Eligibility quiz
Were you born in South Korea?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
South Korean passport
South Korean citizens can get a South Korean passport for travel abroad.
Live in South Korea for life
South Korean citizens can enter, leave and live in South Korea without a visa or residence renewal.
There is no minimum time they must spend in the country.
Study in South Korea
South Korean citizens have an equal right to education and do not need a student immigration status to study.
Work in South Korea
South Korean citizens have the right to work without a foreigner's work permission.
Some jobs and professions have their own requirements.
Use registration services
South Korean citizens can use civil and family registration services, and those living abroad can register as overseas nationals to help with administration and protection.
Get help abroad
South Korean citizens can get consular help abroad, including in emergencies, disasters, criminal proceedings and missing-person cases.
Local and international law, and what a person can resolve themselves, limit the help available.
Vote and run for office
South Korean citizens have the right to vote and hold public office under election rules.
Citizens abroad can also vote from abroad if they register and meet the election conditions.
Use public healthcare
South Korean citizens can join National Health Insurance as domestic participants rather than under the rules for foreign residents.
Enrollment can be through work or where they live, and contributions are payable.
Use social support
South Korean citizens have a right to social support under the law.
Social insurance includes pensions, employment and work-accident insurance, but payments depend on the scheme and factors such as work, residence and income.
How to apply
Applying at a local officeApplying at a local office
Find your immigration office
Find the immigration office that handles nationality applications for the place where you live.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which South Korean immigration office handles simple naturalization applications for your city?”
Download the application form
Download the Naturalization Application Form from Hi Korea. You can also get it from your immigration office.
Find the formSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I download the South Korean Naturalization Application Form from Hi Korea?”
Fill in the form
Fill in and sign the Naturalization Application Form.
Find form instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the South Korean Naturalization Application Form for simple naturalization?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your immigration office.
See required documentsGet a revenue stamp
Get a government revenue stamp for the 300,000 won application fee to bring to your appointment.
Find a revenue stampSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I get a government revenue stamp to pay the South Korean simple naturalization application fee?”
Book an appointment
Book a visit on Hi Korea, choosing the nationality service and the immigration office for where you live.
Book an appointmentGo to your appointment
Bring your completed form, required documents, passport and residence card to your immigration office and hand in your application in person. Pay the 300,000 won fee with the government revenue stamp.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “What should I bring to my South Korean simple naturalization appointment at the immigration office in your city?”
Attend any required evaluation
Attend the comprehensive evaluation or interview if the immigration office asks you to.
Find evaluation informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I attend the comprehensive evaluation or interview for South Korean simple naturalization?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the decision and answer any questions or requests for more documents from the immigration office. You can follow your application on Hi Korea or call 1345 if it does not appear there.
Check your applicationAttend your citizenship ceremony
After approval, attend the oath and citizenship certificate ceremony at the time and place the immigration office gives you. You can then apply for a South Korean passport.
Find ceremony informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I attend the South Korean simple naturalization oath and citizenship certificate ceremony?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Provide records showing that you and at least one of your parents were born in South Korea and that you are related. If you have children, include records showing your relationship to them; if you were adopted, add the adoption decision. Records normally need to be originals issued within the last three months.
Marriage certificates *
Provide a record showing your marriage. It normally needs to be an original issued within the last three months.
* Only if you are married.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationCopy of family register *
Provide a copy of your family register showing your family relationships. Check with your office whether it also needs a recent original.
* Only if your country issues a family register relevant to your application.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Military service for men
Male South Korean citizens may have to serve in the military; age, health, time abroad and dual citizenship can affect exemptions or delays.
Those liable who are 25 or older, or doing alternative service, need permission to travel abroad.
Those who left before 25 generally need permission by 15 January of the year they turn 25.
Citizenship can be lost
Voluntarily acquiring another citizenship generally ends South Korean citizenship, with exceptions.
Dual citizens who were not South Korean at birth can lose it after a hearing if keeping it is clearly against national interests or seriously disrupts social order.
Citizenship can also be given up through a legal process, and loss must be reported.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Every Expat in Korea
English Facebook group for people living in South Korea interested in South Korean local life
Join on FacebookForeigners in Seoul
English Facebook group for people living in South Korea interested in South Korean local life
Join on Facebookr/SouthKoreaTravel
English Reddit group for people living in South Korea interested in South Korean local life
Join on RedditConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
Adavia doesn't provide advice, but we're building a directory of professionals who do. If you'd like, we can notify you when help is available.
Updated