How to obtain South Korean citizenship in 2021

South Korea is the most developed and favorable country in the world. This state is considered the most stable and has a strong economy and a very prestigious market. For this reason, many Russians who want to live in a prosperous, developing state seek to obtain Korean citizenship.

A visa to South Korea is not required for Russian citizens who want to travel to the country for tourism purposes.

View of an amusement park in Seoul

What does Korean citizenship provide?

The migration laws of the Republic of Korea (ROK) are among the strictest in the world. While tourists, investors and in-demand professions are treated rather favorably here, individuals who wish to obtain citizenship status through naturalization face a complex process.

There are several reasons why it makes sense to try to get a Korean passport:

Korean citizenship expands the list of professions that migrants can apply for to government positions.
A citizen of the country has the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections.
Full access to all social guarantees provided by the authorities to the local population is opened.
There is an opportunity for visa-free entry into more than 170 countries of the world.
The duration of residence in the country and the period of stay outside it are not limited in any way.
The migrant is relieved of the need to extend or re-register his status in order to continue living and working in Korea.

The Constitution of the country, adopted in 1948, allows you to enjoy all the benefits of belonging to Korean society. It provides citizens with equal rights in economic, political and cultural life:

right to work;
fixed minimum wage;
normal working conditions;
the right to participate in elections;
freedom of speech, association, press and religion;
the right to file complaints and appeals;
right to rest;
free health care and compulsory education;
confidentiality of correspondence;
personal integrity and many other rights.

The state also protects the inventive and copyright rights of its citizens, protects the institution of family, low-income and disabled residents of the country.

In response to this, citizens of the state are obliged to honor the laws of South Korea, respect the traditions and beliefs of the local population, not commit crimes, not encroach on the state system, not participate in the activities of terrorist and criminal groups, and pay taxes.

Academic programs for undergraduate students:

College of Natural Sciences

Physics
Mathematical Sciences
Chemistry

College of Life Science & Bioengineering

Biological Sciences

College of Engineering

Mechanical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Computer Science
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Bio & Brain Engineering
Industrial Design
Industrial & Systems Engineering
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Materials Science & Engineering
Nuclear & Quantum Engineering

College of Business

Business and Technology Management

Benefits of KAIST Undergraduate Scholarship 2021:

Full tuition payment for 8 semesters
Living allowance, 350,000 won per month
Medical health insurance
Eligibility Criteria for KAIST Scholarship 2021:

All international students are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have completed high school. Applicants with dual citizenship are not eligible to apply. The candidate must maintain a GPA of 2.7 out of 4.3 after the first year. Applicants who have Koren citizenship must have completed their education outside of Korea. Foreign candidates who have completed high school in Korea. Check University of Calgary Scholarships in Canada 2021

How can I obtain Korean citizenship?

The South Korean Citizenship Law was passed in 1979. It states that permanent resident status and a national passport can be obtained in three cases:

by right of birth;
by origin;
through naturalization.

The latter method is divided into recognition of the candidate as an ethnic Korean and the naturalization process itself, which implies:

labor migration;
investing in the economy;
marriage to a Korean man or woman;
family reunion.

Let's briefly look at each of the options:

By right of birth, you can become a citizen of Korea, provided that at the time the child is born, one of the parents is already a citizen of this country. The basis is also the fact of birth on Korean territory, even if the baby’s parents were not citizens of the republic. Or if the child was found in Korea, and his nationality has not been established.
Reunion with relatives. Suitable for those whose loved ones live in Korea. We are talking about parents, children, grandparents, sisters and brothers. Candidates for reunification will have to prove the financial ability to live in the country and the absence of a criminal record.
Marriage is one of the most popular ways for a Russian citizen to obtain Korean citizenship. The advantage of this method is a simplified legalization scheme. You can register a marriage both in Korea and abroad (in the second case, you will have to legalize the union). After three years of residence, the spouse of a Korean citizen can apply for citizenship.
Emigration program for ethnic Koreans. The candidate must prove his origin and have lived in the country for at least three years.
Professional migration. South Korea is interested in the influx of specialists in in-demand professions. To obtain a work visa, you will have to provide an employment contract with a local company. She, in turn, will need to prove to the Ministry of Labor that there were no candidates for the vacancy among local residents. Managers of large international companies have the opportunity to immediately obtain permanent residence (without a residence permit).
Investments. To obtain permanent permanent residence, you need to invest at least 500 thousand US dollars in the state economy. In addition, you will have to provide a business plan and prove that it is of interest to the state.
Refugee. This path cannot be called the easiest. An applicant for refugee status will have to prove that staying in his home country poses a threat to his freedom and life. The ROK authorities receive the largest number of such statements from residents of North Korea, given the difficult relations between the two states.

What are the stages to go through?

Obtaining South Korean citizenship for Russians and residents of other CIS countries involves going through several stages:

Obtaining a long-term immigrant visa.
Registration of a residence permit.
Request for permanent residence.
Submitting an application for citizenship.

