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Field guide

Getting your Alien Registration Card

Mr. Latte

An Alien Registration Card is the key that opens the rest of life here. Get it right once, and it keeps working for you at the bank, the phone shop and everywhere else that needs it.

The short version

The key is applying within 90 days of arrival. If you gather the documents and book a visit in advance, the process itself is not hard.

Last verified:

Deadlines that matter

  • Alien registration application

    By when: Within 90 days of entry (can vary by status of stay)

    If you miss it: Missing the deadline can bring real penalties. If you are already late, do not wait. Contact your local immigration office right away.

Right now

  1. 1You must apply within 90 days of entry. Mark the date on a calendar.
  2. 2Book your visit on HiKorea first. Without a reservation you can wait a long time or be turned away for the day.
  3. 3Prepare a passport photo (white background, taken within the last six months) ahead of time.

What to have ready

  • Passport
  • One passport photo: White background, taken within the last six months. Confirm the exact specs with the office.
  • Proof of residence: A lease, a dorm confirmation letter, or similar.
  • The fee: Cash or card. Sources put it around 30,000 won, but confirm the exact amount at the counter.

Phrases you can copy and paste

Step by step

  1. 1

    Find your local immigration office

    Which office handles your case depends on where you live. Check HiKorea for the right one.

  2. 2

    Book a visit on HiKorea

    Where:
    HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr)

    Showing up without a reservation often means a long wait, or not being seen at all that day.

  3. 3

    Bring your documents

    Passport, photo and proof of residence cover most cases. Depending on your status, you may also need a certificate of enrollment or employment.

  4. 4

    Complete the application, fingerprinting and payment

    How long:
    Usually about an hour on site

    The counter checks your documents, takes your fingerprints, then collects the fee.

  5. 5

    Wait for the card

    How long:
    Usually a few weeks, depending on status of stay and volume

    If you need proof of registration urgently before the card arrives, ask the counter whether a temporary certificate is available.

The Korean words

외국인등록증oegugin deungnok-jeung· Alien Registration Card (ARC)
The ID for anyone staying in Korea more than 90 days. It gets used constantly, at banks, telecom shops and in contracts.
외국인등록번호oegugin deungnok beonho· foreigner registration number
The number printed on your ARC. It stands in for a Korean resident registration number.
출입국·외국인청chulipguk oegugin-cheong· Immigration Office
The office that handles ARC applications and other stay-related matters.
체류지 변경신고cheryuji byeongyeong-singo· change of address report
When you move, you must report your new address within a set period.

Easy to miss

  • Visiting without a reservation is the most common way people end up waiting a long time or getting turned away for the day.
  • The fee and processing time can shift depending on the office and your status of stay. Confirm both on HiKorea before you go.
  • It is easy to forget that moving means reporting your new address within a set period.

You can skip this if

  • If you already have an ARC and only your address changed, you need a change of address report, not a new card.

When it is time for a person

  • If your paperwork is tangled or your status of stay itself is unclear, it may be time for a person who can help with settling in more broadly.

Where this comes from

Rules, fees and deadlines change and depend on your exact case. Please confirm the details with the official sources before you act.

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