SORA RENTAL NOTE · 29
Can international students or monthly renters get a deposit-return guarantee?
Foreign tenants and some monthly-rent contracts may qualify for HUG deposit-return protection. Check the lease term, deadline, property and required documents.
Content checked · 3 October 2026
The key points
- HUG does not exclude applicants simply because they are foreign nationals.
- Some monthly-rent leases with a refundable deposit can qualify.
- Student status or preliminary eligibility advice does not guarantee approval or payment.
01 — 04
Start with the comic
I’m an international student paying monthly rent. Am I excluded?
Not for those reasons alone. Let’s check the lease and property.
I have the term, deposit, address and documents.
Confirm the deadline and approval before treating it as covered.
The product name does not tell the whole story
- Guarantee product
- Scope
- Eligibility
HUG’s Jeonse Deposit Return Guarantee covers deposit repayment following a qualifying event under its terms. Official guidance allows foreign applicants. Qualifying monthly-rent contracts with a refundable deposit may also be considered.
For monthly leases, certain limit checks use a converted deposit reflecting the rent. A small cash deposit does not automatically satisfy every condition. A guarantee supporting a rental-deposit loan may have different requirements from protection for your deposit repayment.
Check duration, deadline and property requirements
- Duration
- Application deadline
- Property type
HUG’s general product specifies a lease of at least one year. Do not assume a six-month exchange-student lease qualifies. For new leases, the stated deadline is before half the contractual term has elapsed, measured from the later of the contractual balance-payment date and move-in registration date; confirm your own deadline early.
Property type, assessed value, earlier-ranking rights, address, possession, required registration and fixed-date documentation also matter. Foreign applicants should ask HUG about the applicable registration and residence evidence. A Korean friend’s approval in the same building is not approval for your contract.
Get the actual guarantee confirmed
- Your application category
- Issued confirmation
- Scope
Before signing, request a check using the exact address, property type, term, deposit and rent. Formal assessment and documents, including payment evidence, follow. HUG lists additional foreign-applicant documents, including a claim-assignment agreement; ask the branch or bank about signatures and any landlord cooperation.
After issue, check the property, tenant, guaranteed amount and coverage dates on the certificate. Confirm notification and rights-preservation requirements before changing the lease or moving. If repayment fails, follow the claim procedure and deadline. Enrollment is not an unconditional promise of immediate full payment.
What to check
- Ask using the exact property details, term, deposit and rent.
- Confirm your deadline and required identity and residence evidence.
- Ask about foreign-applicant documents, signatures and landlord cooperation.
- Keep the certificate and requirements for changes and claims.
Common questions
Does a residence card guarantee acceptance?
No. Identification is only one element; the contract, property, documents, deadline and assessment also matter.
What about a six-month exchange semester?
HUG’s general product states a minimum one-year lease. Do not assume six months qualifies; ask the provider whether another suitable product exists.
Official sources
These laws and public-agency materials concern renting in Korea. Source documents are mainly in Korean.