Foreign nationals engaged in for-profit activities (earning money) in Korea are required to report their employment information — including occupation, industry, and annual income bracket — as part of their alien registration details. From January 2, 2026, the Ministry of Justice moved this reporting process online, making it possible to submit reports easily through HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) without visiting a Korea Immigration Service office in person.
Process Overview
- 1. Complete Alien Registration (or Residence Report)
The obligation to report employment information arises immediately after completing alien registration.
- 2. Log in to HiKorea
Visit hikorea.go.kr and log in. If you do not have an account, sign up using your alien registration number and passport information before proceeding.
- 3. Choose How to Submit Your Report
If you are reporting at the same time as making a visit appointment, the reporting screen will appear automatically during the appointment step. If you only need to submit a report, use the Electronic Civil Services menu.
- 4. Enter and Submit Your Employment Information
Search for your occupation and industry using the national standard classification keywords, then enter your annual income bracket to complete the report.
- 5. Report Any Changes Within 15 Days
If your occupation, industry, or annual income bracket changes, you must submit a change report using the same method within 15 days of the date the change occurs.
Who Must Report
The reporting obligation applies to people holding the following visa statuses who are engaged in for-profit activities (including self-employment): E-series visas (E-1 through E-10), Long-term Resident (F-2), Overseas Korean (F-4), Marriage Migrant (F-6), Working Visit (H-2), Intra-company Transferee (D-7), Corporate Investment (D-8), and Trade and Business Management (D-9). Holders of Permanent Resident status (F-5) are exempt from this requirement.
When Do You Need to Report?
The reporting obligation arises in three situations:
- Immediately after completing alien registration (or residence report), when submitting your employment information for the first time.
- When you start a new for-profit activity — if you were not working at the time of your alien registration but begin working later, you must report within 15 days of the date you start work.
- When your reported employment information changes — if any of the following change, you must submit a change report within 15 days of the date the change occurs:
- Your occupation or industry changes
- Your annual income bracket changes
How to Submit a Report
All submissions are made through HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) after logging in.
Option 1: Report at the Same Time as Making a Visit Appointment
If you are applying for a visit appointment at a Korea Immigration Service office through HiKorea — for example, to extend your period of stay or change your visa status — the employment information reporting screen will appear automatically during the appointment process. Simply follow the on-screen instructions to enter your occupation, industry, and income, and you can complete both the appointment and the report in one step.
Option 2: Report Employment Information Only (Using the Electronic Civil Services Menu)
If you only need to submit a report without making a visit appointment, use the [Electronic Civil Services] menu on the HiKorea website. The online report involves searching for your occupation and industry using the standard classification system maintained by the Korea Data Agency, then entering your annual income bracket.
Implementation Schedule and Paper Reporting
| Period | Reporting Method |
|---|---|
| January 2 — June 2026 (pilot phase) | Both online and paper reporting are available |
| July 2026 onwards | Online reporting only |
During the pilot phase (January to June 2026), both online reporting and the existing paper forms (the Foreign National Occupation Report form and the Combined Report form) remain available. After the pilot phase ends, only online reporting will be accepted.
In addition, from the second half of 2026, people who use immigration service agencies (administrative agents, lawyers, etc.) will be required to log in to HiKorea personally and submit the employment report themselves before visiting an office. Detailed guidance on this will be announced separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I need to report if I am not currently working? If you are not engaged in any for-profit activity, you have no reporting obligation. However, as soon as you start working, the obligation arises and you must report within 15 days.
Q. What if I do not have a HiKorea account? You can register on the HiKorea website (hikorea.go.kr). Sign up by verifying your identity using your alien registration number and passport information.
Q. I am not sure how to choose my occupation or industry category. You can search by keyword on the HiKorea reporting screen to find the appropriate category under the national standard classification. If you are still unsure, please contact the offices listed below.
Contact
- Immigration Contact Center 1345 (available 24 hours, multilingual support including Korean, English, and Chinese)
- Your local Korea Immigration Service office (branch or sub-office)
Figures and deadlines are subject to change. Please always confirm the latest information with 1345 or your local Korea Immigration Service office before submitting your report.