2026 Jeonse Deposit Return Guarantee Premium Support Application Guide

The 2026 jeonse deposit return guarantee premium support program reimburses eligible tenants without a home for premiums they have already paid, up to KRW 400,000. Applicants must confirm that they have a valid guarantee and meet the income and deposit requirements before applying in accordance with the notice issued by their local government.

Confirm that your HUG, HF, or SGI jeonse deposit return guarantee is valid as of the application date.
Confirm that you meet all requirements, including a rental deposit of at most KRW 300 million, not owning a home, and the annual income threshold for your applicant type.
Prepare the documents required by the local government, including the guarantee certificate, proof of premium payment, lease agreement, and proof of income and marriage.
Check the 2026 notice from the local government where you reside for the application period, remaining budget, and online or in-person application channels.
Apply through the designated official channel and check for requests for supplementary documents and the payment result.

The rental deposit return guarantee fee subsidy is a program under which local governments reimburse all or part of the guarantee fee initially paid by tenants when enrolling in a return guarantee from HUG, HF, or SGI. Applicants in 2026 must first confirm that the guarantee remains valid and that they meet the income and housing requirements, then check whether their local government is currently accepting applications under its program for that year.

The subsidy cap is KRW 400,000, but not every applicant receives KRW 400,000. The actual payment varies depending on the applicant category, the guarantee fee actually paid, and the results of the local government's review.

One-Minute Check Before Applying

First, check whether all of the following apply.

The rental deposit return guarantee remains valid as of the application date.
The guarantee provider is one of HUG Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation, HF Korea Housing Finance Corporation, or SGI Seoul Guarantee.
The rental deposit is at most KRW 300 million.
The applicant does not own a home.
The applicant's annual income is at most the threshold applicable to the applicant category.
The guarantee fee was actually paid, and proof of payment is available.
The applicant has not received duplicate assistance for the same guarantee fee from another institution or local government.
The applicant's local government is accepting applications for the 2026 program and has funds remaining.

The specific age range for young applicants and the qualifying period for newlyweds must be checked in the official notice. This is because local governments may specify the age calculation date, length of marriage, and required documents under their ordinances or detailed guidelines.

Income Thresholds and Subsidy Amounts by Applicant Category

Applicant category	Annual income threshold	Guarantee fee subsidy method
Young applicant	At most KRW 50 million	Full amount of the guarantee fee actually paid, up to KRW 400,000
Non-young applicant	At most KRW 60 million	90% of the guarantee fee actually paid, up to KRW 400,000
Newlyweds	Combined spousal income of at most KRW 75 million	Full amount of the guarantee fee actually paid, up to KRW 400,000

For married applicants, whether spouses' incomes are combined is important. Applicants must follow the relevant local government's 2026 notice regarding which tax year's income data is used and which certificate of facts must be submitted when there is no income.

Calculating the Expected Subsidy

The subsidy can be calculated as follows.

Young applicants and newlyweds: the lower of the guarantee fee actually paid and KRW 400,000
Non-young applicants: the lower of guarantee fee actually paid × 90% and KRW 400,000

Category	Guarantee fee paid	Calculation result	Expected subsidy
Young applicant or newlyweds	KRW 320,000	Full amount is within the cap	KRW 320,000
Young applicant or newlyweds	KRW 500,000	KRW 400,000 cap applies	KRW 400,000
Non-young applicant	KRW 300,000	KRW 300,000 × 90%	KRW 270,000
Non-young applicant	KRW 500,000	KRW 450,000, but the cap applies	KRW 400,000

These calculations are examples intended to explain how the program works. The final subsidy is determined after the local government reviews the guarantee fee payment records and the applicant category.

Application Documents to Prepare

Forms and document validity periods may vary by local government, but the following materials are generally required.

