If you’re planning to marry a Korean and live in Korea, you’ll need to apply for an Korea F6 visa, which is a marriage-based immigrant visa. However, the language barrier can be a major obstacle. Visa requirements and application procedures are often only available in the local language of the country you’re planning to immigrate to, which is very unfriendly to foreigners. Translating official documents and understanding complex legal jargon can be quite challenging, especially if you’re looking for professional help.
If you’re reading this column, you’re probably interested in learning what requirements and documents are needed to apply for an F6 visa, a marriage-based immigrant visa. However, verifying the accuracy and reliability of information you find online or through other sources can be difficult, especially when dealing with complex legal issues. Incorrect or outdated information can lead to mistakes in the application process, which is why it’s important to do your research in the first place.
Immigration laws and policies are subject to change, and it can be difficult to stay on top of the latest developments, especially if you’re preparing to immigrate from abroad. Policy changes can affect eligibility criteria, application processes, or documentation requirements, requiring additional research and preparation.
At Dongjul, we work with a local authorized administrator in Korea to help you get your korea F6 visa, a marriage immigrant visa. Visa requirements and immigration laws are often filled with legal terms and jargon that may be unfamiliar to foreigners, and we are here to make it easier for you to prepare for specific requirements or documents. If you have any questions, you can also contact us through the pages below.
Please note that the following materials have been translated from the official website of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Requirements for Marriage Immigrant Visa (korea F6 visa)
- Spouse of a Korean
- A person recognized by the Minister of Justice as a father or mother who is raising a child born in a marriage (including a de facto marriage*) with a Korean.
- A person recognized by the Minister of Justice as a person who is unable to maintain a normal marital relationship due to the death or disappearance of his/her spouse or other reasons not attributable to him/her while staying in Korea while married to a Korean spouse.
Based on the above requirements, the detailed criteria are as follows.
F-6-1 (Korean spouse)
Foreigners who are validly married in Korea and wish to stay in Korea to continue their marriage to a Korean.
F-6-2 (Child Raising)
A father or mother who is raising or intends to raise a minor child born out of a marriage (including a de facto marriage) with a Korean in Korea after the marriage has ended.
F-6-3 (Marriage breakdown)
A person who is married to a Korean spouse and is unable to maintain a normal marriage relationship due to the death or disappearance of the spouse or other reasons not attributable to the person.
The F6 visa is valid for 3 years, after which it must be reissued.
International Marriage Guidance Program
The Korea International Marriage Information Program (KIMIP) is designed to help people who want to invite a foreign spouse into an international marriage to have a healthy marriage with the right awareness of international marriage.
Koreans who wish to enter into an international marriage, or who are already in an international marriage and wish to invite a foreign spouse*, must complete the International Marriage Guidance Program. Eligible countries are China, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and Thailand.|
Through the International Marriage Guidance Program, you’ll learn about
- Learn about the institutional, cultural, and etiquette information related to international marriages in the host country
- Explain policies such as procedures and criteria for issuing marriage immigrant visas (F6 visa)
- Counseling for marriage immigrants, introduction of victimization cases, and experiences of marriage immigrants and their Korean spouses
- Human rights education (respect for human rights and efforts to resolve conflicts between couples, prevention of domestic violence, etc.)
You can apply for participation by registering as a member of the Social Integration Information Network (www.socinet.go.kr) and selecting the ‘International Marriage Guidance Program’ application field on the menu.
Preparation Documents
There are different documents for Korean and foreign spouses to prepare. Let’s take a look at the basic documents first.
1-1 Visa application form (application for issuance of a visa)
1-2 One passport-size photograph
1-3 Original applicant’s (foreign spouse’s) passport with at least 6 months remaining validity
1-4 One copy of applicant’s passport
1-5 Visa application fee
Application form (this is the most important document, so make sure to fill it out in the prescribed format)
1-6 Foreign spouse invitation letter
1-7 Identity Guarantee
1-8 Marriage Background Statement of Foreign Spouse
Basic documents for the Korean spouse
1-9 One copy of the Korean spouse’s passport
1-10 Basic Certificates (Detailed)
1-11 Certificate of Marriage
1-12 Family Relationship Certificate
1-13 Original copy of resident registration card
1-14 Original health certificate
Basic documents for foreign spouses
1-15 Original marriage certificate (full name)
1-16 Original criminal record certificate (full name) within 3 months of issuance
1-17 Original health certificate
1-18 Documents that apply specifically to your country
If you are eligible for the International Marriage Guidance Program, you will need additional documents to verify your Korean language proficiency. You may also need additional documents to verify whether you have children or income.
If you are unfamiliar with the local legal system or language, the visa requirements and application process for the country you want to immigrate to can be very challenging. Researching visa requirements and preparing the necessary documents can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, especially if you have a tight deadline or unexpected delays, so it’s a good idea to seek the help of a local visa expert.
Dongjul works with local experts to help you get your visa. If you are interested in getting a visa agency service, please contact us through the contact form and we will be happy to help you.