Registration Of Address In Korea: Explained

Registration Of Address In Korea

Moving to Korea? You’ve probably got your hands full—new job, new apartment, and, oh, the sheer joy of assembling furniture.

But hold your horses!

Before you pop that bottle of Soju in celebration, let’s sort out one crucial detail—registering your address.

Let’s Dive in!

What Are The Requirements For Registering Address In Korea?

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It is a straightforward process to register one’s address in Korea. One can register one’s address in South Korea by submitting a house registration application form to the nearest immigration office.

One first needs to look up the deadline before trying to register one’s address after arriving in Korea. It is mandatory to update the immigration office or the nearest local government office about the address within 90 days of arriving in Korea.

If a person wants to stay long term, one should register their address before 91 days.

Suppose a person has been living in Korea for some time and moves to a new place after having registered the first address. In that case, the second address should be registered within 2 weeks.

After the registration applications have been submitted, the address will be printed or written on the back of one’s ID card or the Alien Registration Card.

One should keep the card with oneself when going to the hospital or to any government office to show proof of one’s residence.

This imprinting of the address at the back of one’s ID is of utmost importance as it will help the resident communicate easily by verifying where one lives.

It will also help the inquirer to verify one’s personal information and provide medical insurance quickly.

Who Is Required To Register A Place Of Residence In South Korea?

In accordance with the Korean Act on The Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans, there are two kinds of immigrants or foreign residents who need to register their addresses in South Korea.

They are as follows:

  1. A person who holds Korean nationality by birth and also has the nationality of a foreign country. Thus, dual citizens need to apply for registration of one’s address.
  2. A lineal descendant of a Korean citizen who also has the nationality of another country.

Suppose only one individual needs to register one’s address. In that case, one can either do it online or by visiting the offices: immigration office, city hall, district office, township office, neighborhood office, or even community centers.

However, suppose the individuals who have to register the address are younger than 17 years of age. In that case, the parents must apply on their behalf.

They still need to apply to banks or other financial institutions for personal authentication certificates.

Suppose the foreign resident is the head of the family. In that case, they can also apply for the house registration certificates for the dependent family.

The head of the family will be responsible for filing the report for the entire family who’s in Korea on an F-3 visa.

When Does One Need To Report The Place Of Residence In Korea?

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Foreign residents who come to Korea on F-4 visas. If they stay in South Korea for more than 91 days, they must report their residence to the official authorities.

They need to visit the immigration offices and go through the administrative process of registering for their residence within 90 days.

 

Can The Residence Be Registered Online In South Korea?

When one registers one’s residence for the first time, one must visit the immigration office in person. It cannot be done online alone. One would need to make an in-person visit to the immigration office.

However, one is changing one’s residence and moving to a new place. In that case, one can register the new address online only when the first residence has already been registered in South Korea through the process of visiting the immigration offices in person. 

 

What Is The Process For Registering Address In Korea?

In Korea, registering one’s address is quite simple yet detailed. One needs to follow the following steps to register one’s address legally. The outline of the steps is given below:

  1. First, get an Alien Registration Card
  2. Look for accommodation.
  3. Visit the Local District Office
  4. Gather the required documents.
  5. Please fill out the registration form and submit it to the assigned authority.
  6. Update all the personal information.
  7. Get access to health insurance and other benefits.

For an easier understanding of the process of registration of one’s address in Korea, the steps mentioned above have been described in detail:

1. Applying For An Alien Registration Card

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The first step for registering for one’s address in Korea requires one to attain the Alien Registration Card.

This card is an identification card that is issued to those foreigners who do not have citizenship but stay in Korea for more than 90 days.

This card then serves as the primary identity needed to access different services in South Korea, and it also helps in applying for different government processes like the registration of one’s address.

2. Look For Accommodation

One can only register one’s address if one has accommodation. Foreigners are usually provided visas for moving to South Korea when they show proof of accommodation in their visa application.

So, one would need to ensure one has a place to live in Korea. It can be a rented flat or studio, a dormitory, a hostel, or even a leased house.

Whatever kind of property it is, one needs to acquire the contract so one can apply for registration of one’s address.

3. Visit A Local District Or Immigration Office

Wherever a person finds accommodation, one can also find the nearest government or immigration office.

For the first time, one would need to visit the office in-person to submit one’s application with the required documents.

