Leaving Korea: The Complete Departure Checklist for Foreign Residents

Leaving Korea has more moving parts than arriving did. A dozen government agencies, your employer, your landlord, your bank, NHIS, NPS, customs, and your home-country embassy all have their own paperwork and their own timelines. Miss a step and you lose money. Miss the order and you cannot proceed.

This guide is a month-by-month checklist for the last 90 days, built around one principle: do things in the right order. Most of the costly mistakes foreign residents make when leaving Korea are sequencing errors, not paperwork errors.

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The 90-60-30-14-0 day timeline

90 days out: lay the groundwork

Decide whether to apply for a re-entry permit (재입국허가). If there is any chance you will return inside your visa's validity period, apply at HiKorea before you leave. This preserves your visa and ARC. Without one, leaving Korea and staying abroad beyond your allowed period cancels your visa automatically.

Notify your employer in writing (contract notice periods usually apply: 30 days standard, sometimes 60 for senior roles). Request written confirmation of: final working day, severance calculation, whether an IRP transfer will be used, 퇴직연말정산 procedure, and final unused-leave payout.

Notify your landlord in writing (내용증명 preferred) with your intended move-out date. Notice periods are governed by your contract, not by statute: the Housing Lease Protection Act (주택임대차보호법) sets a 6-month-to-2-month renewal or non-renewal notice window before contract end. For mid-contract early termination, common practice is 3 months notice for wolse (monthly rent, 월세) and 3-6 months for jeonse (deposit lease, 전세), but check your contract because there is no statutory floor. Early termination commonly costs the next tenant's agent fee plus your pro-rated share of the landlord's agent fee. Korean brokerage fees are regulated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on a tiered scale of 0.3% to 0.9% by transaction value and contract type; for wolse the fee base uses the 환산보증금 (conversion deposit) formula of deposit plus the annual-rent equivalent. This is practice, not statute, so confirm it in your contract.

Start shipping research. Get quotes from common international relocation providers (CJ Logistics, Hanjin, Seven Seas, Asian Tigers, Crown Relocations among them). As a rough range, sea freight takes 6-10 weeks and costs roughly ₩2–5M for a 2-person apartment; air freight takes 1-2 weeks and costs 3-4 times as much. Rates are market-driven and route-dependent, so collect several quotes. Book at 60 days out.

Pet export planning (if applicable). Start APQA paperwork, rabies titer test, destination country import rules. Some jurisdictions require 3-month lead times.

60 days out: bookings and paperwork

Book your movers. Confirm pickup date 2-3 days before flight departure.

Request a letter of employment and 경력증명서 (certificate of career) from HR. You will need these for visa applications in your next country, for home-country pension verification, and for any future job reference.

Request preliminary 근로소득 원천징수영수증 (year-to-date withholding receipt). The final version comes at termination.

Contact NHIS to understand your final-month billing and any refund. If you were on household-based premium (지역가입자) and overpaid early in the year, there may be a refund. Your 세대주 (household head) status affects the final calculation.

Book your flight. International flights from ICN have the best tax-refund availability (Korean VAT refund on duty-free shopping) and the largest pet-cabin bookings.

Apply for destination-country visas if needed.

30 days out: execute

Final deep-clean audit of the apartment. Document everything with photos (date-stamped). Walls, floors, appliance state, fixtures. Damage claims on deposit are common, and evidence is your only protection.

Utility disconnection bookings. Submit requests with your move-out date for electricity (KEPCO, 123), gas (도시가스, local company number), water (local 상수도사업본부), internet/TV (KT/SKB/LG U+), and apartment 관리비. Provide a forwarding address for any final bill; most utilities allow auto-debit cancellation only after the final bill clears.

Cancel standing orders and subscriptions. Coupang Rocket, Baemin, Market Kurly, streaming services, gym, any auto-debit from your Korean bank account.

Confirm severance amount in writing with employer.

