A practical guide for D-2 and D-4 students: when the deadline starts, where to file, and which documents to prepare
If you are an international student in Korea and have completed foreigner registration, you must report a change of residence after moving. This applies even if you move from a university dormitory to a nearby studio or another room in the same city.
Under Article 36 of Korea’s Immigration Act, the report is due within 15 days of moving into your new residence. The deadline is based on the date you move in, not the date you sign your lease. 조문정보
Key dates and amounts
| Item | Korean won (KRW) | U.S. dollars (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Address-reporting deadline | Within 15 days of moving in | Within 15 days of moving in |
| Maximum statutory fine for failing to report | Up to ₩1,000,000 | About $753 |
| Exchange-rate reference | ₩1,328 per $1 | $1 ≈ ₩1,328 |
USD conversion is approximate, using a USD/KRW rate of about ₩1,328 on October 28, 2026. The amount is a statutory maximum, not an automatic charge; the outcome may depend on the circumstances. 변경조문
Who needs to report?
This guide is for foreign residents who have completed foreigner registration and are studying in Korea, including students on D-2 degree-study visas and D-4 language-training visas.
If you move to a new address, you are responsible for reporting the change. Updating your address with your university, landlord, bank, or mobile-phone provider does not replace the immigration address report.
When does the 15-day period begin?
Count from the day you actually move into the new home. Do not use the lease-signing date if you moved in later.
For example, if your lease begins on the 1st but you move in on the 5th, the move-in date is the relevant date for the reporting deadline. Keep a copy of your lease or another document that shows the new address and your residence there.
Where can you file?
You can generally report your new address through one of these channels:
- Online: Use the residence-change reporting service on Hi Korea.
- In person: Visit a local government office or immigration office that has jurisdiction over your new address. Local government offices may include a city, county, district, or neighborhood community service center.
If you visit in person, go to an office responsible for the new home’s address—not the area where your previous dormitory or apartment was located. Official immigration guidance lists both local government offices and immigration offices as reporting channels. immigration.go.kr
Documents to prepare
For an in-person report, prepare:
- Residence-change report form
- Passport
- Residence card (foreign registration card)
- Proof of your new address
A lease agreement showing your name and new address is commonly useful. If the lease is under someone else’s name, or you live in a dormitory or other accommodation without a personal lease, ask the office what alternative proof it accepts. Depending on your situation, this may include a confirmation of accommodation or another document showing where you live.
For an online report, check Hi Korea’s current instructions for the required uploads and eligibility before submitting.
What happens after you file?
Keep your submission confirmation or receipt. If you filed in person, check that the address change has been recorded on your residence card or in the relevant immigration record. If you filed online, check the application status on Hi Korea.
If you are unsure which office serves your new address or what proof to provide, contact the Korea Immigration Contact Center at 1345 before your deadline.
A simple moving checklist
- Write down the date you actually move in.
- Check that your new address is written correctly in your lease or proof of residence.
- File the report online through Hi Korea or visit an office serving your new address.
- Keep the filing confirmation and check that the change has been processed.
Remember: the 15-day period runs from the date you move into the new residence. Reporting promptly can help you avoid problems with your immigration records later.
Official sources
- Immigration Act, Article 36: Report of Change of Residence
- Immigration Act, Article 98: Maximum fine
- Hi Korea
- USD conversion reference: approximately ₩1,328 per US$1 on October 28, 2026
영문 원고의 핵심 법 조항은 현행 출입국관리법과 대조했습니다. 조문정보
Leave a Reply