Korea Residence Card Housing Documents: Proof of Residence Guide (2026)

Last reviewed: August 21, 2026. Immigration requirements and accepted evidence can change. This is a housing-document preparation guide, not legal or immigration advice. Confirm your case with HiKorea, your university or sponsor, and the Korea Immigration Service 1345 Contact Center before paying for accommodation.

The quick answer#

Korea asks many long-term foreign residents to show where they actually live. The Ministry of Justice lists proof of residence among the documents used for foreign resident registration, while visa-specific documents are added according to the applicant's status of stay. The government's general rule is that a foreign national intending to stay for more than 90 days registers within 90 days of entry, subject to exemptions and status-specific rules. See the official Ministry of Justice registration overview and Seoul Metropolitan Government registration guide.

The practical housing question is not simply, "Do you provide ARC documents?" It is:

Which exact document proves that this applicant is allowed to live at this exact address for these exact dates?

For a private rental, the answer may be the applicant's lease. If the applicant is not the named tenant, immigration may instead need a provider-signed accommodation confirmation plus documents showing the provider's identity and connection to the home. Dormitories and accommodation businesses use different evidence.

ARC or Residence Card: which name is correct?#

"ARC" remains common shorthand for Alien Registration Card. Korean authorities now use Residence Card or Foreign Residence Card in English materials. The Ministry of Justice introduced a redesigned Residence Card in April 2023 and began issuing IC-chip foreign residence cards in 2025. Older valid cards did not become invalid simply because the design or English terminology changed. See the official new Residence Card notice and 2025 IC-card fee notice.

This guide uses Residence Card for the government ID and proof of residence or accommodation documents for the housing evidence submitted with an application.

Who normally needs these housing documents?#

Housing evidence is commonly relevant to:

• international students and language students,
• employees and visiting professionals,
• family or dependent visa holders,
• researchers, trainees, and other long-term residents,
• applicants extending or changing a status of stay, and
• registered residents reporting a new place of stay.

Most ordinary short-term tourists do not apply for a Residence Card. A tourist may still need to state a Korean accommodation address for entry or other travel procedures, but that is a different process from foreign resident registration.

Do not decide from trip purpose alone. Visa category, permitted stay, exemptions, and the application being filed all matter. The official 1345 Immigration Contact Center provides multilingual guidance on weekdays; from outside Korea, the published number is +82-2-1345.

The housing-document map#

The following table is a preparation framework, not a universal government checklist.

Where you live	Common starting evidence	What may need extra confirmation
Lease in the applicant's name	Signed rental or lease agreement showing the applicant and address	Full address, contract dates, signatures, and any visa-specific evidence
Home leased by a friend, partner, employer, or another tenant	Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation signed by the provider	Provider ID, underlying lease, ownership or authority to provide the home, and relationship to applicant
University dormitory	Dormitory residence certificate or official confirmation	Correct campus, room or building address, residence period, and applicant name
Goshiwon, share house, co-living, or residence	Occupancy agreement, residence confirmation, or provider-issued certificate	Business registration, operator identity, payment evidence, and whether the exact address can be certified
Hotel or serviced accommodation	Provider confirmation and reservation or payment evidence	Whether the operator will sign the required form and provide business details for the full stay
Short-term rental booked through a platform	Guest-facing agreement or booking evidence plus provider cooperation	Who is legally providing the accommodation, whether the guest is named, and what supporting documents can be released

The Korea Immigration Service has formally referred to documents such as a rental or lease agreement and a Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation as evidence of a place of stay in its proof-of-residence notice. HiKorea's C-3 accommodation-reporting procedure also illustrates why the housing arrangement matters: its private-home and accommodation-business cases use different evidence. Review the official procedure for your own application rather than copying a checklist from another visa holder.

Scenario 1: the lease is in your name#

This is usually the cleanest documentary chain:

1. Your passport name matches the tenant name.
2. The agreement identifies the actual Seoul address.
3. The contract dates cover the relevant residence period.
4. The landlord, operator, or authorized contracting party is identifiable.
5. Both sides retain the signed agreement and any requested supporting pages.

Check romanization carefully. A missing middle name, reversed name order, informal English nickname, or reservation made under a companion's name can create avoidable questions. Ask the provider to correct material mismatches before the appointment.

Scenario 2: your name is not on the main lease#

This commonly happens when a student stays with a friend, a spouse is the named tenant, an employer arranges housing, or a platform reservation is made by somebody else.

In that situation, the reviewing authority may need a chain connecting:

1. you, the applicant,
2. the accommodation provider, and
3. the address where you live.

The provider may be asked to complete the HiKorea Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation form. Supporting material can depend on who the provider is: an ID copy, business registration certificate, underlying lease, or other evidence of authority may be relevant. Download the current form from HiKorea's Application Forms page and confirm the accompanying evidence with 1345 or the office handling your case.

Scenario 3: university dormitory#

Universities commonly issue their own dormitory residence certificate. Ask the international office or dormitory office:

• when the certificate becomes available,
• whether it is issued before or only after check-in,
• whether it shows your full passport name,
• which address and residence dates it contains, and
• whether the university is coordinating a group Residence Card application.

A dorm admission notice and a residence certificate may serve different purposes. Use the document specified by your university's current immigration instructions.

If you need an off-campus backup, read the student housing guide for exchange students and the relevant campus guide before choosing only by straight-line distance.