Document	Purpose of verification	Points to note when preparing it
Rental deposit return guarantee certificate	Verify the guarantee provider, covered property, and validity period	Confirm that the guarantee remains valid as of the application date.
Proof of guarantee fee payment	Verify the amount actually paid	If the amount paid is not shown on the guarantee certificate, prepare a receipt or separate payment confirmation.
Copy of the lease agreement	Verify the tenant, address, and deposit	Check the notice to determine whether a fixed-date stamp or lease renewal history is required.
Full certificate of registered real estate matters	Verify the rented home and ownership relationship	Check whether the local government will retrieve it directly or whether the applicant must submit it.
Resident registration certificate	Verify the address and household information	Check the scope of resident registration number disclosure and recent issuance requirements.
Income documents, such as a certificate of income amount	Review the annual income threshold	Check whether documents for both the applicant and spouse are required.
Marriage relationship certificate	Review eligibility as newlyweds or a married applicant	Check whether a detailed certificate is required.
Copy of a bankbook in the applicant's name	Pay the subsidy	The account holder's name must match the applicant's name.
Local government application form and pledge	Verify duplicate assistance and eligibility	Use the latest forms attached to the notice.

If the applicant has no income or National Tax Service data has not yet been finalized, alternative documents such as a certificate of no reported income or pay statements may be required. Rather than omitting documents at your own discretion, it is safer to ask the responsible department whether alternatives are acceptable.

2026 Application Procedure

1. Check the Return Guarantee Status

Check the guarantee provider, guarantee number, guarantee period, rental deposit, and guarantee fee paid on the guarantee certificate. If the guarantee has already expired or been canceled, the applicant may not meet the requirements as of the application date.

2. Check the Applicant Category and Income

Determine whether you qualify as a young applicant, newlyweds, or another eligible applicant. Because the age requirement for young applicants and the duration of marriage for newlyweds are often calculated as of the application date, the date of birth and marriage registration date must be assessed under the standards in the notice.

3. Prepare Current Documents

Prepare documents issued within the validity period set by the local government. Also confirm that the applicant, tenant, and account holder names shown on the guarantee certificate and payment confirmation match one another.

4. Check the Notice from Your Local Government

Search for rental deposit return guarantee fee subsidy on the city, county, or district website. Be sure to check the following.

The 2026 application opening and closing dates
Whether applications are accepted through December 31 or close early when funds are exhausted
Whether online, in-person, or mail applications are available
Whether eligibility is based on the resident registration address or the location of the rented home
The responsible department's telephone number and whether applications are currently being accepted
Accepted document issuance periods and additional forms

Some regions may connect their application process to public portals such as Government24, but the actual application channel varies by region. Do not assume that there is a single nationwide application page; use the official channel listed in the relevant local government's notice.

5. Respond to Supplementation Requests and Confirm Payment

Keep the application number or application details. If additional documents are requested during the review, submit them within the specified period. After the payment decision is issued, check the deposit history of the account in the applicant's name. The fact that an application has been received does not mean that the subsidy has been approved.

How to Check the Application Deadline and Remaining Budget

Because the 2026 program is funded through each local government's budget, application periods and remaining funds may differ. Even if some regions accept applications through December 31, they may close applications early if funds are exhausted first.

The following steps can be used to check the exact status.

Check whether the notice on the city, county, or district website was posted or updated in 2026.
Look in the notice for phrases such as when funds are exhausted, first come, first served, or applications closed.
If only old notices appear in search results, contact the responsible housing welfare or housing department to ask whether applications are currently being accepted.
Even if the online application page is open, this may not mean that funds remain, so reconfirm whether applications can still be submitted.

If you are preparing to move or renew your lease, it is advisable to check the guarantee enrollment date and when you may apply before obtaining documents. If you enroll in the guarantee shortly before applications close, you may not have enough time to prepare income documents or proof of guarantee fee payment.

Easily Overlooked Issues Regarding Guarantee Enrollment and Renewal Timing

The guarantee fee subsidy is separate, post-enrollment assistance from enrollment in the return guarantee itself. Enrolling in a guarantee does not result in automatic payment of the subsidy; a separate application must be submitted to the local government.

In particular, the following timing discrepancies may result in rejection or requests for additional documents.

The guarantee was obtained, but the guarantee period ended before the subsidy application was submitted
The lease was renewed, but only the previous guarantee certificate was submitted
The guarantee fee was paid in installments or at a discount, making the amount actually paid different from the amount shown on the guarantee certificate
The resident registration address does not match the address on the lease agreement after a move
The applicant married or moved into a different age bracket after enrolling in the guarantee, changing the applicable applicant category
Income data for the relevant year has not yet been issued, requiring alternative proof specified in the notice

If the lease was renewed or the guarantee provider changed, prepare the latest guarantee certificate together with the actual payment records. If it is unclear which guarantee fee is eligible for assistance, check with the responsible local government department before applying.

