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Housing

Can foreigners sign a jeonse (전세) contract? What about the confirmed date (확정일자) and move-in report (전입신고)?

Based on: Korea Law Information Center (국가법령정보센터), Immigration Act (출입국관리법) (Act No. 21857, effective 2026.10.2.), Articles 36 and 88-2 (checked 2026.10.29) · Korea Law Information Center, Housing Lease Protection Act (주택임대차보호법) (Act No. 21065, effective 2026.1.2.), Articles 3, 3-2 and 3-6 (checked 2026.10.29) · Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Housing Portal (서울주거포털) guide to the Jeonse Deposit Return Guarantee (product guide of the Housing and Urban Guarantee Corporation (주택도시보증공사), checked 2026.10.29) · Incheon Metropolitan City, foreign resident life information "Housing" (source: guidebook for foreigners living in Incheon) (checked 2026.10.29)

Yes, foreigners can sign a jeonse contract. The move-in report and the confirmed date are important to protect your deposit.

Jeonse contract

  • Foreigners can sign a jeonse contract as a tenant. Foreigners can also join the Jeonse Deposit Return Guarantee (전세보증금 반환보증) (HUG).3
  • Be sure to check the property register (등기부등본) before signing. When you go to the registry office (등기소), bring your Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) and passport. [5]
  • It is safer to send the deposit to the bank account of the landlord who signed the contract.4

Move-in report (Report of Change of Residence, 체류지 변경신고)

  • A foreigner with an alien registration must report within 15 days of the move-in date. Report at the city, county or district office (시·군·구청), the town or neighborhood community center (읍·면·동 주민센터), or the local Immigration Office (출입국·외국인관서) for your new address.1
  • Submit your Alien Registration Card when you report.1
  • Usually you should prepare your passport, Alien Registration Card, and lease contract. [5]
  • Once you make this report, there is a rule that it is treated as resident registration (move-in report) under the Housing Lease Protection Act (주택임대차보호법). However, the details of how it applies are not certain, so please check with the office that receives your report.

Confirmed date (확정일자)

  • The confirmed date officially proves the date the lease contract was made.4
  • It is necessary to get your deposit back if the house is sold through auction or public sale.4
  • You can get it at a community center and similar offices. Bring your Alien Registration Card with the changed address and your lease contract.4

💡 Helpful information

  • If you receive the house and finish the move-in report, from the next day you can assert your lease right against third parties too (priority right, 대항력).2
  • To join the HUG guarantee, you must live in the house and have completed the move-in report and the confirmed date.3
  • After moving, get the move-in report and the confirmed date together as soon as possible.

For final confirmation, check HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or the Foreigner Helpline (외국인종합안내센터) (1345).

Sources

  1. 출입국관리법 - 체류지 변경신고(제36조)와 주민등록·전입신고 갈음(제88조의2) › 제36조Report within 15 days after moving; submit the Alien Registration Card
  2. 주택임대차보호법 - 대항력(제3조)·보증금 회수/우선변제(제3조의2)·확정일자 부여(제3조의6) › 제3조Priority right from the day after handover and move-in report are completed
  3. HUG 전세보증금반환보증(외국인 임차인 가입 가능) 안내 › 보증조건Foreigners can join; move-in report and confirmed date are required
  4. 외국인 주택 구입·전세/월세·체류지변경신고·확정일자 (인천시) › 확정일자Meaning of the confirmed date, documents to apply, property register check, and bank transfer advice
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General guidance prepared by K-VISA AI from Ministry of Justice manuals, laws and official guides. Not legal advice — please confirm with HiKorea or the Immigration Contact Center (1345).