Getting your ARC (Alien Registration Card)
The one card that unlocks everything else — banking, phone plans, insurance.
Who needs it and when
Anyone staying in Korea longer than 90 days on a long-term visa (D, E, F, H series) must register at their local immigration office within 90 days of entry. F-4 visa holders file a Domestic Residence Report (거소신고) instead and receive a Residence Report Card.
Short-term visitors (B-1/B-2/C-3) cannot register — which is why most banking is closed to them.
New since 2025: submit the free e-Arrival Card online (e-arrivalcard.go.kr) within 3 days before your flight — paper cards are still handed out during the transition, but the online form saves you the queue. ARC holders re-entering Korea skip arrival cards entirely.
How to apply
1) Book a visit on HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) — walk-ins are rarely accepted in big cities. 2) Prepare: passport, application form, one 3.5×4.5cm photo, proof of residence (lease, dorm certificate), visa-specific documents (enrollment certificate for students, employment contract for workers), and the ₩35,000 fee (raised from ₩30,000 in January 2025 when IC-chip cards were introduced). 3) Attend, give fingerprints, and choose delivery or pickup.
Processing typically takes 3–6 weeks — busy offices in Seoul and other big cities now run up to 5–6 weeks, so apply as early as you can. Universities often run group applications for freshmen — ask your international office first.
The mobile ARC
Since January 2025, the mobile ARC is live nationwide: any registered foreigner 14+ can issue it in the government Mobile ID app (모바일 신분증) by tapping their IC-chip card, or by one-time QR at an immigration office for older cards. It is legally equivalent to the plastic card and accepted at government offices and most major banks — including Toss Bank for fully-online account opening.
While you wait
Get a prepaid SIM with your passport (bring your entry stamp — vendors increasingly check proof of entry), and — if you're a student — ask whether your university runs a group account program with a partnered Woori branch. Hana Bank also lets you pre-register account-opening info via QR in 16 languages, even before you land in Korea.
Not sure where you are in the process?