KoreaSimple

Travel & Life · Published 2026-11-03

National Health Insurance (NHIS) for Foreigners in Korea: Who Must Join and How (2026)

Last verified: 2026-11-03. Rules, fees and prices change; check the official sources below before you act.

Short answer: If you live and work at a business that is covered by workplace insurance, your employer enrols you in Korea’s National Health Insurance (NHIS) automatically. If you are not an employee, you must join as a “regional” (self-employed) subscriber once you have stayed in Korea for more than six months. That rule has applied since July 16, 2019. A few visa types start earlier, and a few are excluded.

This guide explains the two subscriber types, the visa-based exceptions, dependents and what the insurance does not pay for. It is based on NHIS’s own English and Korean pages. Some of those pages are older than others, so where the date matters it is stated below.

The two ways to be enrolled

Employee subscriber Regional (self-employed) subscriber
Who People who work at an insured workplace, including public officials and private school staff Residents who are not employees or dependents, such as the self-employed, students and people not working
How you join Automatically, through your employer’s report Compulsory after more than 6 months in Korea (earlier for some visas)
Who pays Employee and employer each pay 50% You (or your household) pay the whole bill
How the premium is set Monthly wage times a rate Points for income, property and cars

NHIS’s English guidance for foreigners states that foreigners and overseas Koreans who live and work at an insured workplace are enrolled as employee subscribers, and that those who have stayed more than six months must enrol as regional subscribers.

The 6-month rule and the visa exceptions

NHIS says the six-month mandatory enrolment has applied since July 16, 2019. Its Korean policy page then lists how it works by visa status:

So a tourist or short-term visitor is not part of NHIS. Travel insurance is a separate matter, and this guide does not cover it.

NHIS’s English page also lists eligible visa groups (D-1 to D-9, E-1 to E-10, F-1 to F-6, H-1, H-2) and overseas Koreans registered under Korean law. Because that list is older, use it as a guide rather than a final answer and ask NHIS about your exact status.

Exemptions: already covered somewhere else

Some foreigners can apply to be excluded if they can prove equivalent medical coverage, either through a foreign law or insurer, or through a contract with their employer.

Exemption decisions are made by NHIS, so do not assume you qualify. Ask before the first bill arrives.

How to enrol

Bring your Alien Registration Card, passport and, for dependents, family documents (see below).

Dependents

An employee subscriber can cover certain family members as dependents, so they do not pay their own premium. NHIS’s Korean dependent page lists:

The exact wording of how the 6-month and visa-status parts combine is not clear from the page, so confirm it with NHIS for your case.

For documents, NHIS’s English page says family or marriage records issued by your government need an Apostille or consular confirmation, must be dated within 9 months, and need a Korean translation if they are not in Korean. A dependent who fails the tests may be moved to regional status and pay their own premium.

What NHIS covers and what it does not

Foreign subscribers get the same benefits as Korean citizens, according to NHIS. Covered care includes diagnosis, tests, treatment, surgery, hospital stays, rehabilitation, childbirth support and certain health checkups.

You still pay a share (co-payment). NHIS’s English benefits page lists, as examples:

Care Patient share
Inpatient care 20% of the total cost
Outpatient, clinic 30%
Outpatient, hospital 40%
Outpatient, general hospital 45% or 50% depending on the area
Outpatient, tertiary hospital 60%
Pharmacy 30%

An annual cap on out-of-pocket costs applies, set by income level. NHIS repays amounts above the cap, but not for items it excludes from the ceiling, such as non-covered services, dental implants, higher-grade hospital rooms (2 to 3 beds), and childbirth expenses.

NHIS’s page does not give a complete list of treatments that are not covered. Cosmetic and elective procedures are commonly paid out of pocket, but check with the clinic or NHIS before you assume anything about a specific treatment.

What happens if you do not pay

NHIS’s Korean page says unpaid premiums can lead to limits on benefits from the day after the due date, and it warns of effects on immigration matters such as extending your stay. That page is dated, so confirm the current consequences with NHIS and your immigration office.

Quick checklist

Common mistakes

This guide is general information, not personal, legal or insurance advice. Confirm your eligibility and obligations with NHIS (call center 1577-1000) before acting.

Sources

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