The number of foreign students coming to study in Korea is increasing every year. As a result, there has been an increase in visits to immigration offices by foreigners, but what is the most important thing for foreign students studying in Korea, excluding visas? It's the Alien Registration Card. Most foreigners studying in Korea hold a D-2 or D-4 visa, but if they stay in Korea for more than 90 days due to their studies, they must obtain an alien registration card, which is an identification card for foreigners. If you stay for more than 90 days without applying for an alien registration card, you may be subject to imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won. In addition, the process is complicated and has recently changed to a reservation system, so if you are not fluent in Korean, there may be difficulties in obtaining the card. Of course, you can use an agency to handle the application process, but even if you don't speak Korean well, there should be no major difficulties in applying alone as long as you understand the process in advance. We're here to tell you how you can easily apply for an ARC!
Alien Registration Card Application Procedure and Details
1. Required Documents for Submission
Visa Type | Required Documents |
Study Abroad (D-2) | -Passport -One passport-sized photo (3.5 x 4.5cm) -Certificate of Enrollment -Integrated Application Form for Alien Registration -Proof of residence (lease agreement, confirmation of lodging, notification of expiration of stay period, public utility payment receipt, etc.) -Fee of 30,000 won |
General Trainee, Korean Language Program(D-4) | -Passport -One passport-sized photo (3.5 x 4.5cm) -Certificate of Enrollment -Document(s) related to the establishment of the training institution -Integrated Application Form for Alien Registration -Proof of Residence (Lease Agreement, Confirmation of Accommodation, Notice of Expiration of Stay Period, Receipt of Public Utility Payment, etc.) -30,000 won fee |
Things to Keep In Mind
The photo must be a passport photo, with a length between 2.5cm to 3.5cm, and a white background is recommended. The photo must have been taken within the past 6 months.
The validity period for each submitted document is 3 months from the date of issue.
To prove the place of residence, a lease agreement in the applicant's name or a confirmation of residence provided by a third party such as family, acquaintances, or the school must be submitted.
The Foreigner Registration Integrated Application Form can be downloaded from Hi Korea (Link: Application Form Download).
If you have any inquiries while preparing your documents, you can contact the Immigration Contact Center (dial 1345 without an area code). They provide counseling services in 20 languages, so we recommend calling them before applying for any documents!
2. Application Process
※ Foreigner registration cards are issued at the immigration office with jurisdiction based on the place of residence ※ |
| ARC Application Process | Step 1. Prepare documents | Please refer to 'Required Documents for Submission' |
Step 2. Reserve a visitation for the Immigrations Office (※Caution: Reservation for visit is available after entry.) | Go to the HiKorea website (Korean, Chinese, English provided) | |
Click the 'Reservation' button | ||
Proceed with the reservation after identity verification. | ||
Step 3. Visit the Immigration Office | Go to the reserved floor. | |
Print out the reservation confirmation on the reservation completion page and show it at the information desk. | ||
Go to the counter with the number written on the confirmation. | ||
Pay the fee of 30,000 KRW (Cash) | ||
Scan your fingerprints for foreigner registration. | ||
Complete the application. |
The physical registration card takes about 2-3 weeks to process, and if you apply by mail, you don't need to visit later. Also, since it's an immigration office, English is generally spoken, so you don't have to worry about it!
Today, we looked into the process of obtaining a foreigner registration card. If you understand the procedure, you can apply without knowing Korean, and various websites also support at least English or Chinese, so you don't have to worry! Because the required documents vary slightly depending on the type of visa, please call 1345 before preparing the documents to inquire about the necessary documents. In addition, a fee of KRW 30,000 must be paid when applying for the registration card, so be sure to prepare cash. I hope you have a convenient study life in Korea after successfully obtaining your foreigner registration card.
Reference
생활법령정보 https://easylaw.go.kr/CSP/CnpClsMain.laf?csmSeq=508&ccfNo=2&cciNo=3&cnpClsNo=1
하이코리아 https://www.hikorea.go.kr/info/InfoDatail.pt?CAT_SEQ=176&PARENT_ID=139
한국유학종합시스템 https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/ko/overseas_info/allnew_immigrationGuide.do
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