Guide to Reporting a Change in Alien Registration Details

At a glance

• Deadline: within 15 days from when the registered details changed. Hi Korea states that it is within 15 days from the date the reason for reporting arose.
• Where to report: the immigration and foreigner office, branch office or sub-office with jurisdiction over your place of stay.
• What to bring: report form for change in alien registration details, alien registration card and passport, plus documents proving the change (Hi Korea).
• If late: a fine for negligence of up to 1,000,000 won; the imposition standards range from 100,000 won to 1,000,000 won depending on the period of violation.

Who must report?

• Registered foreigners whose name, sex, date of birth or nationality has changed
• Those whose passport number, date of issue or validity period has changed
• Holders of D-1, D-2 and D-4 through D-9 status whose affiliated institution or organization changes (including a change of name) or is added, or whose enrollment status changes, and D-10 holders who begin training or change their training institution
• H-2 holders who start work for the first time or change employer, and holders of certain statuses of stay whose occupation or annual income changes
• If a person under 17 does not report in person, a parent or other designated person must report.

Where do I report?

• Submit the report form to the immigration and foreigner office, branch office or sub-office with jurisdiction over your place of stay.
• Hi Korea states that the person or a proxy prepares the required documents and reports to the office with jurisdiction.

What to bring

• Report form for change in alien registration details, alien registration card and passport
• Documents proving the change (Hi Korea)
• For a change in enrollment status, the foreigner enrollment status report form; for a change in occupation or annual income, the foreigner occupation and annual income report form (Hi Korea)
• Hi Korea states that the required documents may be added or reduced during review if needed.

Cost

• The list of fees does not include an item for reporting a change in alien registration details.
• If the name, sex, date of birth or nationality has changed, the office reissues the alien registration card. The fee for reissuing an alien registration card is 35,000 won, and the Hi Korea reissuance guide also lists the fee as a submission item.

Procedure

• Step 1: Check whether the change falls under the grounds for reporting.
• Step 2: Within 15 days from the change, submit the report form, alien registration card, passport and supporting documents to the office with jurisdiction over your place of stay.
• Step 3: The office updates the registered foreigner record card, reissues the alien registration card if the name, sex, date of birth or nationality changed, and notifies the city, county or district office and the eup, myeon or dong office of the change.

Common sticking points

• Going past 15 days makes you subject to a fine for negligence. Hi Korea also states that if you do not report within 15 days, a fine for negligence is imposed for violating the Immigration Act.
• Imposition standards by period of violation: under 3 months 100,000 won; 3 months or more but under 6 months 300,000 won; 6 months or more but under 1 year 500,000 won; 1 year or more 1,000,000 won.
• In certain cases the office may reduce or increase this amount within a range of 1/2. However, even if increased, it cannot exceed the statutory cap of 1,000,000 won.
• A change of place of stay (address) is not covered by this report; it is subject to a separate report of change of place of stay.

This guide is general information and does not assess whether an individual case qualifies. Laws and fees may change, so check the original text via the official links and with the competent authority.