🏥 How Foreigners Join Korean National Health Insurance (NHIS)
(Eligibility / Registration / Required Documents / Checklist)
Health care in Korea is excellent — and much cheaper with NHIS.
Without National Health Insurance:
- Hospital visit = expensive
- Emergency treatment = VERY expensive
- Many clinics may refuse non-insured patients
With NHIS:
✅ 50–80% medical cost reduction
✅ Covered for emergency & hospitalization
✅ Dental + basic treatments included (partial coverage)
🌍 Who must register?
NHIS enrollment depends on your visa type + stay duration + employment status.
| Your situation | Required to join NHIS? | How? |
| Working in Korea (full-time job / contract) | ✅ YES | Employer registers you automatically |
| Not working / student / spouse visa | ✅ YES (if staying 6+ months) | You register yourself |
| Tourist / short visit (C visa) | ❌ No | Not eligible |
➡️ ARC (Alien Registration Card) is required for enrollment.
📌 When do you become eligible?
| Visa Type | Eligible? | Enrollment timing |
| E visa (E7, E2, etc.) | ✅ | Employer registers immediately |
| F visa (F2, F5, F6) | ✅ | Self-register once ARC issued |
| D visa (student visa) | ✅ | Self-register after 6 months |
| C visa (tourist) | ❌ Never eligible | Must use travel insurance |
🪪 Documents you need (bring ALL)
| Required Document | Why it's needed? |
| 🪪 ARC (front & back) | ID verification |
| 🛂 Passport | Identity verification |
| 🏠 Proof of address (contract or rental agreement) | Address registration |
| 📱 Korean phone number | Communication / SMS |
| 💳 Bank account details | Automatic monthly payment |
If employed, you don’t pay directly (company deducts from salary).
If not employed → you pay monthly yourself.
✅ HOW TO REGISTER (Self-Enrollment at NHIS office)
① Visit the nearest NHIS office (국민건강보험공단)
② Submit ARC + passport + address proof
③ Fill out the application form
④ Choose auto-payment (bank account or card)
⑤ Receive confirmation + insurance activation⏱ Time needed: 10–15 minutes
📌 Insurance coverage usually starts immediately or the next month.
💳 Monthly cost (how much you pay)
| Category | Monthly cost(approx.) |
| Employee | ~3% of salary (automatically deducted) |
| Student / unemployed | ₩60,000–₩110,000 |
| Married to Korean spouse (F-6) | Reduced according to family income |
Monthly premium depends on income, assets, and residence.
🏥 What’s covered?
| Category | Covered? |
| Hospital visits | ✅ Yes |
| Emergency / ER | ✅ Yes |
| Surgery | ✅ Yes |
| Prescription medication | ✅ Yes |
| Dental (basic care) | ✅ Partially |
| Cosmetic procedures | ❌ No (plastic surgery, etc.) |
Example costs with NHIS:
| Treatment | Without NHIS | With NHIS |
| General check-up | ₩50,000 | ₩10,000 |
| ER visit | ₩400,000+ | ₩70,000–₩120,000 |
| Surgery (appendix) | ₩7–10 million | ₩1–2 million |
🔥 Important tip (APPLIES TO FOREIGNERS)
You must update your address at the immigration office FIRST.
If your address is not registered, you cannot receive important documents from NHIS.
🗣 Use this sentence at the NHIS office (English → Korean)
| Situation | Korean phrase |
| I want to enroll in NHIS | “건강보험 가입하러 왔습니다.” |
| Here are my documents | “서류 제출하겠습니다.” |
| Ask about payment | “납부 방법은 어떻게 되나요?” |
✅ Checklist (save this before going)
| Task | Done |
| ARC issued | ☐ |
| Address registered at immigration | ☐ |
| Bring passport + ARC | ☐ |
| Bring lease contract (proof of address) | ☐ |
| Bring bank account info | ☐ |
❓ FAQ
❓ Can I register without ARC?
❌ No.
ARC is required to be eligible.
❓ Do students have to join?
✅ Yes — after 6 months of staying in Korea.
❓ Can I use NHIS at any hospital?
✅ Yes — all NHIS-covered hospitals accept foreign residents.
🔑 Summary
| Goal | Best Action |
| Working in Korea | Employer enrolls you automatically |
| Not working / student / spouse visa | Self-register |
| Stay less than 6 months | Not eligible |
NHIS = cheaper hospital + medical safety + real stability in Korea.
