Korea National Health Insurance (NHIS) Guide for Foreign Residents

How does Korean healthcare work for foreign residents?

National Health Insurance (국민건강보험공단, NHIS) enrollment is mandatory for foreign residents on a long-stay visa who live in Korea for six months or more. Employed workers pay the 2026 employee rate of 7.19% of salary, split evenly: 3.595% comes from your paycheck and 3.595% from your employer. Handle enrollment, payments, and questions at any NHIS branch or at nhis.or.kr.

Most foreign residents spend their first six months in Korea paying for every doctor visit out of pocket. National Health Insurance (국민건강보험공단, NHIS) is excellent once you are enrolled: hospitals are modern, well-staffed, and inexpensive by international standards. The gap is the wait. Automatic NHIS enrollment for most foreigners does not kick in until six months after arrival.

What NHIS covers once enrolled:

• 60–80% of doctor visits, clinics, and hospital stays
• 60–80% of most prescription medications
• Most surgeries and inpatient care
• Basic lab tests and imaging (CT, X-ray)
• Medically necessary MRI ordered by a doctor

What NHIS does NOT fully cover:

• Most dental care (cleanings, fillings, orthodontics)
• Vision correction (glasses, contacts, LASIK)
• Elective or screening MRIs (not ordered by a doctor for a clinical reason)
• PET scans (covered for cancer patients; excluded otherwise)
• Cosmetic procedures
• Private ambulance fees (the 119 national fire service ambulance is free for everyone)
• Premium hospital room upgrades
• Some specialist consultations

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Why do foreign residents wait 6 months for NHIS?

Foreigners on long-stay visas (D, E, F series) are automatically enrolled in National Health Insurance (국민건강보험) after six months of continuous residence in Korea, a rule introduced in 2019. Employed workers are enrolled from day one through their employer as workplace subscribers (직장가입자). D-2 students, D-4-3 language students, F-5 residents, F-6 marriage migrants, and E-9 workers are also exempt from the wait.

What counts as continuous residence: You must be physically present in Korea for six months. Trips abroad of less than 30 days generally do not interrupt the count, but extended absences can reset it.

Exceptions: you are enrolled from day one if:

• You are employed by a Korean company (your employer registers you immediately as a workplace subscriber, 직장가입자)
• You hold an F-5 (permanent resident) or F-6 (marriage migrant) visa
• You hold an E-9 (non-professional employment) visa
• You are a D-2 student (auto-enrolled from ARC registration date; see the D-2 section below)
• You are a D-4-3 (elementary, middle, or high school language student) visa holder

If you are self-employed or unemployed: You become a regional subscriber (지역가입자) and pay premiums directly. You are still subject to the six-month wait unless one of the exceptions above applies. Call NHIS (1577-1000 ext. 6, English available) to discuss your specific situation.

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How do you check if you are already enrolled in NHIS?

Three ways to confirm your NHIS enrollment status after the six-month mark: log in to the English portal at nhis.or.kr, call the multilingual hotline 1577-1000 extension 6 (English, Chinese, Uzbek, Vietnamese), or walk into any NHIS branch with your ARC. A physical health insurance card (건강보험증) is mailed to your registered address, but in practice clinics look you up by ARC number rather than the card.

After six months in Korea, check your NHIS enrollment status:

1. Visit www.nhis.or.kr and use the English version
2. Call NHIS: 1577-1000 (multilingual support including English, press ext. 6)
3. Visit an NHIS branch in person with your ARC

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How do you use NHIS at Korean clinics and hospitals?

Present your ARC at reception, and the clinic looks up your enrollment and charges only the patient copay (본인부담금). Outpatient copay rates scale by facility type: roughly 30% at a local clinic (의원), 40% at a hospital (병원), and 50% at a general hospital (종합병원). At a tertiary general hospital (상급종합병원) the consultation fee is paid in full and the rest of the covered cost is at 60%. You pay at the reception desk after treatment and receive an itemized receipt (진료비 영수증).

Step 1: Choose a clinic type

For most routine needs, go to a local clinic (의원). They are affordable, fast, and available without appointments in most cases. To find clinics and hospitals near you that accept NHIS and have English-speaking staff, see Seoulstart's healthcare directory.

Step 2: Present your ARC

When registering at reception, give them your ARC. The receptionist will look up your NHIS enrollment. If you are enrolled, you pay only the patient copay.

Step 3: Pay the copay

After your consultation, pay at the reception desk. Most clinics accept cash and cards. You will receive an itemized receipt (진료비 영수증).

