Alien registration, extending your stay, changing your residence status, domestic residence report. For almost every immigration office (Immigration & Foreign Residents Office), these services can only be processed if you've made a visit reservation in advance. Show up without one and you may be turned away, or wait a long time only to leave empty-handed.
The tricky part is the very first screen. When you land on Hi Korea (www.hikorea.go.kr), there are a lot of menus, and unfamiliar terms like "non-member reservation," "competent authority," and "appointment receipt" trip a lot of people up right at the start.
Visas and residence status are a sensitive area where the procedures and required documents vary a great deal depending on your residence status, length of stay, and the type of service. What follows is general guidance, so before you actually apply, be sure to check your own case with the official Hi Korea website and the Immigration Contact Center (☎1345). (As of 2026-06 / official confirmation required)
What is Hi Korea?
Hi Korea (www.hikorea.go.kr) is the comprehensive administrative portal for foreigners operated by Korea's Ministry of Justice. You use it to handle immigration services such as alien registration, extension of stay, change of residence status, re-entry permits, and domestic residence reports online, or to schedule an in-person office visit in advance. It supports Korean, English, and Chinese.
Note: A Hi Korea account is separate from a general Ministry of Justice (moj.go.kr) account. To book as a member, you have to sign up for Hi Korea separately.
3 Things to Sort Out Before Booking
If you have these three things in hand before you enter the reservation screen, the process goes smoothly.
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Type of service | Alien registration / extension of stay / change of residence status / domestic residence report, etc. — getting the service type right ensures the slots and documents match |
| Competent authority | Choose the immigration office based on your current residential address. Applications outside your jurisdiction may be refused |
| Personal identification info | Alien registration number (if you have one) or passport number + nationality + date of birth (YYYYMMDD) |
If you're a new arrival who doesn't have an ARC yet, you can make a non-member reservation with your passport number.
Step-by-Step Booking Guide
Step 1 — Access Hi Korea & enter Reserve Visit
Go to www.hikorea.go.kr and click the Reserve Visit menu at the top or on the main page.
Step 2 — Choose member / non-member
On the next screen, choose either member reservation (left) or non-member reservation (right). If it's your first visit or you don't have an account, go with non-member. Read the notice, check the consent box, then click the Non-member Visit Reservation Application button.
Step 3 — Verify your identity
- Alien registration number verification, or
- Select the passport number verification tab, enter your passport number, nationality, and date of birth (YYYYMMDD), and confirm
Step 4 — Designate the Competent Authority
Be sure to confirm that the immigration office matching your residential address is correct. Get this wrong and your application may be refused on the day of your visit.
Step 5 — Select service type & date/time
Choose the service you need (alien registration, extension, etc.) and pick an available date and time slot. Non-members are sometimes asked to set a password used for canceling or changing the reservation, so be sure to make a note of it.
Step 6 — Complete the booking & print the receipt
Once you're done, print the Appointment Receipt or save it as a PDF. On the day of your visit, bring it as a printout or on your mobile screen.
When You Can't Get a Slot or Get Stuck
- Slots have been full for weeks: Popular offices fill up fast. Book well ahead of your expiration or registration deadline (many guidelines recommend starting 2 weeks to 45 days in advance), and since cancellations do come up, refresh the calendar often.
- Same-day appointments aren't possible: You can't get processed on the same day you book. You have to reserve in advance.
- Cancel/change: You can usually do this up to 1 day (24 hours) before your visit. If you can't make it, cancel early so someone else can use the slot.
- Operating days: Immigration offices operate on weekdays (Mon–Fri) only and are closed on weekends and public holidays.
- If you get stuck, contact the Immigration Contact Center ☎1345 (weekdays 09:00–22:00, though after 18:00 only Korean, English, and Chinese are available — 20 languages in total). (Operating hours and days require official confirmation)
The Alien Registration Card (ARC) and the domestic residence report (for overseas Koreans on F-4, etc.) are separate systems. You need to choose the service type that matches your residence status. Card issuance can typically take more than a month from application to pickup, so it helps to prepare your daily life, transport, and payment routes for the meantime.
Transport & Route Tips — Getting to the Office, and Life in the Meantime
Immigration offices are often located on the outskirts of the city or in places where public transport access is awkward. Plan your route ahead of time so you're not late for your appointment.
One more thing. Until you receive your ARC, opening a Korean bank account or mobile line can be delayed, so it's common to get stuck on payments for taxi or train bookings. In that situation, having a transport and payment app designed so that no separate identity verification is required to start using it right away takes a lot of the stress out of getting around.
Need transit and payments while you wait for your residence card? Check out LACHA.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. I don't have an ARC yet — can I still book? A. Yes. You can make a non-member reservation with your passport number. Just enter your passport number, nationality, and date of birth (YYYYMMDD) to verify your identity. (Official confirmation required)
Q2. Can't I just visit without a reservation? A. Most offices and services require a reservation in advance, and if you go without one you may be refused or have to leave after a long wait. There may be some exceptions, so check with ☎1345.
Q3. Can I get it processed at an office in a different region? A. As a rule, residence-related services are handled at the office with jurisdiction over your place of residence. Visiting outside your jurisdiction may be refused, so it's best to check in advance with the relevant office or ☎1345 whether an exception applies.
Q4. Do I have to print the appointment receipt? A. In many cases you can show it on your mobile screen instead of a printout. Saving it as a PDF is convenient. Practices can vary by office and service, so it's safest to check in advance.
Q5. By when should I book? A. Popular offices fill up fast. Book as early as possible, based on your period-of-stay expiration date and registration deadline (several guidelines recommend starting 2 weeks to 45 days in advance). Leave it too late and you may not be able to get processed in time.
Note: This article is for general information purposes and is not legal, visa, or residence advice. Immigration systems, reservation procedures, required documents, and operating hours change frequently and vary depending on your individual residence status. The procedures, fees, and times in this article are as of 2026-06 and are subject to change, so before you actually apply, be sure to confirm your own case through official government channels such as the official Hi Korea website (www.hikorea.go.kr), the Immigration Contact Center (☎1345), and the Korea Immigration Service of the Ministry of Justice. LACHA does not process immigration services on your behalf or guarantee reservations, and is not responsible for any outcomes arising from this guidance.