4. Required Documents For Registering Address

To undergo the administrative process of registering one’s address in South Korea, one would need to attach the following required documents with one’s application:

  • Alien Resident Certificate
  • Rental Contract
  • Letter from the landlord
  • Copy of Passport
  • Two Passport-sized pictures
  • Completed Application Form

5. Submitting The Form with Documents

The application form is usually in both languages: Korean and English. One can take guidance in filling out the forms.

After filling out the form, one can easily submit the application form with the required documents, completing the whole process.

6. Processing Of Application

It takes little time for the application of registration of one’s address to be processed. After one’s address has been registered, it will be printed on the back of one’s ID or the Alien Resident Certificate.

7. Getting Access To Services

National Health Insurance is provided to all the residents of South Korea only after their address is registered.

After the registration of one’s address, one will also become eligible to apply for other subsidies and insurance plans in South Korea.

8. Update Personal Information

After the foreign resident has successfully submitted the application for the registration of the address, one must remember to update the address in all the relevant institutions that require the information on one’s address.

These institutions that need to be updated about one’s personal information, which also includes house registration certification, are places where one works, schools, banks, utility companies, and other places.

Why Is Registering Address Of Residence Important In Korea?

A place of accommodation verifies where the person resides, thus making it easier for one to reach the person. It also provides proof of identity of a foreign resident.

Other various reasons that showcase the importance of registering an address in South Korea have been given below:

Legal Obligation

Like many other countries, registering one’s address is often a legal requirement. It does not only help the government keep track of the residents but also allows the authorities to reach the individual in case for any legal or administrative purposes.

Communication

People need to have their addresses registered so that official documents can reach them easily. Also, many official processes, like the voting mechanism, require one to see the individual’s address.

Residents also need to apply for taxes, which also require one to have a registered address. The authorities can also reach an individual at their official registered address to verify their information and eligibility.

Access To Various Services

Every country provides various services to its nationals and residents. These subsidies that are for the welfare of the citizens can only be accessed if an individual is an official resident of the country with their addresses registered in the country’s record.

The services given to individuals may include national health insurance, pension programs, and even subsidies for disabled people.

Demography

Countries need to have an official record of their population and type of demography as to which region is most populated and diverse.

This record helps the authorities decide their policies according to the population’s needs.

The policies include approving people from certain areas who can vote for urban planning and allotment of resources.

Emergency Services

In emergencies, one needs a verified address where help can be reached. One may require assistance from police, hospital, or even fire extinguishers; these can only help in emergencies if they know where one lives.

Acquiring Citizenship

It is a compulsion for any foreign resident in Korea to have a registered place of accommodation. If one has no official residence, one may not be able to apply for citizenship.

If timely registration is not made, one may get points deducted from the point-based system of issuance of citizenship.

How To Register Address When There Is A Change In The Place Of Residence In Korea?

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If a person moves or changes accommodation, one must register one’s new residence again. The process for registering a new residence in South Korea is given below:

First, one needs to download the Application Form. Then attach Form 1 of the Enforcement Rule and submit it to an immigration office with the following documents:

  • Personal information, which includes name, gender, and date of birth.
  • The new address of residence.
  • Details of one’s Job or work contract.
  • Documents of Nationality if one has and the date of its acquisition.
  • One’s Passport number and its issuance date.
  • Mention educational background and attach the certification of enrollment if one is enrolled in any school.

In How Many Days One Needs To Inform About The New Residence?

If a person moves due to work or some other reason, then one needs to register the new place of residence within 14 days of the move.

One would need to visit the immigration office once after submitting the online application.

There is no long processing time; if one submits all the required documents and fills out the application form correctly, one will immediately get the new address printed on their ID card.

The compulsion of registering one’s address within two weeks is not just obligatory for foreigners who have moved to Korea for the first time but also for all the residents who have moved from one place to another in Korea.

Suppose the address changes, the accommodation is moved, and the household has registered foreigners or resident foreigners. In that case, the report must be filed individually in the immigration office.

Otherwise, the head of the family can file for the registration of address, for all the members of the household.

What Are The Required Documents To File For Change In Residence?

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The following documents are required by the authorities to be submitted when one applies for a change in address in South Korea:

  • Overseas Korean Application Form
  • Attached is Form 1 of the Enforcement Rule
  • Passport Overseas Korean Resident Card
  • Fee 

How Can The Address Registered In Korea If Alien Resident Card Is Lost?

The address can only be registered if one gets the Alien Registration Card, also known as the Overseas Korean Resident Card, reissued. One needs this certificate as a primary identification document to register one’s address in South Korea.

Fortunately, this vital certificate can be given again, but only in some specific conditions. One needs to visit an immigration office to inform the authorities and apply for it again.

