The F-6 visa is issued to foreign nationals who are legally married to a Korean citizen. It is one of the most common long-term visas in Korea and carries a direct path to permanent residency (F-5) — but several requirements must be met along the way, including enrollment in the KIIP social integration program. This guide covers everything from initial application to F-5 conversion.
F-6 is for foreign spouses of Korean citizens. Both must be legally married under Korean family law (가족관계등록부 — family register record). The marriage must be genuine — immigration conducts interviews and background checks to verify the legitimacy of the relationship, particularly where large age gaps, short courtship periods, or international marriage brokerage is involved.
Subtypes:
• Spouse of a Korean citizen currently living in Korea together
• F-6-2: Spouse of a Korean citizen living abroad — applied for at a Korean embassy in the spouse's country
• F-6-3: Parent of a Korean citizen child — for divorced or separated foreign parents who retain custody or visitation rights over a Korean-citizen child
Standard documents required:
• Valid passport + visa application form + passport photo
• Korean spouse's family register (가족관계증명서) and resident registration card (주민등록증)
• Marriage certificate from your home country — must be apostilled (for Hague Convention countries) or legalized at the Korean embassy
• Korean marriage registration certificate (혼인관계증명서) if already registered in Korea
• Proof of ability to financially support the foreign spouse: Korean spouse's income certificate (소득금액증명원), employment certificate, or bank statements showing income meeting the 기준 중위소득 (median income standard) threshold for the applicable household size — see the income requirement section below for exemption conditions
• Proof of residence in Korea (Korean spouse's 주민등록등본)
• TB certificate (if from one of the 35 high-risk countries)
• Interview may be required at the immigration office
To convert F-6 to F-5 permanent residency, the foreign spouse must complete the KIIP (Korea Immigration and Integration Program — 사회통합프로그램).
KIIP consists of:
Upon completing all KIIP stages and passing the final test, you receive a KIIP completion certificate (사회통합프로그램 이수증). This certificate is required when applying for F-5 permanent residency as a marriage migrant.
KIIP is free and offered at immigration offices and KIIP-designated centers nationwide. Register at Socinet (socinet.go.kr).
F-6 is initially issued for 1 year. At each renewal, immigration verifies that the marriage is ongoing and genuine. Bring updated marriage certificate documents and proof of continued cohabitation.
If the marriage breaks down:
• If the foreign spouse is not at fault for the divorce or dissolution (e.g. domestic violence, abandonment by the Korean spouse), they may retain F-6-3 status or apply for humanitarian consideration
• If the divorce is mutual or at the foreign spouse's initiative, F-6 status is typically cancelled
For F-6-3 (parent of Korean-citizen child): this subtype allows the foreign parent to remain in Korea while maintaining a parental relationship with their Korean child.
The path from F-6 to F-5:
Minimum requirements:
Fee: F-5 permanent residency application costs ₩200,000
After obtaining F-5, the foreign spouse has permanent residency rights — no more renewals required (except re-registration every 10 years for the ARC card itself).
The Korean sponsor must demonstrate income meeting the government's 기준 중위소득 (median income standard) threshold for the applicable household size. The F-6 income requirement is set at 100% of 기준 중위소득, updated annually by the Ministry of Health and Welfare each August for the following year.
2026 기준 중위소득 reference thresholds (100% — F-6 standard):
| Household size | Monthly (approx.) | Annual (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 2인 (couple) | ₩4,100,000 | ₩49,200,000 |
| 3인 (couple + 1 child) | ₩5,270,000 | ₩63,240,000 |
| 4인 (couple + 2 children) | ₩6,400,000 | ₩76,800,000 |
| 5인 (couple + 3 children) | ₩7,470,000 | ₩89,640,000 |
*These are approximate reference figures based on the government's annual increase schedule. Always confirm the exact current table at hikorea.go.kr before applying, as figures are revised each year.*
Income proof documents accepted:
• 소득금액증명원 (Income Certificate) issued by the National Tax Service (NTS / 국세청) — the primary document
• Employment certificate (재직증명서) + most recent pay stubs (3–6 months)
• Business registration + business income proof if self-employed
• Pension/benefit documentation if income is from retirement, disability, or government programs
Three conditions that fully exempt the income requirement (소득요건 적용 면제):
① The couple has had a child together (부부 사이에 태어난 자녀가 있는 경우)
② The couple has been living abroad together for 1 year or more before the visa application, and the Korean sponsor has had no domestic income in Korea during that period
③ The foreign spouse previously resided in Korea as an F-6 marriage migrant with the same Korean spouse (i.e. re-application after an intervening departure)
If none of the three exemptions apply, income must be met. The following supplementation rule applies:
Who can supplement the Korean sponsor's income:
Only household members who share the same 주민등록 (resident registration) with the Korean sponsor can supplement: parents (부모), grandparents (조부모), and children (자녀) living at the same address. Siblings (형제, 자매) cannot supplement the income requirement. Income from household members outside the same registration address also cannot be combined.
