Overview
Foreign nationals entering on a long-term status register as foreign residents and receive an Alien Registration Card. Registration becomes the reference point for every later procedure.
The paperwork is simple, but applicants often stumble on proof of residence. The manual lists a broad range of acceptable evidence.
Requirements, documents and periods in this article follow the Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) Foreign Residence Guide Manual (March 2026) and the Immigration Act and its Enforcement Decree/Rules (law.go.kr). The manual is supplementary guidance; approval is decided by the reviewing officer. Always confirm your own case with the competent Immigration Office.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Application | Application form (Form No. 34), original passport, one standard photo, fee |
| Institutional document | Business registration certificate under the VAT Act, etc., depending on status |
| Proof of residence | Lease, accommodation confirmation, utility receipts, dormitory fee receipts, etc. |
| After registration | Report changes to name, sex, date of birth, nationality or passport details within 15 days (no fee) |
Scope of Activity
- Alien registration for long-term status holders
- Reporting changes to registration particulars afterwards
Who Qualifies
- Persons entering on a long-term status subject to alien registration
- Persons starting work on a work status (E-1 to E-7, etc.)
- Persons residing for study (D-2, D-4, etc.)
- Persons residing on family-related statuses (F-1, F-3, F-6, etc.)
Required Documents
- Application form (Form No. 34)
- Original passport
- One standard photo
- Fee
- Business registration certificate under the VAT Act (for the relevant statuses)
- Proof of residence
Application Process
- Check eligibility — confirm your current status, career, degree and contract type match the requirements.
- Prepare documents — foreign public documents need a translator's certification plus an apostille (or consular confirmation for non-member states).
- Book a visit — reserve a slot at your Immigration Office via HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr), or file online where e-Application is available.
- File and pay — submit the Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34) and pay the screening fee.
- Review — respond to any request for supplementary documents within the deadline.
- Result — on approval, the period of stay and status are granted; reissue your ARC if required.
Key Points
- Reportable changes are name, sex, date of birth, nationality and passport number/issue date/validity, to be reported within 15 days using the application form (Form No. 34), passport and ARC and evidence of the change — with no fee.
- Proof of residence may include leases, accommodation confirmations, expiry notice mail, utility receipts and dormitory fee receipts.
- Foreign residents aged 6 to 18 must submit a school enrolment certificate, and residents on employment-eligible statuses must report their occupation and annual income.
- The tuberculosis certificate requirement is also covered in the common section.
- Documents issued in Korea must normally be dated within 3 months unless another validity period applies.
- Documents already on file in your alien registration record need not be resubmitted.
- Health certificates, drug test results and pre-employment medical reports must be submitted sealed by the issuing hospital (do not open).
- You must be in Korea when applying; leaving the country after filing may result in refusal.
- Screening fees are non-refundable once the application is accepted.
- The head of the Immigration Office may add or waive documents where necessary for review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is there a fee for alien registration?
A. Yes, a fee applies to the registration application. However, reporting a change of registration particulars is free.
Q. The lease is not in my name.
A. Besides a lease, the manual lists an accommodation confirmation, utility receipts and dormitory fee receipts as acceptable proof of residence.
Q. Do I need a new card after renewing my passport?
A. Changes to passport number, issue date and validity must be reported. Whether the card must be reissued should be confirmed with your Immigration Office.
Q. What is this article based on?
A. Requirements, documents and periods in this article follow the Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) Foreign Residence Guide Manual (March 2026) and the Immigration Act and its Enforcement Decree/Rules (law.go.kr). The manual is supplementary guidance; approval is decided by the reviewing officer. Always confirm your own case with the competent Immigration Office.