Mail forwarding. Korea Post offers a 3-month domestic forwarding service at any 우체국. International forwarding is limited; plan on closing services rather than forwarding overseas.

14 days out: final settlements

퇴직연말정산 (mid-year tax settlement, 중도퇴사 연말정산) runs at your termination payroll, typically with the final paycheck. Your employer should provide:

• Final 근로소득 원천징수영수증
• 퇴직소득 원천징수영수증 (for severance)
• 지급명세서

Severance pay must land within 14 days of your last working day under the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법). By law severance is transferred into your IRP (small-amount exceptions allow direct cash payment for very low balances). See our severance pay guide for the mechanics and the authoritative threshold.

Move out and deposit return. By Korean law, the landlord must return the deposit when you move out and the keys change hands. If they refuse or delay past your departure date:

• Send an 내용증명 letter (any Korea Post branch; a base fee plus per-page charges, roughly ₩4,000–₩10,000 for a short document)
• If deposit is HUG- or SGI-insured, file the claim immediately
• File 임차권등기명령 (lien) at the local court to preserve your rights before leaving
• If you are on a wolse with modest deposit, a civil small-claims case is often the fastest route once overseas

7 days out: wrap up

Cancel Korean credit cards in person at a bank branch (some banks allow phone/online; most require in-person). Any outstanding installment payments (할부) must be paid off or transferred.

Close or convert bank accounts. Decide which one to keep open (keep at least one for 6 months post-departure). Transfer final balances to home-country bank via Wise, WireBarley, SentBe, or your bank's international wire. Korean remittance limits for foreigners and non-residents: up to US$50,000 per calendar year without supporting documents after you designate a foreign-exchange bank. Single transfers above US$5,000 require the bank designation, and total annual transfers over US$100,000 are automatically reported to the NTS.

Investment accounts. Sell or transfer KRX stocks, ISA, ETF positions. Move crypto off Korean exchanges (Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone) to a self-custodied wallet or overseas exchange before you cancel your ARC, because many exchange withdrawal flows require an active ARC and a linked Korean bank account. Capital gains tax in Korea on listed stocks: most retail foreign investors are not subject to Korean capital gains tax on listed shares unless they qualify as a major shareholder (a 1% stake or ₩5 billion or more in holdings in a listed company). Real estate and certain non-listed stocks follow different rules. Korean crypto capital gains tax has been delayed multiple times; the current scheduled start date is January 1, 2027, with a flat 22% on annual gains above a ₩2.5 million basic deduction. Throughout 2026 individual crypto gains remain tax-exempt. Verify the latest status before relying on this date.

Departure day

Airport:

• Claim VAT refund at ICN Terminal 1 or 2 kiosks before security (duty-free purchases)
• If going through customs with large shipments or valuable items, declare them

On arrival home:

• Store all Korean receipts, tax documents, bank statements (you will need them for NPS refund application, home-country tax filing)

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Critical sequencing: never do these out of order

1. Severance pay, then ARC cancellation. If you cancel the ARC first, the IRP withdrawal may be blocked pending reinstatement. Wait until severance hits the account.

2. NPS refund application, then bank account closure. The pension refund can be paid to a Korean bank account, to an overseas account (provide your SWIFT or BIC code at application), or as cash in one of 16 foreign currencies at the Incheon Airport NPS desk on your departure day (Terminal 1, 1st floor arrivals near Exit 2, weekdays 09:00-18:00). Keeping a Korean account is one option, not the default. If you choose the Korean-account route, keep that account alive.

3. Deposit return, then move out. If the landlord has not paid the deposit by move-out date, hold back on surrendering keys until you have filed a 임차권등기 lien. Once you leave, recovering without that lien is legally harder.

4. 퇴직연말정산 complete, then ARC cancellation. Your employer must run the settlement while you are still technically a Korean resident. If you cancel the ARC first, some deduction paths close.

