바일 신분증, mobail sinbunjeung) on your smartphone
- Choose between two activation routes: free QR scan at the immigration office, or ₩35,000 IC-chip card tap (current-issue cards carry the embedded IC chip)
- For the QR-scan route, present the app at the office; the officer displays a QR code that you scan to activate. Limitation: changing phones or reinstalling the app requires another office visit
- For the IC-chip route, tap the physical card to your phone after installing the app — self-reinstall after phone changes is supported
💡 Tip: If you anticipate changing phones during your stay, pay the ₩35,000 IC-chip fee at original issuance — it spares you a return office visit for every future reinstall.
- 7
File Address-Change and Other Reports Within 14 Days
Whenever your residential address, name, nationality, or passport number changes
- If you move, file a Report on Change of Place of Stay at the local district office (구청, gucheong) or the Regional Immigration Office within 14 days — Article 36 of the Immigration Act
- If your name, nationality, passport number, or (for E-series visas) place of work changes, file the change report under Article 34 within 14 days — some changes trigger card re-issuance at the ₩30,000 re-issuance fee
- If your visa status changes (for example, D-2 to E-7 on graduation and hire), register the change immediately at the office that approves the status change — the original 90-day window does not extend
💡 Tip: Random verification at banks and at extension-of-stay applications frequently catches missed change-of-address reports — the ₩1,000,000 fine is enforced often enough to be a routine pitfall for foreigners who move and forget.
Local Tips from the Community
- The Alien Registration Number is assigned and printed on the receipt at the counter on submission day — banks, telcos, and the National Health Insurance Service can begin processing using the number from the receipt while the plastic card is still in production.
- Book the HiKorea slot within 5 business days of arrival if entering during peak intake months (March, September student-intake; January employment-intake). Slot availability at Seoul, Seoul Southern, Incheon, Busan, and Suwon offices runs up to a month ahead in peak season.
- Photo booths at major subway stations and pharmacies near Regional Immigration Offices produce ARC-spec photos (3.5 cm × 4.5 cm, plain white background) in 5-10 minutes for around ₩8,000-₩12,000 — cheaper and faster than bringing passport-style photos from abroad.
- Carry the card at all times in public per Article 27 of the Immigration Act. Failure to produce it on demand to a public official can incur a fine of up to ₩1,000,000.
- If you move after registration, file a Report on Change of Place of Stay at the local district office or Regional Immigration Office within 14 days. Random verification at banks and at extension-of-stay applications frequently catches missed change-of-address reports.
What Could Go Wrong
Book the HiKorea appointment slot: No slot is available within the 90-day window at the closest Regional Immigration Office
Recovery: Expand the search to neighbouring jurisdictions on hikorea.go.kr — slot availability often differs sharply between Seoul, Seoul Southern, Incheon, and Suwon. Refresh the booking page during off-peak hours (early morning weekdays) when cancellations release. As a last resort, call the 1345 Immigration Contact Center to confirm whether walk-in attendance is being honoured at any office during the relevant period — walk-ins are usually refused, but declared exceptional circumstances are recognised.
Visit the Regional Immigration Office on the appointment day: The clerk rejects the submitted photograph because of off-white tinting or non-standard borders
Recovery: Most Regional Immigration Offices have a photo booth on the same block or in the same building. Step out, retake the photo for around ₩8,000-₩12,000 at the booth, and return to the queue. The clerk will typically hold the slot for a short window if the applicant signals an intent to return immediately.
Wait for card production and collection: Production runs beyond the typical 2-4 weeks and approaches the visa expiry date
Recovery: The Alien Registration Number is already assigned and printed on the submission receipt — use the receipt as proof of registration for any urgent downstream action (bank, telco, National Health Insurance Service). Call the issuing office on 1345 to check production status; if delay is confirmed by the office, request a written acknowledgement to carry alongside the receipt for any verification request.
Activate the Mobile Residence Card: Phone change or app reinstall after activating via the QR-scan route invalidates the digital card
Recovery: Return to the Regional Immigration Office that issued the card and request reactivation via QR scan — there is no online or self-service reactivation pathway for the QR-route activation. To avoid this, holders who anticipate phone changes should pay the ₩35,000 fee for the IC-chip card-tap route at original issuance, which supports self-reinstall.
