What Is Alien Registration Card (ARC)?

Any foreign national holding a long-term visa (D-2, D-4, D-10, E-series, F-series, etc.) must register at an immigration office within 90 days of entry and receive an ARC — a physical card showing photo, visa status, and a registration number that functions like a resident ID for foreigners. The card is required almost everywhere: opening a Korean bank account, getting a phone plan, signing an apartment lease, enrolling in National Health Insurance, and starting most jobs. Applications require the visa/entry stamp, passport, a passport photo, proof of address, and the registration fee, and processing typically takes 2-3 weeks. Losing the card, changing address, or changing visa status all require a follow-up filing at the immigration office.

ARC applications are rejected or delayed for address-proof formatting, photo specs, or missing supporting documents that are easy to get wrong on a first attempt, and a rejected filing costs weeks. A 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney) handles the document preparation and in-person filing so the registration clears without a resubmission, and can also file the related change-of-address or lost-card reissuance if it comes up later.