- An Alien Registration Card (ARC, 외국인등록증) is issued after alien registration. You must register within 90 days of entry if you will stay more than 90 days (Immigration Act Article 31).
- There is no separate "renewal" of an ordinary ARC. Your permitted stay is lengthened by an extension of stay (Article 25), and a lost, damaged or full card is replaced by reissue (Decree Article 42).
- A change of address must be reported within 15 days of moving in (Article 36). Missing the deadline can bring a fine of up to KRW 1,000,000 (Article 98).
- Issuance and reissue of an ARC cost KRW 35,000 each (Enforcement Rules Article 72, checked 28 September 2026).
- Permanent residents (F-5) hold a card valid for 10 years and must have it reissued before expiry (Article 33).
1. What an Alien Registration Card Is and Who Must Register
The Alien Registration Card (ARC, 외국인등록증) is the identity card that the immigration office issues to a foreign national who has completed alien registration. Registration is a duty of its own, separate from the visa. Your visa or status of stay lets you enter and remain in Korea, while registration records who you are, where you live and how long you may stay (Immigration Act Articles 31 to 33).
The particulars recorded at registration are set by Article 32 of the Act and Article 47 of the Enforcement Rules:
- name, sex, date of birth and nationality;
- passport number, date of issue and expiry date;
- workplace and position or duties, where applicable;
- home-country address and address in Korea;
- status of stay and period of stay;
- entry date and port, visa details, accompanying family members, school enrolment, business registration number and, for some statuses, occupation and annual income.
Who must register
A foreign national who wants to stay more than 90 days from the date of entry must register within 90 days of entry, at the immigration office that covers the address where they live (Article 31(1)). The stay manual repeats the rule for people who stay longer than 90 days. A visit of 90 days or less does not call for registration.
The Act exempts three groups: staff of foreign diplomatic missions (embassies and consulates) and international organisations and their families; people who enjoy diplomatic-type privileges under an agreement with the Korean government and their families; and people invited by the government who are designated by Ministry of Justice rules (Enforcement Rules Article 45 covers people doing important diplomatic, industrial or defence work and their families, and others the Minister exempts). Exempt people may still register if they want to (Article 31(2)).
Overseas Koreans with an F-4 visa
According to the Ministry of Justice stay manual, an overseas Korean who enters on an F-4 visa reports a domestic residence (거소신고) at the immigration office instead of registering as a foreign resident, and does so within 90 days of entry if staying 90 days or longer. A different card, the domestic residence report card, applies. See our F-4 visa guide for that route.
The four situations at a glance
| Situation | Deadline | Fee (checked 28 Sep 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| First registration and ARC issuance | Within 90 days of entry | KRW 35,000 |
| Extension of stay (what most people call "renewal") | Before the stay period ends | KRW 60,000 (KRW 30,000 for F-6) |
| Reissue of a lost, damaged or full card | When the reason arises | KRW 35,000 |
| Change of address | Within 15 days of moving in | No fee listed in Rules Art. 72 |
| Change of registration details (name, passport and so on) | Within 15 days of the change | None, per the manual |
2. ARC Registration for the First Time: The 90-Day Rule
The 90 days run from the date you entered Korea. Article 31 also covers two cases where you register at the moment a permission is granted rather than waiting for the 90 days to run out:
- if you receive a status of stay under Article 23 and will stay more than 90 days from that date, you must register when the status is granted (Article 31(3));
- if you entered on a short stay and are granted a change of status under Article 24 that takes you past 90 days from entry, you must register when the change is permitted (Article 31(4)).
The steps
- Book a visit. Decree Article 34-2 requires an online visit reservation for an alien registration application. The manual describes it as booking a date and time slot on HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) and carrying the reservation slip; without a booking you may not be served or may wait a long time. Pregnant women, people with disabilities and others designated by the Minister may skip the booking.
- Prepare the documents listed in the next section: the integrated application form, your passport, a photo, proof of where you live, and any status-specific papers.