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Do you need a referral to use a big hospital?

Korea runs a two-step referral system under the NHIS rules (요양급여 규칙 제2조), and it changes what you pay at the top tier. For routine care you walk into any local clinic (의원) with no referral. But to use a tertiary general hospital (상급종합병원), the highest tier that includes names like Samsung Medical Center, Severance, Asan, and Seoul National University Hospital, NHIS requires a referral letter (진료의뢰서) from a clinic or smaller hospital first. Without one, NHIS does not apply to your first outpatient consultation at the tertiary hospital and you pay 100% of the NHIS-scheduled fee for that visit (건강보험 수가의 100% 본인부담), not the usual ~60% copay. The penalty applies to that consultation only: once you are admitted or scheduled for treatment, tests, and follow-up, standard NHIS coverage applies.

Several cases are exempt from the referral rule, including emergencies, childbirth (분만), dental treatment (치과), family medicine (가정의학과), rehabilitation medicine for registered disabled patients, and hemophilia patients. The middle tier, a general hospital (종합병원), is looser: a referral can lower your cost but is not required to be seen.

How to get a referral (진료의뢰서): Go to a local clinic (의원) first, explain that you need to see a specialist at a larger hospital, and ask for a referral letter. The clinic prints it for you to take to the bigger hospital. International healthcare centers at major hospitals can help foreign patients coordinate this step and schedule within the hospital's system, so ask the center when you book.

Bring the referral on the first visit. If you pay the full no-referral price and submit a referral on a later date, NHIS benefit applies from the submission date forward, not retroactively to the first consultation. If you cannot get a referral before your first visit, get one before you return.

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How is the NHIS premium calculated for employed workers?

Workplace subscribers (직장가입자) pay a total NHIS premium of 7.19% of monthly salary at the 2026 rate (effective January 1, 2026, per MOHW), split evenly: 3.595% deducted from your pay and 3.595% paid by your employer. At a ₩3,000,000 monthly salary, that works out to ₩107,850 from each side. NHIS revises the rate annually, so verify the current figure at nhis.or.kr before relying on older numbers.

If you are employed by a Korean company, your employer handles enrollment and deducts premiums automatically.

How the premium is calculated (rates are revised annually; verify at www.nhis.or.kr):

• Total rate: 7.19% of monthly salary (2026 rate, effective Jan 1, 2026), split evenly.
• Your share: 3.595% (deducted from your salary)
• Employer share: 3.595% (paid by your employer)

Example (at the 2026 rate): Monthly salary of ₩3,000,000:

• Total NHIS premium: ₩215,700
• Your deduction: ₩107,850/month
• Employer contribution: ₩107,850/month

Check your pay stub. NHIS deductions appear as 건강보험.

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How do you enroll in NHIS as a freelancer or self-employed regional subscriber?

Freelancers and self-employed foreign residents enroll as regional subscribers (지역가입자) by visiting an NHIS branch or one of the five Centers for Foreign Residents with their ARC and income documentation (or a no-income declaration). NHIS calculates a contribution score from household income, property, and vehicle ownership, then bills you directly each month. For many foreign regional subscribers the calculation differs from the rule that applies to Korean nationals: if the contribution-score result is below the previous November's all-subscriber average premium, the premium is raised to that average for the following January through December.

How the regional subscriber premium is calculated

NHIS assigns you a contribution score based on three factors: household income, property holdings, and automobile ownership. Your monthly premium is calculated as:

Monthly premium = Contribution score × ₩211.5 per point (2026 rate; ₩208.4 in 2025). Verify the current figure at nhis.or.kr.

For foreign regional subscribers, the minimum is set differently than for Korean nationals. Under the MOHW administrative rule for long-term resident foreigners (장기체류 재외국민 및 외국인에 대한 건강보험 적용기준), if the score-based calculation falls below the previous November's all-subscriber average premium, that average premium is used for the following January through December. Verify the current year's billed amount with NHIS.

Reductions are available for certain groups: 50% for residents of designated remote-island and border regions (도서·벽지), 22% for residents of agricultural and fishing villages (농어촌), plus reductions for some vulnerable households. Ask NHIS whether you qualify when you enroll.

Documents to bring

• ARC (Alien Registration Card)
• Income documentation or a no-income declaration (if you have no declared income in Korea)
• Proof of address (your ARC address is usually sufficient)

If you have income from overseas, bring a statement showing the amount. NHIS will assess this as part of your contribution score.

