- Living / Education
- Immigration Service
- Employment / Work
- Public Organizations
- Organization / Center
- Counseling/Education Institutions for Resident Foreigners
- number title
-
The immigrants are entitled to apply for citizenship at the local immigration offices (☎1345) when they meet the following conditions.
The following requirements must be satisfied. Applicants are recommended to consult with naturalization officers for advice and then carefully prepare required documents.① The applicant stayed in Korea for five years or longer.
② The applicant, whose father or mother was a Korean citizen or whose parents were born in Korea, stayed in Korea for three years or longer.
③ The applicant has continuously stayed in Korea for 2 years or longer while being married to a Korean spouse
④ The father or mother of the applicant is a Korean citizen.
※ When the father or mother of an applicant is authorized to obtain a Korean citizenship, the applicant may apply for a special naturalization process regardless of his/her age, marriage status, and stay period.
⑤ The applicant has made special contributions to the Republic of Korea.
(1) Marriage Immigrants① The marriage immigrant has continuously stayed in Korea for 2 years or longer after completing the foreigner registration process.
② The marriage immigrant has continuously stayed in Korea for more than 1 year or longer while being married for 3 years or longer
③ The marriage immigrant has maintained his or her residence in Korea for 2 years or longer, but could not maintain marriage due to the death or disappearance of the Korean spouse or for other causes not attributable to him or her.
④ The marriage immigrant raises or is required to raise a minor child born out of marriage with a Korean spouse
(2) Naturalization Procedure① Submission of Naturalization Application and Documents
-Naturalization applications must be made only at the Korea Immigration Service office, which is in charge of naturalization processes. The Korean spouse is also required to visit the local immigration office to submit the application.
② Approval of Naturalization
After receiving a notification of naturalization from the Minister of Justice, the immigrant must register his or her family relation, renounce original citizenship, have his or her residence registered, and return the foreigner registration card
③ Qualification Screening and Interview
• The applicant shall undergo the documentary and field examinations and interview. This process usually takes longer than a year.
• As the notifications are usually delivered to applicants 2 to 4 weeks before interviews, the applicants shall report the change of residence to local their Korea Immigration Service offices if they moved to new residences after application
• Marriage immigrants are exempted from written tests. They will be interviewed to examine their Korean proficiency and basic knowledge to earn Korean citizenships.
• Two additional interview opportunities are available for the applicants that have failed in the first interview
④ Family Relation Registration
• Marriage immigrants shall register their family relations at the administrative offices with authority (city hall, district office, or town office) within a month after receiving the naturalization notification.
• Naturalization notification and foreigner registration card are required to register their family relations.
⑤ Renunciation of Foreign Citizenship
• Immigrants must renounce their foreign citizenships at the embassies of their home countries within a year after they are approved for naturalization. They must then submit the renunciation certificates issued by the embassies to the Korea Immigration Service to receive the certificate of foreign citizenship renunciation.
• If immigrants fail to obtain their renunciation certificates within the specified period, then their Korean citizenships are automatically cancelled
• When an immigrant is not able to secure a renunciation certificate because there is no embassy for his or her home country or the renunciation certificate is not issuable pursuant to the laws of the home country, the immigrant shall submit the pledge to renounce foreign citizenship and receive a temporary renunciation certificate to report residence registration.
⑥ Return of Foreigner Registration Card
• Applicants must return their foreigner registration cards to the local Korea Immigration Service offices with their naturalization notifications, family relation certificates, and resident registration cards within 14 days after resident registration.
⑦ Resident Registration
• Applicants must bring the naturalization permit notification letter, basic certificates, and the foreign citizenship renunciation certificate to apply for residence registration and receive resident registration cards at the local administrative offices
• Reissue of resident registration card: When the resident registration card is lost, it can be reissued after submitting a reissue application and an ID photo (3cm x 4cm photo taken in the last six months) to a local administrative office.
• Relocation: The immigrant must report his or her new address to a local administrative office within 14 days after relocation.
(3) Issue of Resident Registration CardAfter being naturalized and completing the resident registration process, the immigrant is eligible to receive a resident registration card. The resident registration card is an identification to verify citizenship in Korea. It is required for identification in administrative reporting, issue of public documents, and use of administrative services. The resident registration card must not be handed over and the resident registration number shall not be disclosed to another person as this highly increases the immigrant vulnerability to being victimized crime and identity theft
※ Resident registration can be cancelled if the corresponding resident is found out to be living in another location. -
Marriage immigrants may have their permanent residency terminated in any of the following cases.
