Overview
F-6 (Marriage Migration) is for persons validly married in Korea who wish to remain in order to continue married life with a Korean national, and related categories.
The sub-code distinction matters in practice: ongoing marriage (F-6-1); raising a minor child after the marriage has ended (F-6-2); and inability to maintain a normal marital relationship due to the spouse's death or disappearance or other reasons not attributable to the applicant (F-6-3).
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Status | Marriage Migration (F-6) |
| F-6-1 | Foreign nationals validly married in both parties' countries who wish to stay to continue married life with a Korean national |
| F-6-2 | A father or mother raising, or intending to raise, in Korea a minor child born of a marital relationship (including de facto marriage) with a Korean national, after the marriage has ended |
| F-6-3 | Persons who, while residing in Korea married to a Korean national, cannot maintain a normal marital relationship due to the spouse's death or disappearance or other reasons not attributable to them |
| Max period per grant | 3 years |
Scope of Activity
- Residing in Korea to continue married life with a Korean national
- Raising in Korea a minor child born of the marital relationship
- Residing in Korea where the spouse has died or disappeared or other reasons not attributable to the applicant exist
Who Qualifies
- Persons validly married in Korea who wish to stay to continue married life with a Korean national
- A father or mother raising a child born of a marital relationship (including de facto marriage) with a Korean national, as recognised by the Minister of Justice
- Persons who cannot maintain a normal marital relationship due to the Korean spouse's death or disappearance or other reasons not attributable to them, as recognised by the Minister of Justice
Required Documents
- Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34), passport and ARC, standard photo, fee
- Proof of the marital relationship (Korean marriage relation certificate and, where needed, the original foreign marriage certificate, etc.)
- Korean spouse's passport copy and original resident registration abstract
- Evidence of child-rearing (for F-6-2)
- Evidence of the spouse's death, disappearance or other qualifying reason (for F-6-3)
- Proof of residence
Application Process
- Check eligibility — confirm your current status, career, degree and contract type match the requirements.
- Prepare documents — foreign public documents need a translator's certification plus an apostille (or consular confirmation for non-member states).
- Book a visit — reserve a slot at your Immigration Office via HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr), or file online where e-Application is available.
- File and pay — submit the Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34) and pay the screening fee.
- Review — respond to any request for supplementary documents within the deadline.
- Result — on approval, the period of stay and status are granted; reissue your ARC if required.
Key Points
- A de facto marriage exists where there is a subjective intention to marry and, objectively, substance recognisable as joint marital life in terms of family order under social norms (Supreme Court 98Meu961, 8 Dec 1998).
- Mere cohabitation without intention to marry, or a bigamous de facto relationship that cannot be legally protected, does not count as a de facto marriage.
- The maximum period per grant for F-6 is three years.
- Documents issued in Korea must normally be dated within 3 months unless another validity period applies.
- Documents already on file in your alien registration record need not be resubmitted.
- Health certificates, drug test results and pre-employment medical reports must be submitted sealed by the issuing hospital (do not open).
- You must be in Korea when applying; leaving the country after filing may result in refusal.
- Screening fees are non-refundable once the application is accepted.
- The head of the Immigration Office may add or waive documents where necessary for review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I am divorced but raising my child.
A. A parent raising, or intending to raise, in Korea a minor child born of the marriage after it has ended is classified as F-6-2.
Q. My spouse has died. Can I stay?
A. Persons unable to maintain a normal marital relationship due to the spouse's death or disappearance or other reasons not attributable to them may fall under F-6-3, subject to recognition by the Minister of Justice.
Q. Does living together without registering the marriage count?
A. A de facto marriage requires both the intention to marry and the substance of joint marital life. Mere cohabitation or a bigamous de facto relationship does not qualify.