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2026 히트브랜드 대상 외국인 비자 서비스 1위belt2024·25·26 비자 행정 서비스 부문 1위

Korean Spouse Visa (F‑6)

✓ From marriage registration to visa
한국어

Korean–American couples' stories

Hear it from couples who already got their visa

Watch interviews with a husband and a wife, plus our work at immigration and in consultations.

Korean–American couple interview: husband
Chicago, where they met
Video consultation for couples abroad
At the Seoul Southern Immigration Office
Korean–American couple interview: wife
K-VISA one-on-one consultation
Reviewing a relationship statement
The K-VISA office
8,000+visa consultations
95%marriage visa approval rate
11+ yrsimmigration specialists
Hit Brand Award2024 · 2026

Your biggest worry first

Worried the visa won't be granted? We take on that risk

100%Refund

100% refund guarantee

If the visa isn't granted,
we refund the full fee

STEP 1Free pre-check
STEP 2Sign after review
STEP 3Refund if denied

Applies when the visa is denied due to K-VISA's fault. Detailed conditions are explained before signing.

Korean marriage visa (F-6)

The Korean spouse visa in 3 minutes

Only what American spouses want to know first.

United States at a glance

CapitalWashington, D.C.
LanguageEnglish
Time difference13–17 hours behind Korea (mainland US)
FlightAbout 11–14 hours to Incheon
Your visaF-6 marriage migrant (spouse) visa
First stay periodUp to 3 years, then extend
US documentsState apostille + translation
Marriage registrationMust be valid in both Korea and the US
Where to applyBased on where you are
Talking with usWe contact you directly in English
WHY

Different rules in every state: why is it so confusing?

Every US state has its own marriage rules and paperwork, so the more you search, the more the answers differ.
Get the order wrong once, and months can slip by while you request documents again.

A Korean wife and her American husband walking together in New York (illustration)
Married in the US, but not yet in Korea

In the US, the rules of the state where you married apply
and that state's marriage certificate is what you report to Korea

Know before you start

What Korean–American couples should know first

50 states

Marriage license requirements and waiting periods differ from state to state.

US state marriage laws
Apostille

US documents get an apostille from the Secretary of State of the state where you married.

Apostille Convention member
3 months

If you marry in the US first, the marriage must also be reported to Korea within 3 months.

Korean Family Relationship Registration Act
3 things

What the visa review checks: income, a home to share, and whether you can communicate

Korean Ministry of Justice F-6 standards

Common worries

Are you worried about any of these?

We married in the US. I don't know how to report it to Korea

Do I get the apostille from the county or from the state? I'm confused

My Korean spouse works in the US too, so there are no Korean income documents

If we marry in Korea, which US documents do I need?

Lee Sang-wook, administrative agent
Lee Sang-wook, K-VISA

These are things Korean–American couples tell us most in consultations. We'll solve them with you, one by one.

Different rules

How marriage rules differ: Korea vs the US

Your marriage must be valid in both countries before you can come to Korea.

KoreaUSA
Minimum age to marry

Korea18 for both men and women

USAVaries by state (18 in most)

How you marry

KoreaSubmit a marriage report to a city or district office

USAMarriage license from the county → ceremony → marriage certificate

Using foreign documents

KoreaUS documents → state apostille + translation

USAKorean documents → English translation

Marrying in Korea

KoreaFamily relation certificates

USAAffidavit at the US Embassy in Seoul and other marriage-eligibility documents

If you married in another country

KoreaReport to Korea within 3 months

USARecognized if valid under the law of the place you married

A Korean wife video-calling her American husband on a laptop at night in Seoul (illustration)
As far apart as the time zones, but a shorter wait

So one missing document doesn't delay you for months,
we set the right order from the start

Visa review

This is what immigration looks at

Whether the marriage is genuine, and whether you can live together stably in Korea.

Guidance program
The US is not one of the countries whose spouses require the international marriage guidance program. We'll double-check this in your consultation.
Income
Your Korean spouse's income must meet the standard. If it was earned in the US, how to prove it needs to be checked separately.
Communication
You need basic Korean, or the two of you must be able to talk in a shared language such as English.
A home together
You need a home in Korea where you'll live together (owned, jeonse lease or monthly rent).
A genuine relationship
Shown through how you met, your messages and photos. If you apply in the US, there may be an interview at the consulate.

Where Korean–American couples most often get stuck

  1. 1
    Hard to prove overseas income

    Your Korean spouse works in the US and has no Korean income documents, or only a short income history

  2. 2
    Missing apostille

    You only got the county document and skipped the state apostille

  3. 3
    Weak proof of communication

    Not enough evidence of a shared language or Korean ability

  4. 4
    Names don't match

    Your English name is spelled differently on your passport, marriage certificate and Korean documents

WHAT

So leave the complicated parts to us

From choosing the registration order to document checks and the visa,
one team handles everything from start to finish.

