Question
What documents do I need to apply for an Alien Registration Card (ARC)?
As of · sources retrieved from official Korean authorities
You need a valid passport (or other government‑issued ID) and, if applying through an agent, a power of attorney plus the applicant’s valid ID; the in‑person fee is ₩2,000 (online is free) and the card is issued within one day. Full details below.
The rule this rests on
Article 2 (Transitional Measures concerning Visa Issuance Certificate, etc.) | (1) | Any visa issuance certificate issued as at the time this Act enters into force shall be deemed that issued under this Act. | | (2) | Any person who has reported a change of a place of work under the previous provisions of Article 29 as at the time this Act enters into force shall be deemed to have obtained permission to change or add a place of work under this Act. |
Article 131 (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to timing for withholding income taxes from other income disposed of in accordance with Article 67 of the Corporate Tax Act. [This Article Added by Act No. 10408, Dec. 27, 2010] | Article 145-3 (Year-End Settlement, etc. of Religious Persons’ Income) | | (1) | When a withholding agent who pays income to a religious person and withholds income tax thereon, pays the religious person's income for February of the year immediately following
-
Primary applicant
-
Valid passport or other government‑issued ID
-
Application fee: ₩2,000 for an in‑person visit (online application is free)
-
If applying through an agent
-
Power of attorney signed by the applicant
-
Agent’s valid ID and the applicant’s valid ID
-
Where to submit
-
Competent immigration office or branch office in your city/county/district
-
Processing time
-
Typically issued within 1 day (about 3 hours during business hours)
-
After issuance
-
You receive the Alien Registration Card confirming your legal residence status in Korea.
Hotlines for help: 132 (Legal Aid), 1350 (Labor), 1577‑0071 (Foreign Worker Counseling).
Sources fetched 2026-09-19 · Korean laws change — verify with the issuing authority before acting.