Residency
South Korea — Residency: Citizenship
Korean naturalisation generally needs five consecutive years of domicile, permanent residence qualification, good conduct, self-support and basic Korean knowledge, with a shorter spouse route.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceNationality Act of Korea and KIIP guideLast reviewed: 2026-10-23
Key facts
- General naturalisation requires at least five consecutive years of domicile in Korea and qualification for permanent residence.
- The Act also requires adulthood, good conduct, ability to support yourself and basic knowledge of Korea, such as Korean language proficiency and customs.
- A person married to a Korean for three years and domiciled one year while married may apply by the spouse route.
- Completing KIIP level 5 with a passed comprehensive evaluation can exempt an applicant from the naturalisation interview.
Steps
- Step 1: Meet Eligibility Criteria — Applicants must meet specific requirements, including age, nationality, and residency status.
- Step 2: Submit Application — Applicants must submit required documents to the Nationality Office.
- Step 3: Background Check — Applicants will undergo a background check, including a review of their past activities and any potential security threats.
- Step 4: Language Proficiency Test — Applicants may be required to take a language proficiency test in Korean.