Where to enroll in person

NHIS Centers for Foreign Residents (5 locations):

• Seoul: 3rd floor, Sindorim Technomart, 97 Saemal-ro, Guro-gu (near Sindorim Station, Line 1/2, exits 2–3)
• Ansan: Serves Ansan, Siheung, Gunpo, Anyang, Uiwang, and Gwacheon
• Suwon: Serves Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, and surrounding areas
• Incheon: Serves Incheon, Bucheon, Gimpo, and Gwangmyeong
• Uijeongbu: Serves Uijeongbu, Namyangju, and surrounding areas

Centers typically operate weekdays 9:00 AM–6:00 PM, matching the NHIS phone service hours. Call 1577-1000 before visiting to confirm the specific center's schedule.

Phone support: Call 1577-1000 ext. 6 (direct line: 033-811-2000). Languages available: English, Chinese, Uzbek, Vietnamese.

What happens at the branch

Take a number at the counter, present your documents, and NHIS staff will calculate your contribution score and confirm your monthly premium. You do not need to wait weeks for a decision. Your health insurance card (건강보험증) is mailed to your registered address within a few days.

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D-2 student enrollment (auto-enrolled since March 2021)

If you hold a D-2 (international student) visa, you do not wait six months. D-2 holders have been mandatory NHIS enrollees since March 1, 2021. Your university does not control your enrollment; NHIS enrolls you automatically based on your ARC registration date.

Premium reduction for D-2 students:

• March 2021 – February 2022: 70% reduction
• March 2022 – February 2023: 60% reduction
• March 2023 onward: 50% reduction (current)

D-4-3 (elementary, middle, and high school language students) are also enrolled immediately, with no six-month wait. D-10 (job-seeker) visa holders follow the standard regional subscriber rules; confirm your status with NHIS directly.

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How do you enroll family members as NHIS dependents?

Family members who meet the dependent (피부양자) eligibility rules can be covered under your NHIS policy at no additional premium. Since April 3, 2024, most dependents need six months of Korea residency before they can be added, though a workplace subscriber's spouse and children under 19 are exempt. Dependents must also pass income and property thresholds.

If your family members are in Korea with you, they may qualify for coverage under your NHIS policy as dependents (피부양자). Dependents do not pay separate premiums.

The April 2024 rule

Since April 3, 2024, most dependents must have lived in Korea for six months before they can be added to your policy. The health ministry introduced this rule to prevent relatives from traveling to Korea solely for medical care.

Exempt from the 6-month wait:

• Workplace subscriber's spouse
• Workplace subscriber's children under 19

Who qualifies as a dependent

Eligible relationships under NHIS rules:

• Spouse
• Lineal ascendants (parents, grandparents, including spouse's parents and grandparents)
• Lineal descendants (children, grandchildren) and their spouses
• Unmarried siblings who are over 65, under 30, disabled, or national merit recipients

Income and property thresholds

To qualify, the dependent must meet both conditions:

• Annual income: Total income from all sources must be below ₩20,000,000/year. Different income limits can apply for disabled persons or national merit recipients; confirm the current figure with NHIS.
• Property: Property tax base must be below ₩540,000,000. If the property tax base is between ₩540,000,000 and ₩900,000,000, annual income must be ₩10,000,000 or less. For siblings, the property limit is ₩180,000,000.

Documents required for foreign dependents

• ARC or residence report for the dependent
• Family relationship certificate from the foreign government (for example, a birth certificate or marriage certificate)
• Apostille authentication or MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) confirmation
• Korean-notarized translation if the document is not in Korean
• Documents must be dated within nine months of the application

Take these to the NHIS branch that handles your subscriber account (for workplace subscribers, this is the branch managing your employer's account). Staff will guide you through the dependent registration form.

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If your employer provides foreign insurance: the exemption waiver

Foreign residents with equivalent employer-provided international insurance or coverage under a bilateral social security agreement can apply to opt out of NHIS. File the application form (재외국민 및 외국인 근로자 건강보험 가입 제외 신청서) at your local NHIS branch before you pay your first premium, or within 14 days of your first premium payment if you have already started paying. Filed in time, the exemption applies retroactively to your qualification date. Approval is not guaranteed, and the exemption typically requires annual renewal.

Some foreign residents arrive with an employer-provided international insurance package. You can apply to opt out of NHIS if you have equivalent coverage through foreign insurance.

Who this applies to: Foreign residents with an ARC who are subject to mandatory NHIS enrollment and hold foreign insurance or are covered under a bilateral social security agreement.

