From Sponsor Requirements to Marriage Registration and Proof of Genuineness — A Comprehensive Guide to the Complex Process at a Glance
For foreign couples or Korean-foreigner couples planning to begin married life in Korea,
there are several hurdles to overcome
—including eligibility as a sponsor, proof of cohabitation, and the timing of marriage registration.
Failing to meet these requirements can result in difficulties in staying legally in Korea.
Below, we’ve organized the essential steps and requirements for couples preparing for international marriage in Korea.
If you're preparing to apply for a marriage visa, be sure to follow these five steps in order:
1. Confirm Marriage Registration Completion
Marriage registration must be completed before applying for the visa.
❗The process differs depending on whether you register the marriage in Korea or abroad. See details below.
2. Check the Eligibility of the Sponsor (Korean or Foreigner residing in Korea)
The sponsor must meet income, housing, and language requirements.
*See the detailed requirements in the section below.
3. Prepare Proof of Cohabitation and Genuine Relationship
4. Collect all required documents.
*Most documents are valid only within 3 months of issuance and may require notarization or translation.
❗Incomplete documentation often results in visa rejection. Refer to the blog link at the bottom for a complete checklist.
5. Check Application Location and Method
If the foreign spouse is overseas: The Korean sponsor applies for pre-screening at the Korean Immigration Office
→ Visa application at a Korean embassy/consulate in the foreign spouse’s country.
If the foreign spouse is already in Korea: Apply directly at the relevant local immigration office.
The order and location of marriage registration can significantly affect the visa process.
✅If you register in Korea first:
✔If the foreign spouse is in Korea on a short-term visit or residing here, you can file the “international marriage registration” at a district office or community center.
This requires a “certificate of legal capacity to marry” issued by the foreign spouse’s home country, with notarized and translated copies.
✔Once completed, a Korean marriage certificate will be issued, which is required for applying for the F-6 visa or status change.
🔖 Pros: Faster processing if both are already in Korea
❗ Caution: Change of status to F-6 is generally allowed only if the foreign spouse has a long-term visa (e.g., student visa) or for humanitarian reasons (e.g., pregnancy).
Short-term visas (C-3) generally do not allow for a change of status. Check carefully in advance.
✅If you register overseas first:
✔If the Korean partner registers the marriage in the foreign country, follow the local laws for marriage and obtain the necessary certificates with translations.
After entering Korea, submit these documents to the district office for official marriage registration in Korea. You can then apply for the F-6 visa.
🔖 Pros: If the foreign spouse has not yet entered Korea, this route allows for formal visa issuance and entry.
❗ Caution: Translation, notarization, and apostille or consular confirmation may take time.
To sponsor a foreign spouse to live in Korea, the Korean citizen or foreigner residing in Korea must qualify as a sponsor.
This is not granted automatically based on marital intent.
Here are the four mandatory requirements set by the Ministry of Justice:
1. Income Requirement
Must meet the minimum income level based on household size.
🔖Example: For a 2-person household, the sponsor must earn at least KRW 23,595,948 annually.
Family members listed in the same household register may be counted in the household size.
2. Language Requirement
The couple must be able to communicate daily in Korean or a common language.
🔖Examples: TOPIK certificate, Sejong Institute’s basic Korean course certificate
3. Housing Requirement
Must prove actual living space for the couple.
Documents such as a lease contract or proof of residence from a family-owned home are required.
4.Genuineness of Marriage
Must prove that the marriage is not a sham.
Provide photos, call/message records, wedding plans, and other real-life evidence.
❗️These four criteria are critical for obtaining the F-6 visa. Missing any of them can result in rejection.
Among them, proving the genuineness of the marriage is the most important. Korean immigration strictly reviews this to prevent misuse of visas through fake marriages.
While some criteria (like income or housing) can be supplemented later, lack of genuineness is rarely reconsidered.
🔖 Examples of Valid Cohabitation Evidence
✔Photos of the couple together over time and in various locations
✔Utility bills showing the same address
✔Screenshots of calls or messages
✔Travel history (e.g., airline tickets, accommodation reservations)
✔SNS messages, emails
✔Joint bank account usage
❗ Rather than the quantity of evidence, consistency and authenticity of relationship over time is more persuasive. Avoid clustering all proof in a short period.
Hanguk Visa provides tailored visa solutions for foreigners living in Korea and couples preparing for international marriage.
.jpeg)
We offer support for personal and business visa applications, visa duration management, and other related services.
Our one-stop administrative services include document translation, notarization, apostille, and immigration coordination—to help reduce mistakes and delays.
We also provide legal and practical consultation for common challenges in international marriage visa applications,
offering the safest and most realistic strategies tailored to your unique case.
If you need detailed consultation, please feel free to contact us at the information below anytime.
📞 Tel: +82-2-3210-1113
✉ KakaoTalk Channel: 한국비자
📣 Instagram: @hanguk_visa
