How to Get Your Residence Card in Korea – 2025 Guide
If you're planning to stay in South Korea for more than 90 days—as a student, remote worker, English teacher, or digital nomad—getting a Residence Card (RC) is essential. Formerly known as the Alien Registration Card (ARC), this card is your official ID in Korea and opens the door to many vital services like:
✅ Renting long-term housing
✅ Opening a Korean bank account
✅ Subscribing to mobile SIM plans
✅ Signing up for health insurance
✅ Using apps like Naver, Coupang, Yogiyo, or Baemin
Whether you're living in a rental apartment in Seoul or a guesthouse in Busan, this guide will walk you through everything you need to get your Residence Card quickly and stress-free.
🧳 Do You Need a Residence Card?
You must apply for a Residence Card within 90 days of entering Korea if:
- You hold a D visa (student, work, etc.)
- You hold a H-1 visa (working / holiday)
- You're staying longer than 90 days
- You're not on a tourist visa (B-2) or exempted visa (A-1 to A-3)
🛑 Tourists or short-term visitors do not need this card.
📅 Don’t wait too long—apply early to avoid fines or administrative headaches.
📍 Connect It to Your Accommodation
When you apply for your Residence Card, you’ll need to prove your address in Korea. That’s where our platform comes in:
✅ We provide official proof of address for monthly or long-term rentals
✅ Our listings are Residence Card–friendly (we support foreign tenants!)
✅ Get digital copies of your lease to include with your immigration documents
👉 Browse our verified apartments for foreigners in Seoul and major cities like Busan.
🖥️ How to Book an Immigration Appointment Online (HiKorea)
You must book a visit—walk-ins are rarely accepted.
Step-by-Step:
- Visit HiKorea.go.kr
- Set your language to English (top right corner)
- Go to → Reserve Visit → “Visit Reservation (Non-member)”
4. Select passport-based login (여권번호 신원인증)
5. Choose your local immigration office (based on your residence)
After pressing on “Date of visit” a pop-up window will appear. Choose the time and date you wish to visit to the immigration office and then click “Close”.
6. Select a date/time → click Apply
7. Print your confirmation or take a screenshot
⏰ Appointments can take 1–4 weeks, especially in high-demand districts like Gangnam, Mapo, or Jongno.
📑 What to Bring to the Immigration Office
Required documents (general):
- ✅ Passport + copy
- ✅ Passport photo (35mm x 45mm, white background).
NB : Some immigration offices are equipped with Photo Booth. But make sure to come early enough to make them.
- ✅ Application form (download or fill on-site)
- ✅ ₩30,000 fee (in cash) +₩4,000 if you want delivery to your home
- ✅ Proof of residence (rental contract, school dorm certificate, etc.)
- 🏫 Students: bring Certificate of Admission + school’s business registration
📢 If you’re staying in one of our rentals, we’ll help you prepare your proof of residence letter (영문 거주확인서).
📍 Immigration Office Tips (Based on Mapo-gu Experience)
If you're living in Seoul (e.g., Mapo, Gangnam, or Hongdae), you'll likely visit the Seoul Southern Immigration Office.
🕘 Arrive 20 minutes early
💸 Bring exact cash—some ATM don’t give change
📄 Copies can be made at a small bank on-site (₩500)
📌 Tip: If you forgot something, don’t panic. Staff will guide you and may let you go pay or reprint nearby.
📬 Receiving Your Residence Card
You’ll receive your RC:
- 📬 Within 1–4 weeks
- 🏠 At your rental’s address if you selected home delivery
- 🏢 Or by returning to the immigration office with a pickup slip
Make sure someone is home or that your rental has a mail drop.
🔁 Need to Renew, Replace or Update Your Card?
Just revisit HiKorea and choose:
- Extension of Status → for visa extensions
- Re-issuance → for lost/stolen cards
- Change of Status → if your visa type has changed
You’ll follow a similar process to the one above.
🏠 Make Housing Easy: Book a Residence Card–Friendly Apartment
Applying for a Residence Card is already stressful—don’t let housing be too. We simplify the rental process for foreigners:
- 🧾 Lease contracts accepted by immigration
- 📄 Help preparing address verification documents
- 🔐 Safe and secure listings near universities, business districts, and embassies
📞 Need Help?
- Call the Immigration Contact Center: ☎️ 1345 (multilingual support)
- Ask your landlord or housing platform (like us) for help with residency paperwork
If you're a new resident in Korea, especially in cities like Seoul, Busan, or Incheon, getting your Residence Card is a crucial first step.
🏡 Don’t forget: your accommodation must be registered to prove your address. Our platform ensures your lease is immigration-compliant—so you can focus on settling in, not stressing out.
Opening a Bank Account
Check-out our complete guide to open a bank account : here
If you're a new resident in Korea, especially in cities like Seoul, Busan, or Incheon, getting your Residence Card is a crucial first step.
🏡 Don’t forget: your accommodation must be registered to prove your address. Our platform ensures your lease is immigration-compliant, so you can focus on settling in, not stressing out.)
Applying For Insurance
It is basically the same thing as creating a bank account! Your association will do everything for you. The insurance system here is complicated.