Korean residence card (ARC) step by step: 90-day deadline, appointment, documents and fee

Staying over 90 days means you need an ARC. HiKorea appointment, documents, ₩35,000, timing and late fines: the 2026 process.

Updated 28 October 2026 · Dari team · 2 min read

Machine translation from French, being reviewed. Read the French version (reference)

If you stay in Korea for 91 days or more, you must apply for your Alien Registration Card (ARC, 외국인등록증) within 90 days of arriving². It is what then unlocks banking, a phone plan in your name and health insurance².

1. Book an appointment on HiKorea

An appointment is required: most offices no longer accept walk-ins². Create an account on hikorea.go.kr, choose your immigration office and keep the confirmation code¹³.

2. Prepare your documents

According to the bworld guide (April 2026)¹:

• original passport and a copy of the ID and visa pages;
• application form (from HiKorea or the office), filled in with black ink;
• a 3.5 × 4.5 cm colour photo taken within the last 6 months;
• a copy of proof of residence (lease, bill, accommodation letter);
• proof of work or study depending on your visa;
• a few extra copies: some offices ask for two sets.

3. On the day

Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. With an appointment, expect 20 to 30 minutes on site¹. The fee is ₩35,000 for most visas (₩30,000 until the end of 2024), paid at the office¹². You get a receipt with a pickup date.

4. Getting the card

The application is processed on the spot⁴, but the card itself is made afterwards: timing varies by office and season, and no official source gives a fixed delay. The pickup date is on your receipt; if in doubt, call 1345 (immigration contact centre). While you wait, you can work under your visa, withdraw cash with your home-country bank card, get a prepaid SIM and sign a lease with your passport².

Once you have the card, you can add it to the Korea Mobile ID app (모바일 신분증); some banks accept it to open an account at a branch².

If you are late

An application made after the 90-day deadline can lead to an administrative fine, and being late can also block opening a bank account. We do not publish amounts: the legal scale is amended from time to time and we could not read the version currently in force. To find out what applies to your case, call 1345 (the immigration call centre).

New on 29 October 2026: Korean and romanised name

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the amended Resident Registration Act decree takes effect on 29 October 2026: the household registration record (주민등록표) of a foreign resident will show both their Hangul name and their romanised name, instead of the romanised name only as today⁵⁶. The household head or a household member will also be able to ask for a correction, which used to be reserved to the person concerned⁵⁶. This concerns residents registered in a household, not the ARC card itself.

What it means for you

• Staying more than 90 days: book your HiKorea appointment as soon as you arrive and budget ₩35,000⁴.
• Waiting for your card: your passport is enough for a prepaid SIM and a lease².
• Past the 90 days: apply as soon as possible and call 1345 to find out what applies to you.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to apply for an ARC?

90 days after arriving, if you stay 91 days or more².

How much does the residence card cost?

₩35,000 for most visas, since 1 January 2025².

Can I go without an appointment?

Most offices no longer accept walk-ins without a HiKorea appointment².

Sources

1. bworld, « How to Get Your Residence Card in Korea » (22/04/2026, mis à jour le 19/05/2026) · checked on 19 May 2026
2. SeoulStart, ARC registration guide (17/04/2026, mis à jour le 26/05/2026) · checked on 26 May 2026
3. HiKorea, réservation de rendez-vous (immigration) · checked on 26 October 2026
4. Gouvernement de Corée (gov.kr), fiche « Enregistrement des résidents » : délai de 90 jours, frais de 35 000 ₩, traitement sur place · checked on 27 October 2026
5. Ministère de l'Intérieur et de la Sécurité via korea.kr, décret sur l'enregistrement des résidents, en vigueur le 29/10/2026 · checked on 21 April 2026
6. Koreabridge, noms en hangul et romanisés dans les registres des résidents étrangers · checked on 5 October 2026