- Submit them to the head of the immigration office or branch office that covers your address (Decree Article 40(1)).
- Give your fingerprints and a facial image. Anyone aged 17 or over who has to register provides fingerprints of all fingers and facial information at registration (Act Article 38(1), Rules Article 50). Someone registered before turning 17 does this within 90 days of their 17th birthday.
- Pay the fee and collect the card. The office assigns your ARC number and issues the card (Act Articles 31(5) and 33(1); Decree Articles 40 to 41). The Decree, Rules and manual give no standard issuance time, so the counter will tell you when and how you receive it.
The office may choose not to issue a card to a child under 17. In that case it puts an alien registration number sticker in the child's passport (Act Article 33(1), Decree Article 41(2)). When the child turns 17, an ARC application must be made within 90 days (Article 33(2)).
Registration is not automatic after a visa is issued. Even if a visa lets you work or study, the 90-day duty to register still applies, so put the visit on your calendar before you fly.
3. Documents, Photo Rules and Fee for Registration
The forms and papers below come from Decree Article 40(1), Rules Annex 5-2 (common items for alien registration) and the stay manual. Status-specific papers are added on top; for example, the manual lists a student certificate for D-2 and a business registration certificate or proof of the sponsoring organisation for some other statuses.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Integrated application form (Form No. 34) | Tick "Foreign Resident Registration" (외국인 등록). Written in Korean or English. The manual reproduces the form as its attachment 11. |
| Passport | Original. Decree Article 40(1) requires the passport to be attached. |
| One passport-type photo, 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm | Taken within 6 months before the application, facing forward, plain or white background with no border, face length between 2.5 cm and 3.5 cm, no sunglasses or hat that hides part of the face (Rules Annex 5-2). |
| Proof of residence in Korea | A lease contract, a sales contract or another document confirming your address (Rules Article 49-3(2) uses this list for address reports, and Annex 5-2 requires proof of residence for registration). The manual mentions a monthly-rent contract for registration and, in its extension entries, examples such as an accommodation confirmation, a notice of impending expiry of stay, utility receipts and a dormitory fee receipt. |
| Status-specific papers | Depends on your status, for example proof of enrolment for students or a business registration certificate for some organisations. |
| Fee | KRW 35,000 for ARC issuance and reissue (Rules Article 72(10)). Paid in cash or with proof of a cash payment at the immigration office, not with revenue stamps (Rules Article 73(1)). |
If an official can confirm a document through the shared administrative information system, you do not have to submit it, unless you decline consent (Rules Annex 5-2). Documents issued abroad need an apostille or consular confirmation from a Korean mission in that country (Rules Annex 5-2), so check this early if your proof of status comes from overseas.
4. ARC Validity, ARC Number and the Mobile ARC
How long is an ARC valid?
Many pages say an ARC is valid for a year. The Act says nothing of the kind. The only card with a fixed period is the permanent resident card (영주증), which is valid for 10 years and must be reissued before it expires (Act Article 33(3)-(4); Decree Article 42-2). The manual confirms the 10-year period and adds that reissuing late leads to a fine.
For every other holder, the card follows your status: what governs your right to stay is the period of stay granted to you. When an extension is approved for someone who is already registered, the office writes the permitted period on the ARC instead of the passport (Decree Article 31(3)). Your passport also matters: the manual explains that the stay period is generally limited to the passport's remaining validity for most long-stay statuses (F-5, A-1 to A-3 and some others excepted).
Your ARC number
- The ARC number has 13 digits and shows date of birth, sex, registering office and so on (Decree Article 40-3(1)).
- One person has one number, and a number is never given to another person (Decree Article 40-3(2)).
- Reissue keeps your number, including when only your name or nationality changed (Rules Article 48). If your sex or date of birth changes, a new number is assigned (Decree Article 40-3(3)).
- If your registration was cancelled and you register again, you get the number you had before (Decree Article 47(4)).