Comparison

Who you hire makes this much difference

We compared only the points that really differ for a US spouse visa.

K-VISATypical agency
Consultation language

✓K-VISA6 languages, including English and Korean

OthersMostly Korean only

US documents

✓K-VISAGuidance through each state's apostille and translation order

OthersYou often prepare them yourself

Overseas income

✓K-VISAWe review how to prove US income with you

OthersVaries by office

Pre-check of requirements

✓K-VISA20+ items checked for free first

OthersVaries by office

Supplement requests

✓K-VISAUnlimited support for immigration supplement requests

OthersExtra fees may apply

Your contact

✓K-VISAOne dedicated manager until the end

OthersVaries by office

If the visa is denied

✓K-VISA100% refund (if K-VISA is at fault)

OthersRefund rules vary by office

The "Typical agency" column describes common cases and may differ by office.

How we help

Here's all the two of you need to do

Contract and fountain penFree review first

We check 20+ requirements, including overseas income, and tell you honestly whether it will work before you sign.

Overseas marriage registration documentsOrganized for your state

We guide you through your state's apostille and translation order, fitted to your situation.

Consultation for foreignersWe talk with you in English

Our English-speaking staff contact you directly and help you prepare your documents.

Your team

The people handling your visa

An immigration-specialist administrative agent and a dedicated marriage visa team stay with you from start to finish.

Lee Sang-wook
Representative administrative agentLee Sang-wook
  • Licensed administrative agent since 2015
  • 10+ years in immigration administration
  • Former lecturer, Korean Administrative Agents Association
  • Completed immigration agent training
Lee Jeong-ho
Head, international marriage visa teamLee Jeong-ho
  • 5 years at Jeongjin Law Firm
  • 7+ years in foreigner visas
  • 500+ marriage visa cases
Yoo Jae-young
Yoo Jae-young
Keiko
Keiko
Park Young-woong
Park Young-woong
Kim Beom-su
Kim Beom-su

K-VISA team

One team from consultation to immigration

Your contact person doesn't change halfway.
The team you first speak with prepares documents, visits immigration and reports the result.

K-VISA team
K-VISA team
Meeting overseas partners
Meeting overseas partners
Visa seminar for foreigners
Visa seminar for foreigners
MOU for multicultural families
MOU for multicultural families
HOW

Follow this order and you'll be fine

It looks complicated, but you only need to remember three steps.
① Marriage registration → ② Document certification → ③ Visa application

A Korean–American couple holding passports at the airport, waiting to depart (illustration)
Until the day you arrive in Korea together

Marriage registration, apostille, visa application
follow the order and you can come to Korea together

① Marriage registration

Where are you two right now?

The marriage order depends on where you are.

→
A · US firstMarry in the US → report to Korea

Best whenWhen you are both in the US

  1. 1
    Get a marriage license from the County Clerk where you will marry.In United States
  2. 2
    Hold the ceremony the way your state requires and complete the signatures.
  3. 3
    Get a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the county.
  4. 4
    Get an apostille from the state and translate it into Korean.
  5. 5
    Within 3 months, report the marriage to a Korean embassy or consulate in the US, or to a city or district office in Korea.In Korea
→
B · Korea firstRegister the marriage in Korea

Best whenWhen you are in Korea

  1. 1
    Prepare your passport.
  2. 2
    Get a sworn affidavit on marriage eligibility at the US Embassy in Seoul.
  3. 3
    Translate the affidavit into Korean.
  4. 4
    Register your marriage at a city or district office in Korea.In Korea
  5. 5
    Translate the Korean marriage relation certificate into English so you can also use it for US paperwork.

② Document legalization

US documents are certified in this order

The US is a member of the Apostille Convention. But the apostille comes from the state that issued the document, not from the federal government.

Using US documents in Korea
  1. Issued by the county
  2. Secretary of State apostille
  3. Korean translation
  4. Submit in Korea
Using Korean documents in the US
  1. Issued in Korea
  2. Apostille if needed
  3. English translation
  4. Submit in the US

Key terms explained

Marriage license
The permit you get from the county before the ceremony. You need it to marry in the US.
Marriage certificate
The record of your marriage registered with the county after the ceremony. You use it to report the marriage to Korea.
Apostille
A certificate that confirms a document is genuine without a trip to the embassy. In the US, the state issues it.
Visa Issuance Confirmation
A visa approval your Korean spouse gets in advance in Korea. With it, you can get your visa in the US faster.

