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.
2026 update: the ARC was officially renamed the Residence Card (RC) in 2024, though "ARC" remains the common term. Cards issued from January 2025 onward have an embedded IC chip that lets you activate a free Mobile Residence Card in the government's Mobile IDentification app (tap your card to your phone) — it carries the same legal weight as the physical card and is accepted at banks, hospitals, and most ID-required transactions. If your card was issued before 2025, you'll need to visit an immigration office and scan a QR code to activate the mobile version.
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
- 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.
- Bring all required documents (see list below)
- Submit your application at the immigration window
- Biometrics collection: Your fingerprints and photo will be taken at the office (takes about 10 minutes)
- Wait: Your ARC will be mailed to your registered Korean address within 2–3 weeks from the date of application
- 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:
- 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.
- 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
- Processing time: Replacement ARC is issued in about 2 weeks (mailed to your address)
- 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: September 2026
This article is for informational purposes only. Consult a verified immigration specialist for guidance on your specific situation.