From 2014, F-6 visa applicants from certain nationalities and in certain circumstances must satisfy a Korean language proficiency requirement before the visa is issued. The following documents are accepted as proof:
Additionally, individuals who qualify as 외국국적동포 (overseas Koreans) may submit documentary proof of ethnic Korean heritage in lieu of the above language evidence.
The language requirement generally applies to nationals of countries with historically high international marriage brokerage activity and is applied based on nationality and circumstance. If you are unsure whether it applies to you, confirm with the Korean consulate in your country.
In addition to the income requirement, the Korean sponsor must demonstrate stable housing in Korea. This means the Korean sponsor must:
• Have a legitimate residence in Korea (registered on 주민등록)
• Provide proof that the couple will have an actual place to live together — not a temporary or transitional address
• Common proof: lease agreement (전세 or 월세 계약서), property ownership certificate (등기부등본), or official housing confirmation
The housing requirement is meant to confirm that the couple intends to establish a genuine shared life in Korea, not simply use the marriage as a paper arrangement for visa purposes. If the couple will initially live with the Korean spouse's parents, this is generally acceptable provided the parents' residence is used consistently in documentation.
Register for KIIP as soon as you arrive in Korea — the program takes time to complete and you want the certificate ready well before your F-5 application.
Keep all marriage-related documents updated: if you move, update your address in the family register; if you have children, add them to your documentation.
If the couple has a child together, the income requirement for F-6 is fully waived — document this clearly in your application.
Only same-household direct family (parents, grandparents, children on the same 주민등록) can supplement the Korean sponsor's income — siblings cannot.
If your Korean spouse dies while you are on F-6, you may be eligible for continued status — consult an 행정사 immediately.
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Our specialists handle f-6 marriage visa korea — income requirements, language proof, kiip & path to f-5 cases regularly and know exactly what Korean immigration officers look for.
Find a SpecialistHow long does it take to get F-6 approved?
F-6 applications submitted at a Korean consulate abroad typically take 3–5 weeks. Applications submitted in-country (status change from another visa) typically take 2–4 weeks. Delays can occur if immigration requests additional documents to verify the marriage is genuine.
Can F-6 holders work in Korea?
Yes — F-6 holders have unrestricted work rights. You can work for any employer, change jobs, or run your own business without any immigration work permit. This is one of the key benefits of F-6 over other visa types.
What is the International Marriage Guidance Program (결혼이민자 사전교육)?
Some nationalities require pre-departure education before the Korean spouse can sponsor an F-6 visa. This applies primarily to nationals of certain Southeast Asian and Central Asian countries. The Korean sponsor must complete a pre-marriage education program and submit a certificate of completion with the visa application.
My marriage ended through no fault of my own. Can I stay in Korea?
If the marriage ended because of the Korean spouse's fault (documented domestic violence, abandonment, deception), you may be eligible to convert to F-6-3 if you have Korean-citizen children, or apply for humanitarian consideration to remain. Gather police reports, court records, and support documentation. Consult an 행정사 immediately.
Does completing KIIP replace the TOPIK language test for F-5?
Yes. For marriage migrants (F-6) converting to F-5, successfully completing the KIIP program (including the final test) substitutes for the TOPIK language requirement. You do not need to separately take the TOPIK exam if you have a KIIP completion certificate.
Can my spouse's siblings' income count toward the F-6 income requirement?
No. Only household members on the same 주민등록 (resident registration) as the Korean spouse can supplement income — specifically parents (부모), grandparents (조부모), and children (자녀). Siblings are explicitly excluded regardless of whether they live at the same address.
I have a child with my Korean spouse. Do I still need to prove income for F-6?
No. If the couple has a biological child together, the income requirement is fully waived. Submit the child's birth certificate (기본증명서 or 가족관계증명서 showing both parents) as proof of this exemption.
What Korean language proof is easiest to obtain for F-6?
The most commonly used options are: (1) completing the King Sejong Institute (세종학당) 초급1A+1B course — 120 hours, available at Sejong Institute locations worldwide; (2) taking the TOPIK exam at Grade 1 — this is widely available and the lowest passing score; or (3) completing the Korean Education Center (한국교육원) Level 2 course. TOPIK is the most universally accessible as it is administered globally. Check the Korean consulate in your country to confirm which options are recognised.