If you are a foreigner staying in Korea (including refugees), you must notify the Korean government whenever your personal information changes — for example, your name, passport number, or home address. If you do not report the change within 15 days of when it occurred, you may face a fine of up to 1,000,000 won (or, for address changes, a criminal fine), so please check and report any changes right away.
When You Need to Report
Changes to Alien Registration Details
You must report if any of the following change:
- Your name, sex, date of birth, or nationality
- Your passport number, issue date, or expiry date (for example, if you have been issued a new passport)
Change of Address of Stay
You must report if your actual residential address changes, for example because you have moved.
How to Report a Change to Alien Registration Details
Method 1. Online via HiKorea (passport information changes only)
Changes to your passport number, issue date, or expiry date can be reported online. Changes to your name, sex, date of birth, or nationality cannot be reported online — you must use the in-person method described below.
- Available hours: Weekdays 07:00 to 22:00 (not available on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays)
How to file the report:
- Log in to the HiKorea website with your personal account.
- In the top menu, click [Civil Petition Application] then [Electronic Civil Petition].
- Select [Report Change of Registration Details] or [Report Passport Change].
- Fill in the application form, attach the required documents (scanned copies or photos), and submit.
- Applications are processed within 3 days of submission. You can check the result under [Civil Petition Application Status].
Method 2. In-person visit to your local Korea Immigration Service (KIS) office or branch
All types of changes, including name, sex, date of birth, and nationality, can be reported this way.
- Please make an appointment on the HiKorea website at least one day before your visit. Walk-in visits without an appointment may not be accepted.
Method 3. Fax (passport information changes only)
Changes to your passport number, issue date, or expiry date can also be reported by fax.
- Fax number: 1577-1346 (KIS central office)
- Available hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 to 18:00 (not available on public holidays)
- If your documents are received successfully, the relevant local office will automatically send you a receipt confirmation. Please note that this confirmation only means your documents arrived; it does not guarantee that the report has been fully processed. If there is a problem with the fax transmission, contact 1345 to ask for an alternative number.
- After sending, you can call 1345 to confirm the result.
Documents Required for Reporting Changes to Alien Registration Details
| Type of change | Required documents |
|---|---|
| All changes (common requirement) | Integrated application form (Form No. 34), passport or Foreigner Entry Permit, Alien Registration Card (ARC) |
| Passport number, issue date, or expiry date | New passport |
| Name, sex, date of birth, or nationality | New passport + document proving the reason for the change |
The Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34) can be downloaded from the HiKorea document library.
Deadline when you have received a new passport: In principle, you must report within 15 days of the passport issue date. However, if you received the passport late and could not report within that time, you may report within a maximum of 45 days from the issue date, provided you also submit a document showing that you received the passport late (for example, a registered mail receipt).
Administrative Fine: What happens if you miss the 15-day deadline?
If you do not report a change to your alien registration details within 15 days, an administrative fine (과태료) of up to 1,000,000 won may be imposed under Article 100 of the Immigration Act. The actual amount depends on how long you were overdue, roughly as follows:
| Period of non-reporting | Fine |
|---|---|
| Less than 3 months | 100,000 won |
| 3 months or more, less than 6 months | 300,000 won |
| 6 months or more, less than 1 year | 500,000 won |
| 1 year or more | 1,000,000 won |
These figures and deadlines are subject to change. Please verify the latest information with 1345 or your local Korea Immigration Service (KIS) office before filing.
How to Report a Change of Address of Stay
Method 1. Online via HiKorea
- Available hours: Weekdays 07:00 to 22:00 (not available on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays)
- If the 15-day reporting period has already passed, you cannot file online. In that case, you must visit your local KIS office or branch in person.
How to file the report:
- Log in to the HiKorea website with your personal account.
- In the top menu, click [Civil Petition Application] then [Electronic Civil Petition].
- Select [Report Change of Registration Details].
- Fill in the application form, attach the required documents (scanned copies or photos), and submit.
- Applications are processed within 3 days of submission. You can check the result under [Civil Petition Application Status].
Method 2. In-person visit
You can visit any one of the following offices responsible for your new address:
- Your local KIS office or branch
- A city (si), county (gun), or district (gu) office
- A town (eup), township (myeon) office, or neighborhood community service center (dong community center)
Documents Required for Reporting a Change of Address
- Integrated application form (Form No. 34)
- Passport or Foreigner Entry Permit
- Alien Registration Card (ARC)
- Proof of address (one of the following):
- Lease agreement: A rental contract signed in your own name
- Confirmation of residence/accommodation provided: Used when the lease agreement is not in your name (required additional documents are listed on the form itself)
- Other: A receipt for a goshiwon (small single-room rental) or dormitory, a utility bill payment receipt, or any other document that confirms you actually live there
The Integrated Application Form and the Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation Provided form can both be downloaded from the HiKorea document library.
Criminal Fine: What happens if you miss the 15-day deadline?
If you do not report a change of address within 15 days, a criminal fine (벌금) of up to 1,000,000 won may be imposed under Article 98 of the Immigration Act. This is different from the administrative fine that applies to changes in alien registration details — a missed address-change report is treated as a criminal matter. The actual amount depends on how long you were overdue, roughly as follows:
| Period of non-reporting | Fine (example) |
|---|---|
| Less than 3 months | 100,000 won |
| 3 months or more, less than 6 months | 300,000 won |
| 6 months or more, less than 1 year | 500,000 won |
| 1 year or more, up to 2 years | 700,000 won |
| 2 years or more | 1,000,000 won |
These figures and deadlines are subject to change. Please verify the latest information with 1345 or your local Korea Immigration Service (KIS) office before filing.
Useful Links
- HiKorea official website — online applications and appointment booking
- Download Integrated Application Form and Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation Provided — HiKorea document library
- Government24 — Guide to Reporting Change of Address for Foreigners
- Immigration Contact Center (1345): call 1345 (multilingual support available including Korean, English, and Chinese)
- KIS central fax: 1577-1346