This page puts the paperwork, money and phone tasks of settling in Korea in the order most newcomers go through them, from registering as a foreign resident to opening a bank account, getting a phone number, sending money home, setting up utilities and sorting out tax and pension.
The order matters because each step unlocks the next. A residence card makes it easier to get a phone line in your own name, a phone in your own name unlocks bank apps and identity verification, and a bank account is what cards, transfers and auto-pay hang on.
Step 1. Register as a foreign resident
If you entered on a long-term visa, your first task is to apply for alien registration at the immigration office that covers your address. Book the visit on HiKorea; the deadline and the documents to bring are in the guide below.
The mobile residence card works only with the newer card that has an electronic chip; with an older chipless card you need to visit an immigration office once, and after that the card lives on your phone. Reissuing a lost residence card costs 35,000 won since 1 January 2025. If your registered details such as name, nationality or passport change, report it in time: missing that report carries an administrative fine of up to 1,000,000 won. For questions, the Immigration Contact Center 1345 answers on weekdays 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. in 20 languages, with only Korean, English and Chinese after 6 p.m.
- Applying for your first Korean residence card — the 90-day deadline and what to bring
- What do I need to do to register as a foreigner and get an ARC after arriving on a long-term visa?
- Mobile residence card in Korea: can I get one without visiting immigration?
- I lost my ARC — what is the re-issuance process, fee, and how do I handle daily life while waiting?
- Is it legal for shops and apps to ask for my alien registration number, and what are my privacy rights?
- Foreigner Privacy Protection Korea: Auth & Documents Checklist (2026)
Step 2. Get a phone number and pass identity verification
Korean apps verify you through a phone number in your name, so your number shapes banking, payments and government sites. Many people start on a prepaid SIM or eSIM and later move to a line under their residence card. Whether you can keep the number when you switch depends on whether the old line is registered under exactly the same legal identity, so ask the receiving carrier before you apply.
- How do foreigners usually get a Korean phone number when they first arrive?
- What is the best mobile phone plan for foreigners in Korea?
- I want a budget MVNO plan to cut my phone bill — can foreigners sign up?
- Can I keep my Korean phone number when moving from a prepaid SIM to a postpaid plan?
- Can foreigners switch carriers in Korea (MNP)? What is the process and what about contract penalties?
- How do I set up a Korean account to download apps only on the Korean App Store or Google Play?
- Mobile Identity Verification for Foreigners in Korea: Apps That Get Blocked and a Fix Checklist
Step 3. Open a bank account
Most people go to a branch with their residence card, passport, Korean phone number and proof of work or study; exact requirements differ by bank and branch, so check the questions below first.
- How do I open a bank account in Korea as a foreigner?
- What do I need to open a bank account in Korea as a foreigner, and which bank is easiest?
- Can I book a bank appointment with English support instead of just walking in?
- How do I pay a housing deposit soon, but my ARC is with immigration for extension?
- How to Open a Bank Account in Korea as a Foreigner
Step 4. Debit cards, credit cards and mobile payments
A new account usually comes with a debit (check) card; a credit card is a separate decision by the card company based on your stay, income and history with the bank. Overseas use on student cards is often switched off or capped, and when a foreign card does not appear at checkout on a Korean site, the cause is usually the merchant's settings rather than your card.
- Can I get a Korean credit card as a foreigner?
- Which Korean banks let D-2 students enable overseas online payments on their cards?
- What digital payment options are available in Korea and how do I set them up as a foreigner?
- How do I set up Kakao Pay and Naver Pay?
- Credit Cards for Foreigners in Korea: Eligibility, Verification, and Practical Tips
- Paying with Foreign Cards in Korea: Why Online Payments Fail and How to Fix Them
Step 5. Send money home
Sending money home is cheapest through an online remittance service and most expensive through a counter wire at a bank; which works best depends on your corridor and how often you send. Compare by the amount that arrives, not by the headline rate. As a foreign resident, small-amount remittance firms such as Wise can send up to USD 5,000 per transfer and USD 50,000 per person per year (Foreign Exchange Transaction Regulation Art. 2-31, as of 21 October 2026; a pending law change may alter these limits).
- How to send money home from Korea cheaply?
- How do I set up and use Wise (formerly TransferWise) in Korea to send money abroad?
- What are the best ways to send money from Korea to my home country?
- What are the rules, limits and best methods for sending my savings out of Korea?
- Compare Remittances by What Arrives, Not by the Rate — Four Fees to Check
Step 6. Utilities, auto-pay and home internet
Once you have a place, put electricity, water and gas in order. Bills can be paid from the paper notice or by auto-pay (자동이체) from your account or card. Home internet and IPTV usually come on fixed-term contracts, so match the term to how long you plan to stay.
- How do I pay electricity, gas, water, and other utility bills in Korea?
- How do I pay electricity, water, and gas bills in Korea — is auto-pay worth it?
- How do I set up automatic bill payments (자동이체) in Korea for rent, utilities, phone, and other recurring expenses?
- How do I set up home internet and IPTV in Korea, and can foreigners sign a contract?
Step 7. Income tax, National Pension and leaving
Employers withhold income tax every month and settle it in the year-end tax settlement (연말정산); freelancers file their own return. Filing, tax records and certificates are handled on HomeTax. Whether you pay into the National Pension, and whether you can get it back when you leave, depends on your nationality and visa, so check your case in the questions below.
- How does Korean income tax work for foreigners?
- How do I file income tax in Korea as a foreign worker?
- How does the year-end tax settlement (연말정산) work for foreign employees in Korea?
- Do foreigners have to pay into the Korean National Pension (국민연금)?
- How do I get a refund of my Korean National Pension (국민연금) contributions when leaving the country?
- What is a tax clearance certificate for leaving Korea, who needs one, and how do I get it?
- How to Master Korea year-end tax settlement for foreign residents 2025 Your Essential Guide
Other common questions
- What is the complete checklist of things to do before leaving Korea permanently?
- How do I get a tax refund when I permanently leave Korea?
- Can I keep my Korean phone number from abroad for banking apps, KakaoTalk and other services?
- How do I set up mail forwarding from Korea so I do not miss important mail after leaving?
- What steps do I take to replace a lost passport in Korea without trouble with immigration?
- What Korean government apps should foreigners know about, and how do I actually use them with limited Korean?
Sources: HiKorea, Korea Immigration Service (immigration.go.kr), Korea Law Information Center (law.go.kr), HomeTax
Last verified: 2026-10-21