NHIS Address for Foreigners in Korea: Official Long-Term Stay Guide

If you’re planning to stay in South Korea for more than six months — whether as a student, worker, or long-term resident — you are legally required to enroll in Korea’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). But where exactly do you go? Which office handles foreigners? What’s the address?

This guide gives you the verified, official NHIS addresses for foreigners in Korea, based directly on information published at nhis.or.kr — the official NHIS website.

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Key Takeaways

• Foreigners staying 6+ months in Korea must enroll in NHIS (mandatory since July 2019)
• NHIS operates 5 dedicated Foreign Resident Centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi/Incheon
• Seoul center: 3F, Sindorim Techno Mart, Guro-gu — reachable via Sindorim Station
• English hotline: 033-811-2000 | General: 1577-1000
• Bring your ARC + passport; employed foreigners enroll automatically via employer

Enrolling in NHIS is mandatory for all foreigners staying in Korea for 6+ months. Source: Pexels

What Is NHIS and Who Operates It?

The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), known in Korean as 국민건강보험공단, is the single public insurer that covers virtually all residents of South Korea — including foreigners on long-term visas. It is not a private company; it is a government-affiliated public corporation established under the National Health Insurance Act.

NHIS headquarters is located at:

NHIS Headquarters (공단 본부)
32 Gungang-ro, Wonju, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, 26464, South Korea
강원특별자치도 원주시 건강로 32 (방곡동)
(Source: nhis.or.kr)

However, for day-to-day services including foreigner enrollment, premium inquiries, and exemption requests, you don’t visit the headquarters in Wonju. Instead, NHIS operates a network of Foreign Resident Centers (외국인민원센터) — which are the correct offices for expats.

Who Must Enroll? Long-Term Stay Rules Explained

As of July 16, 2019, NHIS enrollment became mandatory for nearly all foreigners staying in Korea long-term. The rules differ slightly depending on your employment status and visa type.

Employed Foreigners

If you work for a Korean company, your employer enrolls you from day one of employment, regardless of how long you have been in Korea. Your employer covers 50% of the premium; you pay the other 50% via payroll deduction.

Self-Employed / Local Subscriber Foreigners

If you are not employed, you must enroll once you have stayed continuously in Korea for more than 6 months. Eligible visa categories include (source: NHIS official guidance for foreigners):

• D visas: D-1 through D-10 (Culture, Study, Training, Job-seeking, etc.)
• E visas: E-1 through E-10 (Teaching, Engineering, Arts, etc.)
• F visas: F-1 through F-6 (Visiting family, Permanent Resident, Marriage Migrant, etc.)
• H visas: H-1 (Working Holiday), H-2 (Working Visit)

Automatic Enrollment (ARC-Linked)

Holders of D-2, D-4, E-9, F-5, and F-6 visas are enrolled automatically the moment their Alien Registration Card (ARC) is issued — no separate visit to an NHIS office is needed for enrollment. You will receive a health insurance notice by mail.

NHIS insurance documentation — keep your enrollment notice and ARC together. Source: Pexels

NHIS Foreign Resident Center Addresses (Official)

NHIS operates five dedicated Foreign Resident Centers — all in the Seoul / Gyeonggi / Incheon area, which has the largest concentration of foreign nationals in Korea. These are the official, verified addresses from nhis.or.kr/english/wbheaa02100m01.do.

Center	Address	Transit	Service Area
Seoul	3F, Sindorim Techno Mart, 97 Saemal-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul	Line 1/2 Sindorim Station, Exit 2–3	Seoul (all districts)
Ansan	4F, Kyobo Building, 366 Hwarang-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan	Line 4 Gojan Station, Exit 1	Ansan, Siheung, Gunpo, Anyang, Uiwang, Gwacheon
Suwon	1F, Cheonggung Building, 119 Hyowon-ro, Paldal-gu, Suwon	Bundang Line Maegyo Station, Exit 5	Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, Osan, Seongnam + 6 cities
Incheon	7F, Bupyeongdaero Post Office, 88 Bupyeong-daero, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon	Incheon Line 1 Bupyeong Market Station, Exit 1	Incheon, Bucheon, Gimpo, Gwangmyeong
Uijeongbu	9F, Central Tower, 80 Simin-ro, Uijeongbu	Line 1/Light Rail Uijeongbu Station, Exit 2	Uijeongbu, Namyangju, Gapyeong + 9 cities

Source: NHIS official website — NHIS Center for Foreign Residents. Verify before visiting as locations can change.

The Seoul NHIS Foreign Resident Center is accessible via Sindorim Station on Lines 1 and 2. Source: Unsplash

If You Live Outside Seoul or Gyeonggi

The five dedicated Foreign Resident Centers all serve the greater Seoul metropolitan area. If you live in other cities — Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Jeju — you should visit your nearest local NHIS branch office (지사).

