If you will stay in Korea for more than 90 days, apply for your ARC / Residence Card as early as possible after arrival. Book a HiKorea visit reservation, prepare your passport, photo, address proof and visa-specific documents, then visit your local immigration office. The issuance fee is now ₩35,000, and the card usually takes a few weeks to arrive. The biggest mistake is waiting too long to book the appointment.
The ARC, now often called a Residence Card, is the ID that unlocks normal life in Korea. You need it for banking, postpaid phone plans, housing paperwork, health insurance and many online services.
The application itself is not hard. The hard part is getting an immigration appointment before your 90-day deadline gets close.
When should you book HiKorea?
Book your appointment as soon as you know your Korean address.
Do not wait until your documents feel “perfect.” Immigration slots in Seoul and university areas disappear quickly, especially in March and September when students arrive.
Go to HiKorea, choose Visit Reservation, and book the office that has jurisdiction over your Korean address. If you do not have an ARC yet, use your passport number for identity verification.
The practical rule: book first, prepare documents next.
What documents do you need?
Most applicants should prepare:
Passport
Copy of passport information page
Application form
Passport-style photo
Proof of Korean address
Visa-specific documents
Issuance fee: ₩35,000
Proof of address can be a lease, dormitory certificate, accommodation confirmation or employer housing letter.
Your extra documents depend on your visa. Students usually need school documents. Workers usually need employment documents. Always check your visa type before visiting.
What happens at immigration?
Arrive early, take a queue ticket if required, and wait for your number.
At the counter, the officer checks your documents, confirms your address, scans your passport and takes fingerprints. If something is missing, they may ask you to upload or bring extra documents.
If accepted, you receive a receipt. Keep it. Until the card is issued, that receipt is your proof that you applied.
How long does the ARC take?
Processing time varies by office and season. In normal periods, expect a few weeks. During student arrival season, it can take longer.
You may be asked to pick it up in person or receive it by registered mail, depending on the office and application method.
Do not make big plans that require your ARC immediately after the appointment. Build in buffer time.
What changes after you get the ARC?
Once you have the card, use the registration number instead of your passport number for most Korean services.
The first things to handle are:
Open a real Korean bank account.
Set up or upgrade your phone plan.
Confirm National Health Insurance status if your visa requires it.
Update housing, school or employer records if needed.
This is when Korea becomes much easier to navigate.
Salary Calculator
Salary Calculator for Foreigners — On a working visa? Estimate your Korean monthly take-home pay, including the 19% flat-tax check.
Use it before your first salary deposit lands.
Before you go to immigration
Do not book the wrong office
Your immigration office is based on your Korean address. A random earlier slot may not help if the office has no jurisdiction over your residence.
Do not trust old fee guides
Many old ARC guides still say ₩30,000. For 2026, use ₩35,000 as the safer number.
Do not arrive without address proof
Address proof is one of the most common reasons applications get delayed.
Do not leave Korea before receiving the card
If your visa situation is still being processed, leaving Korea too early can create re-entry problems. Confirm with immigration before making travel plans.
Call 1345 if unsure
For document questions, call the immigration contact center at 1345 before your appointment. It is better to check once than lose a reservation slot.