Marriage Registration

Marriage registration in Korea

When a Korean and a foreign national are married in Korea, the validity of the marriage is established based on the laws of both countries. The marriage has to be reported and registered in accordance with the Act on the Registration of Family Relationship. Therefore, a couple can register their marriage by submitting the following documents pursuant to Article 71 of the Act: Documents proving the nationality of the foreign national (copy of family register, birth certificate, copy of passport, identity register, etc.); and documents proving that the foreign national meets the requirements for the validity of the marriage recognized by laws of his/ her country (documents issued by the competent organizations of the country such as government and public offices or an embassy of the country).

Marriage registration in a foreign country

When a Korean and a foreign national are married in the latter's country in accordance with the laws of the state, a certified copy of the marriage certificate must be submitted to the head of the Korean embassy or the legation in the country within one month of the registration; or, the Korean national can complete the marriage registration by sending the marriage certificate to the head of the city (gu), eup, or myeon, where he/ she is registered or submitting the certificate in person after returning to Korea.

  • When a Korean man marries a foreign national woman image

    When a Korean man marries a foreign national woman

    When a Korean man marries a foreign national woman, the foreign spouse does not automatically acquire Korean nationality through the registration of the marriage; therefore, the details of the marriage is stated only in the Korean national man's family relationship register. When the foreign national woman is naturalized and acquires Korean nationality, her family relationship register of the woman will be created based on the naturalization registration. Once the naturalized spouse's relationship register is created, she must report the creation of the family relationship register to the head of the city (gu), eup or myeon where their marriage is registered.

  • When a Korean woman marries a foreign national man image

    When a Korean woman marries a foreign national man

    When a Korean woman marries a foreign national man, the information about her spouse will be stated in the column of special details about the registration on the Korean woman's family relationship register. When the foreign national man is naturalized and acquires Korean nationality, his family relationship register will be created. Once the naturalized spouse's relationship register is created, he must report the creation of the family relationship register to the head of the city (gu), eup or myeon where their marriage is registered.