The procedure for naturalization approval is as follows:
How to apply- Individuals (limited to those aged 15 and above) must apply for naturalization approval personally (the main body of Article 25-2(1) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act).
- If the person wishing to apply for naturalization is under the age of 15, a legal representative can apply on their behalf. When the legal representative applies on behalf of the applicant, the name and address of the representative must be written on the application form, and documents proving the relationship with the applicant must be attached (Article 19 of the Nationality Act; Article 25-2(2) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act).
Required documents- Foreigners wishing to obtain naturalization approval must submit the naturalization application form and its attached documents (hereinafter “application, etc.”) to the head of an immigration office, the head of a local immigration office, the head of a branch office of an immigration office, or the head of a branch office of a local immigration office (hereinafter “office head, etc.”) (see Article 3(1) and (2) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act; Article 3(1), (2), and attached Form No. 2 of the Enforcement Rules of the Nationality Act).
※ If the submitted documents concerning the report above are in a foreign language, they must be accompanied by a translation, including the translator’s name and contact details (Article 16 of the Enforcement Rules of the Nationality Act).
※ For detailed documents required for the naturalization application, please check the <Hi Korea website> or contact the Foreigner Information Center (☎1345).
Fees- When applying for naturalization approval, a fee of KRW 300,000 per person (excluding concurrent acquirers) must be paid (Article 24(1) of the Nationality Act; Article 18(1)1 of the Enforcement Rules of the Nationality Act).
※ The application fee should be paid as a government revenue stamp equivalent to the amount (Article 24(3) of the Nationality Act; the main body of Article 18(2) of the Enforcement Rules of the Nationality Act).
- Special naturalization applicants who have made significant contributions to the Republic of Korea or possess exceptional skills in fields such as science, economics, culture, sports, etc. and are recognized to contribute to the national interests of the Republic of Korea are exempted from the fee (Article 24(3) of the Nationality Act; Article 18(3)1 and 2 of the Enforcement Rules of the Nationality Act).
- In other cases, considering humanitarian reasons or other circumstances, the Minister of Justice may recognize the need for a fee exemption and the fee may be waived (Article 24(3) of the Nationality Act; Article 18(3)4 of the Enforcement Rules of the Nationality Act).
Comprehensive assessment and interview evaluation- Applicants for naturalization approval will undergo a comprehensive assessment of the Social Integration Program (hereinafter “comprehensive assessment”) and an interview evaluation (hereinafter “interview evaluation”) to review their naturalization qualifications (the main body of Article 4-2(1) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act).
- The following subjects are exempted from the comprehensive assessment of the Social Integration Program (proviso to Article 4-2(1) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act; and Article 4(1) of the Enforcement Rules of the Nationality Act):
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Exemption from Comprehensive Assessment |
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▪ Minors ▪ Individuals aged 60 and above ▪ Special naturalization applicants recognized to have made significant contributions to the Republic of Korea or possess exceptional skills in specific fields such as science, economics, culture, sports, etc. ▪ Those who have completed the Social Integration Program ▪ Those who, based on the date of their naturalization approval application, have scored 60 or more points out of a possible 100 in the comprehensive assessment within the last 3 years ▪ Others with special reasons recognized by the Minister of Justice |
- The following subjects are exempted from the interview evaluation (proviso to Article 4-2(1) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act; Article 4(3) of the Enforcement Rules of the Nationality Act):
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Exemption from Interview Evaluation |
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▪ Spouses of individuals who have regained their nationality and are aged 60 and above ▪ Individuals under the age of 15 at the time of the naturalization approval application ▪ Those who have completed the Social Integration Program and have scored 60 or more points out of a possible 100 in the comprehensive assessment ▪ Others with special reasons recognized by the Minister of Justice |
- The Minister of Justice may not conduct a comprehensive assessment and interview evaluation for naturalization applicants deemed to not meet the naturalization requirements based on the results of inquiries, investigations, and verifications following the naturalization application and naturalization requirement review, or upon review of the application, etc. (Article 4-2(2) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act).
- Naturalization applicants must take the comprehensive assessment within 1 year from the date of the naturalization application. However, this does not apply if the Minister of Justice has exempted the comprehensive assessment or has decided not to conduct the comprehensive assessment because of the applicant is deemed to not meet the naturalization requirements (Article 4-2(3) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act).
- The interview evaluation assesses Korean language ability, attitude as a Korean national, belief in the basic order of free democracy, and other basic requirements that should be met as a Korean national (Article 4-2(4) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act; Article 4(4) of the Enforcement Rules of the Nationality Act).
Review of naturalization requirements- When necessary to review naturalization requirements, the Minister of Justice may require the naturalization applicant to attend and present their opinion or submit relevant documents. In addition, the Minister may also conduct a local investigation into the applicant’s place of residence to confirm if they meet the naturalization requirements (Article 4(1) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act).
- The Minister of Justice may request relevant agency heads to conduct identity verification, criminal history inquiry, and residence trend research for the naturalization applicant or seek opinions on other necessary matters during the review of naturalization requirements (Article 4(2) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act).
Oath of citizenship and grant of naturalization certificate- When the Minister of Justice grants naturalization, they must designate a time and place to receive the oath of citizenship and grant the naturalization certificate. The designated time and place must be notified to the person granted naturalization (Article 4-4(1) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act).
※ The content of the oath of citizenship is, “I solemnly swear to uphold the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Korea as a proud citizen of the Republic of Korea and fulfill the citizen’s responsibilities and duties“ (Article 4-5(1) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act).
- Individuals who receive such notification but are unable to attend the designated time and place because of unavoidable reasons such as illness or accident must submit a written statement of the reason for absence (hereinafter “document specifying the non-attendance reason”) to the Minister of Justice the day before the designated date (Article 4-4(2) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act).
- Within 1 month from the day the document specifying the non-attendance reason is submitted, the Minister of Justice must designate a new time and place to receive the oath of citizenship and grant the naturalization certificate and notify the person granted naturalization again (Article 4-4(3) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act).
- The following individuals are exempt from the oath of citizenship (Article 4-5(2) of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act).
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Exemption from the Oath of Citizenship |
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1. Individuals under 15 years old at the time of the pledge 2. Individuals with brain disorders, intellectual disabilities, or autism, as recognized by the Minister of Justice 3. Any other individuals corresponding to 2 above, as recognized by the Minister of Justice |
Official gazette announcement and notification- When a naturalization applicant acquires nationality, the Minister of Justice must promptly notify the head of the family relationship registration office of the registration base and announce it in the Official Gazette (Article 5 of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act).
Renunciation of foreign nationality or pledge not to exercise foreign nationality- Within 1 year of acquiring the nationality of the Republic of Korea, foreigners who still have foreign nationality must renounce their foreign nationality or pledge to the Minister of Justice not to exercise their foreign nationality in the Republic of Korea (hereinafter “pledge not to exercise foreign nationality”) (see Article 10(1) and (2) of the Nationality Act).
- Those who do not renounce their foreign nationality or make the pledge not to exercise foreign nationality within the aforementioned year will lose their nationality in the Republic of Korea after the period expires (Article 10(3) of the Nationality Act).