Costs
| Item | Amount | Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alien Registration Card issuance fee (new application) | ₩35,000 | Revenue stamp (수입인지) purchased at on-site bank counter | Effective 1 January 2025; previously ₩30,000. Some older guidance pages still reference the prior figure. |
| Postal delivery by registered mail (optional) (Optional) | ₩4,000 | Revenue stamp | Selected at the time of submission; in-person pickup is free Waived if: Choosing in-person pickup at the issuing office |
| Card re-issuance fee (lost, damaged, or data update) | ₩30,000 | Revenue stamp | Application window is 14 days from the loss or damage event |
| Mobile Residence Card via QR scan at the immigration office (Optional) | ₩0 | Free | Activates a digital twin of the physical card on a smartphone; changing phones or reinstalling the app requires another office visit |
| Mobile Residence Card via IC-chip card tap (Optional) | ₩35,000 | Revenue stamp (same as the physical card fee) | Cards issued after 1 January 2025 carry an embedded IC chip; self-reinstall by tapping the card to the phone is supported |
| Single Re-entry Permit (Optional) | ₩30,000 | Revenue stamp; ₩24,000 via HiKorea e-petition with 20 percent discount | Required when leaving Korea for more than one year and intending to return on the same Alien Registration Card Waived if: Re-entry within one year (automatic re-entry covers most visa categories) or visa-specific exemption (A-1, A-2, A-3, D-1, D-2, D-4, D-8, government-invited scholarship students, reciprocal-country nationals) |
| Multiple Re-entry Permit (Optional) | ₩50,000 | Revenue stamp; ₩40,000 via HiKorea e-petition with 20 percent discount | Required for repeated departures and returns beyond the one-year automatic re-entry window Waived if: Re-entry within one year or visa-specific exemption |
| Period of Sojourn Extension (Optional) | ₩60,000 | Revenue stamp; lower fee via HiKorea e-petition | Each extension application; filed before visa expiry at the Regional Immigration Office or via HiKorea e-petition |
| Certification for Alien Registration (proof letter) (Optional) | ₩2,000 | Revenue stamp at the office; free online | Post-registration utility certificate frequently required by banks, employers, and landlords Waived if: Issued free online via GOV.KR (정부24) |
- Payment:
- Revenue stamp (수입인지) purchased at on-site bank counter
- Notes:
- Effective 1 January 2025; previously ₩30,000. Some older guidance pages still reference the prior figure.
- Payment:
- Revenue stamp
- Notes:
- Selected at the time of submission; in-person pickup is free
- Waived if:
- Choosing in-person pickup at the issuing office
- Payment:
- Revenue stamp
- Notes:
- Application window is 14 days from the loss or damage event
- Payment:
- Free
- Notes:
- Activates a digital twin of the physical card on a smartphone; changing phones or reinstalling the app requires another office visit
- Payment:
- Revenue stamp (same as the physical card fee)
- Notes:
- Cards issued after 1 January 2025 carry an embedded IC chip; self-reinstall by tapping the card to the phone is supported
- Payment:
- Revenue stamp; ₩24,000 via HiKorea e-petition with 20 percent discount
- Notes:
- Required when leaving Korea for more than one year and intending to return on the same Alien Registration Card
- Waived if:
- Re-entry within one year (automatic re-entry covers most visa categories) or visa-specific exemption (A-1, A-2, A-3, D-1, D-2, D-4, D-8, government-invited scholarship students, reciprocal-country nationals)
- Payment:
- Revenue stamp; ₩40,000 via HiKorea e-petition with 20 percent discount
- Notes:
- Required for repeated departures and returns beyond the one-year automatic re-entry window
- Waived if:
- Re-entry within one year or visa-specific exemption
- Payment:
- Revenue stamp; lower fee via HiKorea e-petition
- Notes:
- Each extension application; filed before visa expiry at the Regional Immigration Office or via HiKorea e-petition
- Payment:
- Revenue stamp at the office; free online
- Notes:
- Post-registration utility certificate frequently required by banks, employers, and landlords
- Waived if:
- Issued free online via GOV.KR (정부24)
FAQ
General
When does the 90-day registration clock start?
On the date of entry stamped in the passport at port of entry. The deadline is 90 calendar days later — weekends and public holidays are counted, not subtracted. Article 31(1) of the Immigration Act is unambiguous: any foreigner staying more than 90 days from the date of entry must complete alien registration with the Regional Immigration Office holding jurisdiction over their place of stay, within that 90-day window, to receive an Alien Registration Card.
