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Does Korean National Health Insurance Cover Dental Care for Foreigners?
Foreign residents can join Korea’s National Health Insurance (NHIS), usually after six months’ residence if not enrolled through an employer. For dental care, orthodontic treatment is generally not covered, while some children’s preventive and restorative care can be. At Yonsei Baro Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry in Seoul, we confirm what applies at your visit.
NHIS and dental care at a glance
| Topic | General position |
|---|---|
| Who can enrol | Foreign residents in Korea; independent enrolment generally after six months’ residence |
| Dependants | Since April 2024, generally also six months’ residence, with exceptions including spouses and children under 19 and certain visa types |
| Orthodontics | Generally not covered, except treatment linked to specific congenital conditions such as cleft lip and palate |
| Children’s dental care | Some preventive and restorative care may be covered, depending on age and conditions |
| At Yonsei Baro | We confirm what applies at your visit; bring your Residence Card |
| Where to check | nhis.or.kr · NHIS customer centre 1577-1000 · foreign-language service |
What is NHIS?
The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS, 국민건강보험공단) runs Korea’s public health insurance. Korean citizens and many foreign residents living in Korea are enrolled. When you visit a clinic, NHIS pays part of the cost of covered treatment and you pay the rest. Treatments that NHIS does not cover are called bigeubyeo (비급여, “non-covered”), and you pay for those in full.
NHIS is different from overseas or private insurance. Many expat families have both, and each has its own rules. For overseas or private insurance claims, see insurance claims and English receipts .
Can foreign residents join NHIS?
Generally, yes. How you join depends on your circumstances:
- Through an employer. If you work for an employer in Korea, you are generally enrolled through your workplace. Your employer or NHIS can confirm the details.
- On your own. Foreign residents who are not covered through work can generally enrol independently after six months’ residence in Korea.
- As a dependant. Since April 2024, foreign dependants also generally need six months’ residence before they can be registered. There are exceptions, including spouses and children under 19 of the insured person, and certain visa types.
Because the details depend on your visa, your residence history and your family’s situation, NHIS is the right place to confirm whether you and your children are enrolled, and from when.
Rules change — please check with NHIS. Enrolment rules for foreign residents and the dental care NHIS covers are set by the Korean government and are revised from time to time. This page summarizes the general position as of October 2026. For your own situation, check nhis.or.kr or call the NHIS customer centre on 1577-1000. NHIS also runs a foreign-language service for help in English; details are on its website.
Does NHIS cover braces or Invisalign?
Generally, no. Orthodontic treatment — including braces , Invisalign and other clear aligners — is generally not covered by NHIS. The exception is treatment linked to specific congenital conditions, such as cleft lip and palate, where coverage rules differ.
This means orthodontic fees are usually paid privately. You receive a written estimate after your examination, before you decide on treatment. Read how orthodontic fees are set and fees and payment for international patients .
Which children’s dental treatments can NHIS cover?
For children enrolled in NHIS, some preventive and restorative care can be covered, under conditions that depend mainly on the child’s age and the tooth involved. Examples include:
- Sealants on permanent back teeth (molars) for children
- Tooth-coloured resin fillings on permanent teeth for younger children
Whether a particular treatment is covered, and what you pay, depends on your child’s age, which tooth is treated and the clinical findings. We check eligibility and explain what applies before treatment at your child’s visit. Treatments outside these conditions are paid privately. Please contact us for pediatric dentistry appointment times.
What should I bring to use NHIS at Yonsei Baro?
Bring your Residence Card (or your child’s) to every visit. We use it to check your NHIS eligibility on the day. If you are not sure whether you are enrolled yet — for example, you have just arrived or are waiting for dependant registration — check with NHIS before your visit. For other things to bring, see your first visit .
Useful Korean words
Receipts in Korea often split charges into covered ( geubyeo , 급여) and non-covered ( bigeubyeo , 비급여) items. Health insurance is geongang boheom (건강보험). Our Korean dental terms glossary lists more.
NHIS dental coverage FAQs
I have just arrived in Korea. Can I still see a dentist before I am enrolled in NHIS?
Yes. You do not need NHIS to be seen; treatment is simply paid privately until you are enrolled. If you also have overseas or private insurance, ask us for the documents your insurer needs. Once you are enrolled, bring your Residence Card so we can check what applies.
My child is under 19. Do we have to wait six months for NHIS dependant registration?
Children under 19 of an insured person are among the exceptions to the six-month rule introduced in April 2024, as are spouses and certain visa types. Registration still has to be completed, and individual circumstances vary, so confirm your child’s status with NHIS before relying on coverage.
Is my child’s orthodontic treatment covered by NHIS?
Generally not. Orthodontic treatment, including braces and clear aligners for children, is generally not covered, except treatment linked to specific congenital conditions such as cleft lip and palate. Some children’s preventive and restorative dental care can be covered under conditions; we confirm this at the visit.
How do I check whether I am enrolled in NHIS?
Contact NHIS directly. The website nhis.or.kr has information for foreign residents, and the customer centre is on 1577-1000; NHIS also offers a foreign-language service, with details on its website. Have your Residence Card number ready. Your employer can also tell you whether you are enrolled through your workplace.
Can I use both NHIS and my overseas insurance?
That depends on your overseas policy. NHIS pays part of the cost of covered treatment at the clinic. Some overseas or private policies then reimburse your share, or treatment NHIS does not cover; others do not. Check with your insurer, and tell us which documents they need for a claim.
Last updated October 2026
Yonsei Baro Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry · 4F, Bangbae Yedain Plaza, 118 Dongjak-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul
This page is general information, not legal, insurance or medical advice. NHIS eligibility and coverage depend on your visa, residence, employment, age and clinical findings, and the rules can change. Please confirm your status with NHIS; we confirm what applies to your treatment at your visit.
Not sure what applies to you?
Bring your Residence Card and we’ll confirm what NHIS covers for your treatment at your visit. Isu Station Exit 2 · Open until 9 PM Mon & Thu · Saturdays 9 AM–2 PM.