5. Pet export certificate, then flight booking confirmation. APQA will not issue the health certificate more than a few days before departure. Book flights on dates that give your vet time to complete the paperwork window.

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NPS pension refund (반환일시금)

The National Pension Service returns your employee contributions in a lump sum (반환일시금) when you leave Korea permanently. If you held an E-8, E-9, or H-2 visa, you are eligible regardless of nationality. This is how most EPS workers, including Vietnamese, Filipino, Indonesian, and Thai workers, claim.

Eligibility runs through three independent routes, and you only need to meet one:

• By visa. Anyone who held an E-8, E-9, or H-2 visa qualifies regardless of nationality.
• By bilateral social security agreement. Citizens of the 24 countries with an agreement that includes a lump-sum refund (US, Germany, Canada, Australia, France, Philippines, India, Argentina, and others) qualify by treaty.
• By reciprocity. Citizens of around 25 countries where Korean nationals can receive an equivalent benefit (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and others) qualify on reciprocity grounds.

Generally not eligible for a lump sum (unless they qualify by the visa route):

• Chinese citizens. The Korea-China Social Security Agreement provides contribution exemption for posted workers but does not totalize coverage periods toward the Chinese pension.
• Japanese citizens. Korea and Japan do not have a comprehensive social security agreement.
• F-2, F-4, F-5, or F-6 long-term residents from countries with no agreement and no reciprocity, who are treated the same as Korean nationals and need 10 years of contributions for a regular pension.

Note that your refund amount depends on the contribution rates that applied during your working years. The combined NPS contribution rate is rising under the 2025 reform, from 9% toward 13% by 2033.

To apply:

1. Apply within 5 years of departure (the statute of limitations under National Pension Act Article 115). If you reach age 60 later, a separate 10-year window opens.
2. Submit your application with: passport copy, ARC if you still hold it, proof of permanent departure, bank account details (Korean account, or overseas account with SWIFT or BIC code), and a tax residency certificate from your home country (important for treaty benefits and reduced withholding)
3. Submit online via the NPS English portal, by mail to an NPS branch, or as cash at the Incheon Airport NPS desk on departure day
4. Typical processing: 2-4 weeks after a complete application

See our pension refund guide for full detail.

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Housing: deposit return and lease termination

The Korean Housing Lease Protection Act (주택임대차보호법) sets default rules, but most disputes are resolved contractually. Key points:

Lease termination

• Notice period: set by your contract, not by statute. The Housing Lease Protection Act sets only a 6-month-to-2-month renewal or non-renewal window before contract end. For mid-contract early termination, common practice is 3 months for wolse and 3-6 months for jeonse, but there is no statutory floor, so check your contract.
• Early termination penalty: the tenant usually pays the next-tenant agent fee plus a pro-rated share of the landlord's agent fee (this is a practice, not a law; check your contract)
• Written notice required (내용증명 preferred for disputes)

Deposit return timing

The landlord must return the deposit when you move out and hand over keys. If they delay:

• Send an 내용증명 within 1-2 days of the intended return date
• If deposit is HUG-insured (verify your jeonse 전세보증금 반환보증 contract), file insurance claim
• If deposit is SGI-insured, same
• File 임차권등기명령 at the local district court to preserve your claim rank before leaving Korea
• Small claims (소액사건심판) for amounts under ₩30M are faster than full civil court; claims up to ₩20M can use the simplified oral-statement track

See our deposit return guide for the full process.

Utility final bills

Arrange auto-debit cancellation after the final bill clears (usually 30-45 days post-disconnection). Leave a small buffer in the Korean bank account to cover these tails.

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Bank accounts and closing finances

Keep one account open

Regular Korean banks (KB, Shinhan, Woori, Hana, NH) generally allow foreign residents to keep an account after departure, usually converting to a non-resident account (비거주자계좌) with more restricted features. This account will receive:

• NPS pension refund (if sent to Korea)
• Final year tax refund
• Any deferred severance or bonus
• Utility final settlements

Budget 6-12 months post-departure for this account to remain active.

