I received an inquiry from a Korean man who studied in Canada about whether his Canadian girlfriend, who is in Korea on an H-1 (Working Holiday) visa, can change her visa status in Korea. If not, he asked how they should proceed.
In Korea, unless it's a legal long-term visa, short-term visas and visa exemptions (C-3, B-1, B-2) typically require application at an overseas diplomatic mission (a South Korean embassy in the foreign national's country). Also, the Working Holiday visa, known as H-1, which is issued on a quota basis to nationals of specific countries, cannot be changed to an F6 visa within Korea.
In cases like this, marriage registration must be completed in Korea, and then an application for an F6 visa must be made at an overseas diplomatic mission. This means that one must enter Korea with an F6 visa from the start.
However, being Canadian does not mean one must apply in Canada; applications can also be made at South Korean embassies in nearby countries like Japan or China.
The F6 marriage visa application process varies by country, situation, and individual condition, but the basic requirements remain largely the same. Today, we'll overview the F6 visa in broad strokes.
Marriage Registration
To apply for an F6 marriage visa, marriage registration is obviously required. Depending on the country, both nations may need to recognize the marriage for an F6 visa application to be possible, and in some cases, the Korean partner may need to visit the foreign partner's country for marriage registration.
However, aside from a few specific countries, generally, marriage registration in Korea is sufficient for an F6 visa application. Below is a basic list of documents needed for marriage registration in Korea
1. Identification of both parties (passport, resident registration card, etc.) - notarization may be requested for copies
2. Marriage registration form (available on-site)
3. Original and notarized translation of the foreign spouse's single status certificate (with apostille or consular verification as needed)
※ A certificate of singleness is a document that proves singleness. In our country, it would be equivalent to a marriage relationship certificate.
Therefore, the document proving singleness can have different names in each country.
Marriage Visa Application
Once the marriage is registered, you can apply for an F6 marriage visa. The application method varies by country and situation, but generally, there are two ways: applying within Korea or at an overseas diplomatic mission.
1. Visa issuance = Application at an overseas diplomatic mission (inviting the foreign spouse)
If the foreign spouse is abroad, they can apply for an F6 visa at a South Korean embassy overseas.
Moreover, illegal residents, G1 visa holders, H1 visa holders, those granted a stay of departure, short-term visa holders, visa exemptions (C3, B1, B2), etc., cannot apply for an F6 marriage visa within Korea unless there is a humanitarian reason (such as a severe illness or being pregnant for more than six months, having children born in Korea, etc.).
In such cases, even if the foreign spouse is already in Korea, the visa application must be made at an overseas diplomatic mission. Depending on the situation, the foreign spouse may not need to return to their home country but can apply at a South Korean embassy in a nearby country like China or Japan.
※ If there is a humanitarian reason, application in Korea is possible even in the above cases.
※ Illegal stayers and G1 visa holders are not necessarily unable to apply, but they will be strictly scrutinized compared to ordinary cases.
2. Domestic status change = Application at a domestic immigration office
Changing to an F6 visa within Korea is only possible if you hold a legal long-term visa.
If illegal residents, those granted a stay of departure, etc., apply for an F6 marriage visa within Korea due to humanitarian reasons, it's not a status change application but a status grant application.
※ Note: Qualification change (from visa holder → to F6 visa), Qualification grant (from non-qualified → to F6 visa)
F6 Marriage Visa Assessment Criteria
The F6 marriage visa primarily assesses four criteria, and the required documents are mainly to evaluate these criteria.
1. Genuineness of the Marriage
Even if a marriage is arranged through a matchmaking agency or acquaintances, if a man in his 60s has only interacted with a woman in her early 20s through social media and they apply for a marriage visa, the genuineness of the marriage would naturally be in question. Similarly, if after obtaining an F6 visa through marriage and naturalization, one divorces and then invites another person from the same country for marriage, this too would raise suspicions.
In such cases, while an application can be attempted, it's understood that the review will be more stringent. The concept of the genuineness of marriage might seem subjective, but given the history of sham marriages, it's probable that scrutiny is increasing to prevent such cases.
If the genuineness of the marriage is not sufficiently accepted, an unannounced inspection could be conducted, and the application may be denied depending on the circumstances.
Therefore, when applying for a marriage visa, it's crucial to well prepare the statement of dating history and objectively prove the genuineness of the marriage with as much evidence as possible.
For example, photos taken together during the relationship (photos with the future spouse's family might be more persuasive)
wedding photos, social media conversations, call records, etc.
