What is the South Korea residence card?
The South Korea residence card, also known as the Alien Registration Card (ARC), is the official ID for foreign nationals who live in Korea for more than 90 days. It proves that you stay in the country legally and shows your name, date of birth, nationality, registration number, address in Korea and the validity period of your residence status. In Korea you need the card for everyday tasks such as opening a bank account, signing a lease or using healthcare services, so the photo on the residence card is the picture Korean banks, landlords and clinics will see whenever you show your ID.
The ARC is a plastic card about the size of a credit card, with holograms and microprinting against forgery. You hand in passport-size photos with the application, and a photo that does not meet the requirements can mean a second trip to the Korean immigration office. A good photo is a small thing, but it is easy to get right in advance.
What the residence card shows
Each card carries the same set of details: your full name, date of birth, nationality, Alien Registration Number, your address in South Korea and the validity period of your residence status. The registration number is the one you will write on many Korean forms, from a bank account application to a mobile contract, so keep it somewhere safe as well. The validity period tells you when your status ends and when you need to start the renewal; mark that date in your calendar as soon as you receive the card.
Everyday life with a Korean residence card
For a foreign resident, the card is the main proof of identity inside the country. Banks in Korea ask for it when you open an account, landlords and agents check it when you sign a lease, and hospitals and clinics use it when you access healthcare services. Because the card is needed for so many of these steps, it makes sense to start the application soon after you arrive.
Because so much depends on the card, it pays to prepare the application carefully: a complete set of documents, a booked appointment at the right immigration office and photos that meet the rules. Small problems, such as a missing proof of address or a print in the wrong format, can mean coming back to the office on another day.
Who needs a Korean residence card
Every foreign national who plans to stay in South Korea for more than 90 days applies for the South Korea residence card. The most common groups are students at Korean universities, employment visa holders, and family members of Korean citizens or foreign residents. Working holiday participants who stay longer than 90 days fall under the same rule; the Working Holiday Info Center of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has official information for them. If you are still preparing the visa itself, see our South Korea visa photo page; the visa application and the ARC are separate steps, each with its own photo.
The 35×45 mm format explained
The photo for the Korean residence card is 35×45 mm, the same as 3.5×4.5 cm, in portrait format. In our template the head takes about 34.5 mm of the 45 mm height, measured from the chin to the top of the hair, and there are about 4.5 mm of space between the top of the hair and the upper edge of the photo. That leaves a small, even margin above your head and keeps your face large and clear on the printed card.
Size is the most common reason a photo is rejected. A phone picture cropped by hand rarely gets the head size right: the head ends up too small when you stand far from the camera, or the top of the hair touches the edge when you crop too tight. A photo in the wrong format, such as a square photo or a print made for another country, will not fit the 35×45 mm frame at all. Our online tool finds your face, measures it and crops the photo to the exact size with the right head size and top margin, so you do not need a ruler or photo editing skills.
Head position and framing
Inside the 35×45 mm frame, your head should sit straight and centred, with the face looking directly into the camera. The top of the hair stays about 4.5 mm below the upper edge, and the chin sits well above the lower edge, so the top of your shoulders is visible. Tilting the head, turning it to one side or lifting the chin changes how large the face looks in the photo and makes the head size harder to match.
When you take the picture, hold the phone at eye level, not above or below your face. A camera held too low makes the chin look larger; a camera held too high makes the forehead dominate the photo. Our AI straightens a slightly tilted head and centres your face, but it cannot fix a photo taken from a strong angle, so a straight, level shot gives the best result.
Background, colour and image quality
The background of the photo for the Korean ARC is plain white, with no shadows, patterns or objects behind you. The photo must be in colour and recent, so it shows how you look today. Avoid filters, beauty apps and heavy editing: the face on the card should match your face when an official in Korea compares them. A print at 600 DPI keeps the photo sharp at this small size, with fine detail in the eyes and hair.
You do not need a white wall at home. Our online photo maker replaces the background with clean white, removes shadows behind your head and checks the photo for blur, uneven light and colour problems before you download it. You get a sharp photo that is ready to print at 600 DPI or to use as a digital file.
