Alien Registration Card (ARC), Bank Accounts and Korean Phone Number

ARC

When you arrive in Korea and plan to stay over 90 days, you'll have to apply for an Alien Registration Card. This can be done at basically any immigration office together with the necessary documents for the visa you're applying for. If you're studying, the school you attend will provide you with these, otherwise you'll need to do some research via https://www.hikorea.go.kr/ or call them through 1345 if you're in Korea.

However, GKS students will apply together with their teachers.

Bank Account

If you're a GKS student, you'll most likely make a bank account together with the other students with help from your teachers. This is usually done with your passport, since it take a couple of weeks for the ARC to be finished.

Otherwise, if you have to make an account on your own, make sure to choose one that has ATMs available all over Korea, some of the largest banks are:

• Nonghyup Bank (농협 은행)

• Woori Bank (우리 은행)

• Kookmin Bank (국민 은행)

• Sinhan Bank (신한 은행)

The necessary documents are usually your passport/ARC and a certificate of admission from the university you attend.

Korean Phone Number

When making a Korean phone number, you can either do it with your passport or ARC(likewise as when making bank account). However, make sure to do it with the same as with your bank account. In other words, make sure both bank account and phone number is linked to your ARC or passport, not one for each. Otherwise, you will have problems when using online identification services.

Most of you will probably link you phone number/bank account to your passport before receiving the ARC, but we would recommend changing it to the ARC as soon as possibile. This can be done by just going to the bank/phone service provider and ask them to change it.