The Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증, ARC) is the single most important document for any foreigner living in Korea. Without it, you cannot open a bank account, sign a lease, get a Korean phone plan, apply for health insurance, or authenticate your identity online. Every foreign national planning to stay in Korea for more than 90 days must get one — and there’s a strict 90-day deadline.
📑 In this guide
- What the ARC Is and Who Needs One
- What the ARC Is Used For
- When to Apply: The 90-Day Rule
- Required Documents
- How to Apply: Step by Step
- Online Application (HiKorea)
- Tuberculosis Test: Do You Need One?
- After You Get Your ARC: Immediate Next Steps
- Reporting Changes: What to Update and When
- Renewing and Replacing Your ARC
- Common Questions
You must apply for your ARC within 90 days of arriving in Korea. This applies regardless of your visa type — E-7, E-2, D-2, D-10, or any other long-term visa. Missing this deadline results in a fine. Apply as early as possible — do not wait until day 89.
1. What the ARC Is and Who Needs One
The ARC is a government-issued ID card for foreign nationals residing in Korea for more than 90 days. It contains your photo, name, nationality, date of birth, visa status, and a unique 13-digit foreigner registration number (외국인등록번호) — the Korean equivalent of the national ID number that Koreans use for all official purposes.
| Category | ARC required? |
|---|---|
| Any foreigner staying in Korea for more than 90 days on a long-term visa | ✅ Yes — must apply within 90 days of arrival |
| E-7, E-2, E-1, D-2, D-10, F-series visa holders | ✅ Yes — mandatory |
| Tourist / visa-free visitors (under 90 days) | ❌ No — ARC is only for long-term residents |
| Diplomatic (A-1, A-2) and Agreement (A-3) visa holders | Exempt — but can voluntarily apply if desired (for online identity verification convenience) |
2. What the ARC Is Used For
The ARC and your 13-digit registration number are required for almost everything in Korean daily life:
3. When to Apply: The 90-Day Rule
| Situation | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| Standard: arrived on long-term visa, staying 90+ days | Within 90 days of arrival date |
| Born in Korea (to foreign nationals) | Within 90 days of birth date |
| Status change from short-term to long-term while in Korea | Within 90 days of status change date |
| Can I apply before the 90 days? | ✅ Yes — and you should. Apply as soon as you have your address settled, ideally within the first 2 weeks of arrival. |
4. Required Documents
| Document | Details | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Application form (통합신청서, 별지 34호) | Download from HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) and fill out before visiting. Also available at the immigration office counter. | ✅ Always |
| Passport (여권) | Original passport — must be valid. Immigration will return it after recording the details. | ✅ Always |
| Passport-size photo (표준규격사진) | One photo: 3.5cm × 4.5cm, color, white background, taken within the last 6 months. Do not wear glasses. Korean immigration has specific photo standards — take it at a Korean photo shop (증명사진관) for best results. | ✅ Always |
| Application fee (수수료) | KRW 35,000 for ARC issuance. Cash or card accepted at most immigration offices. | ✅ Always |
| Address proof (체류지 입증서류) | Lease contract (임대차계약서), utility bill, accommodation receipt, dormitory letter, or employer-provided accommodation confirmation. You need to show where you’re living in Korea. | ✅ Always |
| Tuberculosis test certificate (결핵진단서) | Required for nationals from designated high-risk TB countries. See Section 7 for the country list and exemptions. | ⚠️ Conditional |
| Employment-related documents | For E-7 holders: employment contract, employer business registration certificate. For E-2: school/hagwon contract. Other visa types have specific document requirements — check your visa category’s requirements at hikorea.go.kr. | ⚠️ Visa-dependent |
5. How to Apply: Step by Step
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1
Book an appointment on HiKorea
Go to hikorea.go.kr → 전자민원 → 방문예약. Find the immigration office in your district — search using your Korean address or neighborhood name. Book as soon as you arrive in Korea. Appointments typically open 2–3 weeks in advance and fill quickly at busy offices (Seoul main office, Suwon, Ansan).
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2
Prepare your documents before the appointment
Gather: application form (printed and filled), original passport, one photo (3.5×4.5cm), fee (KRW 35,000), address proof, and any visa-specific documents. Take the photo at a Korean photo shop for the correct size and format. Arrive 5–10 minutes early.
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3
Visit the immigration office and submit your application
Check in at the reception desk, take a number, and wait to be called. At the counter, submit all documents. An officer will review everything, take fingerprints (both index fingers), and process the application. The appointment itself typically takes 15–30 minutes.
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4
Receive your ARC — 2 options
Option A (Recommended): Mail delivery — have the ARC mailed to your Korean address. Takes 3–7 business days. No need to return to the immigration office.
Option B: In-person pickup — return to the same immigration office to collect your ARC. Takes the same 3–7 business days to process but requires a second visit. -
5
Keep your immigration address record current
If you move after registration, report the new residence within the deadline that applies to your record. Registered foreign residents generally use the 15-day rule, while a person who has made a domestic residence report follows a separate 14-day rule. See our Korea ARC address change guide for the current filing routes and documents.
If you rent, separately check the housing steps that apply to your lease and deposit. An immigration address report should not be presented as completing every tenant-protection procedure.
