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
|
| 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 |