The marriage immigrant fails to re-enter Korea within the authorized re-entry period The marriage immigrant commits a crime related to rebellion or threat to national security The marriage immigrant commits a crime of murder, robbery, drug trafficking, breach of National Security Law, rape, sexual violence, or sexual harassment. The marriage immigrant has obtained permanent residency using a false or illegitimate method. The marriage immigrant turns out to be involved in a fake marriage. The marriage immigrant has entered Korea by using a fake passport or a passport of another person.
※ Fake marriage refers to the registration of marriage without the authentic intention to form a marriage, which is subject to criminal punishment. Fake marriage, however, cannot be constituted if the Korean spouse pays for match-making services. -
The foreign nationals listed below can apply for nationalization in South Korea by visiting the district immigration office (☎1345) with the required documentation.
Even if you are qualified to apply for nationalization as listed below, detailed conditions must also be met. Therefore, if you want to obtain Korean nationality, please consult with a staff member of the immigration office in advance and prepare all required documents.① A person who has stayed in Korea more than 5 years.
② A foreign national whose father or mother used to be Korean or whose parents were born in Korea and he/she has stayed in Korea over 3 years.
③ A person who married a Korean and has stayed in Korea over two years.
④ A person whose father or mother is Korean.
In the case that the father or mother is accepted to obtain Korean nationality, their children are able to apply for nationalization regardless of their length of stay in Korea, age or marital status.
⑤ A person who has made special contributions to Korea.
Marriage Immigrants① marriage immigrant who registered as a foreigner two years ago and has remained legally in Korea for more than two years.
② The individual has been married more than three years and she/he has stayed in Korea more than one year.
③ A person who married a Korean but who was unable to remain in the marriage for various reasons for which blame cannot be imputed to himself/herself such as spouse’s death or disappearance and who has maintained a residential address in Korea over two years.
④ A person who married Korean and is raising or will raise a dependent child.
-
Marriage immigrants are entitled to obtain permanent residency by applying for a change of status if they have stayed in Korea for at least two years and satisfy the following conditions.
(1) RequirementsThe applicant maintains a marriage relationship with his or her Korean spouse. The Korean spouse is deceased or declared disappeared by the court. The applicant is divorced or separated from his or her Korean spouse for a cause that is verified to be not attributable to the applicant. The applicant raises a minor child born out of the marriage with the Korean spouse, regardless of divorce or separation.
(2) Required Documents for Permanent Residency ApplicationApplication for change of stay status (F-2 → F-5) Passport or foreigner registration certificate Certificate of family relations and copy of resident registration of the Korean spouse
Benefits of Permanent Residency
※ When the Korean spouse has disappeared or is deceased, the court's declaration of disappearance or death certificate is required. When the applicant is divorced or separated from his or her Korean spouse, a court's written judgment that specifies that the divorce or separation is attributable to the Korean spouse is required. Documents verifying property ownership (any of following)
- Deposit certificate that verifies that the applicant or his or her family member has 30 million won or more in a bank account
- Copy of real estate register or leasing agreement
- Document to verify stable income stream such as an employment certificate of the marriage immigrant or spouse Criminal record certificate issued by an authority of the home country Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) score or the certificate of the completion of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) required for select marriage immigrants or their minor children Processing fee of 50,000 wonMarriage immigrants are not required to renounce their original nationalities. Marriage immigrants are entitled to stay in Korea permanently, even after divorcing their Korean spouses. Marriage immigrants are entitled to vote for provincial elections three years after obtaining permanent residency. Marriage immigrants do not have to obtain re-entry visas when they re-enter Korea within a year after departure.
-
If any of the following occur to a registered foreigner, it must be reported to a local Immigration. If left unreported, a penalty will be charged and the individual may experience disadvantages during their stay in Korea.
(1) Obligation to report changes to an alien registration cardEligibility(2) Obligation to report change in residenceChanges of any information contained on the alien registration card must be reported to the district immigration office (☎1345) within 14 days from the date of occurrence.
Incidents to report- Change of name, sex, date of birth or nationality
Required Documents
- Change of passport number, its issuance date or expiration date
- Change of employer including organization name change.
① Application for change
② Passport and Alien Registration Card
③ Supporting documentation to prove the change
④ Application for change in residence
⑤ Passport and Alien Registration Card
EligibilityThe change of residence of a registered foreigner must be reported to the Bucheon City Hall (☎032-320-3000) or the district immigration office (☎1345) within 14 days from its occurrence.
-
(1) Eligibility
If a foreign national who holds a long-term stay visa leaves Korea during his period of sojourn and returns before the period of sojourn has expired, the individual must have a re-entry permit from the district immigration office (☎1345).
