Can foreigners open a bank account in Korea?
Yes. Show a passport or Alien Registration Card and documents that explain what the account is for; we did not check the rules of individual banks.
YesWhat the rule says
To open an account you must show an ID such as a passport or an Alien Registration Card, and documents that prove the purpose of the financial transaction.
Our summary of Easy Law's guide for international students. It cites Article 3(1) of the Real Name Financial Transactions Act and Article 5-2(1)(1) of the Act on Reporting and Using Specified Financial Transaction Information.The steps at the bank
- Go to a bank and take a number. When it is your turn, ask the teller to open an account or passbook.
- Fill in the application. It asks for your alien registration number, date of birth, address, contact details and signature.
- Set two PINs. One is for the passbook and one is for the cash card.
- Check what you are given. Make sure you receive the passbook and the cash card.
These steps are as Easy Law gives them, citing a 2024 finance guidebook for international students from the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Receiving money from home
Easy Law says international students can open a foreign-currency account at a foreign exchange bank to receive money sent from their home country. It names two types: an external account (대외계정) and a non-resident foreign currency trust account (비거주자외화신탁계정). The rule is in Article 2-6-2 of the Foreign Exchange Transaction Regulations.
What we could not confirm
The page is written for international students. The Acts it cites are general financial rules, but we only read the student edition.
We did not check any bank's own policy. Opening an account as a short-term visitor, opening one online, and the exact list of documents that count as proof of purpose are questions for the bank.
Ask the bank which documents it wants before you go.Common questions
What counts as proof of why I need the account?
Easy Law says “documents that prove the purpose of the financial transaction” and does not list them. Ask your bank which documents it accepts.
Can a tourist open an account?
We did not find a rule on this. Easy Law's page is written for international students, so ask the bank directly.
Do I get a cash card with the account?
Easy Law's steps include a cash card: you set its PIN together with the passbook PIN and check it when it is issued.
Do I need my alien registration number?
The application form asks for it, according to Easy Law's steps. Bring your Alien Registration Card.
Sources
- Easy Law, Ministry of Government Legislation: “Opening an account and sending money” (guide for international students) (read Nov 2, 2026).
Not legal advice. Rules change, so check the official source before you act. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will correct it and update the date.
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