The F-6 visa Korea requirements come down to six things: a legally registered marriage to a Korean citizen, evidence the relationship is genuine, household income above the Ministry of Justice threshold, suitable housing, basic communication ability between the spouses, and a recent health exam from a designated hospital. Meet all six and you can live and work in South Korea long-term, without being tied to an employer.
Who the F-6 Covers
The F-6 is actually three permits under one label, and knowing which one fits your situation determines what you need to prove.
- F-6-1 is the standard marriage migrant category: a foreign national in an ongoing marriage with a Korean citizen who wants to live together in Korea. Most first-time applicants fall here.
- F-6-2 is for a foreign parent raising a minor child born during a marriage with a Korean national, after that marriage has ended.
- F-6-3 is for a foreign spouse whose marriage ended because of the Korean spouse’s death, disappearance, or fault.
The requirements below describe the F-6-1 route. If your marriage has already ended, skip to the section on protections after divorce or death.
Marriage and Eligibility
The marriage must be legally registered in South Korea. The Korean Family Relation Register has to reflect the union, and the Korean spouse must hold Korean citizenship at the time of application. Most applicants also need the marriage recognized in the foreign spouse’s home country, which means obtaining an apostilled or authenticated marriage certificate from abroad.
Both spouses must be of legal marrying age under the laws of their respective countries. Immigration officers look closely at whether the marriage is real. They review invitation letters, photographs, and interview responses to test for authenticity. Couples who met recently, have large age gaps, or cannot describe basic details about each other’s daily lives should expect closer scrutiny. Any prior sponsorship of a different foreign spouse within the past five years by the Korean partner receives extra attention.
Income Threshold
The Ministry of Justice sets an annual income floor calculated as a percentage of the previous year’s Gross National Income. The exact figure changes each year and depends on household size. As a rough benchmark, the two-person household threshold has historically fallen between roughly 19 and 22 million KRW per year. Check the current year’s number through the immigration office or the HiKorea portal before you apply. Income is verified through National Tax Service records covering the previous twelve months.
If earned income falls short, assets can fill the gap. Savings, insurance policies, and real estate held for more than six months by either spouse or by direct family members registered in the same household qualify. Five percent of net asset value is converted into income for the calculation. The Korean spouse is usually the primary earner on the application, but the foreign spouse’s legally earned income can be combined.
You are exempt from the income requirement entirely if the couple already has a child together, if the foreign spouse is more than 20 weeks pregnant, or if the couple lived abroad together for more than a year before applying and has no domestic Korean income for the prior year.
Housing
The couple needs a stable residence owned or leased in the name of the Korean spouse, the foreign spouse, or a direct family member. The space must be suitable for a family to live in together. Subdivided rooms, commercial properties, and temporary accommodations like hotels or guesthouses get applications rejected. Bring a lease agreement or property registration document as proof.
Language and Communication
The couple has to show they can actually talk to each other. For most applicants that means the foreign spouse proves basic Korean through one of three routes:
- TOPIK Level 1 or higher, the Test of Proficiency in Korean administered by the National Institute for International Education.
- KIIP Level 2 or higher, meaning completion of at least Level 2 of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (formerly called the Social Integration Program).
- A beginner course completed at an overseas institution approved by the Ministry of Justice and the relevant Korean embassy.
If the couple communicates in a language other than Korean, the Korean spouse must prove they lived for at least one year in a country where that language is official. Both spouses can also demonstrate a shared third language if each lived for at least a year in a country where it is spoken.
The language requirement is waived when the couple already has children together, when the foreign spouse is more than 20 weeks pregnant, or when the foreign spouse previously held F-6 status.1Korean Embassy in Mongolia. Spouse of Korean National F-6-1
Health Examination
The foreign spouse must submit a health examination report issued within six months of the application date. The exam covers tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and mental health. Only certificates from designated hospitals or large general hospitals are accepted, and the document must include the hospital name, address, contact information, and the examining doctor’s signature.1Korean Embassy in Mongolia. Spouse of Korean National F-6-1
Applicants from countries classified as high tuberculosis risk must submit a separate TB certificate regardless of other exemptions. Pregnant applicants who cannot undergo certain TB diagnostics should contact the embassy or consulate directly for alternative arrangements.
Documents
The application package is substantial, and a single missing document can delay the case. Both spouses have their own paperwork.
From the Korean Spouse
A Basic Certificate, Family Relation Certificate, a copy of the Korean ID, and a passport.2Embassy of the Republic of Korea. The Requirements for a Marriage Migrant Visa F-6 The Korean spouse also writes a Personal Statement of Invitation covering how the couple met, how the relationship developed, where they will live, and how they plan to support themselves. The statement must disclose any prior sponsorship of a different foreign spouse within the past five years.
