This isn’t something that you can do before your trip, but it is something that it very crucial to know before you leave for Korea: For foreigners staying in Korea for more than 90 days, you are required to register at the local immigration office within 90 day of your arrival. By registering, you will be given proof of this by receiving an Alien Registration Card (ARC).
The reason why this is so crucial to know is because there are a lot of things you cannot do without an ARC. For instance you cannot open a bank account or buy a phone plan without one. The process takes about a month, so if you’re set on opening a bank account you’ll need to plan ahead on how you will fund yourself in the meantime.
To register, you have to go to the Immigration Office that has jurisdiction over your place of residence in Korea.
What you need to bring in order to register as an alien in Korea is:
- Alien Registration Application (Your university might give you this, or you can grab one right there while you’re waiting)
- Passport
- A copy of your passport and visa (NOTE: You can do this right at the Immigration office. When I went, there was a photocopier at the end of the room. Just make sure you do it WHILE you’re waiting rather than when your number is called or else you’ll have to wait in line all over again.)
- Certificate of Entry (Your school will give this to you)
- 1 Passport size photo
- Also another reason why I said get 10 copies when you get your photo taken for your passport. If you ran out, check with the university to see if there is a photography studio where they take and printout photo ID pictures. The Korean university I went to had one in the Student Union building, which, from what I heard, most universities in Korea have one.
- FUN FACT: Korea uses Photoshop to clean your face up in your photo ID pictures. They’re really not as strict as the US when it comes to making sure the picture displays all of your features for identification. So if you think you look a bit different in your new photos you took in Korea…that’s why!
- 10,000Won (~$10.00USD)
- NOTE: I said 30,000Won in my blog post, but the Korean Immigration website says 10,000…I really can’t remember which one it is so maybe bring extra just in case? Sorry!
I highly recommend you have all of these things ready to go when you get to the center, because you are going to save SO much time. Someone told me that another exchange student came here and it took her 2 hours because she didn’t have all her information.
In terms of the procedure on what to do: Think of this place as the DMV. There will be a machine a few feet away from the entrance. It will give you certain options like Resident, Student, etc. Since you’re studying abroad, click ‘Student’ and then it will print out a ticket with a number. That number is your spot in line. You’ll see a couple of TV screen on the ceiling with the current number being served, and you’ll have to wait until it gets to your number. I can’t really say how long your waiting time will be. My roommate went, and she was there for 4 hours, while I was there for just 45 minutes. I’m not sure if the fact that she went on a sunny Friday and I went on a rainy Wednesday had anything to do with it. Regardless, just be prepared to spend some time there and make sure you don’t have anything on your schedule for the rest of the afternoon. Bring something to do like homework, puzzle, video game, a friend, etc.
After your number is called, this process from then on is pretty quick. When you submit your information, you’ll be given a form that tells you when you will have to return to the office to get your official ARC. This will be quicker than your first trip, because all you’ll have to do is give this document, and then they’ll give you the card. No more tickets, and no more waiting in line! In the immigration office I went to this station was on the left most side of the room. If you’re not sure where to go, ask for help or watch to see what people are doing. If you see a group of people huddle together in front of a desk waiting, mostly like its because they’re waiting to receive their card.
If you have any questions feel free to comment, or if you want to know what my personal experience was like when I went to the Immigration office I talk about it in my blog post.
Happy travels~
My Days as an Exchange Student in S.Korea 