Scenario 4: hotel, residence, goshiwon, or co-living#

Professionally operated accommodation can be easier to document when the business has a repeatable process. It is not automatic. Before paying, ask whether the operator can provide:

• a confirmation naming the actual resident,
• the exact address used for immigration purposes,
• a contract, occupancy certificate, or accommodation receipt,
• the operator's business registration details when requested, and
• documents covering the full period relevant to the application.

Avoid vague answers such as "foreigners stay here all the time" or "the receipt should be enough." Ask for the document name and who will sign it.

What to ask before booking#

Send these questions in writing:

1. Can the actual guest be named on the agreement or accommodation confirmation?
2. What exact address will appear on the document?
3. Can you sign the current HiKorea Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation form if required?
4. Can you provide the supporting ID or business registration document requested for this arrangement?
5. If you are not the owner, can you show your authority to provide the accommodation?
6. When will the documents be delivered: before payment, before arrival, or after check-in?
7. Will the documents cover the guest's complete contracted dates?
8. What happens if the required document cannot be provided?

Save the written response, but remember that a host's promise is not a government decision. Confirm the expected evidence separately with the relevant authority.

A safer booking sequence#

Before paying#

• Confirm whether your visa process requires housing evidence.
• Confirm the name and address that must appear.
• Tell the host or operator that the actual foreign guest needs Residence Card accommodation documents.
• Get the exact provider document list in writing.
• Check cancellation and replacement terms if documents cannot be supplied.

After choosing the home#

• Check every page for the applicant name, complete address, dates, and signatures.
• Confirm that the provider's supporting document refers to the same person or business named in the housing evidence.
• Keep clear digital copies and the requested originals.
• Do not edit, combine, or recreate official or provider-issued documents yourself.

Before the appointment or online filing#

• Check your visa-specific checklist on HiKorea or through your university or sponsor.
• Confirm whether originals, copies, or recently issued documents are required.
• Make a visit reservation when the relevant process requires one.
• Call 1345 if the contracting party and actual resident are different, the home is sublet, or the provider documents are unclear.

Common mistakes#

Booking first and asking later#

Some hosts cannot or will not provide ID copies, business documents, an underlying lease, or a signed accommodation confirmation. A strict cancellation policy can turn a paperwork issue into a financial loss.

Treating "ARC possible" as a document name#

It is marketing shorthand, not a standardized certificate. Ask what the provider actually issues.

Using a booking under another person's name#

Payment by a parent, company, or concierge does not by itself prove that the applicant resides there. The occupant and the documentary arrangement should be disclosed and confirmed.

Assuming every immigration office will assess an unusual arrangement identically#

The governing requirements matter, but an officer may request additional evidence during review. Prepare a clear documentary chain and use 1345 for current, case-specific guidance.

Sending sensitive documents through insecure channels#

Host IDs and applicant records contain personal information. Use the minimum necessary documents, confirm the recipient, avoid public links, and do not upload identity documents to analytics forms or casual group chats.

How Locali handles Residence Card document requests#

Locali's support is an accommodation-verification service, not an immigration approval service.

When a guest tells us that Residence Card housing documents are required, our paid verification workflow is designed to:

1. disclose Locali's concierge role and the identity of the actual guest to the relevant host or upstream platform,
2. ask which rental agreement or accommodation confirmation can be issued,
3. ask whether supporting host identity or business-registration material can be provided when required,
4. keep the confirmation in writing before recommending payment, and
5. replace a candidate where possible if a requested document cannot be supported.

Locali does not issue, certify, alter, or guarantee acceptance of immigration documents. The accommodation provider controls what it can lawfully provide, and the immigration authority decides whether the evidence and application are accepted. Read the current concierge terms before purchasing verification.

For a Seoul stay of 28 nights or more, you can compare monthly rentals in Seoul. If documentation is essential, send a free housing brief and select that you need Residence Card accommodation documents so the requirement is visible before candidate verification.

Official resources#

• HiKorea: applications, visit reservations, and current forms
• HiKorea Application Forms: search for Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation
• Korea Immigration Service registration overview: general registration and proof-of-residence requirement
• Seoul foreign resident registration guide: general eligibility, timing, documents, and fee
• Immigration Contact Center 1345: multilingual immigration guidance

Frequently asked questions#

Do tourists need a Residence Card?#

Most short-term tourists do not. The general registration obligation concerns foreign nationals intending to stay more than 90 days, subject to exemptions and status-specific rules. Declaring an accommodation address for entry is a separate requirement.

Is a platform booking confirmation enough?#

Do not assume so. It may help show a reservation or payment, but the authority may require a lease, provider-signed accommodation confirmation, business documentation, or another chain connecting the applicant to the address.

Does the host always have to provide an ID copy?#

Not in every arrangement. The supporting evidence depends on whether the provider is an owner, tenant, company, dormitory, or accommodation business and on the application being reviewed. Ask 1345 what applies to your case.

Can I apply if the contract is in my friend's or employer's name?#

Potentially, but additional confirmation and supporting evidence may be needed. Do not rely on the other person's lease alone without checking how your occupancy will be documented.

Can Locali guarantee that immigration will accept the documents?#

No. Locali can ask the provider, organize the housing-side evidence, and identify missing items. Only the responsible government authority can decide whether an application and its evidence are accepted.

What should I do if the provider refuses after I book?#

Review the written promise and cancellation terms immediately. Ask whether an alternative document is available, confirm acceptability with 1345, and avoid submitting altered or inaccurate evidence. If documentation was a condition of your booking, preserve the written record for any cancellation or dispute process.