Online banks

K-Bank, Toss Bank, Kakao Bank tighten non-resident rules. Check with the bank before leaving, as some require a Korean address and active ARC. Transfer balances to a traditional bank account you intend to keep.

Remittance out

Final transfers: Wise, WireBarley, SentBe, Global Remit for service-based transfers. Your bank's international wire for large transfers. Typical fees on a ₩50M transfer: Wise ~0.5%, bank wire ~1-2% plus intermediary bank fees.

Korean outbound remittance limits for foreigners and non-residents: up to US$50,000 per calendar year without supporting documents after you designate a foreign-exchange bank. Single transfers above US$5,000 require the bank designation, and total annual transfers over US$100,000 are automatically reported to the NTS.

Credit cards

Most Korean credit cards require in-person cancellation. Outstanding 할부 (installments) must be paid off or transferred to another card. Cards auto-close 1-2 years post-inactivity, but proactive cancellation avoids annual fees.

Investment accounts

• KRX stocks / ETFs / ISA: sell through your broker (KB Securities, Mirae, Samsung, Kiwoom), wait for settlement (T+2), transfer cash to bank, remit out
• Crypto: move it off Korean exchanges (Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone) to a self-custodied wallet or overseas exchange before you cancel your ARC, because withdrawal flows require an active ARC and a linked Korean bank account. Korean crypto capital gains tax is currently scheduled to start January 1, 2027 (a flat 22% on annual gains above a ₩2.5 million deduction), not 2026; verify the latest status before relying on this date
• IRP / 연금저축: cannot be withdrawn until ARC cancellation (or age 55)

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Tax settlement: what happens after you leave

퇴직연말정산 (exit year-end settlement)

Your employer runs this at termination using deductions available at that moment. This is preliminary; you can file a comprehensive 종합소득세 return the following May to claim any deductions Hometax could not yet populate (overseas dependents, late medical evidence, donations).

See our year-end tax settlement guide for mechanics.

Non-employment income before you leave

If you have non-employment income (rental, freelance, or business income) that your employer cannot reconcile, you have two options: file a 종합소득세 (comprehensive income tax) return before departure, or appoint a 납세관리인 (Korean tax agent) under National Tax Basic Act Article 82 to file on your behalf the following May. Most foreign residents on a single Class-A salary do not need this.

Post-departure Korean tax obligations

• No ongoing Korean filing unless you have Korean-source income (rental from Korean property, director fees, sales of Korean stocks by non-residents above CGT threshold)
• Korean-source income as non-resident: flat 20-22% withholding on rental, 22% on capital gains above thresholds

Home-country tax filings

• US citizens: file Form 1040 covering Korean income up to departure; FBAR (FinCEN 114) for any Korean accounts over $10K aggregate at any point in the year; Form 8938 if higher thresholds met; consider FEIE (Form 2555) for earned income
• UK, Canada, Australia: departure triggers tax residency reassessment; file a final resident return or split-year return
• Non-US, non-UK/CA/AU: home-country tax rules on Korean income vary widely; check with a tax specialist

Request from your employer and file safely:

• 근로소득 원천징수영수증
• 퇴직소득 원천징수영수증
• Korean tax residency certificate (from NTS, used to claim tax treaty benefits at home)

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Customs and shipping your belongings

Returning resident exemption

Korea does not impose duty on the export of personal effects, so there is nothing to clear on the Korean side. Most destination countries offer a "returning resident" or "transfer of residence" exemption from import duty on used household goods (clothing, furniture, appliances) if you can document at least 6 to 12 months of residence abroad. Check your destination country's rules, because the lead time and documentation vary widely. The Korea Customs Service "Moving to Korea" page governs the reverse direction, the import of belongings into Korea.

