A stock photo of a newborn baby (123rf) Having a baby brings plenty of paperwork and expenses. For foreign residents in South Korea, available benefits depend on health insurance coverage, the parents’ immigration status, the child’s nationality and where the family lives.Here are the main programs to check before and after childbirth.Pregnancy and childbirth coverage through national health insuranceForeign residents enrolled in the National Health Insurance Service are generally eligible for the same pregnancy and childbirth medical benefits as Korean subscribers.Enrollment rules vary. Foreign employees may be covered through their workplace, while many self-employed or otherwise uninsured foreign residents become mandatory regional subscribers after living in Korea for six months.An insured pregnant person can receive a voucher worth 1 million won ($745) for a single-fetus pregnancy. For multifetal pregnancies, the basic payment is 1.4 million won, with additional support bringing the total to 1 million won per fetus.The voucher can be used for the pregnant person’s medical expenses and healthcare for the child until age 2. It remains valid until two years after the birth.Applications can be submitted through the NHIS, participating card companies or the Government24 website. Details are available on the Health Ministry’s Korean-language page.Preconception and infertility supportNationality requirements are stricter for some programs funded separately from national health insurance.Korea’s preconception health program is open to men and women ages 20 to 49, regardless of marital or parental status. Foreign nationals may apply if they have a Korean spouse, with no separate visa requirement.Women can receive up to 130,000 won for an ovarian reserve test and gynecological ultrasound, while men can receive up to 50,000 won for a semen analysis. Applications are accepted at local public health centers or through the e-Health Center.Government subsidies for infertility treatment generally require at least one partner to be a Korean national. Both partners must also be enrolled in national health insurance.Infertility procedures covered by national health insurance generally carry a 30 percent copayment, regardless of the woman’s age. Additional subsidies and detailed eligibility rules vary by municipality.First Encounter VoucherForeign parents may receive the First Encounter Voucher if their child is eligible under the Korean program, which generally requires Korean nationality and resident registration.The voucher provides 2 million won for a first child and 3 million won for each second or later-born child. It can be used for approved child-rearing expenses during the first two years after birth.Parental benefits for children under 2 and monthly child allowances for children under 9 are also generally tied to the child’s Korean nationality, although recognized refugees and certain other legally defined groups may qualify. A couple looks at child-related products in a baby fair in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Aug. 20. (Yonhap) Child’s nationality determines eligibilityMany national childcare benefits are based on the child’s nationality rather than the parents’ nationality.A child generally acquires Korean nationality at birth if either parent is Korean. However, a child born to two foreign parents does not become Korean simply by being born in Korea.This means foreign parents may qualify for pregnancy-related health insurance benefits but not for programs such as the First Encounter Voucher, parental benefit or child allowance if their child does not have Korean nationality.Local programs varyProvincial and municipal governments offer additional benefits, but eligibility can depend on the family’s address, visa status, income and the nationality of the child or spouse.In Seoul, many programs are administered by district offices or public health centers. Jung-gu, for example, offers programs for transportation costs, home health visits and postnatal care. Foreign residents should check the conditions for each program because some require a Korean spouse or a minimum period of residence.Support for lower-income householdsThe government’s maternal and newborn healthcare program subsidizes visits from trained health workers who assist with postnatal recovery, newborn care and household tasks.When both parents are foreign nationals, eligibility is generally limited to holders of F-2, F-5 or F-6 visas. Income requirements and subsidy levels vary by municipality.Recipients of Basic Livelihood Security may also receive a separate childbirth payment of 700,000 won per child.Applications can generally be made at the public health center responsible for the mother’s registered address or through the Bokjiro welfare portal.Because eligibility rules differ significantly, foreign parents should confirm their status with the NHIS, their district public health center or the Health Ministry’s 129 welfare hotline before applying.