Living in Korea·6 min read
How to Use HiKorea: Korea's Online Immigration Portal
HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) is the Korean Immigration Service's official online portal for registered foreign residents. It lets you extend your visa, report address changes, apply for re-entry permits, and manage many immigration tasks without visiting an immigration office in person. If you have an ARC, learning to use HiKorea effectively can save you hours of queuing. This guide walks you through the key functions.
Review & source basis
Reviewed against
James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). License No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Korean Administrative Agents Association). Reviewed against the HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 and cross-checked with Ministry of Justice issuances.
Last reviewed
April 22, 2026
Source references
HiKorea — Korean visa & residency manual
Ministry of Justice Immigration Policy Bureau
Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인정책본부)
Filing caution
What can you do on HiKorea?
HiKorea handles most routine immigration tasks online: stay period extension (체류기간 연장) for most visa types, address change reports (체류지 변경신고), workplace change reports (근무처 변경신고), re-entry permit applications (재입국허가), status of application enquiries, certificate of alien registration issuance (외국인등록사실증명), and appointment booking for in-person visits. Not all visa types support fully online processing — complex cases or first-time ARC registration still require an in-person visit.
What you need to use HiKorea
To register and use HiKorea: your ARC number (외국인등록번호 — the 13-digit number on your ARC), a valid email address, and a mobile phone number registered in Korea (for SMS verification). For document submissions, you will need to upload scanned PDFs or high-quality photos of your documents. The portal supports Internet Explorer (legacy) and modern browsers — Chrome works well for most functions.
Language support
HiKorea is available in Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and several other languages. The English version covers the main service functions. However, some notices and result documents are issued in Korean only — keeping a dictionary app or translation service handy is useful.
Step-by-step process
01
Register your account
Go to hikorea.go.kr. Click 'Register' and enter your ARC number, date of birth, and contact details. Verify your identity via SMS to your Korean mobile number. Once registered, you can log in with your ID (ARC number) and password.
02
To extend your stay period online
Log in → Alien Registration & Stay → Apply for Stay Extension. Select your visa type and current status. Upload the required documents (these vary by visa type — see the list on the form). Pay the extension fee online by credit or debit card (₩30,000–₩60,000 depending on visa type). Submit. You will receive an application number and can track the status.
03
To report an address change
Log in → Alien Registration & Stay → Report Change of Address. Enter your new address (in Korean — use the address search function). Submit. The change is recorded in the immigration system. Note: this is a separate process from registering your address at the local district office (주민센터) — you should do both.
04
To report a workplace change (E-2, E-7, etc.)
Log in → Alien Registration & Stay → Report Change of Workplace. Enter your new employer's business registration number and address. Upload the new employment contract. Submit and save the receipt. Remember: file this before you start work at the new employer.
Tips from 행정사s
Do your HiKorea transactions early in the morning — the system can be slow or overloaded during peak hours (lunch and evening).
Keep your Korean phone number active — SMS verification is required for most transactions and password resets.
Save/screenshot every submission confirmation and receipt number. If there is ever a dispute about your application, the receipt number is your proof.
Some visa types (e.g., first-time ARC registration, health certificate submission) cannot be done on HiKorea and require an in-person visit regardless.
If the online system rejects your extension application (e.g., missing documents or a flagged issue), do not wait — visit the immigration office in person before your stay expires.
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Frequently asked questions
HiKorea says my ARC number is invalid. What do I do?
Double-check you are entering all 13 digits correctly (including the date-of-birth portion at the start). If the number is definitely correct and the system still rejects it, call the immigration helpline at 1345 — there may be a data entry issue in the system that needs to be corrected at the office.
Can I use HiKorea without a Korean phone number?
SMS verification to a Korean mobile number is required for account registration and most transactions. If you do not yet have a Korean SIM, you will need to complete your first ARC registration in person at the immigration office, then get a Korean SIM before setting up your HiKorea account.
My HiKorea extension application has been pending for 3 weeks. Is this normal?
Standard extensions take 3–7 business days. More than 2 weeks without an update is unusual and worth following up. Log in and check the application status. If it shows 'under review' (심사 중) for more than 3 weeks, call 1345 with your application receipt number. Your status is protected while the application is pending.