How to apply:

1. Complete the form: 재외국민 및 외국인 근로자 건강보험 가입 제외 신청서 (Application for Exemption from NHIS Enrollment for Overseas Koreans and Foreign Workers)
2. Submit in person or by fax to your local NHIS branch
3. Submit before paying your first premium, or within 14 days of your first premium payment if you have already started paying; filed in time, the exemption applies retroactively to your qualification date
4. Approval is not guaranteed

Coverage equivalence: NHIS requires that your foreign insurance provides coverage equivalent to NHIS benefits. Secondary sources report this means at least ₩1 billion in lifetime coverage; confirm your specific policy meets NHIS requirements directly with your local branch before applying.

The exemption is reported to last one year and requires annual renewal; confirm current renewal requirements with NHIS when you apply.

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Unpaid premiums and your visa

If premiums remain unpaid, NHIS can restrict your coverage until you clear the overdue balance. The late fee (연체금) is a daily charge: 0.1% per day for the first 30 days past the due date (capped at 3% of the arrears), then an additional 0.033% (one three-thousandth) per day after that, with the combined cap at 9% of the arrears. The bigger risk is at immigration: if you have unpaid NHIS premiums when you apply to extend, the rule is count-based, not a won-amount threshold. For the first to third unpaid month, Korea Immigration can cap your visa extension at six months or less; from the fourth unpaid month it can deny the extension. Call 1577-1000 before missing a payment. NHIS can set up a payment plan, and resolving the issue early is far simpler than clearing a stay-period cap later.

• Late fee (연체금): 0.1% per day for the first 30 days past the due date (capped at 3% of the arrears), then an additional 0.033% (one three-thousandth) per day after that, with the combined cap at 9% of the arrears.
• Benefit suspension: If premiums remain unpaid, NHIS can restrict your coverage until you clear the overdue balance.
• Visa extension: Korea Immigration runs a pre-extension arrears check on every foreign resident applying to extend or change visa status. The check is count-based, not a won-amount threshold: if you have unpaid health-insurance premiums, Immigration can cap the stay period of your next extension at six months or less for the first to third unpaid month, and from the fourth unpaid month it can deny the extension. Clear any arrears before applying. The program launched in August 2019 (Ministry of Justice with MOHW and NHIS). Source: Korea Immigration Service (immigration.go.kr).

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Your free annual health checkup (건강검진)

The free health checkup (건강검진) is one of the most underused benefits in NHIS. All NHIS enrollees aged 20 and over are eligible, fully covered at 0% patient share. The general checkup runs every two years for all enrollees aged 20 and over, with eligibility tied to your birth year (odd birth years in odd calendar years, even in even). Non-office workers covered as workplace subscribers (비사무직 직장가입자) are eligible annually. Scheduled cancer screenings are also covered, with 0% patient share for colorectal and cervical cancer and 10% for most others.

How often

The general checkup runs every two years for all enrollees aged 20 and over. Non-office workers covered as workplace subscribers (비사무직 직장가입자) are eligible annually. Eligibility is tied to birth year: odd birth years are eligible in odd calendar years, even birth years in even calendar years. Confirm your specific eligibility on the NHIS portal each year, as schedules can vary.

What is included

The general checkup covers approximately 17 items. Typical components include: blood pressure, height, weight, BMI, vision and hearing, blood panel (glucose, cholesterol, hemoglobin, creatinine), urine analysis, chest X-ray, oral health exam, and a health questionnaire. For the authoritative list of all items, see nhis.or.kr/english/wbheaa02700m01.do.

Additional screenings are added by age:

• Age 40 and over: diabetes and hypertension screening included
• Age 65 and over: functional capacity assessment

Cancer screenings by age

NHIS also covers cancer screenings on a scheduled basis:

The general checkup itself is fully covered at 0% patient share.

How to book

Find an NHIS-participating clinic that offers 건강검진 through the NHIS website or by calling 1577-1000. If your checkup includes blood work, you will need to fast for eight hours beforehand. Booking in the morning is practical for this reason. Bring your ARC.

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Understanding your medical bill

Korean medical bills split every charge into two categories. Knowing the difference prevents surprises.

Covered (급여) vs Non-covered (비급여)

급여 (covered): NHIS pays its share and you pay a copay. The copay rate is roughly 30% at a local clinic (의원), 40% at a hospital (병원), and 50% at a general hospital (종합병원), rising further at a tertiary general hospital (상급종합병원). This is your 본인부담금.

비급여 (non-covered): NHIS pays nothing. You pay the full provider-set price. The clinic is not required to follow any price schedule for these items.

