All non-Korean exchange/visiting students at SNU must complete foreign resident registration at Seoul Immigration Office within 90 days of arrival in Korea. Otherwise, you will be fined.
This foreign resident registration will issue you a regidence card (RC), which serves as an official ID card during your stay in Korea. It states your official sojourn period and until the expiration date, you are guaranteed with your sojourn status (‘student’).
To travel outside Korea, you must apply for re-entry permit in advance and bring your RC with yourself to maintain your sojourn status. This means you cannot travel outside Korea until you obtain your regidence card. The card should then be submitted at the airport when you finish your semester and permanently leave Korea.
On top of that, residence card provides you with a number of benefits for living in Seoul. For example, a Korean debit card and CMS application (required for dormitory monthly maintenance fee payment) requires the residence card number. Therefore, exchange students who are residing in Gwanak Residence Halls must complete foreign resident registration as early as possible to ensure the successful maintenance fee payment.
Foreign resident registration is not required to Korean nationals and overseas Koreans with F-4 visa. F-4 visa holders must instead report domestic residence at the immigration office.
Also, a multiple entry D-2 visa holder does not have to apply for regidence card, if the most recent stay in Korea does not exceed 90 days. This means multiple entry visa holders must leave and re-enter Korea every 90 days. SNU OIA, however, highly recommends multiple entry visa holders to apply for regidence card for more conveniences.
To file an application for foreign resident registration, you must make a visit reservation at Seoul Immigration Office and visit the office in person with all required documents.
Seoul Immigration Office
151 Mokdong-ro, Sinjeong-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul
Mon-Fri / 9 am – 6 pm
Within 90 days of your arrival
30,000 KRW
Up to 6 weeks (working days only)
You should have a colored photo attached (3*4 cm sized, white background, photographed within 6 months) to the form.
TB Test Certificate is required to those with the following nationalities who did not submit the certificate during the visa application) : (High TB-burden countries) Nepal, East Timor, Russia, Malaysia, Mongol, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, India, Indonesia, China, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Pakistan, Philippines, Laos
At the beginning of each semester, the queue and waiting time at the immigration office is incredibly long. As it can take anywhere from 2 hours to over 4 hours, our suggestion is that you go before the semester begins.
Here are a few tips to help you reduce any confusion and get through this as fast as possible. Ideally, coming with all the required documents ahead of time is the easiest way. But since you will have to wait for quite a bit anyway, the only documents you must not forget are your passport, proof of enrollment and the 33,000 KRW fee. You can take care of the other requirements there.
When you arrive at the immigration office first, take a ticket with a waiting number. Once you have your ticket, fill out the application form. Then, if you didn’t have a picture ready, go to the photo booth next to the ATMs to take your picture (Don’t forget to show your ears in the photo!). Afterwards, you have to use the ATM machines to pay the 33,000 KRW fee for the Alien Registration Card. Don’t forget to keep the transaction receipt with you, because they will only take that receipt as payment, not cash. Wait until your number is called. (You might want to bring a book, or go with a group of friends to make the most out of the waiting time!)
Regidence Card Re-issuance
When a foreigner loses their Regidence Card, he or she must visit immigration office within 14 days from the date of loss, and re-apply for the Regidence Card.
Required Documents:
- Passport
- Photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm, white background, photographed within 6 months)
- Application form
- Application fee (30,000 KRW)
In case of inquiries you can contact the number below:
Seoul Immigration office (서울출입국관리소)