Alien Registration in Korea: 90-Day Rule and 15-Day Address Change Report
A foreigner who stays in Korea for more than 90 days from entry must complete alien registration (외국인등록) at the immigration office for their area within 90 days of entry (Immigration Act, Art. 31(1)).
After registering, you must report a new address within 15 days of moving in, either at the new area's city/district/town office (시·군·구, 읍·면·동) or at the immigration office, and bring your registration card (Art. 36(1)–(2)).
Changes to your name, sex, date of birth, nationality or passport details must also be reported within 15 days (Art. 35). Missing these duties can lead to a fine or administrative fine (Arts. 95, 98, 100).
The deadlines at a glance
| What | Deadline | Where | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alien registration (외국인등록) | Within 90 days of entry, if you will stay more than 90 days | Immigration office (지방출입국·외국인관서) for your area | Art. 31(1) |
| Report a change of address (체류지 변경신고) | Within 15 days of moving in | New area’s city/district/town office (시·군·구, 읍·면·동) or the immigration office | Art. 36(1) |
| Report changed personal or passport details (외국인등록사항 변경신고) | Within 15 days of the change | Immigration office for your area | Art. 35 |
| Apply for a card after turning 17 (if none was issued before) | Within 90 days of turning 17 | Immigration office for your area | Art. 33(2) |
| Return your registration card | When you leave Korea for good | Immigration officer at departure | Art. 37(1) |
Everything here counts from the day the event happens: entry, moving in, or the change itself. Mark the date on your calendar the day you arrive or move.
Who must register
Article 31(1) of the Immigration Act (「출입국관리법」) says a foreigner who wants to stay in Korea for more than 90 days from the date of entry must register with the immigration office for their place of stay within 90 days of entry.
Some people are exempt, but may register voluntarily (Art. 31(1)–(2)):
- staff of foreign embassies, consulates and international organizations in Korea, and their families
- people with diplomatic-like privileges under an agreement with the Korean government, and their families
- people invited by the Korean government who fall under Ministry of Justice ordinance
If you get a status of stay inside Korea (for example, a child born here) or change your status, you register when that status is granted if you will stay more than 90 days (Art. 31(3)–(4)).
Once you register, the office issues an alien registration card (외국인등록증). It may skip issuing one to a person under 17 (Art. 33(1)). A mobile registration card with the same legal effect is also available (Art. 33(6)). Permanent residents receive a card valid for 10 years and must renew it before it expires (Art. 33(3)–(4)).
Moving? Report within 15 days
When a registered foreigner changes their place of stay, they must make a move-in report within 15 days from the day they moved in (Art. 36(1)). You can do this at either of two places:
- the city, county, district, town or neighborhood office (시·군·구 or 읍·면·동) of your new address, or
- the immigration office with jurisdiction over your new address.
Bring your alien registration card. The office writes the new address on the card and gives it back (Art. 36(2)). You only need to report once. The office passes the change on to your old area and to immigration (Art. 36(3)–(4)).
Why it matters for your deposit
Reporting your address is also what protects a rental deposit. Under Korea’s Housing Lease Protection Act, a tenant who has moved in and completed the move-in report can hold the lease against a new owner, and with a fixed date (확정일자) on the contract gets priority repayment at auction. For a registered foreigner, alien registration and the change-of-address report count as resident registration and the move-in report (Immigration Act, Art. 88-2(2)). Do it the same week you move.
Protect your deposit: move-in report and fixed date
Other changes you must report
Within 15 days of a change, report it to the immigration office for your area (Art. 35):
| Change | Examples |
|---|---|
| Name, sex, date of birth, nationality | Legal name change, new nationality |
| Passport number, issue date, expiry date | You renewed or replaced your passport |
| Other items set by Ministry of Justice ordinance | Check with the immigration office |
A new passport is the change people most often forget. Report it within 15 days of getting the new passport.
Penalties for missing a deadline
| Duty missed | Penalty | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Not completing alien registration | Up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to ₩10 million | Art. 95(7) |
| Not reporting a change of address | Fine of up to ₩1 million | Art. 98(2) |
| Not reporting changed details (Art. 35) or not returning the card (Art. 37) | Administrative fine of up to ₩1 million | Art. 100(2) |
| Not applying for a card after turning 17 | Administrative fine of up to ₩500,000 | Art. 100(3) |
These are the legal maximums. The actual amount depends on the case and is set by the immigration office (Art. 100(4)). Reporting late is still better than not reporting at all, so go as soon as you notice.
Leaving Korea
When you leave Korea for good, you hand your alien registration card to the immigration officer (Art. 37(1)). You keep it if you leave temporarily and come back within your re-entry permit period, or within your permitted stay if you hold a multiple-entry visa or are from a country exempt from re-entry permits (Art. 37(1)1–2).
Common questions
Q. I moved within the same city. Do I still need to report?
A. Yes. The duty applies whenever you change your place of stay (체류지), even within the same city or district (Art. 36(1)). Report within 15 days of moving in.
Q. Does registering also enroll me in National Health Insurance?
A. Alien registration is one of the conditions in the National Health Insurance Act’s special rule for foreign residents, and workplace or local subscription follows from it. See the health insurance guide for who must join and when.
Health insurance for foreigners in Korea
Q. Where can I check the exact documents to bring?
A. The documents and fees are set by presidential decree and Ministry of Justice ordinance, and they vary by status of stay. Check with the immigration office or the Korea Immigration Service before you go. This guide covers only the deadlines and duties in the Act itself.
Official source (Korean): https://www.law.go.kr/법령/출입국관리법
This guide explains Korean law in general terms and is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the official text before you act. · Found an error? Tell us