Useful Info

Overseas Korean (F-4) Visa Submission Documents
A. Common Submission Documents (Overseas Korean (F-4) visa cannot be submitted by mail
ο Original passport
ο One visa application form
ο One color photo (3.5cm × 4.5cm)
B. Submission Documents by Category
① For those who previously held Republic of Korea nationality and acquired foreign nationality
ο Basic certificate from the family relationship register with nationality loss declaration and other documents proving that the applicant was a citizen of the Republic of Korea
※ If there is no nationality loss declaration, application is possible simultaneously with the submission of the nationality loss declaration
ο Original and copy of citizenship certificate (original returned after verification)
※ For males, additional documents may be required to prove they are not subject to visa issuance restrictions related to military service obligation
※ When issuing Overseas Korean (F-4) visa, if the date of nationality acquisition can be confirmed with the basic certificate or family register extract, submission of citizenship certificate may be omitted (however, if it is difficult to determine the same person due to name changes, etc., a name change certificate may be required)
② For those whose one parent or one grandparent held Republic of Korea nationality and acquired foreign nationality
ο Basic certificate (or family register extract) of direct ancestor
※ If no nationality loss declaration has been made, application is possible after submitting nationality loss declaration with receipt
ο Documents proving direct lineal relationship (birth certificate, etc.)
C. Overseas Criminal Record Certificate
① Official document issued within 3 months by the competent authority of the relevant country, including all criminal records in that country
ο Original criminal record certificate + Apostille verification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (only documents issued within 6 months from the visa application date are accepted, based on the issuance date of the criminal record certificate, not the Apostille issuance date)
ο For stays of 6 months or more in countries other than the United States, criminal record certificates from previously resided countries are also required; must obtain Apostille or consular confirmation after issuance
※ A Canadian national who has resided in the United States for 6 months or more applying for Overseas Korean (F-4) visa must submit both U.S. and Canadian (RCMP) criminal record documents
※ Since Canada is not an Apostille convention country, the criminal record certificate must be submitted with consular confirmation from the Republic of Korea mission in Canada
→ Even those who previously held an F-4 visa and obtained a residence card must submit an Apostille-authenticated FBI criminal record check when applying for residence card renewal or F-4 visa reissuance if they have resided overseas for 6 months or more
※ Exemptions from overseas criminal record check: ① Persons aged 60 or older, ② Persons aged 13 or younger, ③ National Merit Recipients (Independence Merit Recipients) and their bereaved families, ④ Overseas Koreans with special contributions (national interest promotion), etc.
→ In the case of ③, the National Merit Recipient (Independence Merit Recipient) themselves must submit a 'National Merit Recipient (Independence Merit Recipient) Confirmation Certificate'; bereaved families and relatives must submit 'National Merit Recipient (Independence Merit Recipient) Family or Bereaved Family Confirmation Certificate' respectively to qualify for exemption.
→ For children who lost nationality, the direct parent's National Merit Recipient (Independence Merit Recipient) Family or Bereaved Family Confirmation Certificate may not list the visa applicant's name, so in such cases, the direct family member's (parent's) National Merit Recipient (Independence Merit Recipient) Confirmation Certificate and the visa applicant's family relationship certificate must be submitted
D. Other Documents
ο Korean language proficiency proof documents (any one of the following): ① Social Integration Program Pre-Evaluation Result Score Sheet (21 points or higher), ② Social Integration Program Education Completion Certificate (Level 1 or higher), ③ Korean Proficiency Test (TOPIK) Level 1 or higher, ④ King Sejong Institute Beginner 1B course completion certificate or higher
※ Korean language proficiency exemptions: ① Persons who previously held Republic of Korea nationality, ② Persons aged 60 or older, ③ Persons aged 13 or younger, ④ Persons who have resided in Korea for 3 years or more holding Overseas Korean (F-4) visa, etc.
→ If Korean language proficiency proof documents are submitted: Multiple-entry visa with 2-year stay period; if not submitted: Multiple-entry visa with stay period within 1 year
E. Processing Time: 2 weeks (if nationality loss declaration is submitted simultaneously, approximately 3 weeks expected)