What Is the F-6 Marriage Visa?
The F-6 (Overseas Korean Spouse) is the visa issued to foreign nationals who are legally married to a Korean citizen. It grants the right to live in Korea indefinitely (subject to renewal) and to work without employer sponsorship or occupation restrictions.
The F-6 is one of the most scrutinized visa categories in Korea — immigration officials are required to verify the authenticity of the marriage relationship. In recent years, Korean immigration has significantly tightened F-6 issuance requirements following concerns about fraudulent marriages.
F-6 Subtypes
- F-6-1: Spouse of a Korean citizen (the standard F-6)
- F-6-2: Raising child of a Korean citizen (for unmarried or divorced parents of Korean children)
- F-6-3: Humanitarian visa (for foreign spouses in abusive situations — grants independent status regardless of Korean spouse's cooperation)
Eligibility for F-6-1
To qualify, both you and your Korean spouse must:
- Be legally married under both Korean law and the law of the foreign national's home country
- Demonstrate the marriage is genuine (cohabitation history, communication records, photos together over time)
- Your Korean spouse must be able to financially support you: income ≥ minimum wage level (₩2,060,740/month in 2025) or have sufficient assets
- Both parties must have no current criminal record for serious offenses
The Mandatory Marriage Relationship Interview
As of 2019, all F-6-1 applicants whose Korean spouse has previously been divorced or has previously sponsored an F-6 must undergo a marriage relationship interview at the Korean consulate (or at the immigration office if applying from inside Korea).
Questions commonly asked:
- How and when did you meet?
- How long did you date before marrying?
- Describe your spouse's physical appearance
- What does your spouse do for work?
- Have you visited Korea before? Where did you stay?
- Who attended your wedding?
- Where do you plan to live in Korea?
Both spouses are interviewed separately. Significant inconsistencies in answers will trigger a rejection or further investigation. Prepare together — review your relationship timeline, key dates, and each other's basic details before the interview.
Required Documents
Submitted by the foreign spouse (applicant):
- Passport
- Visa application form
- 1 passport-size photo
- Marriage certificate issued in your home country (apostilled + Korean translation)
- Certificate of status of family register from Korea (기본증명서 of Korean spouse, showing the marriage is registered in Korea)
- Proof of relationship genuineness: chat logs, photos together at various dates, travel records showing visits to each other's countries, joint financial records if applicable
- Criminal background check from your home country
- Medical certificate (for certain nationalities)
Submitted by / obtained from the Korean spouse:
- Korean citizen's passport or resident registration card
- Certificate of family register (가족관계증명서)
- Basic registration certificate (기본증명서)
- Proof of income: recent 3-month payslips + employment certificate, or tax certificate showing annual income
- If self-employed: business registration certificate + income tax return
Processing Time and Fees
- Processing time: 4–8 weeks from consulate abroad; 3–6 weeks if applying inside Korea via change of status
- Fee: Approximately $40–$80 (varies by nationality and country)
- Initial stay period: 1 year
- Renewals: 1 or 2 years at a time; typically renewed without issues for couples with an ongoing genuine marriage
F-6 to Permanent Residency: The Timeline
The F-6 leads naturally to two forms of permanent residency:
- F-5-2: After 2 years of marriage + 1 year of actual residence in Korea on F-6 — this is the fastest F-5 route for married couples
- F-5-1 (General PR): After 5 consecutive years of legal residence in Korea
Between F-6 and F-5, many holders transition through:
- F-2-2 (Citizen's child): If you have a child born to a Korean citizen, you may qualify for F-2-2 independently of your F-6 status
What Happens to Your F-6 If You Divorce?
Divorce while on F-6 does not automatically cancel your visa. You can remain in Korea while your current F-6 is valid. However:
- If your Korean spouse initiates divorce proceedings and reports this to immigration, your next renewal may be affected
- If you have Korean children, you may be eligible to change to F-6-2 (child-rearing), which is independent of marital status
- If you are a victim of domestic violence, F-6-3 provides an independent humanitarian status — contact the Korean Women's Hotline (1366) for immediate assistance
- After divorce, some long-term F-6 holders qualify to convert to F-1-99 (Humanitarian Stay) or other statuses based on the duration of marriage and Korea residency
Source: Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice F-6 Visa Guidelines | Last verified: March 2026
This article is for informational purposes only. Marriage visa situations are highly individual. Consult a verified Korean immigration specialist for advice specific to your situation.