Once your international student orientation at a Korean university is over, it’s time to start setting up the administrative, financial, and telecom essentials that “make life in Korea run.” aka International student settlement in Korea.
Because what you can do before vs. after you receive your Residence Card (formerly ARC, Alien Registration Card) differs a lot, handling things in order can dramatically cut down on time and stress.
Days 0–30 Timeline (One-Page Summary)
| When | Top priority | Why it matters now |
|---|---|---|
| D+0–3 (right after orientation) | Organize the school portal/course registration/student ID/dorm rules | Academic schedules have short “add/drop correction” windows |
| D+1–7 | Confirm your housing, get a temporary SIM (prepaid) | Without an address/contact number, the next steps get blocked |
| D+7–30 | Book and apply for Alien Registration (Residence Card) | Basic rule: register within 90 days of entry (Global One-Stop Service Center) |
| After receiving RC | Open a bank account, switch to a postpaid/identity-verifiable line, check insurance | Korean online identity verification/finance becomes available |
| Every time you move | Report change of residence (address change) | You must report within the deadline after moving in (institution guidance: 14–15 days) (Gov.kr) |
1) Lock Your School Portal/Email/Academic Calendar to “Korea Time” (School)
If you leave the materials from orientation as-is, the most common mishaps are missing the add/drop correction period / missing tuition or document deadlines.
How to do it right away
- Log in to the school portal → save the academic schedule calendar (add/drop corrections/leave of absence & return/tuition/finals)
- Log in to the school email (Gmail/Office) app + turn notifications ON
- Organize orientation slides/documents (visa, insurance, dorm) into a single folder
Pro tips
- Fix your calendar time zone to “Korea Standard Time (KST)”
- Professors/TAs often reply only to your school email address
2) Student ID (Access/Library) + Set Up Must-Have Campus Services (School)
Your student ID is more than a simple ID—it’s the key to the library, classroom access, dorm access, and student discounts.
Check
- Issue your student ID / mobile student ID (register immediately if your school supports it)
- Register for library use
- Confirm how on-campus printing/copying points are topped up
(Some schools link the student ID to banking/debit card functions, which can affect your bank choice. Example: Seoul National University guidance notes that to use the S-Card as an ATM card, you need an account at a specific bank.) (OIA)
3) Confirm Your Housing: Check These “4 Items” First on a Dorm/Studio Lease (Housing)
Once your housing is confirmed, you can also prepare the Alien Registration (Residence Card) documents (proof of residence). (A lease contract, dorm move-in confirmation, etc. are commonly used as proof of residence.) (Global One-Stop Service Center)
4 must-check items on a studio/officetel lease
- Address accurately written (including building/unit number)
- Landlord information (name/contact)
- Deposit/monthly rent/maintenance fee listed separately
- Contract term clearly stated (move-in date & move-out date)
Points beginners in Korea often miss
- What’s included in maintenance fees (internet/water/gas) varies by unit
- If “appliances included,” it’s safer to specify models/quantities in a special clause
4) Protect Your Deposit: Move-in Report (Change of Residence Report) + Confirmed Date Stamp (Housing)
The core of protecting your rental/jeonse deposit in Korea is the combination of (1) taking occupancy (delivery of the residence) + (2) moving-in report (or change of residence report) + (3) a confirmed date stamp on the lease.
Legal guidance (Easy Law) also explains that if you have a confirmed date plus the requirements for opposability (delivery of residence + moving-in report/change of residence report), you obtain a preferential right to repayment. (Easy Law)
Execution order (super simple)
- Move in (even bringing in part of your belongings helps prove “occupancy”)
- Ask at the community service center (Administrative Welfare Center) about move-in/address procedures
- Get a confirmed date stamp on your lease contract
Additional option (more worth considering for jeonse/large deposits)
- If it’s jeonse, you can also look into guarantee products such as “Jeonse Deposit Return Guarantee.” A government policy Q&A notes that individuals, corporations, and foreigners can also enroll. (Korea.kr)
5) Alien Registration (Residence Card) Booking & Application: The 90-Day Rule + 35,000 KRW Fee (School/Admin)
For most international students, this step is “the switch that turns on settling in Korea.”
