Start with passport, switch to RC later
If your Residence Card is not ready yet, you can start with passport activation and move the line to your RC after it is issued.
Start earlier
Passport activation helps students get a Korean number before their RC is issued.
Update later
After the RC arrives, the line should move from passport identity to RC identity.
90-day window
HireVisa treats the 90-day RC submission and owner-change window as the operating rule.
Why start with a passport?
Many students need a Korean phone number before school, housing, banking, and everyday services are fully set up. Passport activation gives you an early path when your Residence Card is still pending, but it should be treated as a temporary identity basis rather than the final setup.
What changes after your RC arrives?
Your Residence Card becomes the stronger long-term identity for Korean mobile service. It supports a cleaner account record, future identity checks, and the normal resident flow for postpaid service. That is why the line should be updated after the RC is issued.
What to do within 90 days
The current HireVisa operating rule is that passport-based postpaid users complete RC submission or owner change within 90 days after activation. Keep the deadline visible and prepare the RC documents as soon as you receive the card.
- Upload the front and back of your Residence Card when HireVisa asks for it.
- Complete the passport-to-RC owner change process guided by the operation team.
- Check your application status so missing documents or follow-up requests are not delayed.
What to prepare
Before starting, make sure the documents and account information match the person who will use the line. Small mismatches can slow down review or carrier processing.
- A clear passport image with the identity page fully visible.
- Residence Card front and back after the card is issued.
- Matching English name, birth date, and identity details across documents.
- A valid payment method or payment evidence requested during the postpaid flow.
Mistakes to avoid
Most delays come from cancelling a line too early, waiting too long after the RC arrives, or submitting documents with mismatched identity details.
- Do not cancel an existing number before a transfer or change is confirmed.
- Do not wait until the end of the 90-day window to submit RC information.
- Do not submit RC details that belong to a different person from the passport account.