The obligation to choose nationality in Korea applies to you if you hold Korean nationality together with a foreign citizenship at the same time. Under Article 12 of the Nationality Act, every multiple nationality holder must pick one nationality within a set deadline, and that deadline depends on your age and, for Korean men, on your military service status.
This guide walks through who must comply, the exact deadlines the Nationality Act sets for different situations, and what you need to prepare if you want to give up your Korean citizenship after a fixed date each year. Everything here is based on the official explanation of Article 12 published by HI Korea, so use it as your starting point and confirm the latest details before you act.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| What this is | The obligation to choose nationality in Korea is a legal duty for multiple nationality holders under Article 12 of the Nationality Act |
| Who it applies to | People who hold Korean nationality and a foreign nationality at the same time |
| Deadline if multiple nationality began before age 20 | Must choose by age 22 |
| Deadline if multiple nationality began after age 20 | Must choose within two years from the date you obtained the second nationality |
| Deadline for First Citizen Service enlistees | Within three months from enlistment, or within two years from the end of military service liability |
| Fixed deadline for Korean men liable for military service | March 31 of the year you turn 18, the starting age of compulsory enlistment |
| If giving up Korean citizenship after April 1 | You must submit a document showing you are no longer liable for military service |
| Legal basis | Nationality Act Article 12, Articles 2(2) and 8; Military Service Act Article 8 |
Who Must Meet the Obligation to Choose Nationality in Korea
The obligation to choose nationality in Korea comes directly from Article 12 of the Nationality Act. It applies to anyone who ends up holding Korean nationality and a foreign nationality at the same time.
This duty concerns the specific step of choosing a single nationality once you already hold more than one. The Nationality Act sets out separate articles for how the duty is fulfilled, for the selection procedure, and for renouncing nationality, so check which part of the official page matches your own situation.
- People who became multiple nationality holders before turning 20 years old
- People who became multiple nationality holders after turning 20 years old
- Korean men who are enlisted for the First Citizen Service under Article 8 of the Military Service Act
⚠️ Which group you belong to decides which deadline applies to you, so check your own timeline carefully before you plan your next step.
The official HI Korea page also groups this topic together with selection procedures, renunciation procedures, and the rules on retaining or losing nationality. If your situation goes beyond a straightforward multiple nationality case, check the official page for the specific procedure that matches it.
Deadlines for Choosing One Nationality
The time limit to choose one nationality is different depending on when you became a multiple nationality holder.
| Situation | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Became a multiple nationality holder before age 20 | Must choose by the time you turn 22 |
| Became a multiple nationality holder after age 20 | Must choose within two years from the date you obtained the second nationality |
| Enlisted for the First Citizen Service | Must choose within three months from the date of enlistment, or within two years from the date your military service liability ends |
Because these deadlines run from different starting points, the same calendar date can mean very different things for two different people. One person’s clock starts on their 20th birthday, another’s starts on the date they obtained a second nationality, and a third’s starts on the date of military enlistment.
The Nationality Act points to Articles 13 and 14 for how these duties are actually fulfilled, so read the official page in full before you decide which option fits your case.
The Fixed Deadline for Korean Men With Military Service Liability
For a Korean man who holds more than one nationality, Articles 2(2) and 8 of the Nationality Act set a fixed date and year for the deadline, rather than a date tied to his personal birthday. That fixed date is March 31 of the year he turns 18, which is the starting age of compulsory enlistment.
This means your deadline will not necessarily match your actual date of birth. For example, a man born before September 1, 2000 who wished to renounce Korean nationality had a deadline at the end of March 2018, because he turned 18 and became liable for First Citizen Service enlistment on January 1, 2018.
⚠️ The deadline is fixed by law for your birth group, not calculated individually from your own birthday.
After April 1 of that year passes, the deadline changes. It is then extended to two years from the date on which the person no longer has liability for military service.
In short, the fixed March 31 cut-off is the simpler path. Once that date has passed for your birth year, the rule that applies to you shifts to the two-year extension tied to the end of your military service liability.
What to Prepare If You Give Up Korean Citizenship After April 1
If you want to give up Korean citizenship after the April 1 cut-off described above, you cannot rely on the earlier fixed deadline alone.
- Confirm whether you are applying before or after the March 31 / April 1 cut-off for your birth year
- If you are applying after April 1, prepare a document that proves you are no longer liable for military service
- Submit that document together with the rest of your application to give up Korean citizenship
⚠️ Without this document, an application to renounce Korean nationality after April 1 cannot rely on the simpler fixed-date option that applies before that cut-off.
This requirement applies specifically to the period after the April 1 cut-off. Before that date, the fixed deadline of March 31 of the year you turn 18 applies instead, as explained in the previous section.
Common Mistakes With the Obligation to Choose Nationality in Korea
The obligation to choose nationality in Korea is not one single deadline. It is a set of different deadlines that depend on three things: your age when you became a multiple nationality holder, whether you are a Korean man with military service duties, and the exact date your situation changed.
- Assuming the deadline follows your personal birthday, when for men with military service liability it is a fixed calendar date of March 31
- Forgetting that the two-year deadline for those who acquired a second nationality after age 20 is counted from the date of acquisition, not from any other date
- Not preparing a document proving the end of military service liability when applying to give up Korean citizenship after April 1
- Missing the three-month deadline that applies specifically to those enlisted for the First Citizen Service
⚠️ Your personal deadline depends on your age, your military service status, and the exact date you became a multiple nationality holder, so confirm your own case against the official page rather than assuming a general rule applies to you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the obligation to choose nationality in Korea?
It is the legal duty, set out in Article 12 of the Nationality Act, for anyone who holds Korean nationality together with a foreign nationality to choose one nationality within a set deadline.
What happens if I became a multiple nationality holder before I turned 20?
You must choose between your Korean nationality and your foreign citizenship by the time you turn 22.
What happens if I became a multiple nationality holder after I turned 20?
You must select one nationality within two years from the date you obtained the second nationality.
Does the deadline change for Korean men with military service duties?
Yes. Under Article 8 of the Military Service Act, those enlisted for the First Citizen Service must choose one nationality within three months of enlistment, or within two years from the end of their military service liability. Articles 2(2) and 8 of the Nationality Act also set a fixed deadline of March 31 of the year the person turns 18.
What do I need if I want to give up Korean citizenship after April 1?
You need to submit a document showing that you are no longer liable for military service, together with the rest of your application.
Confirm which group you fall into, then check your exact deadline before you take any action. Because the obligation to choose nationality in Korea depends heavily on your age, your military service status, and the exact date you acquired a second nationality, read the official HI Korea page in full and confirm the current rules before you apply.
Last checked: October 8, 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.