Expression, glasses, hair and clothing
For an ID photo, the safest choice is a neutral expression with your mouth closed and both eyes open, looking straight at the lens. A wide smile, raised eyebrows or a half-closed eye can make the photo look different from your everyday face, and any of these can be a reason to ask for a new photo. Take off your glasses: lenses often reflect the light, and thick frames can cover the eyes in a small photo.
Keep your hair away from your eyes and the edges of your face. Long hair can fall over the shoulders, but it should not hide your face. Wear everyday clothes in a colour that stands out from a white background; a white shirt can blend into the background and make the edges of the photo look empty. Hats, headphones and large accessories are best left out of the photo.
How to take the photo at home
Many people go to a studio for an ID photo, but a phone camera is enough when you follow a few simple rules. Stand about an arm's length from the camera or ask someone to take the photo for you. Face a window so that daylight falls evenly on your face, and turn off the ceiling light if it creates shadows under your eyes. Keep the camera at eye level, look into the lens and take several photos, then pick the sharpest one.
Upload that photo to our online maker. The tool crops it to the 35×45 mm size, sets the white background and checks the head size, position, expression and sharpness. If a check fails, you see what to change and can take a new photo in a minute, without paying for a studio session. A photo taken at home in good light is often more natural than a rushed studio photo.
Printing the photo
For the application at the Korean immigration office you usually bring printed passport-size photos; the current guidance asks for two recent photos in most cases. Print the photo at 600 DPI on photo paper so the face stays sharp at this small size. Plain office paper and low-quality home printers often give faded colours and visible dots, which make the face harder to recognise.
Cut each photo exactly along the 35×45 mm frame, with straight edges and no white border left around it. Check the size with a ruler before you leave home: a photo that is a few millimetres too small or too large is still the wrong size. Keep a spare print, because you may need another photo later in the process.
Digital photos and online submission
The same 35×45 mm photo is also suitable for online submission, for example when an online form or an e-application in Korea asks you to upload a photo file. A digital photo should be the original file from our tool, not a scan or a phone screenshot of a printed photo, since scans and screenshots lose sharpness and colour. Keep the digital file after you print, so you can use it again for a renewal or a replacement card.
One photo made online with our tool covers both uses: print it at 600 DPI for the office and keep the original file for online forms. If an online form shows its own pixel size or file size limit, follow that limit for the upload.
How to apply for the Korean residence card
The process of getting the residence card follows a few simple steps:
- Check eligibility. You are a foreign national who plans to stay in South Korea for more than 90 days.
- Gather your documents. The application form, a valid passport with your visa, proof of your legal status (for example a work or student visa), proof of your address in Korea such as a lease or utility bill, and usually two passport-size photos. Some visa types need extra papers, for example an employment contract.
- Book and submit. Hand in the application at the nearest immigration office. Making an appointment in advance helps you avoid long waiting times; the Korea Immigration Service website has the forms and office information.
- Pay the fee. The fee depends on your residence status and is usually paid at the immigration office.
- Wait for processing. Processing usually takes about 2 to 4 weeks, and you get a notice when the card is ready.
- Collect the card. Return to the office with your passport and any other ID they ask for.
A photo that does not meet the requirements can delay this process, because the office may ask you to come back with a new photo. Check your South Korea alien registration photo online before your appointment so you only make the trip once.
The documents to prepare, one by one
Application form. The form is usually available at the immigration office, and you can often download it from the official website and fill it in at home. Writing it in advance saves time at the counter, and you can check spellings against your passport without anyone waiting behind you. Make sure your name is written exactly as it appears in your passport.
Passport and visa. Bring a valid passport with the visa you entered on, if your nationality needs one. The officer checks that your stay matches the status you are registering for, so the passport is the centre of the whole application.
Proof of legal status. This shows why you are allowed to stay, for example a work visa or a student visa. Depending on the visa type, the office can ask for extra papers: an employment contract for work visa holders is the example the official guidance gives.
Proof of address. A lease agreement or a utility bill shows where you live. If you have just arrived and are still in temporary housing, ask the office in advance what they accept, because the address you register is the one printed on the card.
Fee. There is a fee for the application. The amount depends on the type of residence status, and payment can typically be made at the immigration office. Bring a way to pay with you so the application is not left incomplete.
