Can foreigners buy a house in Korea? How do I report it?

Yes, foreigners can buy a house in Korea. After you sign a sales contract, you must report it within 60 days of the contract date. Only land in some protected areas needs permission before you sign the contract.

These are the only documents you need

Reporting a sales contract (reporting office: the city, county, or district office (시·군·구청) where the property is located)

• Real estate transaction contract report form (부동산거래계약 신고서): the buyer and the seller sign or put their seals on it together
• Certificate of alien registration (외국인등록 사실증명): the buyer who has completed alien registration submits it. Overseas Koreans submit a certificate of domestic residence report instead

When you acquire property for a reason other than a contract, such as inheritance, gift, or auction (acquisition report)

• Report form for foreigners' acquisition and continued holding of real estate (외국인 부동산등 취득·계속보유 신고서): sign or put your seal on it and submit it
• For a gift, submit the gift contract. For inheritance, submit documents proving you are the heir. For an auction, submit the successful bid decision. For a court judgment, submit the final judgment

Reporting steps

1. Sign the sales contract.
2. Submit the report form signed by both the buyer and the seller, and the certificate of alien registration, to the city, county, or district office. The deadline is within 60 days of the contract date.
3. If you acquire the property for a reason other than a contract, such as inheritance or auction, file an acquisition report within 6 months of the acquisition date.
4. If a property owned by a Korean or a Korean company becomes owned by a foreigner (continued holding report), also report it within 6 months of the change date.
5. After the office checks your documents, it issues a report confirmation certificate (신고확인증).

Someone else can also report for you. In this case, submit a power of attorney (signed or sealed by the foreigner who gave the authority) and a copy of that person's ID. The agent must show their own ID.

⚠️ Land that needs permission

To buy land in the following areas, you must get permission from the city, county, or district office before you sign the contract.

• Military base and military facility protected areas, etc.
• Designated cultural heritage sites and their protected areas
• Natural monuments and their protected areas
• Ecosystem and landscape conservation areas
• Wildlife special protection areas

A contract signed without permission is invalid. When you apply, submit the application for permission to acquire land by a foreigner (외국인 토지취득 허가신청서) and an agreement between the contracting parties. After you get permission, you receive a permit for land acquisition by a foreigner (외국인 토지취득 허가증).

💡 Good to know

Before you buy a house, be sure to check ownership and any mortgage on the certified copy of the property register (등기부등본). Write all necessary details in the contract accurately.

Before you sign, ask the city, county, or district office first whether the area where you want to buy needs permission. You can check how to get the certificate of alien registration at HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or at 1345.