Living in Korea and insurance
What documents do you need to get insurance in Korea?
There is no single list of documents required for every insurance application in Korea. Motor, health, accident and travel insurance have different purposes, and the procedure for the same product may differ between online and in-person applications.
You may generally be asked for information or documents such as:
- identification for identity verification;
- a Korean address and contact details;
- bank-account or card details for premium payments;
- an insurance application and privacy-related consent;
- answers to pre-contract disclosure questions; and
- depending on the product, vehicle, occupation, health or treatment information.
Foreign residents may verify their identity with a Foreign Resident Registration Card, Domestic Residence Report Card or foreign resident registration number. Online services may also require verification through a Korean mobile phone or a certificate, while an in-person process may offer another method. Ask the insurer in advance whether it accepts a passport as an alternative and whether you can apply before your registration card is issued.
For health and accident insurance, submitting identification may not be enough. You may have to answer questions about your health and recent medical visits, tests, medication, hospital stays or surgery. The questions and time periods vary by product, and the insurer may request additional medical documents or conduct a separate assessment.
Motor insurance may require vehicle-registration details, the permitted-driver scope, a driving licence and insurance history. If you want overseas insurance history to be considered, ask before applying which evidence is accepted and whether it must be translated or authenticated.
An example from official insurer information
One insurer’s online-registration process asks foreign customers to enter the English name and number shown on a Foreign Resident Registration Card or Domestic Residence Report Card. Other insurance services may require a mobile phone in the applicant’s name or a certificate.
This is an example of one insurer’s electronic-finance and identity-verification process. It does not mean that every insurance product requires the same documents. Before applying, explain your nationality, residence status and intended application channel to the insurer and request an exact document list.
Useful preparation for foreign residents
- Make sure the English name on your identification matches the name on the application.
- Check how to update your Korean address and contact details if they change.
- Ask for an explanation of any Korean document you do not understand.
- Answer only the health questions formally asked by the insurer, accurately; do not send passport numbers or detailed medical histories through a general inquiry form.