Land Acquisition Guide for Foreigners
Land Bureau, Ministry of Construction and Transportation, July 1998
Land Acquisition Procedure and Requirements
Resident Alien
Land Acquisition Contract
Land Acquisition Filing
- Filing Period: 60 days after the conclusion of a contract (payment in full)
- Government Filing Office: City/county/ward office (autonomous entity) responsible for the land site
- Requirements: Land acquisition contract, a copy of the land registration document (under the name of the transferor)
- Processing Period: Immediately
Registration for the Passage of Title
- Filing Period: 60 days after the conclusion of a contract (payment in full)
- Government Filing Office: Registry office responsible for the land site
- Requirements :
- Certificate of alien registration (individual) or a copy of the corporate registration (corporation)
- *For a resident alien, the alien registration number and address on the alien registration document or a copy of the corporation registration may be replaced by the registration number of the real estate register and a certification of one's address necessary for the registration of real estate.
- A registration form, a registration document (contract, etc.), a registration certificate, a copy of the land register
- A letter of attorney signed by the mandator is necessary to empower an attorney-in-fact
Processing Period : Immediately
Non-resident Alien
Requirements Before Entry
- Individual: Copy of citizenship document, a certificate of residence issued by a government or public office from one's homeland (country of one's acquired nationality) or a certificate of one's address notarized by a notary's office from one's homeland
- Corporation: Documents to verify corporation status (issued by one's homeland, address attached) or a certificate of one's address notarized by a notary's office from one's homeland
Land Acquisition Contract
Land Acquisition Filing
- Filing Period: 60 days after the conclusion of a contract (payment in full)
- Government Office for Filing: Cadastral division, city; county; ward office (autonomous entity) responsible for the land site
- Requirements: Land acquisition contract, a copy of the land registration document (under the name of the transferor)
- Processing Period : Immediately
Land Acquisition Filing of the Registration Number from the Real Estate Register
- Requirements :
- Individual - Passport or copy of citizenship document, certificate of land acquisition filing
- Corporation - Contact the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs for inquiries regarding requirements
- For Mandate: Attach a letter of attorney issued by a notary's office from one's homeland (for a foreigner) or issued by a consulate in the country of residence (for a Korean resident abroad)
- Location to submit application :
- Individual - Busan Immigration Office : 22-1 Chungjang-daero, Jung-gu, Busan
- Corporation - City; county; ward office in charge of the land site
- Processing Period : Immediately
Registration for the Transfer of Title
- Filing Period: 60 days after the conclusion of a contract (payment in full)
- Government Filing Office: Registry office responsible for the land site
- Requirements :
- Registration number of the land register, certificate of address
- Registration form, a registration document (contract, etc.), a registration certificate, a copy of the land register document
- A letter of attorney signed by the mandator is necessary to empower an attorney-in-fact
Processing Period : Immediately
Title Transfer Registration
Title Transfer Registration |
Foreigners must present the following documents for the disposition of real estate in addition to the requirements for the registration of real estate.
Japan: A certificate of seal-impression
Other Countries : A certificate of signature and seal substituting for a certificate of seal-impression
*A certificate of signature and seal must be notarized by a government/public office or notary's office from one's homeland, or it must be verified by a diplomatic and consular office of one's homeland in Korea |
For Korean residents abroad, a local district (dong) office of one's final address or one's place of registration issues a certificate of seal-impression
The principal can immediately obtain a seal-impression certificate issued by a local district office. The agent must present a letter of attorney issued by the consulate of one's country of residence
*A Korean resident abroad holding a valid resident registration status can submit a seal-impression certificate like that of Koreans living domestically. |
Restrictions on Land Acquisition
Land Acquisition by Permission: The Foreigner's Land Acquisition Act
Land Acquisition by Permission: The Foreigner's Land Acquisition Act |
Non-Permitted Lands
Military Installation Reservations, Naval Bases, Air Bases, Cultural Property Reservations, Cultural Structure Reservations, Ecological Reservations |
Government Office for the Application of Permission: Cadastral Division, city; county; ward office (autonomous entity) responsible for the land site |
Land Acquisition by Permission: The Foreigner's Land Acquisition Act
Land Acquisition by Permission: The Foreigner's Land Acquisition Act |
Application Period for Permission: Before the conclusion of a contract |
Processing Period: Notification of acceptance or rejection of permission within 15 days after the application is submitted |
Land Acquisition by Permission: The Foreigner's Land Acquisition Act
Land Acquisition by Permission: The Foreigner's Land Acquisition Act |
Since farmland acquisition is only possible for actual farming purposes, a foreigner's farmland acquisition for non-residency purposes in Korea is not permitted. |
Inherited farmland encompassing less than 10,000 square meters may be acquired; however, farmland encompassing more than 10,000 square meters must be relinquished within one year after being inherited. |
Contact Information: Farmland Policy Division, Ministry of Agricultural and Forestry
Phone: 02-503-7264 |
Capital Funds Procurement for Foreigner's Land Acquisition and Disposition
Remittance and Payment of Capital Funds for Real Estate Investment by Resident Alien
Remittance and Payment of Capital Funds for Real Estate Investment by Resident Alien |
Since the Foreign Exchange Control Law does not apply to resident aliens, he/she may remit and pay capital funds for his/her land acquisition and disposition like that of Koreans |
Remittance and Payment of Capital Funds for Real Estate Investment by Nonresident Alien
Remittance and Payment of Capital Funds for Real Estate Investment by Nonresident Alien |
Nonresident aliens must report to any foreign exchange bank in advance to remit and pay capital funds related to land acquisition and disposition |
- Attached Papers
- For the Payment of Capital Funds :
A land acquisition contract, foreigner's land acquisition filing note, real estate appraisal note, transcript of the real estate register
- For the Remittance of Capital Funds :
A land disposal contract, foreigner's original land acquisition filing note, conformation note of taxes paid, transcript of the real estate register
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The Foreign Exchange Control Law does not apply to nonresident aliens who acquire land in Korea belonging to another nonresident alien |
More Information: Foreign Capital Management Division, Ministry of Finance and Economy
Phone: 02-500-5377 |