The Korean government treats acquiring Korean nationality as two separate questions. The first question is whether you were already a Korean national from the day you were born, which is set out in Article 2 of the Nationality Act. The second question is whether you are a Korean national right now, and that is settled by a nationality judgment under Article 20 of the Nationality Act.
This guide explains the rules on acquiring Korean nationality by birth, and then the separate Article 20 nationality judgment, which is a system to decide whether someone is a Korean national. A nationality judgment is not a way of becoming Korean. It confirms a status that already exists, and a person judged to be Korean can make family registration without going through a separate procedure to acquire nationality. Below you will find who is deemed a Korean national by birth, who can ask for a nationality judgment, which documents the application needs, where you file it, and what the result allows you to do.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who it applies to | People born to a Korean national, and people who are unsure whether they acquired Korean nationality in the past or still hold it |
| How acquiring Korean nationality is decided | By birth under Nationality Act Article 2, or by a nationality judgment under Nationality Act Article 20 |
| What a nationality judgment is | A system that decides whether someone is a Korean national, started by the person’s own application |
| Where to apply | The nationality department of an immigration office; the official page lists the immigration offices currently accepting applications |
| What you need | The determination of nationality application with one colour photo of 4cm x 5cm, two Identified Guarantee Descriptions, and documents proving blood relationship at the time of birth |
| How many copies | Submit two copies of each document; the items can change depending on your individual circumstances |
| Where to confirm details | The official page, or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center, open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 22:00, excluding public holidays, with call charges |
| Result if you are judged Korean | You are notified, the result is proclaimed on an official document, and you can make Korean family registration with that notification document |
Who acquiring Korean nationality by birth applies to
Article 2 of the Nationality Act lists the situations in which a person is deemed a Korean national by birth. A person who fits one of those situations is deemed a Korean national by birth under Article 2. The official information also states that individuals having more than one citizenship at birth can report their birth in Korea, under the Rules for Family Relation Register, Sub-paragraph 326.
A person is deemed a Korean national by birth when he or she is born in one of the following situations.
- Born to a Korean national.
- Born to a father who was a Korean national at the time of his death.
- Born in Korea to parents who are unclear of citizenship or stateless.
- Found in Korea as a foundling whose parents are unknown.
The official information then states two further cases directly. Whether or not you hold the citizenship of your father’s country or of your birthplace, you are automatically a Korean national by birth in these two cases.
- You were born after June 14, 1998 to a non-Korean father and a Korean mother.
- You were born to a Korean father in a country that follows the jus soli rule, meaning the country gives citizenship based on place of birth.
⚠️ Holding a foreign passport does not by itself mean you were never a Korean national; the date of birth and the nationality of each parent matter.
If you were born with more than one citizenship
You may have been born abroad to one Korean parent and grown up using only a foreign passport. Individuals having more than one citizenship at birth can report their birth in Korea, whether or not they have lost Korean citizenship. This point comes from the Rules for Family Relation Register, Sub-paragraph 326.
A nationality judgment application asks for the family registry of the applicant, the family registry of relatives living in Korea, and other documents that justify the blood relationship at the time of birth. The screening reviews blood relationships, together with immigration history, foreign nationality acquisition status and other identification documents.
| Your situation at birth | What the official information says |
|---|---|
| Born to a Korean national | Deemed a Korean national by birth under Article 2 |
| Born after June 14, 1998 to a Korean mother and a non-Korean father | Automatically a Korean national by birth, whether or not you also hold your father’s citizenship |
| Born to a Korean father in a country that follows the jus soli rule | Automatically a Korean national by birth, whether or not you also hold the citizenship of your birthplace |
| Born to a father who was a Korean national at the time of his death | Deemed a Korean national by birth under Article 2 |
| Born in Korea to parents who are stateless or unclear of citizenship | Deemed a Korean national by birth under Article 2 |
| Found in Korea as a foundling whose parents are unknown | Deemed a Korean national by birth under Article 2 |
| Born with more than one citizenship | The birth can be reported in Korea, whether or not Korean citizenship was lost |
Nationality judgment: how the decision is made
Determination of nationality, also called nationality judgment, is the system used to decide whether someone is a Korean national. It is set out in Nationality Act Article 20. The process is initiated by the application of the person concerned, so nobody starts it for you.
The system exists for two groups of people. The first group is unsure whether they acquired Korean nationality in the past. The second group is unsure whether they still hold Korean nationality today.
This is the route to use when acquiring Korean nationality may already have happened in your family history but your own status is unclear on paper. The authorities review the facts and then tell you the answer, instead of you guessing from old documents.
What the screening looks at
The applicant’s nationality is determined by reviewing the following points.
- Blood relationships.
- Immigration history.
- Foreign nationality acquisition status.
- Other identification documents.
All four points above belong to the same screening standard. Foreign nationality acquisition status is part of the review, so a foreign nationality you took in the past is something the application covers rather than something to leave out, and the application also asks for the progress of acquiring that foreign nationality.
Documents to prepare for a nationality judgment application
The list below is the set of documents stated for a determination of nationality application. Submit two copies of each document. The items are subject to change depending on individual circumstances, so confirm your own list with the office before you prepare everything.
