Where can I stay for my first one to three months?

Many newcomers start somewhere temporary, such as employer or school housing, a hotel or guesthouse, a goshiwon (a small room rented by the month) or a short furnished rental, and sign a longer lease once they know the area. Whatever you pick, plan around the paperwork below. What to do 1. Make sure the place can give you proof of address. If you'll stay longer than 90 days, apply for alien registration within 90 days of entry; it asks for a proof-of-residence document. For an address report, a lease, an accommodation provision confirmation (숙소제공확인서) or a dormitory fee receipt works. 2. Every time you move, report your new address within 15 days at the immigration office, your new community service center (주민센터) or online if eligible. Late reports can be fined. 3. Keep deposits small at first. A foreign tenant's deposit is protected under the Housing Lease Protection Act only after alien registration and an address report, and gets priority only with a fixed date (확정일자) on the contract. 4. See any room in person before paying. Seoul warns of scams where someone who isn't the landlord shows a place listed online, takes the deposit and disappears. Official sources • Seoul, Alien Registration: https://global.seoul.go.kr/hmpg/finf/immi/regi/contPageDetail.do?conts_no=83E6C489F51E4ED2A56F317E84549A5A&lang=en • Seoul, Change of Place of Stay: https://global.seoul.go.kr/hmpg/finf/immi/addr/contPageDetail.do?conts_no=679AD313DF2349B8819FFA654A11AEAA&lang=en • Easy Law, Housing Lease Deposit Refunds: https://www.easylaw.go.kr/CSM/SubCcfCmd.laf?csmSeq=2803 This is general information, not legal advice. Checked by the Verihood team on October 3, 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you act.