Common 비급여 items that surprise patients:

• Elective or screening MRI and CT (not ordered by a doctor for a diagnosed condition)
• Premium private hospital rooms (2-person or single rooms, unless medically necessary)
• Dental implants and most orthodontics
• Cosmetic procedures
• Selective injections and IV drips
• Chuna (추나) manual therapy at oriental medicine clinics

Reading your 진료비 영수증

Your itemized receipt (진료비 영수증) lists 급여 and 비급여 charges in separate columns. The total you pay is the sum of your covered copay plus the full 비급여 charges. If a line item looks high, ask the reception staff whether it is 급여 or 비급여 before paying.

The annual copay ceiling (본인부담상한제)

NHIS sets an annual ceiling on how much you pay in covered (급여) copayments. If your total 급여 copays in a calendar year exceed the ceiling, NHIS reimburses you for the excess at year-end.

2025 ceilings by income decile (as of 2025; verify at nhis.or.kr/english/wbheaa02600m01.do):

• Decile 1 (lowest income): ₩890,000/year
• Decile 10 (highest income): ₩8,260,000/year
• Middle deciles: ceiling scales between these two amounts based on your income level

비급여 charges are not counted toward the ceiling. Only 급여 copays count. If you face high medical costs in a year, keep all your 진료비 영수증 receipts. NHIS processes the reimbursement automatically for most patients, but having your receipts helps if there is a discrepancy.

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What to do during the 6-month wait

Three practical options bridge the six-month NHIS wait: pay out of pocket at Korean uninsured rates (roughly ₩30,000 to ₩80,000 for a consultation and ₩5,000 to ₩15,000 for typical medication), buy short-term private health insurance, or use whatever travel insurance you arrived with. For healthy arrivals without chronic conditions, paying out of pocket is usually the simplest choice. For F-1-D digital nomad visa applicants, working holiday holders, F-3 dependents, and general D-4 trainees, private insurance is often the right answer, and for F-1-D it is a visa requirement.

Option 1: Pay out of pocket (most practical for healthy arrivals)

Korean clinic visits cost approximately ₩30,000 to ₩80,000 uninsured for a standard consultation. Prescription medication is often ₩5,000 to ₩15,000 at the pharmacy. For occasional visits, this is manageable.

Option 2: Buy short-term private insurance

For readers in the gap-affected categories (F-1-D, working holiday, F-3, general D-4, freelancers without employer enrollment) Seoulstart has a dedicated guide on which plan fits which situation, with honest comparison of nomad insurance, Korean supplemental insurance (실손보험), and international plans: see Private Health Insurance in Korea: Who Needs It and What to Buy.

Option 3: Use home country travel insurance

If your travel insurance from home covers medical care abroad, check the terms carefully. Some policies cover the first six months of a foreign assignment, others cap at 30 to 90 days, and most do not satisfy the F-1-D visa's repatriation requirement. Read the policy before you need it.

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Supplemental insurance (recommended for long-term residents)

NHIS leaves meaningful gaps in dental, vision, and non-covered (비급여) services. A supplemental plan closes most of those gaps. Domestic Korean supplemental insurance (실손보험, silson boheom) is the standard answer for long-term residents who qualify (most products require Korean citizenship or F-2/F-5 permanent residency). E-series and most F-series visa holders who do not yet qualify usually need to look at international supplemental plans through brokers like Pacific Prime Korea, AXA, or Cigna Global.

For a full breakdown of which supplemental option fits which visa and life stage, see the dedicated guide: Private Health Insurance in Korea: Who Needs It and What to Buy.

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Useful contacts

• NHIS hotline: 1577-1000 ext. 6 (English, Chinese, Uzbek, Vietnamese; direct: 033-811-2000)
• NHIS English website: www.nhis.or.kr/english
• NHIS Centers for Foreign Residents: Five locations serving greater Seoul and satellite cities (nhis.or.kr/english/wbheaa02100m01.do)
• Samsung Medical Center International Clinic (Seoul): English-speaking doctors; accepts NHIS and international insurance

Further reading

For national-level context on NHIS coverage for foreign residents (₩1.6 trillion in medical expenses in 2024, up 68% from 2019), see Seoulstart's State of Foreign Residents in Korea 2026 report.

@misc{seoulstart-nhis-enrollment-guide,
  author = {{Seoulstart Editorial Team}},
  title = {{Korea National Health Insurance (NHIS) Guide for Foreign Residents}},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Seoulstart},
  url = {https://seoulstart.com/guides/nhis-enrollment-guide},
  note = {Last updated July 8, 2026}
}