Reissuing Your Residence Card (외국인등록증) and Reporting a Change of Address

When does this apply to me?

You need this guide if any of these is true for you:

• You lost your residence card.
• Your card is broken or the writing has worn off, so you cannot use it.
• The space on the back of your card for writing is full.
• Your name, gender, date of birth, or nationality changed.
• You got a new passport, so your passport number changed.
• You moved to a new dormitory or home.
• You changed companies, so your workplace changed.

Step 1: Getting a new residence card

1. First, report the card as lost. You can do this on 하이코리아 (HiKorea, the government immigration website) (www.hikorea.go.kr), in the information search (정보조회) menu. This stops other people from using your card.
2. Choose how to apply. The usual way is to book a visit on 하이코리아 and go to the 출입국·외국인관서 (immigration office). You can also apply through the 하이코리아 online application (전자민원) and get the card by registered mail. Each office may work differently, so check on the booking screen.
3. Apply within 14 days from the day the problem happened. If you are late, you may get a fine.
4. Pay the 35,000원 fee. You pay by card.
5. Get your card. The office is supposed to make it right away, but it says it can take 2–3 weeks because many people are applying. If you get it by mail, it goes to the address you registered. So your address must be correct.

Step 2: Reporting a change of address

1. Report within 15 days from the day you move into your new home or dormitory.
2. You can report at any one of these three places:
   • The city, county, or district office (시·군·구청) or the 주민센터 (community service center) (읍·면·동) for your new address
   • The 출입국·외국인관서 in charge of your new address
   • Online on 하이코리아
3. If you report at the 주민센터 or the immigration office, the staff write your new address on the back of your card, stamp it, and give it back. If you report online, the address is not written on the back.
4. There is no fee.

Step 3: Changing your workplace (company)

If you are on an E-9 visa, you must handle a job change at two places.

1. Within 1 month from the day your employment contract ended, apply for a workplace change at the 고용센터 (Job Center, government employment office).
2. Get your new company's 고용허가서 (employment permit) and 근로계약서 (employment contract). Then, before you start the new job, get a workplace change permit (근무처 변경 허가) from the 출입국·외국인관서 in charge of your area.
3. If you work at a different company without this permit, you can be deported (forced to leave Korea).

What to bring

New residence card

• Passport
• 1 color photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm)
• Residence card (not needed if you lost it)
• Fee of 35,000원

Change of address report

• Residence card
• 체류지 변경 신고서 (change of address report form) (available at the office)
• A document that proves your new address (임대차계약서 (lease contract), 기숙사 확인서 (dormitory confirmation letter), etc.)

Passport change report

• New passport and old passport
• Residence card

Important points

• Do not miss the deadline. If you do not report a change of address, you can get a criminal fine of up to 1,000,000원 under 출입국관리법 (Immigration Act) Article 98, Item 2. In practice, this is often handled as a fine notice (범칙금 통고처분). The amount depends on how late you are and on your situation, so check with 1345.
• If you do not report a change of name, nationality, or passport number, you can get an administrative fine (과태료) of up to 1,000,000원.
• If your address is wrong, your mail will not reach you. Letters from immigration, the 국민건강보험공단 (National Health Insurance Service), banks, and courts all go to your registered address. If you miss important notices, you may lose money or face other problems.
• Do not lend your residence card to anyone. If someone uses it to open a phone line or a bank account in your name, you can also be punished.
• Even if you live in a company dormitory, you must report when your address changes. Do not assume the company will do it for you. Check it yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Q. I lost my card, but I need to prove who I am. What should I do? A. When you apply for a new card, you get a receipt (접수증). What you can use as temporary ID until you get the new card is different at each office. Check with 1345 or the 출입국·외국인관서 in charge of your area.

Q. The 15 days have already passed. Should I still report now? A. Yes. It is better to report late than not at all. If you keep not reporting, the problems get bigger.

Q. Where can I get a 외국인등록 사실증명 (certificate of foreigner registration)? A. You can get it at a 주민센터, a 출입국·외국인관서, or on 정부24 (Government24, the government services website).

Q. Can I finish the whole reissue application online? A. Sometimes you can apply online (전자민원), but it depends on the office and your reason. Check on 하이코리아 first. If you cannot do it online, book a visit.

Q. I found my lost card later. A. You can cancel your lost-card report on 하이코리아. If you already got a new card, do not use the old one. Return it.

Where to get help

• 외국인종합안내센터 (Immigration Contact Center) 1345 (help in many languages, free)
• 하이코리아 www.hikorea.go.kr (visit booking, online applications, lost-card report)
• 정부24 www.gov.kr (information about government services)
• Your nearest 출입국·외국인관서