Korean Spouse Visa (F‑6)
✓ From marriage registration to visa
한국어Korean–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.
Your biggest worry first
Worried the visa won't be granted? We take on that risk
100% refund guarantee
If the visa isn't granted,
we refund the full fee
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
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.

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
Marriage license requirements and waiting periods differ from state to state.
US state marriage lawsUS documents get an apostille from the Secretary of State of the state where you married.
Apostille Convention memberIf you marry in the US first, the marriage must also be reported to Korea within 3 months.
Korean Family Relationship Registration ActWhat the visa review checks: income, a home to share, and whether you can communicate
Korean Ministry of Justice F-6 standardsCommon 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?

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.
Korea18 for both men and women
USAVaries by state (18 in most)
KoreaSubmit a marriage report to a city or district office
USAMarriage license from the county → ceremony → marriage certificate
KoreaUS documents → state apostille + translation
USAKorean documents → English translation
KoreaFamily relation certificates
USAAffidavit at the US Embassy in Seoul and other marriage-eligibility documents
KoreaReport to Korea within 3 months
USARecognized if valid under the law of the place you married

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
- 1Hard to prove overseas income
Your Korean spouse works in the US and has no Korean income documents, or only a short income history
- 2Missing apostille
You only got the county document and skipped the state apostille
- 3Weak proof of communication
Not enough evidence of a shared language or Korean ability
- 4Names don't match
Your English name is spelled differently on your passport, marriage certificate and Korean documents
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.
Typical agency✓K-VISA6 languages, including English and Korean
OthersMostly Korean only
✓K-VISAGuidance through each state's apostille and translation order
OthersYou often prepare them yourself
✓K-VISAWe review how to prove US income with you
OthersVaries by office
✓K-VISA20+ items checked for free first
OthersVaries by office
✓K-VISAUnlimited support for immigration supplement requests
OthersExtra fees may apply
✓K-VISAOne dedicated manager until the end
OthersVaries by office
✓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
Free review firstWe check 20+ requirements, including overseas income, and tell you honestly whether it will work before you sign.
Organized for your stateWe guide you through your state's apostille and translation order, fitted to your situation.
We talk with you in EnglishOur 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.

- Licensed administrative agent since 2015
- 10+ years in immigration administration
- Former lecturer, Korean Administrative Agents Association
- Completed immigration agent training

- 5 years at Jeongjin Law Firm
- 7+ years in foreigner visas
- 500+ marriage visa cases




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.




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

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.
→
Best whenWhen you are both in the US
- 1Get a marriage license from the County Clerk where you will marry.In United States
- 2Hold the ceremony the way your state requires and complete the signatures.
- 3Get a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the county.
- 4Get an apostille from the state and translate it into Korean.
- 5Within 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
→
Best whenWhen you are in Korea
- 1Prepare your passport.
- 2Get a sworn affidavit on marriage eligibility at the US Embassy in Seoul.
- 3Translate the affidavit into Korean.
- 4Register your marriage at a city or district office in Korea.In Korea
- 5Translate 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.
- Issued by the county
- Secretary of State apostille
- Korean translation
- Submit in Korea
- Issued in Korea
- Apostille if needed
- English translation
- 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're already staying in Korea, we check whether you can switch to a marriage visa at the immigration office.
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
- 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.
- STEP 2Registration in both countries
Finish the apostille and translation of your US marriage certificate, then report the marriage to Korea.
- STEP 3Visa documents
Gather income, housing and communication evidence and the F-6 application documents.
- 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
Requirement check · Document guide · Paperwork · Appointment · Visa
Requirement check · Document guide · Overseas documents · Registration · Appointment · Visa
Based on K-VISA's processing time. Immigration review time is separate.

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.






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
- 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
- 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.
- Free marriage visa extension reminders
- Free immigration appointment booking
- Overseas document shipping




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.
In the press (Korean)
Videos (Korean)
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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).


![미민 mimin 채널의 케이비자 결혼비자 영상: [한일커플] 일본인 여자친구에게 결혼 비자를 줄 수가 있을까요](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OBcsJPVozAk/hqdefault.jpg)





![하이! 레이 Hi! Rei Couple 채널의 케이비자 결혼비자 영상: 드디어 우리도 예비 부부?! [한일 커플]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y_NkYAWRP8M/hqdefault.jpg)



More YouTuber videosClose ⌃
![하이! 레이 Hi! Rei Couple 채널의 케이비자 결혼비자 영상: 국제결혼의 힘듦을 알게 된 지난 3개월 [F6비자 신청의 모든 것]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ED-9idfzpdc/hqdefault.jpg)

















![카제커플 KanaJay 채널의 케이비자 결혼비자 영상: [한일커플] 어디...가는 거야?](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0o2nr2ErktE/hqdefault.jpg)







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Reviews
What couples say about K-VISA
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.




2024·25·26 비자 행정 서비스 부문 1위