From the Foreign Spouse
A Personal Statement covering background and reasons for staying in Korea, a marriage certificate from the home country (translated and apostilled or authenticated as required), the health examination report, and a standard visa application form covering personal identifiers, passport details, education, and criminal history in any country.
The two statements are compared for consistency. Discrepancies between the Korean spouse’s account and the foreign spouse’s account of how the relationship began or developed can trigger further investigation, so accuracy and detail matter more than polish.
Where and How to Apply
You can apply in one of two places, depending on where you already are:
- From abroad, submit the application at the Korean embassy or consulate in your home country. This is the standard route for first-time applicants who do not already hold a Korean visa.
- From inside Korea, if you already hold a different visa status, apply for a change of status at your regional immigration office. Book the appointment through the HiKorea portal well ahead, since popular offices fill up quickly.3Hi Korea. Visit Reservation Application
Processing takes anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the complexity of the case and the workload of the reviewing office. Officers may conduct phone interviews or unannounced home visits to verify the marriage is real, both during review and after approval.
After Approval
Once the visa is granted and you enter Korea, register for a Foreign Residence Card (commonly called an Alien Registration Card) at your local immigration office within 90 days of arrival. Missing this deadline triggers penalties. Book the registration appointment through HiKorea early, because wait times at busy offices can eat into that 90-day window.
The initial F-6 is typically valid for 12 months. Your first extension can carry a longer validity of up to two and a half years. Renewal requires showing that the marriage is still intact and that you continue to meet the income and housing requirements. Start the extension process well before your current status expires.
Work Rights
F-6 holders sit under an employment-permitted status of stay, which means you can work in Korea without a separate work permit and without being tied to a specific employer.4Korea Easy Law. Extension of Stay and Change of Status of Stay You can work for any company, freelance, or start a business without needing immigration approval for each job change. This is one of the F-6’s biggest practical advantages over employment-based visas.
National Health Insurance
Long-stay foreign residents normally wait six months before enrolling in the National Health Insurance Service. F-6 marriage migrants are exempt from that waiting period and can enroll immediately on arrival. If you work for a Korean company, the 2026 contribution rate is 7.19% of salary, split evenly between you and your employer. Self-employed or unemployed F-6 holders enroll as regional subscribers, with premiums calculated on income, property, and other factors. Enrollment is mandatory, and premiums are billed whether or not you use the system.
If the Marriage Ends
Losing the marriage does not automatically mean losing your right to stay, but you need to act quickly and know which category applies.
Divorce That Was Not Your Fault
If the marriage ended because of the Korean spouse’s actions, such as domestic violence, abandonment, or infidelity, you can apply to stay under F-6-3. You need evidence the breakdown was not your responsibility: police reports (112 call history), medical records from spousal violence, prosecutorial decisions related to the Korean spouse’s conduct, or statements from the Korean spouse’s relatives. Even if you were technically at fault, you may still qualify for a one-year F-6-3 extension if you are financially supporting the Korean spouse’s parents or family members.
Raising a Child
If you have custody of or visitation rights to a minor child born during the marriage, you can apply under F-6-2 regardless of who was at fault. Officers verify that you actually exercise custody or maintain active contact with the child. This protection applies while divorce proceedings are still ongoing as well.
Domestic Violence
If you are involved in a police investigation, court proceedings, or other legal remedies under the Special Act on the Punishment of Crimes of Domestic Violence, you can extend your stay for the duration of those proceedings. Extensions may continue after the legal process concludes if recovery requires it. Without a documented record, these protections are difficult to access, so reporting matters.
Death or Disappearance of the Korean Spouse
You can remain in Korea under F-6-3 by submitting a death certificate or a court-issued disappearance declaration along with proof of the marriage.
What Comes After the F-6
The F-6 is a stepping stone. After two years of residence as a marriage migrant, you can apply for F-5-2 permanent residency, which requires meeting household income and asset benchmarks and completing Phase 5 of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (or scoring 60 or higher on the KIIP comprehensive assessment). Reduced thresholds apply if you are pregnant, raising minor children of the Korean spouse, have lived with the Korean spouse’s parents for at least one year, or are over 60.
Simplified naturalization is also available: after more than two years of residence while continuously married to a Korean citizen, or after more than three years of marriage with at least one year of residence in Korea. You must show Korean language ability and basic knowledge of Korean customs, plus proof of employment or qualifying property. South Korea generally does not permit dual citizenship for naturalized citizens, so within six months of approval you must renounce your original nationality and submit proof, or risk losing the Korean citizenship you just obtained.5Government of Korea 1345 Helpline. Let’s Live a Happy Life in Korea