Because the number identifies you, the Act bans making up ARC numbers, passing on programs that fake them, and using someone else's ARC or number for gain (Article 33-3). See section 10 for the penalty.
Mobile ARC
The office may issue a mobile ARC, which has the same effect as the plastic card and is installed in encrypted form on a mobile phone (Act Article 33(6)). Under Rules Article 48-2, it is valid until your stay period ends (or until the permanent resident card expires), can be issued on one phone of yours only, and can be reissued if you change phones or if it becomes unusable. Applying uses Form 34-9 together with your passport or ARC. The Minister of Justice sets the remaining details.
5. ARC Renewal: Extension of Stay or Card Reissue?
Search results are full of "ARC renewal" guides, but the Immigration Act does not use the word for an ordinary ARC. In practice the term stands for one of four different things. Working out which one you need decides the deadline, the form and the fee.
| What people mean | What it is legally | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "My stay period is about to end." | Extension of stay (Act Art. 25) | Apply at the immigration office before your stay period ends (Decree Art. 31(1)). Book online first (Decree Art. 34-2(5)). Fee KRW 60,000, or KRW 30,000 for F-6 holders (Rules Art. 72(6)). The permitted period is then written on your ARC (Decree Art. 31(3)). |
| "My card is lost, damaged or has no room left." | Reissue (Decree Art. 42) | Apply for reissue, see section 6. Fee KRW 35,000. |
| "I changed my name, sex, date of birth or nationality." | Change report plus reissue (Decree Art. 44(2), 42(1)(5)) | Report within 15 days, then the card is reissued. See section 8. |
| "I am a permanent resident and my card is expiring." | Reissue of the F-5 card (Act Art. 33(4); Decree Art. 42-2) | Apply on or before the expiry date. A late application is punishable by an administrative fine of up to KRW 2,000,000 (Act Art. 100(1)(4)). |
If you change your status, for example from a student to a worker, that is a separate application (Act Article 24). Once the change is approved, the office may reissue your card so that it shows the new status (Decree Article 42(1)(4)); see our residence status change guide.
Do not let your stay period lapse while you wait for a card. Staying beyond the permitted period is a separate violation with its own penalties; see our overstay fines guide.
6. Lost, Damaged or Full ARC: Reissue Rules and Fee
The head of the immigration office covering your address may reissue your ARC for any of the following reasons (Decree Article 42(1)):
- the card is lost;
- the card is worn out or damaged and can no longer be used;
- there is no room left to write entries;
- you have been permitted to change your status of stay;
- your name, sex, date of birth or nationality was changed and reported;
- all cards have to be renewed at once, for example to prevent forgery.
To apply, submit a reissue application form with one photo. For every reason other than loss, attach your original card, which is then destroyed (Decree Article 42(2)-(3)). Bring your passport too, since you will need to prove who you are at the counter.
| Point | Rule |
|---|---|
| Form | Tick "Reissuance of Registration Card" (등록증 재발급) on the integrated application form (Form No. 34). |
| Fee | KRW 35,000 (Rules Art. 72(10)), or no fee where the card was wrongly issued in the first place (Rules Art. 74(1)(7)). |
| Who may apply | You, or an agent designated by the Minister of Justice (Rules Art. 34(1)(3)). The Minister sets the agent rules separately, so confirm before sending someone else. |
| ARC number | Unchanged, except after a change of sex or date of birth (Rules Art. 48). |
| Mobile ARC | When the plastic card is reissued, a mobile ARC can be reissued too, and the earlier mobile version can be cancelled (Rules Art. 48-2(4)(1), (5)(2)). |
Never hand your ARC or passport to an employer, lender or agent as collateral. Taking a foreigner's passport or ARC as security for a work contract or a debt, or forcing or arranging that, is banned by Article 33-3 of the Act.
7. ARC Address Change: The 15-Day Report
A registered foreign national who moves must report the new address within 15 days of the date of moving in (Act Article 36(1)). It applies to any change of residence, not only a move to a different city. The report is called a change of residence report (체류지 변경신고), and the manual describes it for students in the same terms.