※ If naturalized through marriage, one must wait 3 years after acquiring nationality to apply for an F6 visa
※ If one has invited a foreign spouse on an F6 visa in the past 5 years, issuance of an F6 visa is also restricted
2. Financial Stability Requirement
Inviting a foreign spouse requires the capability to at least maintain a minimal standard of living. Although the income requirement for a two-person household is not high, starting in the low 20 million won range, many people, especially freelancers and self-employed individuals, find it challenging to meet the minimum income requirement due to unreported earnings.
Therefore, those considering an F6 marriage visa and who are concerned about their income should prepare in advance. The income is based on the Income Amount Certificate, but if the income requirement is not met according to the Income Amount Certificate, assets or other incomes can be substituted, and the income of direct family members living together can also be combined.
《Recognized Range of Income》
- Acceptable range of income includes: labor income, business income, rental income, interest income, dividend income, pension income, etc
- Income or assets of direct family members living together (including parents and the foreign spouse but excluding siblings) can be combined
- 5% of assets (savings, insurance, bonds, stocks, real estate) is recognized as income. Only net assets held for more than 6 months and exceeding 1 million won are recognized, and for real estate, the public price listed in the official property registry is used as the basis.
*(Reference) Income Requirement for 2023: The inviter's annual income (before taxes) for the past year must be at least the amount corresponding to the table below
Category | 2-person household | 3-person household | 4-person household | 5-person household | 6-person household | 7-person household |
Income Standard | 20,736,930 | 26,608,896 | 32,405,784 | 37,984,128 | 43,367,886 | 48,645,090 |
*Income standard for households of 8 or more: Increases by 5,277,204 won per additional household member
3. Communication Proof Requirement
It makes sense that a couple intending to marry should be able to communicate to some extent. There's no need to prove communication ability in Korean specifically; depending on the situation, the language of the spouse's country or a third country's language can be used as the couple's communication language.
For more detailed requirements and content, refer to the below document submission guidelines.
4. Housing Requirement
To meet the housing requirement, the Korean spouse needs to prepare a property registry certificate if they own the home, or a property registry certificate and a lease agreement if they are renting. It doesn't have to be a property owned by the Korean spouse themselves; it could be owned by direct family/siblings. However, if the property is owned by a third party, it's generally not recognized unless it's a company-provided residence or other socially acceptable cases. Places like guesthouses, motels, or vinyl houses are not recognized as suitable living spaces for a couple.
Submission Documents for F6 Marriage Visa Application (Standards for Application at Overseas Diplomatic Missions)
For detailed requirements and documentation for applying for an F6 marriage visa at overseas missions, the necessary documents may vary depending on whether the country is targeted by the International Marriage Guidance Program, whether the foreign spouse has previously stayed in Korea on an F6 visa, and whether the couple has children.
《International Marriage Guidance Program Target Countries》
- China, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Thailand -
If the foreign spouse has been in Korea on an F6 visa before (without any change of spouse or interruption of marriage), and there are children born to the couple, the requirements for submitting a criminal record certificate, health certificate, income requirement, and communication requirement are significantly relaxed.
Below are the basic documents needed for a marriage visa application if none of the above conditions apply.
1. Basic documents
① Visa application form (with passport photo attached)
② Original and copy of the foreign spouse's passport
③ Invitation letter from the Korean spouse
④ Guarantee of identity by the Korean spouse
⑤ Statement of marriage background by the foreign spouse
2. Basic documents required by the Korean spouse
① Copy of the Korean spouse's passport
② Basic certificate, marriage relation certificate, family relation certificate (detailed, within 3 months)
③ Original resident registration (within 3 months)
④ Completion certificate of the International Marriage Guidance Program (if applicable)
⑤ Original health certificate (issued by a hospital or public health center, within 6 months)
⑥ Original criminal record certificate (within 3 months)
《Exemption Targets for International Marriage Guidance Program》
① Foreign spouses who have continuously stayed in their country for more than 6 months or in a third country for study/work assignments, proving the fact of association with the other party
② Foreign spouses who have entered Korea with a long-term residency qualification and have legally stayed for more than 91 days, proving the fact of association with the inviter
③ In cases deemed necessary for humanitarian reasons such as pregnancy, childbirth, or others
《Exemption Targets for Both Korean and Foreign Spouses’ Health Certificates and Criminal Record Certificates》
① Foreign spouses who have continuously stayed in their country for more than 6 months or in a third country for study/work assignments, proving the fact of association with the other party
② Foreign spouses who have entered Korea with a long-term residency qualification and have legally stayed for more than 91 days, proving the fact of association with the inviter
③ In cases deemed necessary for humanitarian reasons such as pregnancy, childbirth, or others
《Exemption Targets for Korean Spouse’s Criminal Record Certificate Submission》
1.Cases not applicable under the "Marriage Brokerage Management Law" Article 10-2 (Provision of Personal Information)
2.Cases not subject to crime history inquiry notification under the "Act on the Effectuation of Sentences" Article 6, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 10
※ Typically, Korean spouses are not required to submit a criminal record certificate unless it's through a marriage brokerage.
