Healthcare & Support: Insurance, Visas & Help Lines

Beyond settling in, these are the systems that keep you covered and supported - health insurance, immigration, and free help in your language.

National Health Insurance (NHIS)

Foreign residents staying in Korea for more than six months are generally required to join the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), which makes clinics and hospitals far more affordable. If you are employed, you are usually enrolled through your workplace; otherwise you join as a local subscriber once you have settled in with your ARC.

Long-stay visa holders are typically enrolled automatically after six months of residence, and some categories such as students are covered sooner. Keep your premiums paid - unpaid insurance can affect visa extensions.

  • NHIS covers a large share of medical costs at clinics and hospitals.
  • Unpaid premiums can block visa renewals - keep them current.

Visa extensions and immigration

Extend your stay before your current permission expires - overstaying carries fines and re-entry problems. Applications, appointments, and address or status changes go through HiKorea, the government immigration portal.

Report a change of address within the required period after moving. If you are unsure about your case, the immigration help line below can guide you in your language.

  • Apply to extend before your permission expires, not after.
  • Report address and status changes through HiKorea.

Help lines and support centers

Save these numbers. 1345 is the Immigration Contact Center, with counseling in around 20 languages on weekdays. For everyday help, foreigner support centers such as the Seoul Global Center and local Global Centers offer free counseling, legal advice, and Korean classes, and the Danuri call center (1577-1366) supports multicultural families.

For emergencies, dial 112 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance, as covered in Travel Essentials. The 1330 travel hotline also helps in multiple languages around the clock.

  • 1345 - Immigration Contact Center, around 20 languages, weekdays.
  • 112 police / 119 fire & ambulance / 1330 travel help.

Local information: 120 and your district office

In Seoul, dial 120 (the Dasan Call Center) for city services, transport, and general local information, with foreign-language support; other cities run similar lines. Your district office (gu office) handles residence paperwork and community services.

These local offices are also where you complete the move-in steps in the Living in Korea guide, so keep your district office in mind once you have an address.

  • Seoul: 120 Dasan Call Center for city info in several languages.
  • Your gu (district) office handles residence paperwork.

Quick answers

Do I have to join NHIS?
If you stay more than six months, enrollment is generally mandatory. Long-stay visa holders are usually enrolled automatically after six months, and it makes healthcare much cheaper.
What number do I call for visa questions in English?
Dial 1345, the Immigration Contact Center, which offers counseling in around 20 languages on weekdays and works with the HiKorea portal.
Where can I get free help in my language?
Foreigner support centers like the Seoul Global Center and local Global Centers offer free counseling, legal help, and Korean classes. The Danuri call center (1577-1366) helps multicultural families.

Last updated: 2026-07-08