Where you can report
- the city, county or district office (or the eup/myeon/dong office, the neighbourhood community service centre) that covers the new address;
- the immigration office that covers the new address;
- online, through the network designated by the Minister of Justice (Decree Article 45(1)).
You do not have to visit your old office. The office that receives the report notifies the old jurisdiction and the records are transferred between offices (Act Article 36(3)-(7)).
What to bring
- the change of residence report: at the immigration office it is Form No. 34, 34-2 or 34-3, and at a local office it is Form No. 34-4 to 34-8 (Rules Article 49-3(1)). On the integrated form (Form No. 34), tick "Alteration of Residence" (체류지 변경신고);
- your ARC, which you hand in with the report (Act Article 36(2)); the manual also lists the passport for students;
- proof of your new address: a lease contract, a sales contract or another document showing you moved (Rules Article 49-3(2)).
What happens next
The officer writes the change on your card, stamps it as reported and gives it back (Act Article 36(2); Decree Article 45(2)). If you hold a mobile ARC and use the electronic complaint window, the change can be recorded in the mobile ARC instead (Act Article 36(8)).
The Act counts the 15 days from the date you move in (전입한 날). One passage of the manual, dealing with a regional-visa special case, treats the period as running from the lease contract date to the report date, so if you sign a lease well before you move, ask your office how it counts and report promptly. A late report is punishable by a fine of up to KRW 1,000,000 (Article 98(2)).
8. Reporting Changes to Your Registration Details
Address is one of several registration particulars. A separate 15-day report applies to changes in personal and passport data (Act Article 35). The reportable items are:
- name, sex, date of birth and nationality;
- passport number, date of issue and validity period. Renewing your passport is therefore a reportable event;
- items set by Rules Article 49-2, for example a change of affiliated institution or organisation for D-1, D-2 and D-4 to D-9 holders, a change in school enrolment, and a change in occupation or annual income for the statuses covered.
Submit the change report form with your ARC and passport to the immigration office that covers your address (Decree Article 44(1)). The manual lists no fee for this report. If the change concerns name, sex, date of birth or nationality, the office reissues your ARC (Decree Article 44(2)). A passport-only change does not call for a new card.
Late reports of these particulars can attract an administrative fine of up to KRW 1,000,000 (Act Article 100(2)(1)). Changing workplace on a work visa follows a separate permission or notice procedure (Act Article 21; Decree Article 34-2(2)), so it is not covered here. For a full breakdown, see our alien registration change report guide.
9. Leaving Korea and Returning the ARC
A registered foreign national who leaves Korea returns the ARC to the immigration officer at departure (Act Article 37(1)). The exceptions cover people who:
- have a re-entry permit and will return within the permitted period;
- hold a multiple-entry visa, or are nationals of a re-entry-exempt country, and will return within their permitted stay;
- hold a refugee travel document and will return within its validity.
If you do not come back within the re-entry period (or the exempted period, or your stay period), the office may cancel your registration (Act Article 37-2; Decree Article 47). If you register again later, you get your old number back. See our re-entry permit guide before you travel.
The card must also be returned in some other cases (Decree Article 46(2)):
- on becoming a Korean citizen, within 30 days from the day of resident registration;
- on the death of a registered foreigner, by the spouse, parent or a person named in Decree Article 89(1), within 30 days of learning of the death, with proof of death attached;
- on becoming a person exempt from registration (for example after a change to A-1, A-2 or A-3 status), when the change of status is permitted.
