Korea Health Insurance (NHIS) Guide for Foreigners (2026)

A Guide to Korea's National Health Insurance (NHIS) for Foreigners

Korea National Health Insurance (NHIS) Guide for Foreigners (2026)

Category	Details
Who must enroll	Foreigners staying in Korea for 6 months or more are required to enroll in NHIS as regional subscribers. The 6-month count resets if you leave Korea for more than 30 days cumulatively — re-entry starts a new clock. Some visa holders are exempt on entry: F-5 (permanent resident) and F-6 (marriage migrant) holders are enrolled from their date of arrival, with no 6-month wait. Short-term visitors are not eligible — travel insurance is recommended instead.
Enrollment type	Employee subscriber: enrolled automatically through your employer from the first day of work. Regional subscriber: all others (self-employed, unemployed, students, etc.) register directly at an NHIS branch or online.
Premium — employee	7.19% of monthly wage in 2026 (up from 7.09% in 2025), split equally between employee and employer — each pays 3.595%. A long-term care insurance add-on of 0.9448% of the base health premium also applies. Premiums are deducted automatically from your paycheck each month. The rate is set annually by the government.
Premium — regional	Calculated based on income and assets (scored per point at ₩211.5/point in 2026). For foreign regional subscribers, if the calculated amount falls below the previous November's all-subscriber average, that average is applied instead. The official 2026 average monthly premium for foreign regional subscribers is ₩158,630 (up 3.80% from 2025). Bills are issued by the 25th of the preceding month and are payable by bank transfer, automatic debit, or at any bank or post office. Certain visa holders receive reductions: D-2/D-4 students 50%, D-6 religious workers and G-1 humanitarian status holders 30%.
Dependents (피부양자)	Family members living with an employee subscriber and financially dependent on them may be registered as dependents at no additional premium. Eligible relatives include spouses, parents, children, and certain siblings. To qualify, a dependent's total annual income must be under ₩20 million (business income under ₩5 million if unregistered) and property tax base must be under ₩540 million. Regional subscribers do not have the dependent category — each family member is assessed separately.
Coverage	NHIS covers a substantial portion of hospital and clinic costs. Patient co-payments are: 20% for inpatient care (5% for cancer patients), 30% at clinics and pharmacies, and 45–60% at general or tertiary hospitals. Annual out-of-pocket ceilings apply (₩870,000–₩8,260,000 depending on income bracket). Inpatient, surgical, outpatient, and prescription drug costs are broadly included. Non-covered (비급여) items — such as cosmetic procedures, dental implants, premium private hospital rooms, and certain elective treatments — are excluded from NHIS reimbursement and must be paid in full by the patient.
Private insurance	Optional supplemental private insurance (e.g., 실손보험) is available to cover non-covered (비급여) items or broader protection beyond NHIS co-payments and out-of-pocket costs.
Prerequisites	Enrollment begins after the Alien Registration Card (ARC) is issued. Employee subscribers are enrolled from the date of hire; regional subscribers must apply within 14 days of becoming eligible.
Non-payment consequences	Under Article 109 of the National Health Insurance Act, regional foreign subscribers who fall delinquent for the period specified by presidential decree will have insurance benefits suspended — NHIS will not pay any medical claims from the date of delinquency until all outstanding premiums are paid in full. This is stricter than the rules applied to Korean nationals. Non-payment may also create complications when applying for visa renewal or period-of-stay extension.

1. Obtain your Alien Registration Card (ARC) from the immigration office.
2. If employed, your employer enrolls you automatically as an employee subscriber from your first day of work.
3. If not employed, visit an NHIS branch or apply online to register as a regional subscriber once you have lived in Korea for 6 months (or from arrival if you hold an F-5 or F-6 visa).
4. If your family members are financially dependent on you and you are an employee subscriber, register them as dependents to cover them at no additional cost.
5. Pay your monthly premium on time — non-payment suspends all insurance benefits until arrears are cleared.
6. For exact premium amounts and current conditions, consult the NHIS official website (nhis.or.kr) or call the English helpline: 1577-1000.

Sources: NHIS — Contribution Rate; NHIS — 2026 Premium Guidelines (official notice); NHIS — Guidance for Foreigners; NHIS — Insurance Benefits — rates as of 2026 and revised periodically; confirm your exact premium with NHIS (English helpline: 1577-1000).

Quick answer

Yes. Foreigners who stay in South Korea for six months or more must enroll in the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), Korea's mandatory public health insurance. If you work for a company, your employer enrolls you automatically from day one; everyone else enrolls individually as a "regional" subscriber. Premiums, coverage, dependent registration, and private-insurance options are covered below.

Do foreigners need health insurance in Korea?

