Before you start

A valid passport with at least 6 months validity and blank pages
A confirmed visa category that matches your purpose — work (E-7/E-2), study (D-2/D-4), startup/investment (D-8/D-10), family (F-6), or remote work (F-1-D); visa-free entry alone does not qualify
A Korean residential address you can document (lease, dormitory contract, goshiwon receipt, or an employer/landlord confirmation letter)
Supporting documents for your category — for work, an employer sponsorship and contract; for F-1-D, proof of foreign employment, income, and private health insurance

Step-by-step

1
Secure the right visa for your purpose
Decide your category before you travel, because most long-stay visas must be issued by a Korean consulate abroad, not changed in-country. Employer-sponsored work visas (E-7 skilled professional, E-2 language teaching) require a job offer and the employer filing for confirmation; the E-7 has occupation-code and salary thresholds. Remote workers apply for the F-1-D Workation visa at a consulate with proof of foreign employment and income. Students use D-2/D-4 via their school.
Via employerWho: You plus your sponsor — employer, university, or a Korean consulate abroad2 to 8 weeks depending on categoryVisa issuance fee approx. KRW 60,000 to 130,000 (US$45 to 100), varies by consulate and visa type
2
Enter Korea (visa-free short stay or on your visa)
Nationals of many countries (US, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia and others) can enter visa-free for up to 90 days, but this is for tourism or business only — you cannot work or stay past 90 days on it. A K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) applies to some nationalities/periods, so check k-eta.go.kr before flying. If you hold a long-stay visa you enter on that visa instead, and your registration clock starts on arrival.
In personWho: You, at the port of entry (Incheon)Same day on arrivalFree (visa-free); K-ETA KRW 10,000 (~US$8) where required
3
Book your immigration appointment on HiKorea
Reserve a visit slot at the immigration office (출입국·외국인청) covering your district through the official HiKorea portal at hikorea.go.kr — walk-ins are generally not accepted. Slots in Seoul fill extremely fast and can be booked out for weeks, so reserve in your first days and refresh often; trying a different booth or floor sometimes reveals openings. For help in English and other languages, call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.
OnlineWho: You, via HiKorea online reservationBook immediately on arrival; appointments often 2 to 6 weeks outFree to book
4
Register at the immigration office and apply for the ARC
Attend your appointment in person within 90 days of arrival with your passport, application form, a passport photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm), proof of address, and your visa-specific documents (e.g. employment contract, or a TB-screening result for some categories). Staff take your fingerprints/biometrics and process the application. Pay the registration fee (KRW 30,000; an extra KRW 3,000 to 4,000 if you want the card mailed). Missing the 90-day deadline risks fines and future visa problems.
In personWho: You, at your district immigration officeOne appointment, roughly 30 to 60 minutesKRW 30,000 (approx. US$22); add approx. KRW 3,000 to 4,000 for mailing
5
Receive your ARC and unlock everything else
The physical card is mailed or ready for pickup in about 3 to 6 weeks (longer, up to 8 to 10 weeks, in peak February/August seasons). Your registration number works immediately for many services. With the ARC you can open a Korean bank account, get a post-paid phone plan, enrol in National Health Insurance (NHIS), and pass real-name verification (본인인증) needed for KakaoTalk, banking, delivery, and government apps. You can also add a free Mobile Residence Card in the official Mobile ID app, which carries the same legal weight as the plastic card.
Mobile appWho: You, plus banks, telecoms, and NHIS3 to 6 weeks for the card; services usable once issuedNo additional government fee

Documents you’ll need

Valid passport (original plus a photocopy of the photo page)
Completed integrated/Residence Card application form (available at the office or on HiKorea)
One colour passport photo, 3.5 x 4.5 cm, taken within the last 6 months
Proof of Korean address — lease, dormitory or goshiwon contract, or a signed landlord/employer confirmation letter
Visa-category evidence — employment contract and sponsor documents (work), enrolment certificate (student), or foreign-employment + income + health-insurance proof (F-1-D); plus a TB screening result where required

Things most newcomers don’t know

The ARC, not your visa or passport, is the document that actually runs your daily life in Korea — its 13-digit registration number is required for real-name verification (본인인증) that gates banking apps, KakaoTalk, phone contracts, NHIS, and most government and delivery services.

Without the ARC you are effectively locked out of the digital economy: you cannot get a regular bank account or post-paid SIM, and many apps simply will not let a foreigner without a registration number complete sign-up. Getting the ARC fast should be your first-week priority.

Source: HiKorea / Korea Immigration Service; corroborated by 2026 expat ARC guides

HiKorea appointment slots in Seoul are notoriously scarce and routinely booked out for weeks, especially in the February and August student/teacher influx seasons.

Because walk-ins are not accepted and you must register within 90 days of arrival, a late or impossible booking can push you against the legal deadline. Book the moment you land, refresh the portal often, and try alternate booths/floors or other district offices; call 1345 if you are stuck.

Source: HiKorea reservation portal; 2026 booking guides

The F-1-D Workation (digital-nomad) visa has a high income bar: you must earn roughly twice Korea's GNI per capita (about US$66,000 a year), be employed by (or own) a foreign company for at least a year, and hold private medical insurance covering over KRW 100 million (approx. US$76,000).

This prices out many freelancers and early-career remote workers, and you may not earn any income from a Korean company while on it. Applicants meeting the bar can bring a spouse and unmarried children under 18, stay 1 year, and extend for a second.

Source: Consulate General of the Republic of Korea — F-1-D official requirements

Visa-free entry is strictly for short tourism or business stays and does NOT permit working, freelancing, or staying beyond 90 days.

People assume the easy 90-day entry lets them 'try out' working remotely or take a job — it does not, and overstaying or working on it can trigger fines, deportation, and re-entry bans. Sort out the correct visa category before you plan to live or work here.

Source: K-ETA official site (k-eta.go.kr) and Korea Immigration Service

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming the 90-day visa-free entry lets you work or stay long-term — it is tourism/business only; working on it or overstaying risks fines and re-entry bans.
Waiting too long to book the HiKorea appointment, then finding the nearest slots are weeks out and you are about to breach the 90-day registration deadline.
Trying to switch into a work or long-stay visa from inside Korea when your category actually requires applying at a consulate abroad — many changes cannot be done in-country.
Leaving Korea while your ARC is still being processed — your immigration case can be tied up and re-entry without the issued card or a re-entry permit can cause problems.