To obtain a visa permit, you must determine the basis for immigration. If this is work, you will have to apply for a work visa, if studying – a student visa, and so on.

An application is submitted to the Korean consulate in the migrant’s homeland. It should be remembered that tourist entry does not provide grounds for further legalization. Moreover, for Russians, crossing the Korean border is visa-free (for a period of no more than 60 days).

Obtaining a residence permit

A residence permit can only be obtained on the basis of a long-term visa of the appropriate category. To be able to move to this stage of legalization, a foreign citizen can choose one of the methods listed above: employment, training, marriage, investment.

An application for a residence permit is submitted to the Migration Department. You can find a branch of this department in any police station in the country.

In the process of considering the application, approvals may be required from other ministries: education, health, labor and others.

The validity period of a residence permit depends on the method of immigration:

Professional: A residence permit is issued for a year with the right to extend for another 2 years. But a foreign citizen will only be able to work in the company that invited him. It will be possible to change your place of work only after obtaining permanent residence.
Family: in this case, relatives of a Korean citizen will be able to obtain temporary status also for a year, then extend it for another two. An important point: the inviting party must have been a Korean citizen for at least 5 years.
Marriage: this method involves a simplified scheme, that is, the candidate will immediately be able to obtain permanent residence. But for this you need to be married for at least 3 years, of which you must live continuously in Korea for a year. You can submit a petition after two years of married life, if during this time you have to live permanently on Korean territory.
Ethnic Koreans receive a residence permit immediately for 5 years with the possibility of extension.
Investment: by investing a set amount of funds in the local economy, the investor receives indefinite permanent residence. Those who decide to open their own business will receive a residence permit for a year with the right to extend it for another 2 years.
Student immigration: a foreigner who has confirmed enrollment in a university receives a residence permit for the entire period of study. But after graduating from university, you will have to change the basis for further legalization. For example, a candidate can get a job and continue the process as a migrant worker.

The expiration of the residence permit obliges its owner to make a decision on further actions: continue legalization and request permanent residence or return to his homeland.

Request for permanent residence

Having lived in the country for at least 3 years, a foreign citizen can apply for permanent status, which must be renewed every 10 years.

A permanent residence permit does not require a decision on what the foreigner should do next: in this status, one can live in the country permanently, without moving on to the stage of obtaining citizenship.

To obtain permanent residence, you will need to provide the following package of documents:

International passport.
National passport.
Valid residence permit.
Documents confirming what the applicant does in Korea: certificate of employment, certificate of business registration.
Confirmation of the availability of funds in a bank account (the exact amount is not established) or confirmation of a permanent source of income.
Certificate of passing the Korean language exam.
Confirmation of availability of housing (own or rented).
Insurance.
Certificate of good conduct.
Medical certificate confirming the absence of dangerous diseases.

The Department of Migration is also involved in providing permanent residence. A candidate can apply for citizenship status no earlier than after 2 years of living in Korea as a permanent resident.

Passport documents

In order to obtain a South Korean passport, a foreign person undertakes to provide a substantial list of current documents. The list of required certificates includes a certificate of successful completion of the regional studies test. The test is taken in writing in the state language. Thus, examiners also check at what level the foreigner speaks the Korean language.

Required documents include:

application for naturalization;
passport and ID (both originals and high-quality photocopies must be attached);
a photocopy of a document confirming marital status;
certificate of solvency;
certificate of registration of real estate;
document confirming legal employment;
fee of one hundred US dollars.

How is the procedure for obtaining citizenship carried out?

Obtaining Korean citizenship is possible if certain conditions are met:

Residence in the country for at least 5 years (for some categories - from 3 years, for example, for spouses of Korean citizens).
Availability of legal grounds for residence in the state (permanent residence).
Availability of permanent residence and source of income.
Coming of age.
Proficiency in the state language (must be confirmed during the exam).
No criminal record.

It won't hurt to know what a Korean passport looks like. There is no paper format available for this document.

An identity card is a plastic ID card that contains the following information:

last name and first name;
photo;
Date of Birth;
floor;
registration;
attitude towards military service.

You can get a card there - at the Department of Migration Issues, where documents for conferring citizenship were submitted.

Package of documents for citizenship

To apply for citizenship, you must prepare the following package of documents:

Statement.
A copy of the current permanent residence permit.
Foreign passport (original and copy).
Copy of internal passport.
Birth certificate.
Certificate of availability of an amount in the account in the amount of 60 million won (about 50 thousand US dollars).
A letter of recommendation from a Korean citizen who will act as a guarantor.
A certificate stating that the applicant has no problems with the law.
Statement of oath to South Korea.
Receipt for payment of duty.
Family information.
Certificate of passing the state exam in the Korean language, history and state legislation.

Documents drawn up in a foreign language must be translated into Korean and notarized.