Foreigners staying in Korea for six months or longer are required to enroll in the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), Korea's mandatory government-run public health insurance program. If you are employed by a company, you are enrolled as an employee subscriber through your employer from your first day of work. Everyone else is registered as a regional (individual) subscriber. Note that the 6-month residency clock resets if you leave Korea for more than 30 cumulative days — your re-entry date becomes the new starting point. Holders of F-5 (permanent resident) and F-6 (marriage migrant) visas are an exception: they are enrolled from the date of arrival, with no waiting period.

How much are NHIS premiums for foreigners?

NHIS premiums for foreign residents are calculated differently by subscriber type. A regional (individual) subscriber's premium is based on their income and property; if the calculated amount falls below the previous November's all-subscriber average, the average is applied instead — the official 2026 floor for foreign regional subscribers is ₩158,630 per month. For employee subscribers, 7.19% of monthly salary is split equally between employee and employer, with premiums deducted automatically from your paycheck. Certain visa holders pay less: D-2 and D-4 students receive a 50% reduction, while D-6 religious workers and G-1 humanitarian status holders receive 30% off. Premiums are billed monthly; regional subscriber bills are due by the 25th of the preceding month and can be paid by bank transfer, automatic debit, or at any bank or post office.

Can my family be covered under my NHIS?

If you are an employee subscriber, financially dependent family members — including your spouse, parents, children, and certain siblings — can be registered as dependents (피부양자) and covered at no additional premium cost. To qualify, the dependent's total annual income must be under ₩20 million and their property tax base under ₩540 million. Regional subscribers do not have the dependent category; each family member is assessed and billed separately as an individual regional subscriber.

What does NHIS cover?

NHIS covers a substantial portion of treatment costs at hospitals and clinics, with the patient responsible for a co-payment. Co-payment rates vary by care setting: 20% for inpatient care (just 5% for cancer patients), 30% at clinics and pharmacies, and 45–60% for outpatient visits at general or tertiary hospitals. Annual out-of-pocket ceilings (ranging from ₩870,000 to ₩8,260,000 depending on income) protect against catastrophic costs. Inpatient care, surgery, outpatient visits, and medication are broadly included. However, non-covered (비급여) items — cosmetic procedures, dental implants, premium private hospital rooms, and certain elective treatments — are excluded from NHIS reimbursement and must be paid in full by the patient.

Do I need private insurance on top of NHIS?

NHIS does not cover everything. If you want coverage for non-covered items, or to offset the co-payments NHIS still leaves to the patient, you can additionally enroll in private indemnity (silson, actual-loss) medical insurance, which reimburses out-of-pocket expenses NHIS doesn't cover. Short-term visitors are not eligible for NHIS, so travel insurance for short-term visitors is the common alternative.

When do I enroll and what happens if I don't pay?

• NHIS enrollment takes place only after your Alien Registration Card (ARC) — the official ID issued to foreign residents in Korea — has been issued.
• Under Article 109 of the National Health Insurance Act, regional foreign subscribers who become delinquent on premiums will have their insurance benefits suspended — NHIS will not pay any medical costs from the date of delinquency until all outstanding premiums are paid in full. This rule is stricter than what applies to Korean nationals.
• Non-payment may also create complications when applying for a visa renewal or period-of-stay extension.
• For exact premiums and enrollment conditions, check the official guidance from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) at www.nhis.or.kr/english or call the English helpline at 1577-1000.

Frequently asked questions

Do foreigners need health insurance in Korea?

Yes. Foreigners staying six months or more must enroll in NHIS, Korea's mandatory public health insurance. F-5 and F-6 visa holders are enrolled from arrival.

How much are NHIS premiums for foreigners?

Regional subscribers pay based on income and property, with a 2026 floor of ₩158,630/month for foreign subscribers. Employee subscribers pay 3.595% of salary (employer pays an equal share). D-2/D-4 students receive a 50% reduction; D-6/G-1 holders receive 30% off. Premiums are billed monthly.

Can I add family members to my NHIS?

Employee subscribers can register financially dependent family members (spouse, parents, children, certain siblings) as dependents at no extra cost, provided their annual income is under ₩20 million and property tax base under ₩540 million. Regional subscribers cannot register dependents — each person enrolls separately.

What does NHIS cover?

Inpatient care, surgery, outpatient visits, and medication are broadly included. Patient co-payments are 20% for inpatient stays, 30% at clinics and pharmacies, and 45–60% at hospitals. Annual out-of-pocket ceilings protect against very high bills. Cosmetic procedures, dental implants, and other non-covered (비급여) items are excluded and paid fully out-of-pocket.

Do I need private insurance on top of NHIS?

It's optional. Private indemnity (silson) insurance reimburses out-of-pocket and non-covered expenses. Short-term visitors who can't join NHIS typically use travel insurance instead.

When do I enroll and what happens if I don't pay?

Enrollment happens after your ARC is issued. If you fall delinquent on premiums, NHIS will suspend all medical benefit payments until you pay the full arrears — this is stricter than the rules for Korean nationals. Unpaid premiums may also complicate visa renewal.