Cases That May Be Excluded from Assistance

The following cases may generally result in ineligibility or duplicate assistance issues. The detailed exclusion criteria in the notice issued by the applicant's local government are definitive.

The applicant owns a home as of the application date
The rental deposit or annual income exceeds the threshold
The return guarantee has expired or been canceled, or payment of the guarantee fee cannot be proven
The tenant is a corporation rather than an individual
The applicant resides in housing excluded under the notice, such as a rental home owned by a registered rental business operator
The same guarantee fee has already been subsidized under another program
The applicant falls into a category excluded from assistance under the notice, such as a foreign national or overseas Korean national
The application is submitted after the local government's budget has been exhausted

Difference Between Guarantee Fee Assistance and a Deposit Return Claim

Guarantee fee assistance reimburses the cost of enrolling in a guarantee. It is different from the process of claiming payment of the deposit from the guarantee provider when the landlord fails to return it.

Category	Guarantee fee assistance	Claim for performance under the deposit return guarantee
Purpose	Reduce the burden of the guarantee fee paid by the tenant	Recover a deposit not returned by the landlord
Application submitted to	Local government	Guarantee provider with which the applicant enrolled
Key requirements	Income, non-homeownership, deposit, and budget criteria	Guarantee event and provider-specific performance requirements
Payment coverage	All or part of the guarantee fee paid	Rental deposit recognized under the guarantee terms

Therefore, even if the guarantee fee was subsidized, if a guarantee event occurs, the applicant must follow the separate performance procedures of the HUG, HF, or SGI guarantee in which they enrolled.

FAQ

Where can I apply for support for jeonse deposit return guarantee fees in 2026?

Apply through the official application channel of the local government with jurisdiction over your registered residential address or as specified in the public notice. Check the 2026 notice on the city, county, or district website for whether applications can be submitted online, in person, or by mail, as well as which department is responsible. Not all regions nationwide use the same application page.

Can anyone receive up to KRW 400,000?

No. Young people and newlywed couples are eligible for the full amount of the guarantee fee actually paid, while applicants other than young people are eligible for 90% of the amount actually paid, subject to a cap of KRW 400,000 in each case. If the amount actually paid is below the cap, they can receive only up to the amount paid or 90% of that amount, respectively.

Which deposit return guarantee must I enroll in to be eligible for support?

Generally, the jeonse deposit return guarantees offered by the Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation (HUG), Korea Housing Finance Corporation (HF), or SGI Seoul Guarantee are eligible. The guarantee must be valid as of the application date, and you must be able to prove that the guarantee fee was paid.

Can I apply if the guarantee expires after I pay the guarantee fee?

If the program requires the guarantee to be valid as of the application date, it is difficult to receive support based solely on an expired guarantee. If you have renewed the contract or guarantee, check the local government's notice and contact the responsible department to determine whether the latest guarantee certificate is eligible for support.

Is income for newlywed couples calculated based on the couple's combined income?

For newlywed couples, the standard generally applied is a combined annual income of at most KRW 75 million. Check the local government's notice for the required spouse income documents and the applicable income year.

Can I apply if the jeonse deposit is exactly KRW 300 million?

If the criterion is a lease deposit of at most KRW 300 million, a contract with a deposit of exactly KRW 300 million is also included under the amount criterion. However, all other requirements, including not owning a home, income, a valid guarantee, and budget availability, must also be met.

Can I apply again if I have already received guarantee fee support elsewhere?

Duplicate support for the same guarantee fee is generally not allowed. If the previous support concerned a different contract or a different guarantee period, check with the local government to determine whether a new application is possible.

If the application period is still open, does that mean funds are still available?

Not necessarily. Applications may close early if the budget is exhausted, even before the end date stated in the notice, so check both the latest announcements on the local government's website and guidance from the responsible department.

If I receive guarantee fee support, is my jeonse deposit automatically protected?

Guarantee fee support is merely a program that reimburses enrollment costs already paid. The scope of deposit protection and whether payment will be made in the event of an incident are determined separately in accordance with the terms and conditions of the guarantee provider you enrolled with and its claim review.

Sources

Images

Man holding a folder beside a laptop showing a housing application screen

Guide illustration with a protected home, documents, government office, application steps, and payment