The first time I went to the immigration office, I left with nothing. I had my passport, my photos, my job contract — but I hadn't realized my residence certificate needed to be a specific Korean-issued format, not just a scan of my lease agreement. I stood at the counter for about four minutes while the officer flipped through my documents, then she slid everything back to me with an apologetic smile. Come back when you have the right paperwork, she said. That was two and a half hours of commuting and a half-day off work, gone.
Nobody warns you about moments like that. Every official website says the process is "simple" and "straightforward," and technically, yes — the ARC process is not complicated. But there's a difference between a process that's simple on paper and one that's simple when you're new to the country, still jet-lagged, and trying to read a government form in Korean. So let me just tell you what I wish someone had told me.
Okay, but — do you actually need one?
The short answer: if you're staying in Korea for more than 90 days on a long-term visa, yes, you do. The ARC — Alien Registration Card, or 외국인등록증 in Korean — is your official ID as a foreign resident. It's what lets you sign leases, open bank accounts, get a Korean phone number, register for apps, and basically function like a normal person rather than a perpetual tourist.
If you're here on a working visa (E-2 for English teachers is the classic, but also E-7 for specialized professionals, D-10 job seekers, and others), a student visa (D-2), or one of the F-series family visas — you'll need to apply. Even H-1 working holiday visa holders need one. Tourist visa holders — the B-1 and B-2 crowd — are exempt because you're only here for 90 days max anyway.
The legal deadline matters: you need to apply within 90 days of entering Korea. Don't leave it to day 89. More on why in a moment.
What you actually need to bring
Here's where people get tripped up. The base documents are: a completed application form (get it from hikorea.go.kr or just pick one up at the immigration office), your valid passport, two passport-size photos (3.5cm × 4.5cm — get these taken at a Korean photo booth, they know the specs), and proof of your Korean address.
That address proof is where things get interesting. A copy of your lease agreement is usually fine, but some offices want it in Korean, and some want it stamped. If you're living in staff housing through an employer, ask your HR department for a certificate of accommodation on company letterhead. That usually works more smoothly. University students often get a confirmation letter from their school's international office — check with them first.
Beyond that, you'll need documents specific to your visa type. E-2 teachers: your employment contract and sometimes a school affiliation letter. D-2 students: your admission letter or enrollment confirmation. F-visa holders: marriage certificates, family registers, and the like. The specifics vary, and they do change. My strongest advice: go to hikorea.go.kr and look up your specific visa category before your appointment. The PDF checklists there are actually pretty current.
One thing that catches everyone off guard — bring originals, not copies. They'll scan things at the counter, but they want to see originals. And bring more than you think you need. Extra photos, extra copies of everything. The officer might not need them, but having them means you don't have to come back.
The application fee is generally around 30,000 KRW for most visa types — think of it as the price of a decent dinner in Seoul. For student visas (D-2) and some other categories, it's lower. Verify the current fee at hikorea.go.kr before you go, since these numbers can shift.
So where do you actually go, and how do you get an appointment?
Korea's immigration offices are called 출입국외국인청 (Immigration and Foreign Resident Office), and there are branches across the country — major ones in Seoul (Gangnam and Mapo are the big ones), Busan, Incheon, Daegu, and more.
You'll need an appointment for most offices, and you book through hikorea.go.kr. The interface is a little clunky but manageable if you use the English version. Go to "방문예약" (Visit Reservation) and follow the prompts. Popular time slots at Seoul offices fill up fast — I'm talking weeks in advance during busy periods like March and September, when students start arriving en masse. If you can get to a smaller regional office, do it. The wait for appointments is shorter, the lines are shorter, and the officers often have more time to actually help you.
Some visa types can also apply online through HiKorea without visiting in person — but this is more limited, and you'll still need to upload scanned documents. For most people's first ARC application, visiting in person is the cleaner option.
Now for the honest part: how long does it actually take?
The official line is about three to four weeks. The realistic answer, based on what people actually experience: anywhere from two weeks to six weeks, depending on which office, what time of year, and whether your application had any issues.
Start of semester in spring (March) and fall (September) are the worst times. Immigration offices are slammed, processing slows down, and four-week estimates can stretch to six. Some people get lucky with a two-week turnaround in quieter periods. The point is: don't plan anything that depends on having your ARC card in hand within a specific window. Be flexible.
When you submit your application, they give you a receipt. Hold onto that receipt. It's not a perfect substitute for your ARC, but it proves your application is in progress and can serve as temporary identification in some situations. Your passport is still your main ID during this limbo period.
The ARC Limbo — surviving those first weeks without it
This is the part nobody talks about, but it's the part that actually makes your first weeks in Korea annoying.
Phone plan: Most major Korean carriers (SKT, KT, LG U+) require your ARC for a postpaid plan. Before it arrives, you have a few options. Tourist SIM cards are available at the airport, at convenience stores like CU and GS25, and at various shops around Hongdae, Myeongdong, and other foreigner-heavy areas. These are prepaid, usually 30-day data plans, and they work just fine for getting around. Your employer might also have a recommendation — many E-2 schools have dealt with this enough times to have a go-to solution for new teachers.
Bank account: This is the one that causes the most stress. Most major Korean banks (KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori, etc.) will tell you they need your ARC. However, some branches of KEB Hana Bank and Nonghyup Bank (NH Bank) have been known to open basic accounts for foreigners using just a passport, especially near university campuses or in areas with high foreigner traffic. This is branch-dependent and officer-dependent, which is frustrating, I know. Your best bet is to call ahead or walk into a few branches near you. In the meantime, services like Wise (formerly TransferWise) work internationally and can get you through those first weeks. Internet-only banks like Kakao Bank and Toss Bank require your ARC — those come later.
Lease and registration: Many landlords want to see your ARC for a formal lease, but again, your passport plus your application receipt often gets you through temporary arrangements, especially employer-provided housing. If your school or company arranged housing, this usually isn't an issue.
Everyday life: Honestly, Korea runs on apps. Kakao T for taxis, Coupang for delivery, Naver for maps. Many of these require Korean phone verification, which requires a Korean SIM. Get the tourist SIM first. Everything else follows.
The mistakes that make people's lives harder than they need to be
Missing the 90-day deadline is the big one. You have 90 days from your entry date. Missing it doesn't mean immediate deportation, but it means fines and complications — don't do it.
Going without an appointment is a close second. Some offices still take walk-ins, but don't count on it. An appointment means a set time, a set counter, and far less waiting around.
Getting the wrong photo. Korean photo booths know the exact specifications — just say "외국인등록증 사진" (ARC photo) and they'll know what to do. Don't use a selfie or a random snapshot.
Not having your address in order. If you just arrived and you're staying with a friend or in a short-term rental, make sure you can document that address somehow. Some people register with their employer's address temporarily — ask your company if this is possible.
A few things from the community worth passing on
People who've been through this consistently say the same things: make the appointment as early as possible (the moment you arrive, not at day 80), bring way more documents than the checklist says, and if something goes wrong, just go back — it's annoying, but it's fixable. The officers generally aren't trying to make your life hard. The system is just rigid.
And once it arrives — that little card with your photo and your foreigner registration number — it's surprisingly gratifying. It means you can stop explaining your situation at every counter, stop pulling out your passport to buy a phone plan, and start actually living here rather than just visiting.
That feeling is worth the trip to the immigration office. Even if you have to make it twice.
For the most current document requirements and fees, always check the official HiKorea website at hikorea.go.kr or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 (available in English).