③ Visa application

Apply where you are

If you are in KoreaChange your visa in Korea

If you're already staying in Korea, we check whether you can switch to a marriage visa at the immigration office.

If you are in the USBe invited to Korea

Your Korean spouse gets a Visa Issuance Confirmation in Korea, or you apply at the Korean Embassy or a Korean consulate in the US.

Full process

  1. STEP 1Free pre-check

    We look at the state where you married, how to prove income and your relationship records, then choose the best way forward.

  2. STEP 2Registration in both countries

    Finish the apostille and translation of your US marriage certificate, then report the marriage to Korea.

  3. STEP 3Visa documents

    Gather income, housing and communication evidence and the F-6 application documents.

  4. STEP 4Apply and receive the visa

    Apply in Korea or the US, attend an interview if needed, and receive your visa.

How long it takes

If you're already registered2–3 weeks on average

Requirement check · Document guide · Paperwork · Appointment · Visa

If starting from registration4–6 weeks on average

Requirement check · Document guide · Overseas documents · Registration · Appointment · Visa

Based on K-VISA's processing time. Immigration review time is separate.

An American husband and Korean wife reviewing documents together at a cafe (illustration)
We match every letter of your English name

Before you apply, we check that your passport, marriage certificate
and Korean documents all spell your name the same way

Documents

Documents to prepare

You (US spouse)
Passport, marriage certificate (apostille + translation), criminal record check such as an FBI background check (if required)
Your Korean spouse
Passport, basic certificate, family relation certificate, marriage relation certificate (detailed), income and employment documents, housing documents
Both of you
A statement of how you met, photos and message records, evidence that you can communicate
How documents are certified
US documents: state apostille + Korean translation. Korean documents: English translation

Additional documents may be needed depending on your case. In the free pre-check we'll send a list tailored to you.

Can you trust us?

A registered immigration agency in Korea

This is the first thing to check before hiring anyone.
We show our immigration agent registration, license and patent documents.

Immigration agent registration
Immigration agent registrationSeoul Southern Immigration Office
Administrative agent business report
Administrative agent business reportYeongdeungpo-gu Office, Seoul
Administrative agent license
Administrative agent licenseMinistry of the Interior and Safety
Venture company certificate
Venture company certificateVenture certification agency
Patent for visa consultation
Patent for visa consultationKorean Intellectual Property Office
Membership certificate
Membership certificateKorea Administrative Agents Association

Fees

Clear fees from the start

Consultation and pre-check are free. Every package includes a 100% fee refund if the visa is denied due to K-VISA's fault.

Process in Korea

When you are already in KoreaIn-Korea packageFrom KRW 800,000
  • 20+ requirement checks (free)
  • Personalized document guide
  • Paperwork prepared by an administrative agent
  • Unlimited support for supplement requests
  • Extra documents to raise approval chances
  • Direct communication with you in English
  • 100% refund if denied (K-VISA's fault)

→Invite from United States

When you are abroadInvitation packageFrom KRW 1,300,000
  • 20+ requirement checks (free)
  • Personalized document guide
  • Paperwork prepared by an administrative agent
  • Unlimited support for supplement requests
  • Extra documents to raise approval chances
  • Direct communication with you in English
  • Embassy visa application guide · Alien registration
  • 100% refund if denied (K-VISA's fault)

VAT excluded · Government fees, translation and legalization costs are separate · Installments available with Korean credit cards

After you sign

We keep supporting you after the visa

The visa is only the start of life in Korea.
From extension reminders to immigration appointments, we help with what you need.

For F-6 clientsK-VISA client benefits
  • Free marriage visa extension reminders
  • Free immigration appointment booking
  • Overseas document shipping
Easy paymentInterest-free installments
BC카드롯데카드삼성카드신한카드

Bank transfer and escrow payment also available

Real cases

Korean–American couples who made it

Real cases of US spouses who got their spouse visa with K-VISA. Personal details are hidden.

A Korean–American couple walking their dog in a Han River park (illustration)
Next comes your walk together

Leave the visa to us
and get ready for your days together

FAQ

Questions Korean–American couples ask most

Korean marriage visa (F-6): how does it work, in short?

To live in Korea with your Korean spouse, you need a spouse visa (F-6). The steps are: ① make your marriage valid in both countries, with a marriage certificate from the state where you married or a marriage registration at a Korean city or district office ② get an apostille from that state's Secretary of State for your US documents and translate them into Korean ③ apply for the visa with income, housing and communication evidence. K-VISA's fee starts at KRW 800,000 if you are in Korea and KRW 1,300,000 if you are in the US, and we refund 100% of the fee if the visa is denied due to K-VISA's fault.

