How to Report Your Address Change in Korea Within 15 Days

혼잘주거

13시간전읽음 1

You've got the keys and your bags are in the room. Done? Not quite. The first two weeks in a new home in Korea come with a few tasks that are easy to forget and can cost you if you miss them.

The biggest one is reporting your new address. On top of that, there's the trash system, which surprises almost every newcomer, and the question of which bills you now have to pay.

Here's a simple after-move-in checklist for foreigners so you can settle in without fines or awkward notes from your neighbors.

🪪 Do you need to register your address?

If you're staying in Korea for more than 90 days, you need to apply for a residence card within 90 days of entering Korea. Your address is recorded when you apply, so you'll need proof of where you live.

Book a visit to your local immigration office through HiKorea, the government's immigration website. The card fee is ₩35,000 (since January 2025).

✔ Proof of address by housing type

Studio or apartment: a lease contract with your name on it
Goshiwon: a Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation signed by the operator, often with a copy of their business registration and a recent rent receipt or transfer record
Share house or a home under someone else's name: the same confirmation form, often with a copy of the provider's ID and a copy of the lease in the provider's name
University dormitory: a dorm certificate from your school

Required documents can differ by immigration office, so check HiKorea or your office's notice before you go.

💡 Residence card is the ID card for foreign residents staying in Korea for more than 90 days. You'll need it for things like opening a bank account and getting a phone plan.

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🏃 Moved again? Report it within 15 days

Once you have a residence card, every move needs a report. Korean law requires you to report your new address within 15 days of moving in.

You can report it at the community service center for your new address, at the immigration office, or start it online through HiKorea, though an office visit may still be needed. Bring your residence card, because the new address is added to it.

🔢 Address change in 3 steps

Move in and get your proof of address (lease or residence confirmation)
Report within 15 days at a community center, immigration office, or HiKorea
Check that the new address appears on your residence card

Missing the deadline can lead to a fine, so put a reminder in your calendar on moving day.

💡 Community service center is the local government office for your neighborhood, where residents handle address reports and other everyday paperwork.

📄 Signed a studio lease with a deposit? Protect it

This step is for studio or apartment leases with a deposit. Your address report and a stamp on your contract help protect your deposit if something goes wrong with the home.

For a registered foreigner, the address report counts the same as a Korean resident's move-in report. Protection against a new owner starts the day after you've moved in and reported your address.

✅ On moving day

▢ Move in your belongings

▢ Report your new address

▢ Bring the original contract to the community center for a fixed date stamp

Doing all three on the same day keeps the gap as short as possible. The government has proposed making this protection start immediately, but as of October 2026 it still starts the next day.

💡 Fixed date is an official date stamp on your lease contract. Along with your address report, it decides your place in line to get your deposit back if the home is sold at auction.

🗑️ How does trash work in Korea?

Korea sorts trash strictly, and the rules are taken seriously. General trash goes in official pay-as-you-throw bags sold at convenience stores and supermarkets.

Food waste and recyclables are collected separately. Rules like collection days and bag types differ by district, so ask your landlord or operator, or look for a notice near the trash area.

📊 Basic sorting

Type	How to throw it away
General trash	Official pay-as-you-throw bags for your district
Food waste	Separate food waste bags or bins
Recyclables	Sort plastic, cans, glass, and paper, rinsed and empty
Large items	Book a pickup with your district and attach a sticker

In a goshiwon or share house, trash rules are usually posted in the shared kitchen. Following them is one of the easiest ways to get along with your housemates.

💡 Which bills will you pay?

What you pay each month depends on your housing type. In a goshiwon, utilities are usually included in the rent.

In a studio, electricity, gas, and water are often billed separately, plus a maintenance fee for the building. In a share house, bills may be included or split between housemates.

📌 Ask your landlord or operator

Which bills are included in the rent?
How and when do you pay the bills that aren't?
Is internet already set up?
Who do you contact when something breaks?

🧭 Your first two weeks, sorted

Settling in is mostly paperwork and habits. Report your address on time, learn the trash rules, and know your bills, and you'll avoid most first-month problems.