Registration procedure

Persons wishing to obtain an H-2 form contact the visa center for consultation and then to submit documents. If all documents are available and there are no problems with them, they are accepted quickly

.
Then comes the turn of checking documents at the embassy/consulate. The duration of the check depends on the type
.
This information will be provided at the visa center. Basically, documents are reviewed within a week, in the case of short-term ones
.
If a person goes to Korea on a long-term trip, then the waiting time is extended to a month or more
. If any questions arise or additional documents are needed, the consul has the right to call the applicant and request them.

If for some reason the applicant is denied entry permission, visa, consular fees and documents are not refunded. The exception is the passport.

How to obtain Korean citizenship for a child

A minor foreigner can become a Korean citizen in a number of cases:

if both of his parents are citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
if one of the parents already has a Korean passport (in this case, citizenship is acquired with the consent of the second parent);
if he was found on the territory of Korea without parents or guardians, and his identity could not be established;
if the foreigner is incapacitated and is under the care of a Korean citizen;
If the child is adopted, upon reaching adulthood (20 years old in Korea), he can become a citizen of the country by renouncing his previous citizenship status.

Documents for citizenship of a minor child are submitted by parents. This procedure is called “special naturalization”.

Its difference is that the child will in any case receive South Korean citizenship (if he falls into one of the categories listed above), regardless of the period of residence in the country of the main applicant, his age and financial security.

General information about the country: population and level of development

South Korea is washed by the Sea of Japan and borders the DPRK in the north. The country is distinguished by mountainous terrain. The higher the mountains, the colder the climate will be. In the south of the state, on Jeju Island, the climate is temperate subtropical, and in most of the territory it is of the monsoon subtype.

The country is home to 49 million people, 95% are Koreans. The Chinese are recognized as a large minority in the Republic of Korea. Part of the population adheres to the Christian religion, while others adhere to Buddhism. The country's economy is represented by the manufacturing industry, where the emphasis is on the production of machinery. The service sector is also well developed, tourism – marine, mountain and cultural-historical – is gaining growth rates.

How much does it cost and how long does it take to obtain citizenship?

Processing a citizenship request can take a long time. On average, this takes from 8 to 24 months. The period depends on the number of approvals from other departments, on the completeness of the package of papers and on the workload of the migration department.

The fee is 300 thousand won (approximately 250 US dollars). If we are talking about restoring civil status, then the amount will be 200 thousand won (about 170 dollars).

The fee is paid for each applicant separately in local currency. The receipt must be attached to the general package of documents.

Why can they refuse?

Denial of Korean citizenship is not uncommon. The most common reasons for a negative decision are:

false information about the applicant;
violation of migration legislation, in particular, we can talk about failure to comply with the requirement regarding the period of residence in the country on the basis of a residence permit or permanent residence permit;
insufficient financial support;
presence of criminal records or violations of law and order (in Korea they take compliance with laws very seriously);
suspicion of involvement in the activities of terrorist groups;
incomplete package of documents;
unsatisfactory test results on knowledge of the Korean language, history and legislation.

Passing an interview with migration service employees is sometimes a serious test for candidates. Of the approximately 20 thousand applications that are submitted annually, only 60% of applicants receive a positive response.

It is necessary not only to decide for yourself the question of how to obtain Korean citizenship for a Russian, but also to remember that no one is immune from being deprived of their indigenous status.

There are three reasons that can lead to this:

A Korean citizen has acquired citizenship of another state.
Divorce from a Korean citizen if citizenship was acquired by marriage.
6 months after receiving a Korean passport, the newly minted citizen did not renounce his previous citizenship.

Having received a negative answer, the applicant can appeal it in court. But for this you will have to hire a lawyer, since all legal proceedings are conducted in Korean, and the legislation of the Republic of Korea cannot be called simple. But even with a lawyer, you need to be prepared for the fact that the likelihood of winning the case is very low.

The issue of dual and second citizenship

Dual citizenship is not recognized in South Korea: the republic does not have corresponding agreements with other states. But in the legislation there are some relaxations regarding bipatrism and multiple citizenship.

It is allowed to have two citizenships:

ethnic Koreans over 65 years of age;
foreigners who have exceptional abilities in science, sports, economics or culture.

Foreigners who have two citizenships at once, which they acquired before the age of 20, must make a choice in favor of one of the statuses by the age of 22.

Reasons for refusal

If for some reason a citizen was refused entry permission, then there was a good reason for this. There is no need to panic, but rather to make an effort to solve the problem. Possible reasons for refusal:

False documents, false information in documents
Missing any document
Insufficient money for accommodation and travel to South Korea
Violation of visa rules, illegal work
Strong suspicions that this individual poses a threat to society
Use of an entry permit for purposes other than those specified in the application

Avoiding rejection will save a lot of time and money. To prevent this from happening, you should approach the collection and submission of documents with all responsibility.

Debts in your home country may also be a possible reason for refusal.

Therefore, this moment should be treated with special attention.

In case of refusal, an appropriate mark is placed in the passport with the reason for the refusal. This will make it easier to find a solution to the problem. The documents can be submitted a second time, according to the same procedure, but taking into account the shortcomings.