- Guidance to register within 90 days of entry appears repeatedly across many university pages. (Global One-Stop Service Center)
- There is immigration guidance stating that from 2025, with the introduction of an IC chip, the issuance fee increases to 35,000 KRW (from 30,000 KRW). (Immigration Office)
Commonly required documents (typical examples)
- Passport
- ID photo (3.5×4.5)
- Application form
- Proof of residence (lease contract/dorm confirmation, etc.) (Global One-Stop Service Center)
- Fee (35,000 KRW in cash) (Global One-Stop Service Center)
Booking tips
- Immigration often requires an appointment (some guidance explicitly states “online reservation”). (whic.mofa.go.kr)
- Some schools support “group registration,” so be sure to check your international office notices (group processing may involve an additional administrative service fee in some cases). (isa.ewha.ac.kr)
6) Mobile Plan: Prepaid Before RC, Then Switch to Postpaid/Identity-Verification Line After RC (Telecom)
In Korea, your phone number is essentially your “online identity verification key,” so there comes a moment when you need a number that can be used for identity verification, not just a “data-only SIM” (delivery apps/banking apps/simple verification, etc.).
Before RC (Alien Registration)
- Prepaid service may be possible with a passport in some cases. KT Global Shop guidance also states that prepaid plans can be opened with a regular passport. (KT Shop Global)
- School guidance also notes that “prepaid is suitable for those without a Residence Card or staying less than 6 months.” (OIA)
After RC (recommended)
- Switch to postpaid or a long-term plan
- Typically at this stage, identity documents such as a Residence Card are required (carriers provide separate checklists for foreigners). (KT Shop Global)
Mistake prevention
- If the name spelling (in English) registered with the bank/school/insurance differs from your mobile subscription info, identity verification may fail.
7) Open a Bank Account: “Passport + RC + Korean Phone + Address” Is the Basic Set (Banking)
For international students, a bank account isn’t just for saving money—it connects to:
- Tuition/scholarships/part-time wages
- Easy payments/certificates
- Monthly rent auto-transfer
as well.
Information commonly required based on university guidance
- Passport
- Residence Card
- Korean address
- Korean mobile number (OIA)
Also, guidance materials from an investment promotion agency provide examples such as a passport and residence card for foreigners opening an account. (InvestKorea)
5 things to ask at the bank
- Whether a debit card can be issued (immediately/later)
- How to set up international remittances (sending/receiving overseas)
- ATM withdrawal/transfer limits (initial limits may apply)
- Internet/mobile banking login method (certificate/financial authentication)
- Student ID linkage (if applicable by school)
8) Identity Verification (PASS) & Simple Verification (Naver/Kakao) “Initial Setup” (Banking/Telecom)
The biggest time sink in Korea is “Why won’t verification work?”—and in most cases it comes down to one of these two:
- Your mobile line is not eligible for identity verification (data-only SIM/short-term line, etc.)
- The English name/date of birth registered with your bank/telecom/school differs slightly
If possible, proceed like this
- RC issuance → (postpaid or identity-verifiable line) → banking app → simple certificate
This order usually causes the fewest trial-and-error issues.
Reference (Mobile Residence Card)
- Immigration has published guidance on the mobile Residence Card (mobile registration card), and explains that issuance requires an identity verification procedure (such as scanning a QR code after visiting immigration). (Immigration Office)
9) Insurance: Check NHIS Auto-Enrollment + School Group Insurance (Insurance)
9-1. National Health Insurance (NHIS) essentials
- NHIS official English guidance states that foreigners staying in Korea for 6 months or longer are subject to mandatory enrollment (including guidance on the mandatory policy after July 2019). (NHIS)
- However, many universities state that international students are automatically enrolled after alien registration (alien registration number/RC). (OIA)
9-2. Possible reductions (discounts)
Some universities 안내 international students about a 50% premium reduction (policy subject to change). For example, SUNY Korea notes a 50% discount for international students starting March 2023 (subject to change), and JBNU provides sample discounted amounts for D-2 students. (SUNY Korea)
Because premiums/reduction standards can be adjusted each year, the safest approach is to check both “your school international office notice + NHIS guidance” together. (NHIS)
9-3. Waiver exemptions
Some schools also 안내 waiver applications based on private overseas insurance, and post examples of required documents (varies by school/situation). (inu.ac.kr)
10) Address Change Reporting/Stay Management: If You Move, “Report Within the Deadline” + Use Online Services (Housing/Admin)
Even after you’ve settled in, the administrative task international students repeatedly do in Korea is reporting a change of residence (address change).
