Getting Your Residence Card (Formerly ARC) in Korea: Step-by-Step for 2026
If you’re staying in Korea longer than 90 days, this card is not optional — and you’ll need it for almost everything else on your to-do list.
What It Is
The Alien Registration Card was officially renamed the Residence Card (RC) in 2024, though most people — and most older guides — still call it the ARC. It functions as both your ID and your social security number equivalent while you’re in Korea, and you’ll need it to sign up for a mobile phone plan, open a bank account, get home internet, and enroll in health insurance or a pension plan.
The Deadline
If you’re staying more than 90 days, you must register with immigration and obtain a Residence Card within 90 days of your arrival. Don’t let this slide — it affects your ability to do basic things like open a bank account.
What You’ll Need
A confirmed residential address with documentation that immigration accepts, a recent passport-style photo (3.5 × 4.5 cm, white background), ₩30,000 in cash for the standard application fee, and visa-specific supporting documents that vary depending on your visa type.
Where and How to Apply
You can only apply at the immigration office with jurisdiction over your place of residence — not just any branch. Before you go, make a reservation through the Hi Korea website (www.hikorea.go.kr); walk-ins are difficult to manage at busier offices. Some applications also require a basic medical exam, which screens for general health conditions and specific communicable diseases like tuberculosis.
Processing Time
Expect 2–3 weeks for processing. Until you have the card in hand, you likely can’t open a bank account or get a local SIM card, so plan your first few weeks in Korea around this timeline rather than around it being instant.
2026 Update: Digital Cards
As of January 2025, physical cards issued by immigration include an embedded IC chip. Korea also now offers a free Mobile Residence Card through the official Mobile IDentification app (iOS and Android) — the digital version carries the same legal weight as the plastic card, which is useful once you have it, though you’ll still need to complete the initial in-person registration to get either version.
Foreigner eligibility note: Required for any foreign national staying more than 90 days, regardless of visa type. Short-term tourists (under 90 days) do not need to apply.
