SORA RENTAL NOTE · 08
14 days for a move-in report, 30 days for a rental report:
which date starts each deadline?
Remember which date each deadline uses: rental-contract reporting runs from the date the contract is concluded, Korean citizens’ move-in reporting runs from the actual move-in date. To protect your deposit, report your address on move-in day rather than waiting until day 14. Registered foreign nationals use a separate 15-day address-change procedure, explained below.
Understand it through a comic
A reportable housing lease must be reported within 30 days of the contract being concluded.
Check the area and payment thresholds for rental reporting, then prepare the lease and identification details.
Korean citizens have 14 days from actually moving in to file their move-in report. This may be different from the contract date.
Report promptly after moving in and check completion. Registered foreign nationals follow a separate 15-day address-change rule.
These illustrated examples explain the situation. Read the article below for the requirements and exceptions.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The key difference is the event that starts the clock.
- Contract agreement date
- Move-in date
| Report | Which date matters? | Statutory deadline | Main purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move-in report for Korean citizens | The day you actually move into the new home | Within 14 days of moving in | Updates the resident-registration address. Together with possession of the home, this forms the basis for enforcing the lease against third parties. |
| Housing rental-contract report | The day the housing lease is concluded | Within 30 days of the contract being concluded | Reports the deposit, rent, term and other details of a housing lease that is subject to reporting. |
Check whether your contract is covered: Not every lease is reportable in the same way. Check the applicable area, amounts, contract type and rules in force when the contract is concluded.
ONE CONTRACT, TWO CLOCKS
What if you agree the lease on 20 September and move in on 10 October?
This is the starting event for the rental report’s 30-day period.
This is the starting event for the Korean citizen’s move-in report’s 14-day period.
- Contract date
20 September: the lease is written and concluded
If a reportable lease is concluded on this date, complete the housing rental-contract report within 30 days of that date. However, if the contract had already been formed earlier through agreement on the property, rent, term and other essential matters, do not use only the later date on which the formal document was signed.
- Move-in day
10 October: receive the keys and actually move in
Under the Resident Registration Act, the Korean citizen’s move-in report is due within 14 days from this date. For deposit protection, however, make the report promptly.
- The next day
The day after possession and address registration are both in place
Under the Housing Lease Protection Act, the right to enforce the lease against third parties arises from the day after both conditions are met. Signing a lease or filing only the rental-contract report does not produce the same effect.
DO NOT WAIT 14 DAYS
A reporting deadline and the start of deposit protection are different.
- Address / residence report
- Certified contract date
- Protection requirements
Filing a Korean citizen’s move-in report within 14 days meets the Resident Registration Act’s deadline, but protection against third parties does not arise retroactively. It takes effect from the following day after both possession of the home and resident registration are in place. Delaying registration can therefore delay the start of protection.
Check these steps on move-in day.
- Confirm that you have received the keys and actually taken possession of the room.
- For a Korean citizen’s move-in report, use Government24 or the community service center responsible for the address promptly.
- Check the completed registration and make sure the address and unit number match the lease and the actual home.
- If you submitted the lease with a rental report, confirm that acceptance of the report is complete and a fixed date has been assigned. If you reported without the lease document, or the lease is not subject to reporting, apply separately for a fixed date. Also meet the possession and address-registration requirements needed for preferential repayment.
The two reports serve different purposes, although procedures may be linked. Submitting the lease document with a resident-registration move-in report can also result in a housing rental-contract report, so check the reporting certificate. When a rental report submitted with the lease document has been accepted, a fixed date is deemed to have been assigned. A rental-contract report alone does not establish actual possession or complete address registration.
PRACTICAL CHECKLIST
Separate your contract-day and move-in-day tasks.
- Contract agreement date
- Rental contract report
- Move-in date
Check whether a rental report is required
- Mark the date the contract is concluded on your calendar
- Check the deposit, rent, address and term
- If reporting is required, complete it within 30 days
- Keep the reporting certificate or confirmation of completion
Report your address promptly
- Confirm key handover and actual possession
- Korean citizens: use Government24 or the community service center
- Check the address, building, floor and unit number carefully
- Check whether a fixed date or other steps are still needed
Check the relevant dates again
- Check whether a contract amendment or cancellation must be reported
- Confirm the actual move-in date if it changes
- Compare the contract with the reported information
- Ask the responsible office promptly if anything is unclear
FAQ
Common points of confusion
Does the 14-day move-in deadline run from the contract date?
No. For a Korean citizen’s move-in report, the deadline is within 14 days of actually moving into the new home. If you sign a lease and move in a month later, the move-in date is the relevant date. Registered foreign nationals follow the separate 15-day address-change rule.
Does the 30-day rental-report deadline run from move-in day?
No. A reportable housing lease must be reported within 30 days of the contract being concluded. A later move-in date does not postpone the start of that period.
Is it fine to wait until day 14 to report my move?
The Korean citizen’s statutory move-in reporting period is 14 days. However, protection against third parties for your deposit arises from the day after possession and resident registration are both in place. Reporting promptly on the actual move-in day is therefore safer. A registered foreign national should likewise complete the applicable address-change procedure promptly rather than wait for the separate deadline.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Official legislation checked
The current provisions in the Korean Law Information Center were checked as of 3 October 2026.
- Resident Registration Act, Article 16 Move-in reporting within 14 days of moving to a new residence↗
- Act on Report on Real Estate Transactions, Etc., Article 6-2 Reporting a qualifying housing lease within 30 days of the contract being concluded↗
- Housing Lease Protection Act, Article 3 Protection against third parties begins the day after possession and resident registration are both in place↗
- Act on Report on Real Estate Transactions, Etc., Article 6-5 When a move-in report is deemed to include a rental report, and when submitting the lease and completing acceptance of the rental report is deemed to confer a fixed date
This article provides general information based on legislation checked on 3 October 2026; it is not legal advice. Reporting requirements and methods can depend on the area, amounts, type of contract and whether the contract has changed. For your own lease, check with the Real Estate Transaction Management System, Government24, the responsible community service center or a legal professional, using your lease, address and move-in date. Registered foreign nationals should also confirm their applicable address-change procedure with the competent immigration office or 1345.