- Government24 민원 guidance states within 15 days from the move-in date. (Gov.kr)
- Local government English guidance/university guidance often states within 14 days (guidance may differ by institution). (Junggu)
Practically, this is the safest rule
- “Process it within 2 weeks of moving (ideally within 1 week).”
- If you miss the deadline, it may only be possible at your jurisdictional immigration office, or you may be informed about an administrative fine. (Junggu)
Some services can be done online
- Immigration services have separate guidance materials for online applications (change of residence, etc.). (Immigration Office)
International Student Orientation: A “Settlement Checklist (10 Lines)” You Can Copy-Paste
- Log in to the school portal/save the academic calendar
- Log in to the school email app/set notifications
- Issue student ID (including mobile)/register for the library
- Confirm your housing (check contract address/deposit/maintenance fee)
- After moving in, get a confirmed date + ask about move-in/address processing (community service center)
- Book alien registration (Residence Card)/prepare documents/apply (fee 35,000 KRW) (Immigration Office)
- Before RC: Activate a prepaid SIM (check cases where passport is accepted) (KT Shop Global)
- After RC: Open a bank account (passport + RC + address + Korean number) (OIA)
- Check NHIS enrollment/auto-enrollment (+ check school group insurance) (NHIS)
- When moving, report address change within 2 weeks (check if online is available) (Gov.kr)
Top 6 Common Mistakes (Time-Saving Points)
- Delaying your RC application, then appointments get booked and you’re rushed by the 90-day deadline (Global One-Stop Service Center)
- A unit number/address typo on the housing contract → proof of residence rejected
- Expecting a prepaid SIM to work for all app verification → blocked at the identity verification step
- Not asking the bank about limits/international remittance settings → having to visit again later
- Missing NHIS auto-enrollment/notices → worries about delinquency/disadvantages (some school notices include warning language) (NSL PNU)
- Forgetting to report an address change after moving → inconvenience/fine guidance if the deadline passes (Junggu)
FAQ International student settlement in Korea (Search Traffic + Residency/International Student Concerns)
Q1. Do I have to register (Residence Card/Alien Registration)?
For most long-term international students, it is 안내 as a required procedure (many university pages repeatedly mention registering within 90 days of entry). (Global One-Stop Service Center)
Q2. Isn’t the alien registration fee 30,000 KRW?
According to immigration guidance, there is a notice that it increases to 35,000 KRW from January 1, 2025. (Immigration Office)
Q3. How do I use a phone before my RC is issued?
According to carrier guidance, prepaid may be possible with a passport in some cases. Once your RC is issued, the general flow is to switch to a postpaid/long-term line. (KT Shop Global)
Q4. Can I open a bank account without an RC?
Based on school/institution guidance, it’s common to require a passport + Residence Card + Korean address + Korean mobile number. (OIA)
(Exceptions may exist depending on the branch/bank/individual situation, so it’s safer to confirm with the branch before visiting.)
Q5. Is National Health Insurance (NHIS) mandatory for international students too?
NHIS states that foreigners staying 6 months or longer must enroll, and universities often state that international students are automatically enrolled after alien registration. (NHIS)
Q6. If my NHIS premium is too expensive, can it be reduced?
Some universities mention details such as a 50% reduction for international students (policy subject to change). Check both your school notice and NHIS criteria. (SUNY Korea)
Q7. If I have overseas private insurance, can I get an NHIS waiver?
Some schools provide examples of documents required for a waiver application. However, eligibility conditions can vary by situation, so you need to check both your school guidance and NHIS. (inu.ac.kr)
Q8. If I move, where do I report my address change?
Based on Government24/local government/university guidance, processing routes are 안내 at a community service center (Administrative Welfare Center), your jurisdictional immigration office, or online. Since there is guidance on deadlines (14–15 days), handling it quickly is safest. (Gov.kr)
Q9. Do foreigners also need a move-in report/confirmed date stamp?
From the perspective of protecting your deposit, there is legal guidance stating that having a confirmed date stamp plus move-in/address-related requirements helps with obtaining preferential repayment rights. (Easy Law)
Q10. Can foreigners also enroll in a jeonse deposit return guarantee?
A government policy Q&A states that individuals, corporations, and foreigners can also enroll (details should be confirmed by product/institution). (Korea.kr)
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