Arriving in Korea as a Student (Singapore) 2026: A First-Week Admin Checklist (With Official Links)
TL;DR
A Singapore-student friendly, source-first first-week checklist for arriving in Korea: what to do in your first days, what to verify on official pages (foreigner registration, address change rules), and how to avoid common administrative…
21 Jan 2026, 00:00 Z
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Q: I’m flying from Singapore to Korea — what admin do I actually need to handle in the first week?
A: Think in two layers: (1) what your university will guide you through (orientation, housing, student ID), and (2) what you must still verify on official sources (foreigner registration and address reporting rules). This checklist keeps it calm and practical.
TL;DR (90 seconds)\ \- Official visa & stay overview: Study in Korea — Student Visa and Stay Status\ \- Official residence/registration rules (including address reporting): Study in Korea — Residence Eligibility and Stay Duration\ \- Official National Health Insurance explainer (PDF): Study in Korea — National Health Insurance (PDF)\ \- Key reminder: the official page states foreigners intending to stay more than 90 days must register within 90 days of entry (verify your exact case).\ \- Don’t try to do everything on Day 1 — prioritise housing + orientation + registration timeline + health coverage.
Status: Last reviewed 2026-01-21. This is a planning guide, not legal advice. Always verify current requirements on the official pages linked above and your university’s instructions.
If you haven’t confirmed your visa route yet, start here:
1) Day 0: before you even land (Singapore checklist)
Have these ready:
- passport + visa documents (as applicable)
- printed + digital copies of key documents (keep them in a single folder)
- your university acceptance/admission documents
- your accommodation move-in instructions
If your name spelling differs across documents, fix it early — Study in Korea notes that name mismatches can create visa delays.
2) Day 1–2: settle your “survival basics”
Prioritise:
- housing move-in (take photos of the room condition)
- phone/SIM setup (you’ll need a stable number for admin)
- orientation schedule confirmation
