Who should register
• Persons intending to stay in Korea in excess of 90 days from the date of entry into Korea.
• A foreigner who has lost his/her Korean nationality upon the acquisition of foreign nationality, or who plans to stay for more than 90 days from the date on which his/her status was granted after being born in Korea.
• Foreigners staying in Korea who are staying in excess of 90 days from the date of entry after obtaining a permission of change of status of stay.
Where to register
• Jurisdictional immigration service or office.
When to register
• Persons intending to stay in Korea in excess of 90 days : Within 90 days from the date of entry.
• Persons who are granted a status of stay or obtained permission of change of status of stay : When the permission is obtained (immediately).
Documents to be submitted (common)
• Application form (attached Form no. 34 of the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act).
• Passport or permission to enter the country.
• Standard size photo (3.5㎝ × 4.5㎝).
• Processing fee: KRW 30,000 (cash).
• Documents proving place of residence.
• Alien registration card (limited to persons who are listed as dependents on the alien registration application form).
Obligation to carry and present alien registration card
• A foreigner residing in Korea should carry his/her passport, entry permission or alien registration card at all times (excluding foreigners under the age of 17).
• Where a foreigner is asked to present his/her passport and alien registration card by an immigration service official or a public official with related authority for the purpose of handling official matters (alien registration related matters), the foreigner shall comply with such request.
• Where a foreigner does not comply with an official request to present his/her passport and alien registration card, he/she shall face penalties pursuant to Article 27 of the Immigration Act.
Documents to submit when a Business Investment (D-8) visa holder files for alien registration
• Where D-8 visa was obtained after a certificate of confirmation of visa issuance
① Application (attached Form no. 34 of the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act)
② Passport (original copy), one standard size photo (3.5㎝ × 4.5㎝)
③ Copy of business registration certificate, foreign-invested company registration certificate
④ Certified copy of incorporation register (for corporations)
⑤ Documents certifying place of stay : Real estate lease contract, certificate of provision of residence/lodging, copy of ID of person providing residence/lodging
*Certificate of provision of residence/lodging : Required where the lessee on the ease contract is not the applicant
⑥ Report of foreigner’s occupation and annual income
*Note: Additional documents may be required if deemed necessary in the screening process.
Documents to submitted for the alien registration of Dependent Family (F-3) visa holders
① Application (attached Form no. 34 of the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act)
② Passport (original, copy), one standard size photo (3.5㎝ × 4.5㎝) copy of spouse or parent’s alien registration card
③ Processing fee: KRW 30,000 (cash)
④ Documents certifying place of stay: Real estate lease contract, certificate of provision of residence/lodging, copy of ID of person providing residence/lodging
*Certificate of provision of residence/lodging: Required where the lessee on the lease contract is not the applicant
⑤ Foreigner aged between six and 18: Certificate of studentship (to confirm current enrollment in elementary, middle or high school)
⑥ Report of matters related to foreigner’s studentship in elementary, middle and high school (refer to form in hikorea.go.kr)
*Note: Additional documents may be required if deemed necessary in the screening process.
Re-entry permit
• Eligibility
- A foreigner who completed alien registration or is exempted from alien registration who has departed Korea within the period of stay and intends to re-enter Korea.
• Exemptions from re-entry permit
① Diplomacy (A-1), Official Business (A-2), International Agreement (A-3) visa holders
② Arts and Culture (D-1), Student (D-2), Industrial Trainee (D-3), General Trainee (D-4), News Coverage (D-5), Religious Worker (D-6), Intra-Company Transfer (D-7), Business Investment (D-8), International Trade (D-9), Job Seeker (D-10), Professor (E-1), Language Instructor (E-2), Researche (E-3), Technical Instructor/Technician (E-4), Professional (E-5), Arts/Athlete (E-6), Foreign National of Special Ability (E-7), Non-Professional (E-9), Maritime Crew (E-10), Visiting & Joining Company (F-1), Resident (F-2), Dependent Family (F-3) visa holders
③ Marriage Migrant (F-6), Others (G-1), Working Holiday (H-1), Work and Visit (H-2) visa holders : Where a foreigner with the above ①, ②, ③ status of stay whose stay period on the alien registration card has not expired intends to re-enter Korea within one year of the date of departing Korea, re-entry permission is exempted.
*However, where the remaining period of stay is shorter than one year, re-entry permission is exempted within the status of stay.
- A foreigner with a Permanent Resident (F-5) visa who intends to re-enter Korea within two years of the date of departure, re-entry permission is exempted. Also, a Korean with foreign nationality who reported residence in Korea shall be exempted from re-entry permission pursuant to the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans (Article 10 (3)).
Types of re-entry permission and required documents
- A re-entry permission is classified into single re-entry permit allowing entry for only one time, and multiple re-entry permit allowing multiple re-entries.
- Foreigners who are large investors investing USD 500,000 or more shall be permitted multiple re-entry for up to three years.