How much does the Korean spouse visa cost?

K-VISA's fee starts at KRW 800,000 for the in-Korea package if you are in Korea, and KRW 1,300,000 for the overseas package if you are in the US (VAT excluded). Actual costs such as government fees, translation and apostilles are separate. Consultation and pre-check are free, and we refund 100% of the fee if the visa is denied due to K-VISA's fault.

How do I move to Korea to live with my Korean spouse?

After your marriage is valid in both countries, your Korean spouse gets a Visa Issuance Confirmation in Korea, or you apply for the spouse visa (F-6) at the Korean Embassy or a Korean consulate in the US. If you are already in Korea, we check whether you can switch to a marriage visa at the immigration office. Once the visa is issued, you enter Korea and complete alien registration.

What documents do I need for the Korean spouse visa?

Your Korean spouse needs a passport, basic, family relation and marriage relation certificates (detailed), income and employment documents, and housing documents. You need a passport and your marriage certificate, which gets a state apostille and is then translated into Korean. A criminal record check is added if required, and you both submit a statement of how you met, plus photos and message records.

We married in the US. Do we also need to report it to Korea?

Yes. If you married in the US first, the marriage must be reported to Korea within 3 months. Get a state apostille on your county marriage certificate, translate it, and submit it to a Korean embassy or consulate in the US or to a city or district office in Korea.

Where do I get the apostille?

From the Secretary of State of the state that issued your marriage certificate. A county document alone isn't enough, and how to apply and how long it takes differ by state, so we sort it out with you in the pre-check.

What do I need to prepare if we marry in Korea first?

Along with your passport, get a sworn affidavit on marriage eligibility at the US Embassy in Seoul. Translate it, then register your marriage at a city or district office in Korea.

My Korean spouse works in the US, so there's no Korean income

We review whether overseas income can be accepted, depending on how it is proven. We also look at whether assets or other evidence can make up the difference.

I barely speak Korean

You just need to show that the two of you can talk in a shared language such as English. We'll tell you which evidence to prepare.

My English name is spelled slightly differently on each document

If the English name on your passport, marriage certificate and Korean documents doesn't match, the application can easily get stuck. Before you apply, we compare the spelling on every document and tell you what to prepare.

What if immigration asks for more documents, or the visa is denied?

You complete the missing documents or requirements and apply again. And if the visa is denied due to K-VISA's fault, we refund 100% of the fee.

K-VISA on YouTube

International couple YouTubers visited us

They shared their consultation and visa process at K-VISA on their channels (in Korean).

More YouTuber videosClose ⌃

Partners

Leading Korean companies work with K-VISA

LG U+CU사람인JB전북은행휴온스코나아이케어링Gig센트비Global Agency TruthfulnessWHO.M.I GlobalFONGABI어글리더클링 프로젝트BuddiesASIA LAB

Reviews

What couples say about K-VISA

★★★★★5.0(65 reviews)
5★
4★
3★
2★
1★

5★ 65 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 0

Customer reviews (65)

Reviews are shown in their original Korean.

  • ★★★★★한미 부부United States spouseExternal review · K-VISA YouTube

    체크리스트만 보내 주신 게 아니라 그 서류들을 어디서 어떻게 발급해야 되는지 상세하게 이미지와 함께 알려 주셔서 무척이나 도움이 됐어요. 저는 100% 카톡으로 소통했는데 신속하고 명확하게 와서 좋았어요. 비자 발급까지의 프로세스가 너무 신속하고 정확하고 깔끔했습니다.

  • ★★★★★boo****External review · NAVER 플레이스

    업무처리 깔끔하고 신속하세요..! 아주 좋습니다.

  • ★★★★★itz****External review · NAVER 플레이스

    혼자였으면 복잡했을 과정을 수월하게 진행했고, 비자도 빠르게 나왔어요.

Last updated 2026.10.20 · Reviewed by Lee Sang-wook, representative administrative agent (Baum Administrative Office, registered immigration agent No. 19-IC-RG-041)

Sources: Korean Ministry of Justice standards for the marriage migrant (F-6) visa, Korean Act on the Registration of Family Relationships (reporting a marriage made abroad), US state marriage laws, the Apostille Convention (Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents). Standards may change with amendments to laws and notices, and individual cases are confirmed in consultation.

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대표 : 이상욱 | 사업자 480-17-01090 | 행정사신고 3180000202517 | 출입국민원 대행기관: 19-IC-RG-041 | 서울 영등포구 도림로134, 3층

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