Before your appointment
A day before you visit the Korean immigration office, put your papers in one folder: the application form, passport, proof of status, proof of address, any extra documents for your visa type and your photos. Check that the photos are recent, in colour, cut to the 35×45 mm size with no creases or fingerprints. Keep the photos in an envelope so they stay flat and clean.
If you are not sure about one photo, make a new one online in a few minutes rather than taking the risk. A clean alien registration photo with a white background and the right head size is the part of the application that is easiest to get right in advance.
Planning your first weeks after arrival
The first weeks in a new country fill up quickly. A practical order is to find housing first, because the lease or utility bill becomes your proof of address, then book the appointment, then prepare the remaining papers while you wait for the date. The official guidance recommends making an appointment in advance to avoid long waiting times, so booking early is the single most useful step. Processing then usually takes about 2 to 4 weeks, which means the whole process can easily take a month or more from your first booking.
While you wait, keep your passport with you as your main ID and keep copies of everything you handed in. That way you always have a record of exactly what you submitted.
Collecting the card
When the card is ready, you receive a notification and return to the immigration office to pick it up. Bring your passport and any other identification the office asked for. Check the details on the card before you leave the counter: your name, date of birth, nationality and address should match your papers exactly, and a mistake is much easier to fix on the spot than weeks later.
Once you have the card, take a moment to update the places that were waiting for it. Give the registration number to your bank, your employer or school and your phone provider if they asked for it earlier, and store a copy of both sides of the card in a safe place. Write down the expiry date of your status and set a reminder a few weeks before it, so the renewal never becomes a last-minute rush. If you move, change jobs or switch to a different status later, remember that the 14-day reporting rule applies from the day of the change.
Renewal, replacement and changes
The Korean residence card must be renewed before it expires. Renewal works much like the first application and needs updated documents, so plan for a new photo if your old one is no longer recent. If your card is lost or stolen, report it to the immigration office right away and apply for a replacement; keep a spare photo ready in case the office asks for one. Changes in your status, such as a new address or a different visa type, must be reported to the immigration office within 14 days.
Foreign residents in Korea must carry the residence card at all times; not having it can lead to fines or other legal issues. Because you show the card so often in Korea, a clear and well-lit photo makes everyday ID checks easier. Keep the digital file of your Korea alien registration photo, and you will have a photo ready the next time you need one.
Reporting changes within 14 days
Life in South Korea rarely stays the same for long: students move from a dormitory to a studio, workers change employers, and families move to a new city. The rule is simple: if your residency details change, for example your address or your visa type, you report the change to the immigration office within 14 days. Do it as soon as you have the new lease or the new status, so you do not run close to the deadline. Before you go, ask the office which papers it needs to show the change.
Lost or stolen cards
If your card is lost or stolen, report it to the immigration office immediately and apply for a replacement. Until the new card is ready, everyday tasks that need ID can be harder, so act quickly. If the office asks for a new picture, the digital file from your first application lets you print one quickly, as long as it still shows how you look today.
Photos for family members
If your spouse or children also live in Korea with you, each family member who stays for more than 90 days applies for their own residence card and needs their own photo. The same size and white background apply to each photo. For a young child, take the photo at home when the child is calm: seat them in front of a window, hold the phone at the child's eye level and take a series of photos, then upload the best one. Our online tool crops and checks every photo the same way, so the whole family can prepare their photos in one evening.
ARC photo checklist
- Correct photo size: 35×45 mm (3.5×4.5 cm), portrait format.
- Head about 34.5 mm from chin to the top of the hair, about 4.5 mm of space above.
- Plain white photo background, no shadows or patterns.
- Recent colour photo, sharp and without filters.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open and looking at the camera.
- Head straight and centred, with your whole face inside the frame.
- Printed at 600 DPI on photo paper, or kept as a digital file for online use.
Other Korean document photos
Each Korean document has its own photo rules, so each one has its own page. If you need a photo for a Korean passport, see our Korea passport online photo page. For the registration itself and the steps after arrival, our South Korea alien registration photo page has more details. Use the page that matches the document you are applying for, so the format and background are checked against the right rules.