10. Penalties for Missing a Deadline
The table shows the maximum penalties written in the Act (version in force from 23 January 2026, checked 28 September 2026). The immigration office decides the actual outcome. The Minister of Justice may waive an administrative fine after considering the person's age, circumstances, the reason and result of the violation and ability to pay (Act Article 100(5)).
| Duty | Penalty provision | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Register within 90 days of entry (Art. 31) | Art. 95(7) | Imprisonment up to 1 year or a fine up to KRW 10,000,000 |
| Report a change of residence within 15 days (Art. 36(1)) | Art. 98(2) | Fine up to KRW 1,000,000 |
| Report changes to registration details within 15 days (Art. 35), or return the ARC when required (Art. 37) | Art. 100(2)(1) | Administrative fine up to KRW 1,000,000 |
| Apply for an ARC within 90 days of turning 17 (Art. 33(2)) | Art. 100(3)(1) | Administrative fine up to KRW 500,000 |
| Permanent residents: reissue the card before it expires (Art. 33(4)) | Art. 100(1)(4) | Administrative fine up to KRW 2,000,000 |
| Do not take a passport or ARC as security, or fake or misuse ARCs and ARC numbers (Art. 33-3) | Art. 94(19) | Imprisonment up to 3 years or a fine up to KRW 30,000,000 |
The practical lesson is to register and to report moves early rather than at the deadline. If you have already missed a date, go to the immigration office and explain, rather than waiting, since the situation is not likely to improve with time. Overstaying is a separate matter; see our overstay fines guide.
FAQ
Q. Who has to apply for an Alien Registration Card?
A. A foreign national who will stay in Korea for more than 90 days from the date of entry must register within 90 days of entry, at the immigration office that covers where they live (Immigration Act Article 31(1)). Staff of foreign missions and international organisations and their families, people with diplomatic-type privileges under an agreement, and certain people invited by the government are exempt, though they may register if they wish (Article 31(1)-(2)). Overseas Koreans who enter on an F-4 visa file a domestic residence report instead, according to the Ministry of Justice stay manual.
Q. How do I renew my ARC?
A. The law has no separate renewal of an ordinary ARC. If your permitted stay is about to end, you apply to extend your stay before the stay period ends (Act Article 25, Decree Article 31(1)), and the new period is written on your card. If the card itself is lost, damaged or full, you apply for reissue under Decree Article 42. Permanent residents (F-5) hold a card valid for 10 years and must have it reissued before it expires (Act Article 33(3)-(4)).
Q. How long is an ARC valid?
A. The Act sets a validity period only for the permanent resident card, which is 10 years (Article 33(3)). For other cards, what matters is your permitted period of stay, which is recorded on the card when it is granted or extended (Decree Article 31(3)). A mobile ARC is valid until the stay period expires (Rules Article 48-2(2)).
Q. How fast must I report a change of address?
A. Within 15 days of the date you move in, by reporting to the city, county or district office or the eup/myeon/dong office of the new address, or to the immigration office that covers it (Act Article 36(1)). Under Decree Article 45(1), the report can also be filed online through the network designated by the Minister of Justice. A missed deadline is punishable by a fine of up to KRW 1,000,000 (Act Article 98(2)).
Q. What should I do if I lose my ARC?
A. Apply for reissue at the immigration office that covers your address. Decree Article 42 lists loss as a ground for reissue. You submit the reissue application form and one photo, and the fee is KRW 35,000 under Rules Article 72(10). The Decree does not set a separate loss-report step, so ask the counter what else it requires.
Q. How much does an ARC cost?
A. Under Enforcement Rules Article 72(10), issuance and reissue of an ARC each cost KRW 35,000. The fee is paid in cash or with proof of a cash payment (Rules Article 73(1)). An extension of stay is a separate application with its own fee of KRW 60,000, or KRW 30,000 for F-6 holders (Rules Article 72(6)). Reporting a change of registration details is free according to the manual, and Rules Article 72 lists no fee for it.
Q. Do I hand back my ARC when I leave Korea?
A. Yes, as a rule: a registered foreign national must return the ARC to the immigration officer on departure (Act Article 37(1)). The exceptions are people leaving temporarily with a re-entry permit and returning within the permitted period, people holding a multiple-entry visa or who are nationals of re-entry-exempt countries and return within their permitted stay, and refugee travel document holders.
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