Last updated 2023.09.07
Returning your Residence Card (aka RC)
Per Korean Immigration law, all Residence Cards (commonly known as RCs, formerly ARCs) must be returned to Immigration authorities when you and/or your dependents leave Korea at the end of your grant/visa period. Failure to return a Residence Card may result in a fine.
To return your Residence Card, you must give the card(s) to Immigration officers at the airport as you leave.
To do so, when going through Immigration/Customs, please tell the immigration officer that you will be leaving Korea and not returning. If they do not understand, just show them the expiration date on your Residence Card. That should do it, but if not, you can also say in Korean "저는 한국을 떠나며 돌아오지 않을 것입니다” (In romanization, "Cheo-neun han-guk-eul deo-na-myeo dol-a-o-jee an-eul geo-sheem-nee-da”). The immigration officer should then collect the card. They may or may not also ask you to complete/sign a brief document before you exit Immigration.
To return your Residence Card, you must give the card(s) to Immigration officers at the airport as you leave.
To do so, when going through Immigration/Customs, please tell the immigration officer that you will be leaving Korea and not returning. If they do not understand, just show them the expiration date on your Residence Card. That should do it, but if not, you can also say in Korean "저는 한국을 떠나며 돌아오지 않을 것입니다” (In romanization, "Cheo-neun han-guk-eul deo-na-myeo dol-a-o-jee an-eul geo-sheem-nee-da”). The immigration officer should then collect the card. They may or may not also ask you to complete/sign a brief document before you exit Immigration.