Korean apps without a Korean phone number: which ones work with a passport (2026 table)

Taxi, subway, maps, food delivery, payments: which Korean apps work with a passport or a foreign number, and which need a Korean number.

Updated 26 October 2026 · Dari team · 2 min read

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

Contents

The table
Naver: the big change of 2026
What stays closed
When no app works
Moving to Korea?
Frequently asked questions

In Korea, many apps require verification with a Korean phone number (본인인증). For a visitor, it is the first wall. Here is what works in October 2026.

The table

Need	App	What you need
Taxi	K.ride	Foreign number and card²
Taxi	TABA	Foreign number and card²
Taxi	Uber	Your usual account³
Taxi	Kakao T	A Kakao account verified by phone; a Korean number may be needed³
Subway, bus	T-money (iPhone)	"Foreigner" button, Mastercard, Amex or UnionPay⁵
Booking on the map	Naver Map	Passport verification since June 2026¹
Food delivery	Baemin	Several languages, Apple Pay with a foreign card since June 2026⁶
Mobile payment	Toss Pay	Prepaid card you can register with a passport⁴
Mobile payment	Kakao Pay, Naver Pay	No accounts for foreign tourists⁴
Restaurant waitlist	CatchTable, Tableling kiosks	Usually a local number⁴

Naver: the big change of 2026

Since 4 June 2026, Naver offers foreigners with a passport issued abroad identity verification on a smartphone, without a Korean number. It unlocks bookings, orders and payments on Naver Map¹. It is the key to booking many restaurants, salons and activities.

What stays closed

For residents, Naver, Kakao and Toss IDs also serve as proof of identity, but each needs a Korean number and an active account; Toss also requires a line in your own name with a designated carrier⁷. Without a residence card and a phone plan in your name, these doors stay closed.

In DariTaxi: the app that works for your profile