---
title: "Korea Alien Registration Card (ARC): Complete Guide — How to Register, Renew, and What to Do If You Lose It"
url: "https://expertsapiens.com/en/blog/korea-arc-alien-registration-card-complete-guide/"
published: "2026-04-09T00:00:00+00:00"
updated: "2026-03-14T16:49:59.016215+00:00"
author: "Mr. Visa Korea"
category: "immigration"
tags: ["mrvisakorea", "immigration", "arc", "alien-registration"]
description: "The ARC (Alien Registration Card) is the most important document you'll have as a foreigner living in Korea. This guide covers who needs it, how to register, what to bring, and exactly what to do if your card is lost or stolen."
license: "all-rights-reserved"
---

# Korea Alien Registration Card (ARC): Complete Guide — How to Register, Renew, and What to Do If You Lose It

## What Is the Alien Registration Card (ARC)?

The **Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증, ARC)** is a government-issued ID card that proves your legal status as a long-term foreign resident in Korea. It contains your photo, name, registration number, visa status, and stay expiration date — and it functions as your primary form of identification in Korea for almost every administrative purpose.

Without an ARC, you cannot:

-   Open a Korean bank account
-   Get a Korean SIM card (prepaid SIM available without ARC)
-   Register for national health insurance
-   Sign a standard lease agreement (전세 or 월세)
-   Register for KIIP, TOPIK, or other official programs
-   Use most Korean government online services (including HiKorea)

## Who Needs an ARC?

You must register for an ARC if you:

-   Hold a Korean long-term visa (D, E, F, G, or H-1) AND
-   Plan to stay in Korea for **91 days or more**

Short-term visitors (tourists, business visitors on C-3 or B-1 visa-exempt stays) do **not** need an ARC.

## ARC Registration Deadline

**You must register within 90 days of your entry into Korea.** If you fail to register within 90 days, you'll face a fine (up to ₩3 million) and your next visa extension or renewal may be complicated.

Best practice: register within the first 2–4 weeks of arrival, before the immigration offices get busy near the 90-day deadline (many people wait until the last week and face long queues).

## How to Register: Step by Step

1.  **Book an appointment** online at HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) at your nearest immigration office. Walk-ins are accepted but appointment holders are processed much faster.
2.  **Bring all required documents** (see list below)
3.  Submit your application at the immigration window
4.  **Biometrics collection:** Your fingerprints and photo will be taken at the office (takes about 10 minutes)
5.  **Wait:** Your ARC will be mailed to your registered Korean address within **2–3 weeks** from the date of application
6.  Once received, check all details for accuracy immediately — errors must be corrected promptly

## Required Documents for ARC Registration

-   Passport (with valid Korean visa entry stamp)
-   Completed application form (available at the immigration office or downloadable from hikorea.go.kr)
-   1 passport-size photo (3.5cm × 4.5cm, white background, taken within 6 months)
-   Application fee: **₩30,000**
-   Proof of Korean address: a lease agreement, utility bill, or letter from your landlord/employer confirming your address
-   Additional documents depending on your visa type (e.g., enrollment certificate for D-2/D-4, employment contract for E-series visas)

## ARC Renewal

Your ARC must be renewed whenever:

-   Your visa status changes (e.g., E-7 to F-2-7)
-   Your stay period is extended (the ARC expiration date must match your authorized stay period)
-   Your personal information changes (address, employer, passport renewal)

Renewal is done at the same immigration office where you originally registered, with the same appointment/walk-in system. Renewal fee is also ₩30,000.

**Address changes** must be reported within 14 days of moving — this can be done online via HiKorea, at the immigration office, or at your local community service center (주민센터) if you have a registered ARC.

## What to Do If You Lose Your ARC

Losing your ARC is a common and stressful situation. Here's exactly what to do:

1.  **Report the loss immediately** — go to your nearest immigration office (or community service center for basic filing) and report the loss. You can also call the immigration hotline at 1345.
2.  **Apply for a replacement ARC** at the immigration office. Required documents:
    -   Passport
    -   1 passport-size photo
    -   Statement of loss (분실경위서 — you'll fill this out at the office)
    -   Replacement fee: **₩20,000**
3.  **Processing time:** Replacement ARC is issued in about 2 weeks (mailed to your address)
4.  You'll receive a temporary certificate (임시증) immediately upon application — carry this until your replacement card arrives

**Do not delay reporting a lost ARC.** If someone uses your ARC number for fraud and it's not reported, you could face complications with your residency status.

## ARC and National Health Insurance

Once you register your ARC, you're eligible for the **National Health Insurance Service (NHIS)**. As of 2019, all foreigners who have been in Korea for 6+ months are automatically enrolled and must pay premiums — there is no opt-out (with some exceptions for short-term visa holders).

Monthly premiums for foreigners are set at a fixed rate during your first year, then adjusted based on income from year 2 onward. The fixed rate in 2025 is approximately **₩75,000–₩80,000/month** for most long-term visa holders.

_Source: Korea Immigration Service, HiKorea portal, National Health Insurance Service | Last verified: March 2026_

_This article is for informational purposes only. Consult a verified immigration specialist for guidance on your specific situation._