6. Online Application (HiKorea)
Some ARC applications can be completed online without visiting the immigration office — but eligibility is limited:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who can apply online | Some visa categories allow online initial ARC application. Eligibility depends on your visa type and whether you need a TB test. Check hikorea.go.kr → 전자민원 → 외국인등록 for your specific category. |
| Fingerprints for online applicants | Even for online applications, you will need to visit the immigration office once to provide fingerprints — this cannot be done online. However, you can skip the document submission queue by completing everything else online first. |
| ARC photo upload | Online applications require uploading a digital photo meeting specific specifications. The requirements are strict — consider using a Korean photo service that provides a digital file in the correct format. |
| Document upload | Scan all documents at high resolution (300 DPI or above) before uploading. Blurry or incomplete scans cause rejections and delays. |
7. Tuberculosis (TB) Test: Do You Need One?
Korea requires a TB (결핵) test certificate for nationals from designated high-risk countries when applying for long-term residence. If this applies to you, you must complete the test at a government-designated hospital before your ARC application.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who needs a TB test | Nationals from countries designated as high TB risk by the Korean government. The list is updated periodically — check the current list at hikorea.go.kr or ask at your immigration office. |
| Major countries on the list (as of 2026) | Includes many countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Africa, and parts of Eastern Europe. The Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh, India, Mongolia, and others. Check the current list — it changes. |
| Where to get the test | Must be done at a government-designated hospital (지정 결핵진단 병원). Find the nearest designated hospital at hikorea.go.kr → search “결핵 지정 병원”. A separate guide is available at koreaworkexpert.com. |
| How long it takes | The test itself takes about 30 minutes. Results take 3–5 business days. Factor this into your ARC application timeline — you need the certificate before the immigration appointment. |
| Cost | Approximately KRW 50,000–80,000 depending on the hospital. Bring your passport. |
| Exemptions | TB test is not required if you: already submitted one within the past year, have been in Korea continuously and tested before, or your nationality is not on the high-risk list. |
8. After You Get Your ARC: Immediate Next Steps
Do these in order within the first week after receiving your ARC:
| Task | Where | Why urgent |
|---|---|---|
| Keep your residence record current | Hi Korea, the local-government office or immigration office for the new residence | Report a later move within the deadline for your record. Use the dedicated address-change guide; check rental-deposit steps separately. |
| Open a Korean bank account | A bank branch near your home or workplace (for example KB, Shinhan, Woori, Hana or IBK). Account rules for foreigners vary by bank and branch. | Used for salary deposits and for paying bills such as health insurance and utilities. Most employers pay salaries into a Korean account. See the bank account guide. |
| Get a Korean mobile number | Telecom stores (SKT, KT, LG U+) or convenience store SIM | Korean phone number required for almost all Korean apps, banking authentication, and online services. |
| Enroll in NHIS (if not automatic) | NHIS branch or nhis.or.kr | Health insurance enrollment required for medical coverage. Workplace subscribers are enrolled automatically — local subscribers must self-enroll. |
| Register on HiKorea | hikorea.go.kr | Required for checking visa status, extension applications, and all immigration-related online services. |
9. Reporting Changes: What to Update and When
Once you have your ARC, you’re legally required to report specific changes within set timeframes. Failing to report on time results in fines:
Address or place-of-stay change
Registered foreign residents generally report within 15 days from moving into the new residence. A person using a domestic residence report follows a separate 14-day relocation rule. Filing routes and proof depend on the record and housing arrangement, so use the maintained Korea ARC address change guide instead of relying on one universal deadline.
Passport renewal / new passport (여권 변경신고)
If you renew your passport or receive a new one, report the new passport number, issue date, and expiry date to immigration within 15 days. From June 1, 2026: fax not accepted — must use HiKorea online only. Bring your old and new passport + ARC to an immigration office, or use HiKorea online.
Name, nationality, or date of birth change (등록사항 변경)
Report changes to your personal information — legal name changes, naturalization in another country, or corrections to birth date records. Submit at your local immigration office with supporting documentation.
Employer / workplace change (근무처 변경신고)
For E-7, E-2, and other work visa holders changing jobs. Report within 15 days of the new employment start date. See our complete job change reporting guide →
Annual income reporting (직업 및 연간소득 신고)
Work visa holders (E-7, E-2, D-7, D-8, D-9, F-2, F-4, F-6, H-2) must report their occupation and annual income at each visa extension or change. This is submitted via the integrated application form (통합신청서) — not a separate step.
10. Renewing and Replacing Your ARC
| Situation | What to do | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Visa extension (체류기간 연장) | Apply for visa extension at your immigration office before your current visa expires. Your ARC will be updated with the new expiry date — no new card issued in most cases. | KRW 60,000 (visa extension fee) |
| Lost ARC (분실) | Report to police first (get a loss report), then apply for ARC reissuance at the immigration office. Bring passport, one photo, and the police report. | KRW 35,000 |
| Damaged ARC | Bring old (damaged) ARC, passport, and one photo to immigration office for reissuance. | KRW 35,000 |
| Visa status change (체류자격 변경) | When changing visa type (e.g., D-10 → E-7), your ARC is updated to reflect the new status. The visa change application process handles this automatically. | KRW 100,000 (status change fee) |
| ARC expired with valid visa | If your ARC’s expiry date matches your visa — you need a visa extension first, which will automatically trigger an ARC update. | KRW 60,000+ |
11. Common Questions
- Apply within 90 days of arrival — book the appointment in week 1, not week 10
- Bring: application form (별지 34호), passport, one 3.5×4.5cm photo, KRW 35,000, address proof
- TB test required for high-risk nationalities — check the list at hikorea.go.kr
- Choose mail delivery for your ARC — saves a return visit to the immigration office
- After receiving your ARC: confirm that your immigration address record is current, then complete banking and phone setup
- Report a later move within the deadline for your immigration record; see the current address-change guide
- Immigration helpline: 1345 (English available)
- HiKorea: hikorea.go.kr
Related: Health Insurance: What to Set Up After Getting Your ARC →
Related: Renting in Korea: 전입신고 and Protecting Your Deposit →
Related: Reporting a Job Change After You Start Working →