One may receive a single re-entry permit at the airport or port immigration office if he/she departs from Korea on the same day. Make sure that if a foreigner leaves Korea without having obtained a re-entry permit or doesn’t return to Korea within the period of re-entry permission, his/her visa is cancelled.
(2) Type of Re-entry PermitSingle Re-entry Permit : May only be used once. Multiple Re-entry Permit : Allows the holder to leave and return numerous times.
(3) Required documents① Application for re-entry permit
(4) Marriage immigrants
② Passport and alien registration card (if applicable)
③ Additional supporting documentation by status of stay
④ 50,000원 Fees – Fee of 30,000 won for single re-entry permit, Fee of 50,000 for multiple re-entry permit
In order to improve convenience in immigration and stay, marriage immigrants (F-2-1 visa holders) can receive a multiple re-entry permit when she/he visits the district immigration office for alien registration or visa application.
-
(1) Eligibility
If a foreign national who will stay in Korea over 90 days with a long-term stay visa wants to maintain the existing visa status and combine activities or engage in activities other than those permitted under the current visa status, he/she must get permission from the district immigration office(☎1345).
In the case that a D-2 (international student) visa holder wants a part-time job In the case that a D-6 visa (missionary visa) holder wants to teach in a seminary.
(2) Required Documents① Application for permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted
② Passport and Alien registration card (if applicable)
③ Additional supporting documentation by status of stay
④ Fee of 50,000 won (Fee of 30,000 for D-2 and F-2 visa)
-
(1) Eligibility
Foreigners who want to change their status of stay in Korea to another status must get permission from the district immigration office (☎1345).
In the case that a C-2 visa (short term business visa) holder wants to hold a D-8 visa (corporate investment visa) In the case that a D-4 visa (general training visa) holder wants to change to a D-2 visa (overseas student visa) In the case that a foreigner marries a Korean spouse and wants to get an F-2 visa (residential long-term visa).
(2) Required Documents① Application to change the status of stay
② Passport and Alien Registration Card (if applicable)
③ Additional support document by the status of stay.
④ Fee of 50,000 won
-
(1) Eligibility
Foreigners who want to extend their length of stay in Korea must obtain permission for an extension of stay from the district immigrant office (☎1345). The extension of stay can be from 2 months prior to the current expiration date to the expiration date itself. If applying for the extension after the expiration date, the individual shall pay a penalty. Please make sure that the application is acceptable on the expiration date; if the application is rejected, the individual’s status is regarded as being illegal from the day of rejection and can be a disadvantage in the immigration process.
(2) Required Documents① Application for extension of stay
(3) Marriage Immigrants
② Passport and Alien Registration Card (if applicable)
③ Attached document depending on status of stay
④ Fee of 30,000 won
The following documents must be attached in addition to the documents specified above.
- Family Relation Certificate of the Korean spouse
- Copy of Resident Registration of the Korean Spouse If a marriage immigrant gets a divorce by consent due to the unfair treatment of his or her Korean spouse, then the divorce is not clearly attributable to a specific party. In such case, a visa extension may not be available. Therefore, the immigrant is recommended to consult with an expert. In the course of a divorce suit filed by a marriage immigrant, the stay visa is renewed every three months. When the Korean spouse mistreats the immigrant or withdraws the personal reference so that reference cannot be obtained from the spouse, the immigrant may receive counseling services from local immigrant service centers, aid facilities for women, and multi-cultural family centers. -
The immigration office in your location offers foreign registration services and issues a foreign registration card.
The immigration office of the Ministry of Justice : ☎1345, http://www.immigration.go.kr Incheon Immigration Office: 1-31, Hang-dong 7ga, Jung-gu, Incheon Metropolitan City
The immigration office is responsible for visa extension, change of the status of stay, work permit, change of workplace, immigration visa, extension of sojourn, permission for re-entry, alien registration and refugee visa as well as the crack down on foreigners who stay in Korea illegally and are ordered to leave.
(1) Foreigner Sojourn and Alien RegistrationForeigner stay is categorized as a short term stay (up to 90 days of stay), a long-term stay (more than 91 days of stay) and permanent residency depending on the length of stay. Long-term stay and permanent residency individuals must register as a foreigner or file a Domestic Residency Report within 90 days of arrival.
(2) Alien Registration CardIt takes 7-10 days to issue this card after registration. The card can be picked up in the immigration office or be sent your address via delivery service by paying a 3,000 won parcel fee in advance.