Useful Info

Simplified Naturalization Requirements for Marriage Immigrants (Nationality Act, Article 6, Paragraph 2)
Must be married to a Korean national spouse
A legal marriage registration with the Korean national spouse must have been completed.
※ Naturalization method in case of de facto marriage
Even in a de facto marriage situation, an application for naturalization permission can be submitted, but in this case, it is not simplified naturalization but general naturalization, so continuous residence in Korea for 5 years or more is required to apply.
Must continuously reside in the Republic of Korea
2 years of residence or 3 years elapsed and 1 year of residence
Must have continuously maintained an address in the Republic of Korea for 2 years or more while married. Even if there is no continuous address for 2 years or more, it is possible if 3 years have passed since marriage and there is an address in the Republic of Korea for 1 year or more while married.
Calculation of residence period
The start of the above residence period is the date of legal entry and completion of alien registration. Continuous stay for 2 years from that date is required. However, if any of the following applies, it is deemed continuous stay in the Republic of Korea, and the residence periods before and after are combined (Nationality Act Enforcement Rules, Article 5).
1. A case where, while staying in the Republic of Korea, re-entry permission is obtained before the stay period ends, and re-entry is made within that permission period
2. A case where temporary departure occurs due to reasons such as impossibility of extending the stay period while staying in the Republic of Korea, and re-entry is made within 1 month with an entry visa
3. A case where it is deemed appropriate to combine the stay periods before and after due to reasons similar to 1 and 2, and recognition is obtained from the Minister of Justice
Exception to residence period requirements: Spouse's death/missing, divorce/separation, and child rearing
However, even if the residence period requirements are not met, if any of the following applies, after fulfilling the remaining period of the above period, application for simplified naturalization permission is possible with the recognition of the Minister of Justice.
1. A case where, while living a married life with a Korean national spouse, normal married life became impossible due to the spouse's death or missing or other reasons not attributable to oneself
2. A case of raising or needing to raise a minor child born between oneself and a Korean national spouse
Other necessary requirements (Nationality Act, Article 5, Items 2 to 6).
Must be an adult (19 years old) under the Korean Civil Act
Must have an upright character, such as complying with laws
※ Requirements for upright character (Nationality Act Enforcement Rules, Article 5-2)
1. A case where a foreigner seeking naturalization permission does not fall under any of the following, and the Minister of Justice recognizes the person as having an upright character by considering the circumstances and frequency of the law violation, the extent of public interest harm from the violation, contribution to Korean society, humanitarian circumstances, and national interests, etc.
가. A person sentenced to imprisonment or heavier penalty whose execution has ended or who was exempted from execution, and less than 10 years have passed since that date
나. A person whose execution of imprisonment or heavier penalty is suspended, and less than 7 years have passed since the end of the suspension period
다. A person sentenced to a fine who has paid the fine, and less than 5 years have passed since the payment date
라. A person who received a sentence suspension or prosecution suspension, and less than 2 years have passed since the date of receiving sentence suspension or prosecution suspension
마. A person who received a deportation order under Article 59, Paragraph 2 of the Immigration Act and less than 10 years have passed since the departure date
바. A person who received an departure order under Article 68, Paragraph 1 of the Immigration Act and less than 5 years have passed since the departure date
사. A case of non-payment of national taxes, customs duties, or local taxes
아. Other cases deemed similar to those from 가 to 사 by the Minister of Justice
2. Even if a foreigner seeking naturalization permission falls under any of the above, a case where the Minister of Justice recognizes the person as having an upright character by considering the circumstances of falling under any of the above, the extent of public interest harm caused thereby, contribution to Korean society, humanitarian circumstances, and national interests, etc.
Must have the ability to maintain livelihood by one's own assets or skills or by depending on family members living together
Must possess basic qualities as a Korean national, such as Korean language ability and understanding of Korean customs
The Minister of Justice must recognize that granting naturalization does not harm national security, maintenance of order, or public welfare
Simplified Naturalization Permission Procedures
Naturalization permission application
Attention must be paid as the documents required for permission application differ depending on whether currently in a normal marriage status or not.
General case
A foreigner who has registered marriage with a Korean national spouse and is living a normal married life must attach the following documents to the naturalization permission application form (Nationality Act Enforcement Rules, Appendix 2 Form) and submit it to the Director of Immigration and Foreigners Office, Director of Immigration and Foreigners Office, Head of Branch Office of Immigration and Foreigners Office, or Head of Branch Office of Immigration and Foreigners Office (hereinafter referred to as “Director, etc.”) (Nationality Act Enforcement Decree, Article 3, Paragraph 1 and Nationality Act Enforcement Rules, Article 3, Paragraph 2).
