The F-6 marriage visa
For the spouse of a Korean national — income, language, genuineness, and settling for good.
In short
- The F-6 is the visa for the foreign spouse of a Korean national. It allows unrestricted work and business — you live essentially like a Korean resident.
- Three pillars are checked: the Korean spouse's income, a shared communication language (basic Korean or a proven common language), and the genuineness of the marriage.
- Path to settling: after 2 years on F-6 you can apply for F-5 permanent residence, or simplified naturalization.
- Having a child together waives the income and (often) language requirements.
Marrying a Korean is a life milestone — and the F-6 is usually the foreign spouse's first big bureaucratic hurdle. In 2026, income thresholds are higher and officers scrutinize "genuineness" heavily to combat sham marriages. Preparation is everything.
The three subcategories
| Type | Who |
|---|---|
| F-6-1 | Spouse in a normal, ongoing marriage to a Korean national |
| F-6-2 | Parent raising a minor child born to a Korean national (even if not married / after divorce) |
| F-6-3 | Spouse who can't continue the marriage through no fault of their own (spouse's death/disappearance, or an at-fault partner — protects abuse survivors) |
Pillar 1 — Income
The Korean spouse (the inviter) must show income meeting the government threshold for the household size — set at 100% of the median-income standard, updated annually. As a reference, a 2-person household requires roughly ₩25M+/year (confirm the current figure). The key document is the 소득금액증명원 (Income Certificate) from the tax office, plus employment/pay proof.
- Combined income: if the inviter's income falls short, you can add the foreign spouse's Korea income and same-household direct family (parents/children on the same 주민등록) — but not siblings.
- Asset conversion: 5% of net assets (held 6+ months) can count toward income.
Pillar 2 — Communication
The couple must be able to communicate. The foreign spouse proves basic Korean via TOPIK Level 1+ or completion of KIIP Level 2 (Sejong beginner also counts). Exemptions apply if you share another language — e.g. you lived 1+ year in a country where the spouse's/your language is official, the Korean spouse lived 1+ year in your language's country, or you have a child together.
Pillar 3 — Genuineness
This is the heart of the review — officers assess whether the marriage is real. They can request an in-person interview or even a home visit. Build a strong evidence file:
- A marriage background statement: how/when you met, the relationship's progress, the wedding
- Photos together and with both families, SNS/chat history, travel records, remittance records
- Adequate housing — a genuine residential dwelling for the couple (living with the Korean spouse's parents is usually fine if documented)
Extra steps for some nationalities
If the foreign spouse is from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan or Thailand, the couple must complete the International Marriage Guidance Program before the visa. All foreign documents (criminal record, family records) need apostille or consular authentication plus certified translation.
How it works & what you gain
Register the marriage & gather documents
Register the marriage (often in both countries when applying from abroad). Build the income, language and genuineness files exactly to your consulate's checklist — formats vary by mission.
Apply
From abroad: apply at the Korea Visa Application Center / consulate (screening ~20 working days). In Korea (if you're already here on another valid visa): change status at immigration — don't let your current visa lapse.
Register your ARC
The consulate visa is usually a 90-day entry visa; after arriving, register for your ARC within 90 days, then you're granted a 1–3 year stay.
Build toward F-5 / citizenship
Start KIIP early. After 2 years on F-6 you can apply for F-5 permanent residence (with income ~1× GNI and TOPIK 2/KIIP), or simplified naturalization (2 years married + resident, or 3 years married + 1 year resident).
F-6 gives you Korean-like rights: work and run a business freely, study without a student visa, join the 4 major insurances, buy property and get loans based on combined household income.
If the marriage ends
Korea protects foreign spouses in bad situations. If your Korean spouse is at fault (abuse, abandonment) or passes away, you may keep or switch status via F-6-2 (raising a child) or F-6-3 — you don't have to choose between safety and your residency. Keep records of any mistreatment. If you divorce by mutual agreement with no children, F-6 is generally cancelled and you'd need to leave or switch visas. In any crisis, consult a licensed 행정사 immediately.
Common questions
Can I work on F-6?
Yes — unrestricted work and business, just like a Korean resident. It's one of the biggest advantages over dependent (F-3) visas.
My Korean spouse is a student/unemployed — can we still apply?
Yes, but you must still meet the income requirement — using combined household income, same-household family income, or the 5% asset-conversion rule.
Do I need Korean?
Basic Korean (TOPIK 1 / KIIP 2) unless you qualify for a shared-language exemption or have a child together.
When can I get permanent residence?
After 2 years on F-6 (meeting income and language rules) you can apply for F-5, or pursue simplified naturalization.
Sources: Korea Immigration Service / Ministry of Justice, HiKorea, 2026 F-6 income-threshold updates, KIIP guidance. Nationality Act for naturalization timelines.
Last verified: July 2026. Income thresholds, document lists and rules change and vary by consulate — mirror your specific mission's checklist and confirm at hikorea.go.kr / 1345 or with a licensed 행정사. General information, not immigration or legal advice.
Applying for a marriage visa?
Ask others what their interview and evidence file looked like — post in the community and tag it Immigration.