Can I apply for the card before I have permanent housing?
Yes. Some Regional Immigration Offices accept a temporary address — hotel, university dormitory, or host's address — as the application-stage place of stay, provided the holder files a Report on Change of Place of Stay within 14 days of moving to permanent housing. Confirm with the office before the appointment, since not all offices apply this practice uniformly.
Is the Alien Registration Number the same as a Korean Resident Registration Number?
No. The Alien Registration Number is a 13-digit number issued specifically to registered foreigners. It is structurally similar to the Resident Registration Number (RRN, 주민등록번호, Jumin Deungnok Beonho) issued to Korean citizens but encoded differently in the seventh digit. Banks, telcos, the National Health Insurance Service, and tax authorities accept the Alien Registration Number in fields that Korean nationals fill with their Resident Registration Number.
Can I open a Korean bank account before my card arrives?
Some banks — notably Shinhan SOL Foreigner and KEB Hana Smart — allow account opening using a passport plus the Alien Registration Number printed on the submission receipt, before the physical card is delivered. Others require the physical card. The practical rule is that the Alien Registration Number, not the card, is the load-bearing input; the receipt with the number on it is enough for many downstream administrative actions.
What happens if I miss the 90-day window by a few days?
File the registration anyway. Late registration is sanctioned under Article 95 of the Immigration Act: imprisonment with labour up to one year, or a fine of up to ₩10,000,000. In practice for short delays of 1-14 days and a credible reason (illness, delayed paperwork, missed appointment), the office may impose only a fine within an administrative scale and waive the more severe outcomes. Do not delay further once the window is missed — the longer the gap, the heavier the practical consequence.
Can my spouse, employer, or friend file the application on my behalf?
No. In-person attendance is required by Article 31(1) of the Immigration Act. The only exceptions are minor children and incapacitated dependents — these can be filed by a parent or legal guardian, with documentary proof of incapacity for the latter. Employers, spouses, and friends cannot substitute for the applicant at the counter.
Does the Mobile Residence Card replace the physical card?
No — it is a digital twin with the same legal validity, not a replacement. The physical card is still issued and must be carried by the holder under Article 27 of the Immigration Act. The Mobile Residence Card supplements identity verification at banks, hospitals, convenience stores, and public institutions; some authorities still insist on the physical card. The digital twin is useful for everyday verification but does not exempt the holder from the carry-the-card requirement.
What languages does the 1345 Immigration Contact Center support?
Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Mongolian, Russian, Japanese, Indonesian, French, and several other languages on rotation. Calls from any phone within Korea are toll-free. From overseas, dial +82-1345 — international charges apply on the overseas leg. The line is the practical first point of contact for visa-category questions, document checklist clarifications, and appointment-booking issues.
After This Process
- → Bank account opening — present passport plus Alien Registration Number receipt (or the physical card once issued); see the Korean bank-account guide for per-bank policies
- → National Health Insurance Service enrolment — automatic for residents staying more than six months, using the Alien Registration Number; confirm enrolment status if employment-based coverage does not apply
- → Mobile phone contract — most Korean carriers (SK Telecom, KT, LG U+) require the Alien Registration Number for postpaid plans
- → Driver's licence — foreign-licence holders apply for a Korean licence via licence-exchange or testing pathway, using the Alien Registration Card as the load-bearing ID
Sources
- Korea Immigration Service — Fee Increase Announcement (immigration.go.kr) (immigration.go.kr ↗)
- GOV.KR — foreigner portal alien registration (gov.kr ↗)
- GOV.KR — certification of alien registration (gov.kr ↗)
- Easylaw — Immigration Act consolidated text (easylaw.go.kr ↗)
- Jung-gu Office, Seoul — alien registration guidance (junggu.seoul.kr ↗)
- Gwangjin-gu Office, Seoul — alien registration guidance (gwangjin.go.kr ↗)
- Geumcheon-gu Office, Seoul — alien registration guidance (geumcheon.go.kr ↗)
- The Korea Herald — Mobile Residence Card launch (koreaherald.com ↗)
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More in South Korea
7 sources cited last accessed 2026-05-23
T1 official portal · T2 embassy/consulate · T3 news · T4 community — higher tier wins on conflict. methodology →
- T1Korea Immigration Service (KIS) — Fee Increase Announcement 2026-05-23
Effective 1 January 2025, the Alien Registration Card issuance fee was raised from ₩30,000 to ₩35,000. The Period of Sojourn Extension fee is set at ₩60,000 per application. Re-issuance for lost, damaged, or data-update cards is ₩30,000. Older guidance pages (including Jung-gu Office's English content referencing a ₩30,000 issuance fee) reflect the pre-2025 fee schedule and are superseded by the KIS announcement.
