Guide to Joining Korea's National Health Insurance

• Workplace-based subscriber: A foreigner working at a workplace covered by health insurance is, in principle, subject to workplace enrollment. The premium is deducted from wages and shared between the employer and the employee.
• Local (regional) subscriber: A long-term resident foreigner who is neither a workplace subscriber nor a dependent is subject to local enrollment if certain requirements are met.
• The 6-month rule: Generally, a foreigner who has stayed in Korea for 6 months or more becomes subject to local enrollment. However, some residence statuses such as D-2, D-4-3, E-9, F-5, and F-6 may be enrolled based on the date of entry. If alien registration is later than the date of entry, the registration date may be applied.
• Excluded residence statuses: A (diplomacy), B (tourism), C (short-term), and G-1 (other) are, in principle, excluded from local enrollment. However, G-1-6 and G-1-12 are exceptionally eligible for enrollment.
• Dependents: Foreigners and overseas Koreans who entered Korea on or after April 3, 2024 can become dependents only if they have resided in Korea for 6 months or more or have a recognized reason for residence. Spouses and children under 19 are exempt from this 6-month rule.

1. Workplace-based Subscriber

This applies to foreigners or overseas Koreans registered with an immigration agency who work at a workplace covered by health insurance. Because the company handles the health insurance acquisition report, after joining a company, check with the HR team about your alien registration number, residence status, address, and whether dependents are registered.

As of 2026, the health insurance workplace contribution rate is 7.19%. Since the employee and employer generally each bear 50%, the employee's own burden is about 3.595% of the health insurance premium. The actual deduction may differ due to long-term care insurance premiums and other factors.

2. Local (Regional) Subscriber

This applies to foreigners who are neither workplace subscribers nor dependents. The NHIS Korean-language guidance describes the main criteria for being enrolled as a local subscriber as follows.