Your first 48 hours.
You do not need to solve Seoul in one day. Prioritise safety, connectivity, money, transport, and a reliable document trail.
- Secure a working phone and a way to pay for transport.
- Confirm where you are staying and keep proof of the address.
- Create one folder for every official document and receipt.
A calm arrival sequence
Complete these in order where possible. A temporary workaround is fine until your residence card and local identity systems are active.
At the airport
- Connect to Wi-Fi and share your arrival plan.
- Keep passport, entry documents, address, and employer or host contact together.
- Choose an airport route that ends close to your actual accommodation.
On the first evening
- Confirm the building entrance code and exact unit address.
- Buy or charge a transport card if you have not already done so.
- Locate the nearest convenience store, pharmacy, and 24-hour help route.
On day one
- Arrange a Korean phone number or suitable temporary SIM.
- Ask your employer, school, or host which registration steps they support.
- Photograph meter readings and the condition of your accommodation.
During the first week
- Book any required immigration visit early.
- Prepare banking and residence-card documents.
- Check health-insurance status and payroll deductions once employment begins.
Write your complete Seoul address in a format you can show a taxi driver, emergency service, bank, clinic, and immigration officer.
Build the foundations
These tasks unlock many of the systems that make everyday life easier.
- 01Confirm your address
Keep the signed lease, accommodation confirmation, or other accepted proof available.
- 02Get connected
Choose a phone plan that matches your visa timeline, device, and need for identity verification.
- 03Start your document file
Store passport copies, contracts, receipts, booking confirmations, and official messages.
- 04Map essential journeys
Test the route to work, immigration, your bank, and the nearest clinic before deadlines.
- 05Book immigration
Check whether your task requires a reservation, online filing, or in-person visit.
- 06Prepare banking proof
Bring identification plus evidence of the account purpose, such as an employment contract.
- 07Check payroll setup
Confirm salary date, account deadline, deductions, and who handles insurance registration.
- 08Join one useful network
Choose a resident centre, professional group, or local community that can answer practical questions.
When a requirement is unclear, record the office, date, channel, and answer you received. Procedures can vary in practice.
Adapted from the digital edition revised 3 October 2026. Individual PDF pages retain their own source-review dates. Not independently verified — confirm official requirements before acting.