The Ministry of Justice’s living allowance for refugee applicants used to be paid entirely in cash. For applications made on or after 1 September 2026, it is paid as 50% cash and 50% card points.

What is the living allowance for refugee applicants?

It is support that helps refugee applicants cover basic living costs during the period when they cannot work after applying for refugee status. You must apply for it separately from your refugee status application. If you are selected after a review, you receive a set amount for up to 6 months. Whether you are selected depends on the review.

At a glance

  • Who can apply: refugee status applicants whose application date was less than 6 months ago
    • Apply for the living allowance at the same time as your refugee status application, so that your support period is not shortened.
  • Support period: from the month you apply for the allowance until 6 months after your refugee status application date, for up to 6 months
    • In special circumstances, such as a serious illness or pregnancy, you can apply to extend the period. You can apply for up to 3 months at a time, twice in total; extensions are decided by review within the budget.
  • Monthly amount: 1-person household KRW 583,400; 2 persons KRW 978,000; 3 persons KRW 1,258,400; 4 persons KRW 1,536,300; 5 persons KRW 1,807,300
  • How it is paid: 50% cash + 50% card points
  • Payment date: on the 20th of the month after the month you applied, including the amount for the month you applied; after that, on the 20th of each month

From application to payment

  1. Apply for the allowance: visit the Korea Immigration Service (KIS) office, branch office or local office with jurisdiction.
  2. Check the review result: you are notified by text message, email or in writing around the 5th of the month after you applied.
  3. Open an account and get a debit card (if selected): apply at a designated Woori Bank branch.
  4. Submit supplementary documents: send copies of the bankbook and card to the immigration office with jurisdiction.
  5. Payment of the allowance

How to apply and what to bring

Visit the immigration office, branch office or local office with jurisdiction and fill in the living allowance application form. You can download “Refugee Act Enforcement Rules, Form No. 22” and fill it in beforehand, or fill it in at the office. If you live at the Immigration and Foreigner Support Center, you can apply there.

Documents

  • Living allowance application form
  • 1 identity document: passport, Alien Registration Card, or refugee status application receipt
  • If you already have them: a copy of your Woori Bank bankbook and Woori debit card (you can also submit these later)
  • If needed, supporting documents: medical certificate, family relationship documents, etc.

Opening a Woori Bank account and debit card

Once the immigration office tells you that you have been selected, you can open an account for the allowance and apply for a debit card at one of 14 designated Woori Bank branches in Korea.

  • Bring: passport, Alien Registration Card (or Certificate of Alien Registration), and the living allowance decision notice (or the text message saying you were selected)
  • List of designated branches: map of designated Woori Bank branches
    • Branches inside immigration offices: Seoul, Busan, Incheon and Suwon Immigration Offices; Seoul Southern, Ansan and Cheongju offices; Cheonan branch office
    • Other main branches: Daegu Innovation City Financial Center, Sangmu Financial Center (Gwangju), Ulsan Financial Center, Jeju Financial Center, Jeonju Financial Center, Chuncheon Branch

Submitting supplementary documents

If you did not submit copies of your bankbook and card when you applied, you must submit “copies of the bankbook and Woori debit card” by the last day of the month after the month you applied, either in person at the immigration office with jurisdiction or by email.

Frequently asked questions

If I am selected, can I open a Woori Bank account and get a debit card?

Yes. A selected applicant who visits Woori Bank with all of the following can open an account and get a debit card: passport, Alien Registration Card (or Certificate of Alien Registration), and the living allowance application receipt or decision notice.

Can I keep using the account and debit card after the support period ends?

You can keep using the account, and the debit card until it expires (usually 5 years). However, for banking services such as a balance certificate or a password change, you must visit Woori Bank with a valid Alien Registration Card after 6 months have passed since the card was issued and complete the customer identification process.

Where can I use the card points?

At places you need for daily life, such as grocery stores, hospitals, pharmacies, restaurants and clothing stores. They cannot be used for entertainment or gambling businesses, online payments and other excluded categories.

Contact

For details about the living allowance, contact the Immigration Contact Center (1345, no area code). Before applying, please check the latest information with 1345 or the immigration office with jurisdiction.