Reinstatement of Korean nationality is the legal process that lets a person who used to hold Korean nationality get it back. The rules for this process come from the Nationality Act, and the application is reviewed by the nationality department at an Immigration Office in Korea. This process is different from becoming a Korean citizen through naturalization for the first time, because it is only open to people who had a real connection to Korean nationality in the past.
This guide explains who qualifies, the cases where an application will be refused, the documents you must submit, and how the application steps work, including how military service law can apply to men who get their nationality back. All details below come from the official HI KOREA immigration guide, so confirm them again with the nationality department before you apply, since your situation can change what is required.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who it applies to | Foreigners who previously held Korean nationality, lost it under the Nationality Act, or renounced it as a dual national |
| Who cannot apply | People who would harm Korean society, show poor conduct, lost nationality to evade military service, or are restricted by the Minister of Justice |
| Where to apply | The nationality department at an Immigration Office |
| What you need | An application form, a statement, an identity guarantee description, passport copies, proof of former Korean nationality, and other supporting documents |
| Report of loss of nationality | Required first if your family registry still shows you as a Korean national and does not yet record the loss |
| Cost | 200,000 KRW, paid as a Government Revenue Stamp |
| Military service | Men who reinstate their nationality at an age where military service applies must follow military service law, including completing service if they have not done so |
| Contact | The 1345 Immigration Contact Center |
Who Can Apply for Reinstatement of Korean Nationality
Under Article 9, Section 1 of the Nationality Act, this process is open to specific groups of foreigners who had a connection to Korean nationality in the past. You must fall into one of the following categories before you can apply, and each category reflects a different way a person can lose Korean nationality in the first place.
- Foreigners who had Korean nationality in the past
- People who lost Korean nationality for reasons stated in the Nationality Act
- People who renounced Korean nationality as a person with dual nationality
- People who acquired Korean nationality through naturalization, or through marriage to a Korean national before June 14, 1998, but forfeited that nationality because they did not give up their original nationality within six months of acquiring Korean nationality, and have kept that original nationality for more than a year after losing Korean nationality
These categories cover people who lost Korean nationality under the Nationality Act, people who gave it up voluntarily while holding dual nationality, and people who lost it because they kept a foreign nationality instead of giving it up within the required window after naturalization or marriage to a Korean national. Each case is reviewed on its own facts, so the category you fall under affects which documents you need to prove your history.
If Your Family Registry Is Still Active
Some applicants still have a family registry in Korea at the time they apply. Acquiring a foreign nationality automatically invalidates Korean nationality, so an intact family registry only reflects an inaccurate record on paper and cannot be used on its own to prove current nationality. This means you cannot simply point to an old family registry entry as proof that you are still a Korean national.
⚠️ If your family registry still shows you as a Korean national, you must report loss of nationality to cancel it and apply for reinstatement at the same time. If the registry already records the loss of your Korean nationality, you do not need to report the loss again. Applicants with foreign nationality who still have a valid family register must cancel that register first, then re-add themselves to it only after reinstatement is granted.
When Reinstatement of Korean Nationality Is Not Allowed
Article 9, Section 2 of the Nationality Act lists cases where this is not permitted. These restrictions apply even if you fit one of the candidate categories listed above, so check them carefully before you apply.
- You would harm Korean society or Korea itself
- You have poor conduct
- You lost or renounced Korean nationality for the purpose of evading military service
- The Minister of Justice restricts your reinstatement for reasons of national security or public order
The restriction tied to military service evasion is worth noting on its own. If you lost or gave up Korean nationality specifically to avoid military service, that history can be used as a reason to refuse your application, separate from the military service rules that apply once reinstatement is granted. The Minister of Justice also has discretion to restrict reinstatement for national security or public order reasons, which is a broader ground than the other three.
Documents You Need to Prepare
The documents required for reinstatement of Korean nationality depend on your case, and the Immigration Office may ask for more or fewer documents than listed here. Confirm the current list with the nationality department before you submit your application.
