Foreigners who stay long term in Korea must register within 90 days of arrival. Many people assume an employer, school or family member will take care of it and then miss the date. This guide covers the provisions that apply, the fine amounts, the link to deportation and what to do now.
Key points
- If you will stay more than 90 days from arrival, you must register at the immigration office for your place of residence within 90 days of arrival (Article 31(1)).
- Breaking the registration duty can mean up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to KRW 10 million (Article 95, item 7). In many cases the matter is resolved with a notified penalty fine, with standard amounts from KRW 200,000 to KRW 10,000,000 depending on how late you are (Enforcement Rule, Table 7).
- A violation of Article 31 is also a ground for deportation (Article 46(1), item 12).
- You still need to register now, and the longer the delay, the higher the fine bracket can be.
1. What is the registration deadline?
Article 31(1) requires a foreigner who will stay in Korea more than 90 days from the date of arrival to register with the head of the regional immigration office with jurisdiction over the place of residence within 90 days of arrival. Some people, such as diplomatic staff, are exempt, and short visits that end within 90 days are not covered.
If you receive a status after arrival (Article 23), or a status change permit that takes your stay past 90 days from arrival, you must register when you receive that permit (Article 31(3) and (4)). In that case the permit date is the reference point rather than waiting for day 90.
Under Enforcement Decree Article 40(1), you file a registration application with your passport and documents set by Ministry of Justice ordinance at the office for your residence. There is a fee for issuing or reissuing the registration card under Article 72, item 10 of the Enforcement Rule. The Ministry of Justice residence manual (September 2026) also says foreigners with work-eligible statuses must report their occupation and annual income at registration.
2. What punishment applies if you do not register?
Article 95, item 7 provides up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to KRW 10 million for violating the registration duty in Article 31. It is a criminal provision, so the violator becomes an immigration offender and the case follows the usual process.
- Prosecution requires a complaint from the head of the immigration office (Article 101(1)).
- If the investigation confirms the offense, the office head may notify you in writing to pay a penalty fine equivalent to a criminal fine (Article 102(1)).
- You must pay within 15 days of receiving the notice (Article 105(1)), and paying as notified bars further punishment for the same case (Article 106).
3. How much is the fine?
Standard amounts are set in Table 7 of the Enforcement Rule by how long you were past the registration deadline.
| Delay | Standard fine |
|---|---|
| Under 1 month | KRW 200,000 |
| 1 month to under 3 months | KRW 500,000 |
| 3 months to under 6 months | KRW 1,000,000 |
| 6 months to under 1 year | KRW 2,000,000 |
| 1 year to under 2 years | KRW 5,000,000 |
| 2 years or more | KRW 10,000,000 |
These are standard amounts. The office may reduce or increase them by up to one half considering age and circumstances, motive and result, ability to pay and number of violations (Enforcement Rule, Article 86(2)), and the Minister of Justice may waive the notified fine (Article 103(2)). Because the bracket depends on the delay, it helps to pin down your arrival date, the deadline and the actual registration date.
4. Can it lead to deportation?
Article 46(1) lists deportation grounds, and item 12 covers a person who violated the registration duty under Article 31. So alongside the fine, you can become subject to deportation proceedings. Whether it actually happens depends on how late you were, why and your conduct afterward. Permanent residents are protected from deportation except in the limited cases in Article 46(2).
Even where Article 46(1) may apply, a person who wants to leave voluntarily at their own expense can be given a departure order (Article 68(1), item 1). See our voluntary departure guide to compare options.
5. What to do now
- Confirm your arrival date. Use the entry stamp in your passport or an entry/exit record to work out the exact arrival date and day 90.
- Book a visit at the immigration office for your residence. You will need the registration application, your passport and documents set by ordinance. Required documents differ by status, so check the office guidance.
- Organize why you were late. Waiting for a status change, document delays or medical treatment. Record the facts and gather evidence.
- Meet the deadlines on any summons or notice. A fine notice runs 15 days from receipt.
6. What an administrative scrivener can do
We review and prepare the registration application, draft written statements explaining the delay, and organize and translate supporting documents. Investigation and criminal trial defense after a complaint is filed is outside the scope of an administrative scrivener and we do not handle it.
If the 90 days have already passed, the first step is to confirm the registration procedure today. If you hold a notice or summons, check the dates and review the remaining deadline and supporting materials together.