National Health Insurance (NHIS)
It's mandatory — and unpaid premiums can shorten your visa extension.
How enrollment works
Employees are enrolled automatically through their workplace from day one — the 2026 premium rate is 7.19% of salary, split evenly (3.595% each for you and your employer), deducted from payroll, plus a long-term care surcharge of about 13% of the health premium. Everyone else (dependents, self-employed) is enrolled as a 'local subscriber' automatically after 6 months of residence.
D-2 students are covered from their entry/registration date (not after 6 months) and pay a reduced premium — ₩79,320/month in 2026, about half the standard foreigner rate. Universities often guide the process at orientation.
What it costs and covers
Foreigner local-subscriber premiums are floored at the previous year's national average — about ₩158,000/month in 2026 for non-students with no Korean income or assets (₩152,790 in 2025). In exchange, clinic visits often cost under ₩20,000 and NHIS covers the majority of hospital bills. Non-covered items include some scans and elective care.
Don't skip payments
Unpaid NHIS premiums are checked at immigration through a data link. Current practice: 1–3 missed payments can cap your visa extension at 6 months; at 4 or more, extensions are effectively refused until you pay down arrears or get an installment plan approved. Foreign local subscribers prepay each month's premium by the 25th of the previous month — set up auto-debit from your Korean account as soon as you have one.
Where to get help
NHIS runs a foreigner helpline (033-811-2000; English, Chinese, Vietnamese and more) and branch offices handle enrollment questions — bring your ARC. If you had private travel insurance on arrival, check the overlap before cancelling.
Not sure where you are in the process?