Prohibited exports

• Korean cultural property over 50 years old
• Certain controlled medicines (varies by destination)
• Large cash above declaration thresholds (US$10,000 equivalent out of Korea, about ₩13M at current rates and including Korean won; US$10,000 into most destination countries)
• Pets without APQA health certificate
• Live plants (phytosanitary certificate required)

Voltage differences

Korea is 220V/60Hz. US/Japan 110V, UK/EU 230V/50Hz. Most recent electronics are auto-switching (check the label). Major appliances may need step-up/step-down converters or be sold rather than shipped.

Shipping documents

• Passport copy
• ARC copy (or proof of cancellation, depending on mover)
• Inventory list (Korean + English)
• Proof of residence in Korea over 1 year (lease, tax receipts)

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Pets: APQA export process

Korea requires an export health certificate from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) for any pet leaving the country:

1. Microchip: must be ISO 11784-compliant, implanted before rabies vaccination
2. Rabies vaccination: valid vaccine within 1 year, rabies titer test (FAVN) at an APQA-approved lab if your destination requires it (EU, UK, Japan, Australia: yes). Korea sets no domestic waiting period after the titer test, but those destinations count a lead time of 90 to 180 days from the blood draw, so start early
3. Health certificate: issued by APQA 7-10 days before departure
4. Destination country import rules: check before booking; some require 30-day quarantine, some are permit-based

Expect total cost ₩500K–₩1.5M for a dog/cat to Europe or North America, including airline fees (₩400K–₩800K cargo or cabin).

Pet relocation specialists can handle the paperwork end-to-end for roughly ₩1–2M in service fees. Confirm any provider is currently operating and licensed before you pay a deposit.

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Family and legal matters

Korean-born children

If born in Korea to foreign parents, the child holds your home-country citizenship through parentage (Korea is jus sanguinis, not jus soli). Confirm your home country's birth registration process at your embassy in Korea before leaving.

F-6 divorce departure

If F-6 is cancelled due to divorce, a 6-month grace period may apply if children under 18 are involved or if the marriage lasted a certain period. Consult an immigration lawyer before the divorce is finalized.

Life insurance and annuities

Korean life insurance products (보장성 / 저축성) often have heavy surrender penalties in the first 7-10 years. Decide whether to surrender, continue premium payments from abroad, or assign the policy to a Korean family member.

Korean assets after departure

If you keep Korean real estate, you remain subject to acquisition tax, property tax, and income tax on rental at non-resident rates. Engage a Korean 세무사 (tax accountant) to handle annual filings.

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What to do next

Pick your departure date. Work backwards from it using this timeline. Key milestones:

• T-90: notify employer, landlord; start mover and pet research
• T-60: book movers; confirm NPS eligibility; apply for destination visas
• T-30: bookings complete; utility disconnection scheduled; final apartment photos
• T-14: severance paid; 퇴직연말정산 complete; move out; deposit returned
• T-7: close cards, transfer balances, keep one bank account open
• T-0: fly out with all tax documents and employer certificates in hand

Then post-departure:

• T+14: apply for NPS pension refund (requires ARC cancellation confirmation)
• T+30-60: pension refund lands in bank account
• T+90: final utility bills settle, remaining balance transferred out
• Following May: 종합소득세 filing for any unreported income from final year

If your situation has complications (divorce, unpaid deposit, contractor severance dispute, US tax), build in 2-3 months of additional buffer and engage specialists early. The most expensive mistakes in leaving Korea come from rushed decisions in the last 2 weeks, not from the first 2 months.

For immediate help, call 1345 (Immigration, around 20 languages including English, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Chinese) or 1350 (Labor Ministry, Korean primary with interpretation support for major languages). Both are free.

@misc{seoulstart-leaving-korea-guide,
  author = {{Seoulstart Editorial Team}},
  title = {{Leaving Korea: The Complete Departure Checklist for Foreign Residents}},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Seoulstart},
  url = {https://seoulstart.com/guides/leaving-korea-guide},
  note = {Last updated June 4, 2026}
}