3. Basic documents required by the foreign spouse
① Original marriage certificate (not mandatory, required depending on the spouse's country)
② Criminal record certificate (within 3 months)
③ Original health certificate (issued by a designated hospital by the overseas mission, within 6 months)
※ If the Korean spouse is exempt from submitting both the health certificate and criminal record certificate, the foreign spouse is also exempt from submitting the criminal record certificate and health certificate.
However, a tuberculosis test must be submitted if from a high-risk tuberculosis country (exceptions apply if pregnant).
4. Income requirement proof documents for the Korean spouse
① Mandatory - Income Amount Certificate, credit information inquiry report
② For business income - Copy of business registration certificate, other related income prooMandatory - Income Amount Certificate, credit information inquiry report
② For business income - Copy of business registration certificate, other related income proof documents
③ For employment income - Withholding receipt of wage and salary income, copy of business registration certificate, employment verification, other related income proof documents
④ For rental income - Property registry, lease agreement, etc.
⑤ For interest income - Bank transaction statement, etc.
⑥ For using property (savings, insurance, securities, bonds, real estate) - Only net assets held for more than 6 months and exceeding 1 million won are recognized, for real estate, property registry and official price list must be submitted
⑦ When utilizing income or assets of direct family members living together - Statement of family income situation by the inviter, other related income proof documents (prepare according to above content)
※ The Income Amount Certificate for the most recent year must be submitted.
《Cases where the income requirement is exempted》
① If there are children born to the couple
② If the couple has lived together abroad for more than a year since the visa application date and there has been no income in Korea for the last year
③ If the foreign spouse has previously stayed in Korea on an F-6 (marriage immigrant) visa (except if the spouse has changed or if the same spouse has had an interruption of marriage)
5. Communication proof documents for the foreign spouse
① To prove in Korean ※ Choose one from below
- TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) score certificate (Level 1 or above)
- Completion certificate of the Social Integration Program Level 2 or above
- Sejong Hakdang Basic Level or above completion certificate (120 hours or more)
- Korean language education completion certificate from an educational institution designated by the embassy (120 hours or more)
- Degree certificate related to Korean from a college/university
- Documents proving overseas Korean status (Korean language proficiency verification if needed)
- Entry and exit certificate: In case of having stayed in Korea continuously for more than a year (regardless of legal or illegal stay)
② To prove in the foreign spouse's language ※ Choose one from below
- If the Korean spouse has continuously stayed in a country where the foreign spouse's language is official for more than a year (proof of entry and exit from the respective country)
- Documents proving the Korean spouse is a naturalized citizen from a country where the foreign spouse's language is official
③ To prove in a third country's language
- If both marriage partners have continuously stayed in a country where the language is official for more than a year (proof of entry and exit from the respective country)
④ In other cases
If the Korean spouse or foreign spouse
① submits a score of a certain level in a relevant language proficiency test
② If passed an interview conducted by the embassy
《Cases where the communication requirement is exempted》
① If there are children born to the couple
② If the foreign spouse has previously stayed in Korea on an F-6 (marriage immigrant) visa (except if the spouse has changed or if the same spouse has had an interruption of marriage)
6. Housing requirement proof documents for the Korean spouse
① If owning - Property registry certificate
② If renting - Property registry certificate, copy of lease agreement
7. Relationship proof documents
① Mandatory - Relationship background statement and photos supporting the relationship background statement, wedding photos, family photos, SNS chat history, etc.
② If through a marriage agency - Copy of the marriage agency's registration certificate, copy of guarantee insurance policy, copy of contract (if submission is difficult, provide a reason statement)
③ If met through an acquaintance - Copy of the introducer's ID card
《Cases where relationship background documents are exempted》
① If there are children born to the couple
② If the foreign spouse has previously stayed in Korea on an F-6 (marriage immigrant) visa (except if the spouse has changed or if the same spouse has had an interruption of marriage)
ALL VISA KOREA has processed marriage visas for various countries. If you have any questions or difficulties in preparing for marriage registration and applying for a marriage visa, please feel free to contact us. We will assist you with prompt and accurate service. Thank you.