Some of those conditions in which a foreign resident can get the ARC again are as follows:

  • When the certificate (ARC) is lost
  • When the certificate (ARC) is worn out and cannot be used 
  • When the certificate (ARC) lacks the space for the new address to be written down 
  • When there are changes in the name, date of birth, nationality, or country of residence.
  • When it needs to be renewed to prevent forgery or identity theft

If the reason for losing the ARC falls in any of the above conditions, then one can apply for the ARC again. This is the first step if one wants to register one’s residence in South Korea.

What Are The Monetary Charges Of Registering An Address In South Korea?

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One does not need to spend any money during the whole process of registering one’s address officially in South Korea.

But might need to submit the fee of 30,000 Korean Won in cash for the Certification of Alien Registration Card.

If one wants it to be delivered by mail, then one would need to pay the fee of 33,000 Korean won.

 What Consequences Can Be Faced If One Does Not Register Address In South Korea?

One might face various consequences if one fails to register or does not register deliberately, one’s address in South Korea.

One would not just be tarnishing one’s reputation by facing legal repercussions in the form of fines but will also limit the rights and services that one can enjoy, which are available to other South Koreans with a registered address.

Some of the significant consequences, as well as the limitations one has to bear in case of not registering the address, have been given below:

Legal Consequences

In case of an extension of the trip from 90 days to further, if a person does not register the address in South Korea, then it becomes a criminal offense as it is a violation of their immigration laws.

Also, a person does not register one’s address within the mentioned two weeks after moving to a new residence. In that case, one can get fined or face other penalties.

Not registering the address in Korea is against Immigration Law Article 36 and Article 45 of the Immigration Law Enforcement Ordinance.

One will be fined if the change in one’s residence is not reported within the assigned limit. Also, suppose the person is caught and has yet to report the change in residence. An administrative fine of 2 million KRW will be imposed in that case.

The penalty will be imposed in accordance with Article 6 (2) of the Act on The Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans.

Partial Access To Social Benefits

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Korea also offers different programs that provide social benefits in healthcare, education, work, and other aspects.

Suppose a person does not register one’s address. In that case, one will not be able to have complete access to such benefits that other residents can enjoy.

No Voting Rights

Only nationals and those residents can vote in Korea who have registered houses and have attained permanent residency. If the address is not registered, one cannot exercise one’s democratic and political rights.

Thus, it’s necessary to register one’s address in South Korea.

Incomplete Civic Engagement

Korea has a booming civic society that encourages the participation of all individuals of all ages to be more active.

One can only participate in different civic and social activities if one is a registered resident of Korea. Different clubs and activities would require permits that can only be sent to one’s address.

Difficulty In Official Communication

One’s day-to-day activities can become limited with the need for registration of one’s address in South Korea.

Opening a bank account, working, obtaining a loan, or even applying for licenses would require a registered address.

Uncoordinated Emergency Aid

The doctors, police, or even firefighters can only reach one in case of an emergency if one’s address has been registered in South Korea.

Without a registered address, the call of aid might get delayed in its arrival, which can even become the cause of one’s demise in urgent cases.

No Tax Compliance

One’s legal address is used for taxation purposes in Korea. If an individual does not have a registered address and does not pay taxes, then it could result in unenviable legal situations that one would not want to be stuck in.

The authorities might start criminal proceedings against the people who do not pay taxes in South Korea.

So, get your addresses registered!

Residency Status

With a registered address in South Korea, one has a legal status of residency. This is exceptionally troublesome for those residents who want to apply for permanent residency in Korea or want to acquire citizenship in Korea.

So, the residents who arrived in Korea through F-2-7 visas (F4) can only get permanent residency or citizenship through a stringent point-based system where one needs to get 80 out of 120 points at the least.

However, when a person does not register one’s address, then the authorities would give a negative 1 to the foreigner.

Not only would one need to apply even more effort in gaining the total required points, but also, the tarnished reputation of the individual would hinder access to citizenship even after one gain all the required points.

So, avoiding getting stuck in legal hassles is always better, as the repercussions would always be detrimental.

So, one should follow the rules properly of the Korean Society and register the address on time.

Conclusion

So there you have it—a no-nonsense, step-by-step playbook on getting your address registered in Korea. Now that you’ve got this vital task checked off your list, you’re officially ready to navigate your new Korean adventure.

Feel like a local yet? Cheers to your new home, or as they say in Korea, ‘건배‘ (geonbae)!

Start Registering!

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