To find the branch closest to you:

1. Call the English hotline: 033-811-2000 (weekdays 09:00–18:00 KST)
2. Visit nhis.or.kr → “Branch Office Search” → enter your city or district
3. Call the general call center: 1577-1000 (from inside Korea, no area code needed)
4. From overseas: +82-33-811-2001

Branch offices handle all the same services as Foreign Resident Centers; they are simply the standard NHIS offices that also serve Korean nationals.

What to Bring When You Visit an NHIS Office

Based on official NHIS guidance (nhis.or.kr/english/wbheaa02900m01.do), bring the following documents:

For Enrollment as Primary Insured

• Alien Registration Card (ARC) or residence report certificate
• Passport (for identity verification)

For Adding Dependents

• ARC or residence report of the dependent
• A document from a foreign government confirming the family relationship (e.g., marriage certificate, birth certificate) — must be notarized and apostilled, issued within the past 9 months
• Korean translation, notarized by a public institution, if the document is not in Korean

Dependent eligibility: annual income under 20 million KRW and property value under 540 million KRW.

Prepare your ARC, passport, and supporting documents before visiting an NHIS office. Source: Pexels

How Much Will You Pay? Premium Rates

NHIS premiums are calculated differently depending on whether you are an employee or a local subscriber (self-employed/dependent).

Category	How Calculated	Who Pays
Employee	Monthly salary × contribution rate (approx. 3.595%)	50% employee / 50% employer
Local subscriber	Contribution score × score value (based on income, property, car)	100% insured person

The minimum monthly premium for local subscribers is approximately 76,000–80,000 KRW (2025–2026 estimate; verify on nhis.or.kr for current rates).

Available Discounts

The following groups may qualify for premium reductions (source: NHIS foreigner guidance page):

Group	Discount
University/college students	50–70%
Religious workers	30%
Island / remote area residents	50%
Farming / fishing communities	22–28%

Managing Your NHIS Online (No Office Visit Needed)

Many NHIS services are available online at nhis.or.kr and via the The Health Insurance app (건강보험 앱), including:

• Checking your current enrollment status and premium amount
• Paying premiums online
• Requesting refunds for overpayment
• Downloading your insurance coverage certificate
• Booking health screening appointments
• Viewing medical expense history

For foreigners who need English-language support over the phone, call 033-811-2000 (weekdays 09:00–18:00 KST). International callers use +82-33-811-2001.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NHIS address for foreigners in Seoul?

The NHIS Foreign Resident Center in Seoul is located at 3rd Floor, Sindorim Techno Mart, 97 Saemal-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul. Take Seoul Metro Line 1 or Line 2 to Sindorim Station and exit via Exit 2 or 3. This is the dedicated NHIS center for foreigners residing anywhere in Seoul. (Source: nhis.or.kr)

How do I contact NHIS in English?

Call 033-811-2000 for the English-language consultant line (weekdays 09:00–18:00 KST). From outside Korea, dial +82-33-811-2001. The general Korean-language call center is 1577-1000.

Do I have to visit an NHIS office to enroll?

Not always. If you are employed, your employer handles enrollment. Holders of D-2, D-4, E-9, F-5, and F-6 visas are enrolled automatically when their ARC is issued. Self-employed foreigners or those not automatically enrolled need to visit an NHIS office or call 1577-1000 to register.

What happens if I don’t enroll in NHIS?

Unpaid NHIS premiums can result in restrictions on your ARC renewal. If accumulated arrears exceed 500,000 KRW, the Ministry of Justice is notified and immigration officers can see a flag on your file when you apply for visa extensions.

Is there an NHIS office in Busan or Daegu for foreigners?

There is no dedicated “Foreign Resident Center” outside the Seoul/Gyeonggi/Incheon region. However, all standard NHIS local branch offices (지사) serve foreigners. Call 033-811-2000 (English) or visit nhis.or.kr to find the nearest branch in your city.

Conclusion

Korea’s NHIS system requires long-term foreign residents to enroll — and the good news is that the process is straightforward once you know where to go. The five Foreign Resident Centers in Seoul, Ansan, Suwon, Incheon, and Uijeongbu are your primary contacts if you live in the metropolitan area. For everywhere else, a local branch office handles foreign enrollments too.

Always verify the latest addresses and operating hours directly on nhis.or.kr before visiting, as office locations can be updated. When in doubt, call the English hotline at 033-811-2000 first.

Sources / 참고 자료

• NHIS — NHIS Center for Foreign Residents (Official Page) — Foreign Resident Center addresses and transit directions
• NHIS — Guidance for Foreigners (Official English Page) — Enrollment requirements, eligible visa types, documents, premium structure, discounts
• NHIS Official Homepage (nhis.or.kr) — Headquarters address, call center contact, online services
• Korea.net — 6-month stay requirement for NHIS (Policy Article) — Background on July 2019 mandatory enrollment policy for foreigners
• HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) — Immigration and ARC-related information for foreigners in Korea

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