How to Report a Lost Alien Registration Card (ARC) Online in Korea

Just realized your Alien Registration Card (ARC) is missing?
Don’t panic. Korea lets you report a lost ARC online in a few minutes, without visiting an immigration office in most cases.
Here’s exactly how the process works, what it does (and doesn’t) do, and what to handle next.

What Should I Do If I Lose My Alien Registration Card in Korea?

The first thing to do is report the loss through HiKorea, Korea’s official immigration portal for foreign residents. In most cases, this can be done entirely online in a few minutes, without a trip to an immigration office.

Your ARC is the identification card issued after you complete foreigner registration once you’re living in Korea (see our guide on how immigration and customs work in Korea if you’re still figuring out the entry-stage basics). It’s used for everything from opening a bank account to signing a phone contract, so a missing card is worth acting on quickly, mainly to prevent someone else from using your registration number.

• Report the loss online through HiKorea as soon as you notice the card is missing
• Keep your registration number or residence card number handy. You’ll need it to file the report
• Plan to apply separately for a replacement card once the loss is reported

What Does Reporting a Lost ARC Online Actually Do?

Filing an online loss report notifies HiKorea that your card may be lost or stolen, which helps prevent someone else from using your registration number fraudulently. According to HiKorea, the report exists only to flag possible misuse. It does not suspend or restore the legal validity of the card itself.

In other words, filing the report is a fraud-prevention notice, not a replacement process, and not a change to your immigration status. Those are two separate things you’ll need to handle on their own.

How to Report a Lost ARC Online via HiKorea (Step by Step)

You can file the report directly on HiKorea’s dedicated lost-card page using your registration number and a quick mobile phone verification. No login or supporting documents are required.

Steps to File the Report

1. Go to HiKorea’s Report Loss of Alien Registration Card page
2. Enter your Alien Registration Card number, or your residence card (거소증) number if you’re an overseas Korean
3. Complete mobile phone authentication to verify your identity
4. Select “loss report” as the report type
5. Submit the report

What You’ll Need

Item	Details
Registration / residence card number	Your ARC or 거소증 number, printed on the card or found in earlier immigration paperwork
Mobile phone verification	Used to confirm your identity before the report is accepted
Report type	Choose “loss report” to file a new report, or “withdrawal” to cancel an earlier one

When Do You Need to Visit an Immigration Office in Person?

Not every situation can be handled through the online form. HiKorea notes that if your case isn’t eligible for the online report, you’ll need to visit the immigration office with jurisdiction over your address in person to file it there instead.

HiKorea doesn’t publish a detailed list of which cases are excluded from the online process. If the form won’t accept your information, or you’re simply not sure whether your situation qualifies, the safest move is to call the Foreigners’ hotline before assuming the online option will work for you.

Can I Withdraw a Lost ARC Report If I Find My Card?

Yes. HiKorea allows you to withdraw a loss report within 24 hours of submitting it, in case you find your card shortly after or reported it by mistake.

To withdraw, go back to the same lost-card page, enter your registration number and complete phone verification again, then select “withdrawal of loss report” instead of “loss report” as the report type.

Do You Need to Apply for a Replacement ARC After Reporting It Lost?

Yes. Filing a loss report only flags your card for fraud prevention. It does not automatically issue you a new one. Reissuing a lost, stolen, or damaged Alien Registration Card is a separate application from the loss report itself.

Because the exact documents, fee, and processing time for reissuance weren’t detailed on HiKorea’s loss-report page, confirm the current requirements before you go, either by calling the Foreigners’ hotline at 1345 or checking HiKorea’s civil affairs application section. As a general order of operations: file the online loss report first, then apply for your replacement card either online through HiKorea’s civil affairs applications (if available for your case) or in person at your local immigration office.

One thing you don’t need to worry about: your visa or legal stay itself. A lost ARC doesn’t change your visa status. See our visa and K-ETA guide for how Korean visas work if you want the bigger picture. The card is proof of your registration, not the registration itself.

Need Help?

Foreigners’ General Information Center 1345

• Phone Number: 1345 (Domestic) / +82-1345 (International)
• Hours: Weekdays 09:00-22:00
• 09:00-18:00: Supported in 20 languages including Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Mongolian
• 18:00-22:00: Korean, English, Chinese

Useful Official Websites

FAQ: Lost ARC Report Questions Answered