In general, the documents fall into a few groups: the application itself and your statement, proof of your identity and guarantee, proof that you once held Korean nationality or acquired it before losing it, and proof of your family relationships. If a child is applying together with you, extra documents about the child are also required.
| Document | Details |
|---|---|
| Reinstatement of Nationality Application | Attach one color photo (4cm x 5cm); submit 2 copies of the completed first page |
| Statement for Reinstatement of Nationality | Prepared and submitted by the applicant |
| Identity Guarantee Description | 2 copies, each with a photo attached |
| Copy of passport | 3 copies if you hold a Chinese passport |
| Family registry or verifying document | Proves you were a Korean national or had previously acquired Korean nationality, or another equivalent verifiable document |
| Document verifying reason and date of acquiring or losing nationality | For example, a permission of naturalization, a nationality certificate, a passport, or a family registry for Taiwan or Japan nationals |
| Resident registration | Required supporting document |
| Child’s documents, if a child is accompanying you | A copy of the child’s passport and a document proving the parent-child relationship, such as a birth certificate |
| Proving documents for family | Documents on parents, spouse, children, marriage status, or adoption of the applicant |
| Certificate for a new date of birth | Needed only if you specify a new date of birth; issued by the embassy or consulate of your original country |
How to Apply: Step by Step
Once you confirm you qualify and no restriction applies to you, follow these steps to submit your application. The exact order of some steps, and whether extra steps apply, can depend on your individual case.
- Check that you fall into one of the candidate categories listed above, and that none of the restrictions under Article 9, Section 2 apply to you.
- Gather all the required documents listed above, and confirm with the nationality department whether anything else is needed for your specific case.
- If you still have a family registry in Korea that is not already marked as having lost nationality, report loss of nationality at the same time you apply.
- Submit your application and documents at the nationality department of an Immigration Office that is currently accepting these applications.
- Pay the application fee of 200,000 KRW as a Government Revenue Stamp when you submit your documents.
- Wait while your application is reviewed, since this is a formal government decision rather than an automatic process.
- If your application is approved and you have a family registry, re-add yourself to the registry after your nationality is reinstated.
Because the review involves checking your personal history against the restrictions in Article 9, Section 2, the time needed can vary from case to case. The sources do not give a fixed processing time, so ask the nationality department for guidance on your specific timeline.
Military Service and Common Mistakes to Avoid
Reinstatement of Korean nationality is different from naturalization when it comes to military duty. If a man is reinstated at an age where military service law applies, all military service rules then apply to him, and he must complete service if he has not done so in the past. This is a direct result of the Nationality Act treating reinstatement differently from a first-time naturalization.
⚠️ Losing or renouncing Korean nationality to avoid military service is one of the grounds for refusing reinstatement, so this history can affect your application.
- Assuming that an intact family registry by itself restores Korean nationality, without applying for reinstatement
- Not checking whether a restriction under Article 9, Section 2 applies before submitting an application
- Forgetting that the required documents can vary by case, and submitting an incomplete set
- Not reporting loss of nationality first when the family registry does not yet record it, before applying for reinstatement
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for reinstatement of Korean nationality?
Foreigners who previously held Korean nationality and lost or renounced it may qualify. This includes those who lost it under the Nationality Act, those who renounced it as a dual national, and those who forfeited it after naturalization or marriage to a Korean national before June 14, 1998, under the conditions set out in Article 9, Section 1.
How much does reinstatement of Korean nationality cost?
The fee is 200,000 KRW, paid as a Government Revenue Stamp, according to the official notice.
Where do I submit my application?
You apply at the nationality department of an Immigration Office. Check which offices are currently accepting applications before you go, since not every office handles this.
Will I have to do military service if I get my Korean nationality back?
If you are a man and you are reinstated at an age where military service law applies, you become subject to that law, and you must complete service if you have not already done so.
Can my application be refused?
Yes. The Minister of Justice can refuse an application from someone who would harm Korean society, has poor conduct, lost or renounced nationality to evade military service, or is restricted for reasons of national security or public order.
If you think you qualify for reinstatement of Korean nationality, start by gathering proof of your past Korean nationality and preparing the documents listed above before visiting the nationality department of an Immigration Office. Review the restrictions in Article 9, Section 2 carefully, since any of them can lead to a refusal regardless of your category. Requirements and document lists can change and may depend on your individual case, so confirm the current rules with the Immigration Office or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center before you submit anything.
Last checked: October 7, 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.