Moving to South Korea: your first steps

Step 1: the right visa

Everything starts with a long-term status that matches what you will do: work (E series, D-7 to D-9), study (D-2, D-4), family (F-3, F-6), remote work (F-1-D) or working holiday (H-1). Our overview of Korean visa types helps you find yours. Visitors on a K-ETA or a short-term visa cannot simply stay on — most long-term statuses must be obtained before arrival.

Step 2: registration and your Residence Card

If you stay more than 90 days, you must register with immigration within 90 days of arrival. Book an appointment at your local immigration office through HiKorea — walk-ins are generally not accepted — and bring your passport, a photo, proof of your address and the application form.

You then receive your Residence Card (외국인등록증), the card formerly called the Alien Registration Card. Since January 2025, residents aged 14 and over can also add a mobile Residence Card to their phone, with the same legal value. You will need the card for almost everything: bank, phone contract, health insurance and re-entering Korea.

Step 3: finding a home

Korean rentals work differently from many countries. With jeonse, the tenant pays a large lump-sum deposit and no monthly rent; with wolse, a smaller deposit is combined with monthly rent. Use a licensed real estate agent, read the contract carefully and check the property’s registry for existing debts before paying any deposit. Studios (“one-rooms”), officetels and shared houses are common first homes.

Step 4: bank account and phone

With your Residence Card, you can open a bank account and sign a phone contract in your own name. Large banks have branches with English-speaking staff in international districts. Until then, a prepaid SIM and a travel card bridge the gap.

Step 5: National Health Insurance

Foreign residents are part of Korea’s National Health Insurance system:

• Employees are enrolled through their workplace from the start of employment.
• Other residents are enrolled automatically after six months of stay.
• D-2 students are enrolled from the date they register.
• Since April 2024, foreign family members generally also need six months of residence before joining as dependants, with exceptions for some statuses.

Keeping your status in order

• Report a change of address within 15 days — online on HiKorea, at your local community service centre or at the immigration office.
• Apply to extend your stay before your permitted period ends.
• Registered foreigners can leave and come back within one year without a re-entry permit (two years for permanent residents), provided their status is still valid.
• Ask permission before changing employer or adding an activity.

Learning Korean: the KIIP programme

The Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) teaches Korean language and society in levels 0 to 5. Completing it helps with longer statuses, points-based residence, permanent residence and naturalization. See long-term residence in Korea.

Visiting before you move

Many people make a scouting trip first: to meet employers, view neighbourhoods or visit schools. As a visitor, you can do all of this visa-free — with an approved K-ETA if your passport requires one.