Any foreign national staying in Korea for 91 days or more must register as a resident alien. This includes periods of more than 90 days after losing Republic of Korea citizenship, acquiring foreign citizenship, or the birth of a foreign citizen. When you register as an alien, you are issued an Alien Registration Card. Your Alien Registration Card is needed in a variety of circumstances, and you are legally obliged to have it on your person. Alien registration should be done at the Immigration Office with jurisdiction for the area in which the applicant lives. The purpose of registering foreign nationals is for the fair supervision of resident foreigners, by clearly defining their residence and status. Citizens of the Republic of Korea are subject to the Resident Registration System.

1) Alien Registration
(1) New Registrations

When to Apply
Apply for registration within the first 90 days in Korea, if you intend to stay for more than 91 days.
Documentation to Prepare
Your passport, three identical portrait pictures of yourself (3m x4cm, "the size of half a name card "), and \110,000 for government revenue stamp.
Issuing Process
When you apply, the immigration official at the registration window will make sure there are no problems with your application, and if there are none, issue you a receipt for your passport. You will likely be issued an Alien Registration Card within roughly a week. Your passport will be stamped with a stamp saying "Registered Alien.”
Fingerprints
Foreigners in Korea must be fingerprinted at Immigration Offices in the following circumstances.

Foreign Nationa	Time of Fingerprinting
Foreigner age 20 or more to reside in Korea more than one year	*When granted sojourn period over one year, at the time -of alien registration. *Within 60 days of becoming 2O years of age
Foreigner In detention	When ordered detained
Foreigner ordered deported	When ordered detained
Foreigner of unclear Identity being Investigated for violation of the Immigration law.	When ordered detained

Things to Remember
Foreign nationals over the age of 17 residing in Korea are required to be in possession of either their passport, an entrance permit for alien or an Alien Registration Card. They must also produce one of these when asked by an Immigration official or other civil servant in the course of pursuing government business.

(2) Re-Issuing of Alien Registration Card
Reasons for Re-Issuance
You can be issued another Alien Registration Card if you lose your current one, if it becomes damaged, or there is no room left to make needed amendments.
Period Within Which to Apply
You must apply within 14 days of having reason to apply.
Documentation to Prepare
Written explanation of reasons for application and one portrait picture

(3) Changing Status of Sojourn
Permittable Cases
This may happen when a foreign national ceases to engage in the activities permitted in his status of sojourn and then commence on activities requiring a different status of sojourn. If for example a foreigner has come to Korea on a short-term commercial visa but now wants to engage in investment activity or marry and live with a Korean national, he must receive permission for a change in status of sojourn. Unless there were unavoidable circumstances from the start, this is not permitted for persons initially having status under 90 days or who have entered the country with no visa.
Documentation to Prepare
Passport and Alien Registration Card, \50,000 for government revenue stamp, and documentation proving the new status of sojourn
Things to Remember
The process usually takes around one week. As each status of sojourn classification requires different documentation, call Immigration before going to apply.

(4) Extension on Period of Sojourn
Permitable Cases
Foreign nationals who seek to continue to stay in Korea beyond the period of sojourn of their current status of sojourn. You may apply for an extension starting from 30 days before the period of sojourn up until the date the period expires.
Documentation to Prepare
Passport, Alien Registration Card, \30,000 for government revenue stamp.
Things to Remember
The process takes about a week from the date you apply. The required documentation varies with status of sojourn, so call before going to the Immigration Office to apply.

(5) Period Extension for Purpose of Departure
When, for example, someone's flight depart after the date by which his period of sojourn expires, or if there are extenuating circumstances making him unable to leave within his period of sojourn, the person may be granted an extension lasting no more than 10 days. Documentation required will include items such as application form, air ticket, written description of the circumstances, etc.

(6) Permit to Engage in Activity not Outlined in Status of Sojourn
Permitable Cases
You will need "permission to engage in activity outside of status of sojourn before doing anything not permitted by your current status of sojourn. If, for example, your visa permits you to engage in religious activity as a missionary with a Christian organization but you also desire to teach foreign language conversation at a foreign language institute, you will need to apply. You will be given permission to engage in other activities provided that the other activity does not hinder the activity outlined in your current status of sojourn. If you wish to change your primary activity, you must receive a "permit to change status of sojourn."
Documentation to Prepare
Passport, Alien Registration Card, written approval from the head of your current place of work, the documents required for the additional sojourn activity, and \60,000 for government revenue stamps.
Things to Remember
The process usually takes around one week. As each status of sojourn classification requires different documentation, call Immigration before going to apply.

2) Change of Registration

(1) Change of Substance of Registration
Needed when a registered alien has a change of name, sex, date of birth, citizenship, passport number, passport date of issue, passport date of expiration, name of workplace, position within workplace.
Any such changes must be made within 14 days of the change. Bring your passport, Alien Registration Card, and written documentation about the change(5) in question to your Immigration Office.

(2) Change of Address
Needed when you move to a new address.
You must file a "change of place of sojourn report" 4kferfefr:frf) within 14 days of moving, by showing your
- passport and Alien Registration Card at your city, county, or other local government offices. You must report a
- change of address even if the address is located within the same area.

(3) Change or Adding Workplace
Permitable Cases
These are cases when you seek to change your place of employment or add an additional place of employment to your current one, this within the limits of your currently held status of sojourn. A foreign national is issued a status of sojourn permitting him to be employed at a specific place of work. When this foreign national seeks to sign a contract with a new or additional place of employment, he is required to obtain a permit to change or add a workplace. The granting of permission to do so has restrictions, so it would be a good idea to consult an official with your local Immigration Office before making any changes in your employment.
Documents to Prepare
Passport and Alien Registration Card, approval from current place of employment, a new sponsorship letter from your new employer should your current sponsorship letter be based on the contract with your former place of employment, fee of \60,000 for government revenue stamp.

(4) Change of workplace by Industrial Trainee
This applies to Industrial Trainees working at companies approved by the Medium and Small Business
- Association and other organizations designated by the national government. Industrial Trainees may apply for a
- change of workplace in case of bankruptcy, closure, poor business conditions, transfer of ownership, or
- because of violation of contract by company making acquisition.
Passport and Alien Registration Card, official confirmation of the total income tax being paid by the new
- company, a copy of the company's business license, certified copy of company's listing in company registration
- book, proof of basis for changing company of employment, fee of \60,000 for government revenue stamp.

3)Re-Entry Permit
(1) Qualified persons and Types
A foreign national who, during his period of sojourn leaves Korea to return before the period of sojourn has expired, that foreign national must have a Re-Entry Permit. A foreigner who leaves Korea without having obtained a Re-Entry Permit will, while overseas, have to get a new entry visa and, after returning, go through the process of alien registration all over again if he intends to stay for 91 days or more. A foreigner who enters Korea with a multiple visa may leave Korea and return a limitless number of times during his period of sojourn without needing an additional Re-Entry Permit.
There are two types of Re-Entry Permit; Multiple Re-Entry Permits, which allows one to leave and return numerous times, and Single Re-Entry Permits, which may only be used once. Apply for Re-Entry Permit at the Immigration Office in your area. One may apply for a Re-Entry Permit at the airport Immigration Offices at Incheon and Gimhae, but you can only receive a Re-Entry Permit this way once.

(2) Documentation to Prepare
Passport and Alien Registration Card, approval or recommendation from head of training company in the case of Industrial Trainees, and fee of \3O, 0000 for Single Re-Entry, \5O,OO0 for Multiple Re-Entry.