1. Documents proving foreign nationality
2. Documents proving that oneself or family members living together have the ability to maintain livelihood, one of the following documents
가. For general naturalization applicants, one of the following documents
① Income certificate of at least the per capita national gross income (GNI) announced by the Bank of Korea for the previous year (issued by the tax office)
② Proof documents of financial assets of 60 million won or more (deposits, savings, securities, etc.)
③ Proof documents of real estate ownership with public assessment price, actual transaction price, or market price announced by commercial banks of 60 million won or more, or copies of real estate lease contracts such as lease deposit of 60 million won or more
④ Other documents deemed equivalent to ① to ③ by the Minister of Justice
나. For simplified naturalization applicants, one of the following documents
① Proof documents of financial assets of 30 million won or more (deposits, savings, securities, etc.)
② Proof documents of real estate ownership with public assessment price, actual transaction price, or market price announced by commercial banks of 30 million won or more, or copies of real estate lease contracts such as lease deposit of 30 million won or more
③ Certificate of employment or certificate of planned employment
④ Other documents deemed equivalent to ① to ③ by the Minister of Justice
※ Documents recognized by the Minister of Justice can be confirmed in the Nationality Affairs Processing Guidelines (Ministry of Justice Precedent No. 1335, issued on January 9, 2024, effective January 15, 2024).
3. When applying for derivative acquisition, documents proving the relationship
4. Certificate of family relationship registry matters of the Korean spouse. However, if married abroad and the marriage fact is not recorded in the Korean spouse's family relationship registry, it can be replaced with documents proving the marriage fact
Review of naturalization permission application
Inquiries, investigations, confirmations, etc. for reviewing naturalization requirements
If necessary to review naturalization requirements, the Minister of Justice may require the naturalization applicant to appear and state opinions or submit relevant materials, and may conduct on-site investigations at the applicant's residence, etc., to confirm whether the naturalization requirements are met (Nationality Act Enforcement Decree, Article 4, Paragraph 1).
In addition, when reviewing naturalization requirements, opinions may be sought from the heads of relevant institutions regarding background checks, criminal record checks, and stay trend investigations on the applicant, or other necessary matters (Nationality Act Enforcement Decree, Article 4, Paragraph 2).
Naturalization eligibility review
If it is recognized that the naturalization requirements are met as a result of the naturalization applicant eligibility investigation, an eligibility review is conducted on whether the character is upright, and whether basic qualities as a Korean national, such as Korean language ability and understanding of Korean customs, are possessed.
The Minister of Justice conducts a comprehensive evaluation (hereinafter "comprehensive evaluation") under Article 48, Paragraph 2, Item 3 of the Immigration Act Enforcement Decree and an interview review on the naturalization permission applicant (Nationality Act Enforcement Decree, Article 4-2, Paragraph 1 main text).
Exemptions from comprehensive evaluation and interview review
Marriage immigrants applying for simplified naturalization, persons who have completed social integration programs (hereinafter "social integration programs") such as education, information provision, counseling, etc., implemented by the Minister of Justice to support social adaptation of foreigners seeking to acquire Korean nationality or permanent residency status in Korea, and persons who scored 60 points or higher out of 100 in the comprehensive evaluation within the last 3 years are exempt from the comprehensive exam (Immigration Act, Article 39, Paragraph 1; Nationality Act Enforcement Decree, Article 4-2, Paragraph 1 proviso; Nationality Act Enforcement Rules, Article 4, Paragraph 1 Items 5, 5-2, 6 and Nationality Affairs Processing Guidelines, Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 3).
The interview review examines basic requirements to be possessed as a Korean national, such as Korean language ability, attitude as a Korean national, and belief in the free democratic basic order (Nationality Act Enforcement Rules, Article 4, Paragraph 4).
※ Marriage immigrants applying for simplified naturalization who continue to maintain a normal marital relationship with their spouse, and among those who have completed social integration programs, those who scored 60 points or higher out of 100 in the comprehensive evaluation are exempt from the interview review (Nationality Act Enforcement Decree, Article 4-2, Paragraph 1 proviso; Nationality Act Enforcement Rules, Article 4, Paragraph 3 Items 3, 4 and Nationality Affairs Processing Guidelines, Article 8, Paragraph 3, Item 2).
Acquisition of nationality according to naturalization permission
A person finally determined as a naturalization eligible person as a result of the naturalization eligibility review acquires Korean nationality when taking the national oath before the Minister of Justice and receiving the naturalization certificate (Nationality Act, Article 4, Paragraph 3 main text).
However, the Minister of Justice may exempt the national oath for persons recognized as unable to understand the meaning of the national oath or express understanding due to age, physical or mental disabilities, etc. (Nationality Act, Article 4, Paragraph 3 proviso).
When a naturalization permission applicant acquires nationality, the Minister of Justice must promptly notify the head of the family relationship registry office at the registration base address and publish it in the Official Gazette (Nationality Act Enforcement Decree, Article 5).