China F‑4 overseas Korean health‑insurance guide
We gathered everything you need to know, from health‑insurance enrollment to pension refunds for Korean‑Chinese F‑4 overseas residents.
When and what to do?
Entry and alien registration
Within 14 days after arrivalRegister as an alien at the immigration office within 14 days after arrival.
Choose the insurance type based on employment status
If you’re employed, you’re a workplace subscriber; if not, you become a regional subscriber.
Health‑insurance enrollment
When employed: company reports to NHIS. When unemployed: after 6 months of residence, you must join as a regional subscriber.
Receiving the insurance card and using hospitals
Once you get the health‑insurance card, you can get discounts at hospitals right away.
Pension refund when returning home
You can get a refund of the national pension you paid under the Korea‑China social security agreement.
How much do you pay?
If employed, the company pays half. If unemployed, you pay the full amount yourself (about 158,630 won/month minimum).
Benefits that apply to you
Free job activities
The F‑4 visa lets you work freely in most fields. Changing jobs is also easy.
Pension refund possible
Under the Korea‑China social security agreement (since 2013), you can get back the national pension you paid when you return.
Medical indemnity insurance Tier A
F‑4 is Tier A for medical indemnity insurance. You can join any insurer’s indemnity product.
Family invitation possible
With an F-1 visa you can invite family, and they can join the health insurance too.
Please note
Watch out for insurance costs if you're unemployed.
If you don't work, you become a local subscriber and pay the full premium yourself. About 158,630 won/month minimum. Staying employed is better.
Check for unpaid premiums when renewing an F-4 visa.
If premiums are overdue 3+ months, visa extension might be affected. Check payment history in the NHIS app.
Insurance terms differ from regular Chinese nationals.
Korean‑Chinese (F-4) use the H-2/F-4 insurance profile. Regular Chinese (D-2, E-9, etc.) may have a different type.
What to prepare
Need help?
Learn more
FAQ
Yes, they share the same health‑insurance profile. Both are workplace subscribers when employed, local subscribers when not. H-2 will merge into F-4 from Feb 2026.
Unemployed locals pay at least about 158,630 won/month. Even a part‑time job can qualify you for workplace subscription, which is cheaper because the company pays half.
If you're a workplace subscriber, you can add spouse/children as dependents with no extra premium! Foreign family may be calculated separately, so check with NHIS.
Yes. The Korea‑China tax treaty prevents double taxation. For income tax, ask NTS (국세청 126).
This guide is for information only, not legal advice. Policies may change — check official sources for the latest.
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