- The determination of nationality application, with one colour photo of 4cm x 5cm attached.
- Identified Guarantee Descriptions: fill out two of them and make two copies, with a photo attached.
- The family registry of the applicant, of relatives living in Korea, and other documents that justify the blood relationship at the time of birth.
- If a foreign nationality had been acquired in the past, a document proving that fact, plus the progress of acquiring that foreign nationality. A copy of that country’s passport can replace the proof document.
- The foreign passport, travel certificate or entry permit used at the time of entry, if you had entered Korea before and kept an address or residence after departure.
- Other documents that can be referred to in the nationality judgment.
| Document | Point to note |
|---|---|
| Application form | One colour photo of 4cm x 5cm is attached to it |
| Identified Guarantee Descriptions | Two are filled out, two copies are made, and a photo is attached |
| Family registry and blood relationship proof | Covers you and relatives living in Korea, and must point to the relationship at the time of birth |
| Foreign nationality proof | Needed if you acquired a foreign nationality in the past; a passport copy of that country can be used |
| Old travel documents | The passport, travel certificate or entry permit used when you entered Korea, if you kept an address or residence after leaving |
⚠️ Collect foreign-issued family and civil records early, since they often come from another country’s offices and take time to obtain.
Where to apply and what happens after acquiring Korean nationality is confirmed
Applications are filed at the nationality department of an immigration office. Check the official page’s list of immigration offices currently accepting applications before you travel, so that you go to an office on that list.
If you are judged to have Korean nationality, the outcome follows a set pattern described below.
- The result is notified to you as the applicant.
- The result is proclaimed on the official document.
- You can make Korean family registration using the determination notification document.
- You do not have to go through a separate procedure to acquire nationality, because the judgment already confirms your status.
That last point is the practical value of the system. The notification document is what you take forward for family registration, so keep it safe and treat it as a core record rather than a receipt.
Confirm any fee and the processing time on the official page, or with the immigration office or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center, before you apply. The contact center is open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 22:00, excluding public holidays, and call charges apply. From outside Korea, the stated numbers are +82-2-1345 and +82-2-6908-1345 to 6.
What to check before you apply, and what depends on your case
The points below are the document requirements stated on the official page for a determination of nationality application. They set out the same list in short form, so you can check it against the papers you already hold. Go through every line before you travel to the office.
- Two copies of each document.
- One colour photo of 4cm x 5cm, attached to the application.
- Two Identified Guarantee Descriptions, filled out, with two copies made and a photo attached.
- A document proving a foreign nationality acquired in the past, plus the progress of acquiring that foreign nationality. A copy of that country’s passport can replace the proof document.
- The foreign passport, travel certificate or entry permit used at the time of entry, if you entered Korea before and kept an address or residence after departure.
- The family registry of the applicant and of relatives living in Korea, and other documents that justify the blood relationship at the time of birth.
- The official list of immigration offices currently accepting applications, so that you file at an office on that list.
What you must bring also depends on your own history. The required items are subject to change depending on individual circumstances. Confirm your own list with the immigration office or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center before you prepare the documents.
⚠️ Confirm your document list and the office you should visit with the immigration office or the 1345 contact center before you prepare two copies of everything.
Frequently asked questions
Is acquiring Korean nationality automatic if my mother is Korean?
If you were born after June 14, 1998 to a Korean mother and a non-Korean father, you are automatically a Korean national by birth. This holds whether or not you also hold the citizenship of your father’s country or of your birthplace.
What is a nationality judgment and who should apply for it?
A nationality judgment, also called determination of nationality, is the system under Nationality Act Article 20 that decides whether someone is a Korean national. It is started by the application of people who are unsure whether they acquired Korean nationality in the past, or whether they still hold it.
What does the office check when it reviews my application?
Your nationality is determined by reviewing your blood relationships, your immigration history, your foreign nationality acquisition status, and other identification documents. That is why the application asks for family registry records, proof of any foreign nationality, and the travel documents you used to enter Korea.
Do I need a separate procedure after a positive nationality judgment?
No. If you are judged to have Korean nationality, you are notified, the result is proclaimed on the official document, and you can make Korean family registration through the determination notification document without going through a separate procedure to acquire nationality.
Can I report my birth in Korea if I was born with two citizenships?
Individuals having more than one citizenship at birth can report their birth in Korea, whether or not they have lost Korean citizenship. This point is based on the Rules for Family Relation Register, Sub-paragraph 326.
Start by deciding which part fits you: Article 2 if you want to know whether you were a Korean national from birth, or an Article 20 nationality judgment if your current status is unclear. Then gather your family registry records, any proof of a past foreign nationality, and the travel documents you used to enter Korea, and prepare two copies of each item. Rules, document lists, fees, processing times, and the offices accepting applications can change, so confirm the current requirements for acquiring Korean nationality on the official page or with the 1345 contact center before you apply.
Last checked: November 2, 2026. Rules, fees and required documents in Korea change often, and some depend on your visa type and district office. Always confirm the current details on the official pages below before you go.