Foreign Tourist Urban Guesthouse Registration in Korea — 2026 Guide

1. What Is an Urban Guesthouse?

A foreign tourist urban guesthouse (외국인관광 도시민박업) allows homeowners to host foreign tourists in their primary residence. Regulated under the Tourism Promotion Act, it is the legal framework for Airbnb-style short-term rentals to international guests.

2. Eligibility Requirements

• The host must actually reside in the property (owner-occupancy required)
• Property must be a registered residential building
• Only foreign tourists may be hosted (not domestic guests)
• No more than the number of rooms specified in the registration

3. Facility and Safety Requirements

• Total floor area of the house under 230 m²
• A system able to provide guidance in foreign languages
• At least one fire extinguisher, a single-station smoke alarm in every guest room, and a carbon monoxide alarm in every guest room where heating is individual
• Room rates posted at the premises and on any online platform used for the business, and the posted rates observed
• Separate entrance or lockbox for guest access is recommended

4. Required Documents

• Tourism business registration application
• Business plan
• A document stating the applicant's name and resident registration number (foreign applicants: documents proving no disqualification ground)
• Proof of ownership of, or a right to use, the property (only where the land registry does not show it)
• Floor plan and layout plan of the facilities

5. Application Procedure

1. Submit to the local district office (구청)
2. Review of the application against the registration standards
3. Registration certificate issued (statutory processing period: 14 days)

6. Operating Rules

• When the Minister of Justice gives public notice following an infectious-disease crisis alert or a terrorism alert, guests on short-term status must provide their passport (or travel certificate or entry permit), and the host must submit it through the Ministry of Justice network within 12 hours of the stay or of the alert
• The business serves foreign tourists (apart from village enterprises under an urban regeneration plan); hosting domestic guests goes beyond the registered business scope
• Tax filing on guesthouse income should be confirmed with a tax professional