Getting Your ARC: What Documents You'll Need

If you're staying in Korea for 90 days or more, one of the first things you'll need to sort out is your Alien Registration Card (ARC) — 외국인등록증, also known as the Foreign Residence Card. It is the main identification document for registered foreign residents and is commonly needed for full banking, mobile-phone, insurance, and other administrative services.

This guide covers the basics and, importantly, how the housing side of the application fits in — since that's the part most directly connected to booking a room here.

Who needs one, and by when

Most foreign nationals intending to stay in Korea for 90 days or more must register, unless a specific exemption applies. The exact procedure and documents depend on your visa or status of stay, so confirm yours on HiKorea or with the Immigration Contact Center (1345). The deadline is firm: within 90 days of your entry date — counted from the day you entered Korea, not from your lease start date or when classes begin. Missing it can result in a fine.

Documents you'll typically need

• Passport (original)
• Completed alien registration application form
• Passport-style photo — 3.5cm × 4.5cm, white background, taken within the last 6 months
• Proof of residence — a lease, accommodation confirmation, or utility bill
• Status-specific documents — e.g. an enrollment certificate for students, an employment contract for workers

Exact requirements vary by visa type and can change — always confirm the current checklist for your situation on HiKorea (see the official sources below) before your appointment.

Where proof of residence comes from

That "proof of residence" line is where your housing matters. You'll need something that shows where you're actually living. Some Plott Life listings (Plott Life is our booking partner) may offer a Residence/Accommodation Provision Confirmation: an electronic certificate for your stay. We make no promise that any listing offers it or that you will receive one. It's only available for stays booked through Plott Life, the host has to approve your request, and listings can attach conditions — for example, one listing we checked provides it only for bookings of 30 days or more, so it may depend on the length of your stay.

Depending on your circumstances, immigration may also request the accommodation provider's ID and evidence of their right to provide the accommodation. Neither we nor Plott Life promise or guarantee that immigration will accept the confirmation, so check the listing's eligibility and confirm the current document package with HiKorea or 1345 before relying on it.

The application, roughly

1. Confirm that your visa or status requires registration.
2. Book a visit appointment through HiKorea — slots at popular offices in major cities fill up, so it's worth booking as soon as you can after arriving.
3. Gather your documents (see above), making sure anything status-specific is valid and recent.
4. Visit the immigration office, submit your application, and pay the current issuance fee — ₩35,000 as of this update. Confirm the payment methods available at your office when booking.
5. Wait for processing. This is the one detail that's genuinely hard to pin down — estimates online range from a couple of weeks to over a month, and it varies by office and season. Check your local office's currently posted processing time rather than relying on a fixed number here.
6. Pick up your card, and keep it on you going forward.

After you have it

A few ongoing obligations come with the card: you're expected to carry it, report certain changes, and get it reissued if it's lost, damaged, or your information changes. Different changes have different deadlines and procedures. For example, a change of residence is generally reported within 15 days (14 days for F-4 holders), while changes such as your employer or passport information follow their own rules — check HiKorea or call 1345 for the one that applies to you.

With the card in hand, verification for banking, mobile-phone, and other services is generally much easier. Your Residence Card is also used for National Health Insurance administration. Enrollment timing depends on your employment, status of stay, and length of residence.

Official sources

This page is a general orientation, not immigration advice — requirements, fees, and processing times change, and the government's own pages are the source of truth:

• HiKorea — appointments, applications, and current forms
• Korea Immigration Service — the official immigration authority, including its announcement of the ₩35,000 card fee (effective January 1, 2025)
• Immigration Contact Center — 1345 within Korea
• National Health Insurance Service — guidance for foreign residents

Questions about how a specific listing's documentation works? See How it works or browse available stays.