immigration.go.kr - T1Korea Ministry of Government Legislation (easylaw.go.kr) — Immigration Act 2026-05-23
Article 31(1) of the Immigration Act requires any foreigner staying in the Republic of Korea more than 90 days from the date of entry to complete alien registration with the head of the Regional Immigration Service holding jurisdiction over their district of residence, within the 90-day window, to receive an Alien Registration Card. Article 33(1) provides that the head of the Regional Immigration Service assigns the applicant a unique registration number, enters it into the alien register, imprints the applicant's passport with a stamp indicating completion of alien registration, and issues the certificate. Article 95 sets late-registration penalties at imprisonment with labour up to one year or a fine of up to ₩10,000,000.
easylaw.go.kr - T1GOV.KR (정부24) — foreigner portal, alien registration page 2026-05-23
Application is made in person at the Regional Immigration Office with jurisdiction over the applicant's place of stay. The Korea Immigration Service operates main offices in Seoul, Seoul Southern (Yangcheon-gu), Incheon, Incheon Airport, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Suwon, Cheongju, and Jeju, plus around 30 satellite offices nationwide. Card production after submission takes 2-4 weeks typically and up to 6 weeks in peak season. Delivery options at submission: free in-person pickup at the issuing office, or registered postal delivery for an additional ₩4,000. The 1345 Immigration Contact Center operates toll-free within Korea and supports Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Mongolian, Russian, Japanese, Indonesian, French, and several other languages.
gov.kr - T2Jung-gu Office, Seoul — alien registration English guidance 2026-05-23
Jung-gu lists the document set as: alien registration application form, passport, colour photograph (3.5 cm × 4.5 cm), documents supporting visa status, and the issuance fee paid by revenue stamp. Lease contract requirements vary by visa type. Processing time after submission is described as about four weeks. Registration validity is 1 year for most visa categories with renewal required before expiration; long-term residence categories carry longer validities up to the maximum permitted period of sojourn. The page reflects the pre-2025 ₩30,000 fee figure and is superseded by the KIS announcement on the current ₩35,000 fee.
junggu.seoul.kr - T2Gwangjin-gu Office, Seoul — alien registration English guidance 2026-05-23
Gwangjin-gu sets the marriage-migrant (F-6) document set as: passport, two photographs (3.5 cm × 4.5 cm), application for alien registration, spouse's certificate of family relations and resident registration, marriage certificate, registration fee, and reference from a qualified person (notarisation not required). Proof of residential address may be a lease contract, dormitory accommodation certificate, or building register. Diplomatic categories (A-1, A-2, A-3) and certain short-stay categories may be exempt or follow different rules — confirmation with the Regional Immigration Office is advised before assuming exemption.
gwangjin.go.kr - T2Geumcheon-gu Office, Seoul — alien registration English guidance 2026-05-23
Geumcheon-gu reiterates the photograph specification at 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm in colour with plain white background, taken within the last 6 months. Card re-issuance for loss or damage costs ₩30,000 and must be filed within 14 days of the event at the Regional Immigration Office. The Change of Place of Stay report under Article 36 of the Immigration Act must be filed within 14 days of moving and carries a fine of up to ₩1,000,000 for non-compliance.
geumcheon.go.kr - T3The Korea Herald — How to apply for a digital foreign resident ID card 2026-05-23
Starting 10 January 2025, the Korea Immigration Service issues a Mobile Residence Card — a smartphone-resident digital twin of the physical Alien Registration Card with the same legal validity. Two activation routes: free QR scan at the immigration office (limitation — changing phones or reinstalling the app requires another office visit) and ₩35,000 IC-chip card tap using the embedded IC chip in cards issued after 1 January 2025 (supports self-reinstall after phone changes). Eligibility: registered foreigner aged 14 or older with a smartphone registered in their own name. The digital card supplements identity verification at banks, hospitals, convenience stores, and public institutions but does not replace the obligation under Article 27 of the Immigration Act to carry the physical card.
koreaherald.com