Car Ownership Transfer for Foreigners in Korea: Alien Registration Card, Personal Signature Confirmation, and the 15-Day Deadline

Procedure

1. 1. Check alien registration or residence report status

   For an individual, the principal place of use is confirmed by a resident registration abstract, a driver's license, or an alien registration fact certificate (Enforcement Rule of the Motor Vehicle Registration Decree, Article 27(2)). Foreigners prepare the alien registration card, and overseas Koreans with foreign nationality prepare the domestic residence report card and passport, and first confirm that the registered address matches where they now live.

2. 2. Prepare selling documents when the seller is a foreigner

   The seller submits a seal certificate for selling a car or a personal signature confirmation (Enforcement Rule of the Motor Vehicle Registration Decree, Article 33(1)(2)). To use a seal certificate, the seal must first be registered with the issuing office for the place of stay (or the domestic residence for overseas Koreans), and a personal signature confirmation is applied for in person at the issuing office by a registered foreigner or an overseas Korean who filed a residence report. Either document must state in the purpose field that it is for selling a car, along with the buyer's name, address, and identification number.

3. 3. Check the deadline and insurance when the buyer is a foreigner

   For a sale, transfer registration must be filed within 15 days of the purchase (Motor Vehicle Registration Decree, Article 26). A delay without justifiable cause is subject to a fine for a minor offense of 100,000 won for up to 10 days, plus 10,000 won per day from the 11th day, up to 500,000 won at 50 days or more (Enforcement Decree of the Motor Vehicle Management Act, Annex 3). Take out compulsory insurance in the buyer's name so that coverage starts on the day of transfer.

4. 4. File the transfer registration and receive the certificate

   Submit the transfer registration application on Form No. 14 with the transfer certificate and the seal certificate or personal signature confirmation for selling to the registration office for the principal place of use. When an agent files, attach a letter of authorization and a copy of the delegating person's identification. The buyer pays the acquisition tax in their own name and receives the new vehicle registration certificate.

5. 5. Moving within Korea and leaving the country

   If a foreigner whose place of stay is the principal place of use files a change of place of stay under Article 36 of the Immigration Act, a vehicle change registration is deemed to have been filed (Motor Vehicle Registration Decree, Article 22(2)(6)). When selling before leaving Korea, some selling documents must be obtained in person, so complete the sale and transfer registration before departure.

Required documents

• Transfer registration application (Enforcement Rule of the Motor Vehicle Registration Decree, Form No. 14)
• Vehicle transfer certificate (Form No. 15 of the same Rule for direct sales, Form No. 16 for dealer sales)
• Foreign seller: seal certificate for selling a car or personal signature confirmation (with the buyer's name, address, and identification number)
• Foreign buyer: alien registration card or domestic residence report card, and passport
• Vehicle registration certificate
• Certificate of compulsory insurance in the buyer's name
• Mortgage cancellation documents (if a mortgage remains)
• Letter of authorization and a copy of the delegating person's identification (when an agent files)

Fees

Generally in the range of tens of thousands to several hundred thousand won in the industry. We quote after consultation based on whether the seller or buyer is the foreigner, whether a mortgage must be cleared, and whether interpretation is needed. Acquisition tax, bonds, and other registration charges are separate.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Motor Vehicle Management Act, Article 12
• Motor Vehicle Management Act, Article 80
• Motor Vehicle Management Act, Article 86
• Enforcement Decree of the Motor Vehicle Management Act, Annex 3
• Motor Vehicle Registration Decree, Article 22
• Motor Vehicle Registration Decree, Article 26
• Enforcement Rule of the Motor Vehicle Registration Decree, Article 27
• Enforcement Rule of the Motor Vehicle Registration Decree, Article 33
• Enforcement Rule of the Motor Vehicle Registration Decree, Form No. 14
• Certification of Seal Impressions Act, Article 3
• Act on Confirmation of Personal Signatures, Article 5

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-16

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• A seal certificate or personal signature confirmation for selling can be used for transfer registration only if it is issued with the buyer's name, address, and identification number written in the purpose field.
• Foreigners about to leave Korea must obtain some selling documents in person, so complete the sale and transfer registration before departure.

Frequently asked questions