Citizenship routes

Ancestryreviewed
Naturalizationreviewed
Birthreviewed
Investmentreviewed
Birthactive

Citizenship at birth through a Korean parent

A person born to a Korean national parent acquires Korean nationality at birth. Birth in Korea alone to two foreign parents is not general jus soli under the Nationality Act.

Sources: HiKorea โ€” General naturalization (5 years)

Naturalizationactive

Naturalization as the spouse of a citizen

A spouse of a Korean may naturalize after two years of residence while married (or one year if married three or more years), instead of five.

Sources: HiKorea โ€” General naturalization (5 years)

Ancestryactive

Citizenship through a Korean parent or simplified origin naturalization

A child acquires Korean nationality when a parent is a Korean national at birth. Separately, simplified naturalization routes exist for persons with a Korean parent, former Korean nationals, or other statutory family/origin links after shorter residence than ordinary naturalization, subject to Nationality Act conditions and Ministry of Justice screening.

Sources: HiKorea โ€” Simple naturalization ยท HiKorea โ€” General naturalization (5 years)

Naturalizationactive

General naturalization after five years domicile and permanent residence

General naturalization requires more than five consecutive years of domicile in the Republic of Korea, permanent residency status, legal majority under Korean civil law, good conduct, livelihood ability, basic Korean language and cultural knowledge, and no national-security or public-order obstacle. Permission is granted by the Minister of Justice; eligibility is not an entitlement.

Sources: HiKorea โ€” General naturalization (5 years)

Residence & settlement

Digital nomad โ†’PR path: noCitizenship path: noRemote work only

Digital Nomad / Workation visa (F-1-D)

Permanent F-1-D digital-nomad (workation) visa for remote workers earning abroad: formalised from 30 June 2026 after a 2024 pilot. Income is pegged to Koreaโ€™s per-capita GNI (about KRW 52.41 million for 2025) at 1ร—โ€“2ร— depending on age and region (e.g. ages 18โ€“34 outside the capital area at 1ร—). Maximum stay extended to three years. Not a PR or citizenship ladder.

KRW 4,367,500/mo

Sources: Korea Immigration Service / MOJ โ€” Digital Nomad (Workation) visa formalisation (608294)

Investment (golden visa) โ†’PR path: yesCitizenship path: yes

Public Business Investment Immigration (fund deposit, F-2 โ†’ F-5)

Deposit at least KRW 1.5 billion in the Ministry of Justice-designated public business investment vehicle (principal-guaranteed, interest-free fund operated via Korea Development Bank, or a profit/loss-sharing regional development project).

from KRW 1,500,000,000

Sources: Ministry of Justice โ€” ๊ณต์ต์‚ฌ์—… ํˆฌ์ž์ด๋ฏผ์ œ (Public Business Investment Immigration)

Investment (golden visa) โ†’PR path: yesCitizenship path: yes

Tourism & Leisure Facility (Real Estate) Investment Immigration (F-2 โ†’ F-5)

Invest at least KRW 1 billion (funds remitted from overseas) in designated tourism/leisure accommodation real estate โ€” resort condominiums, lodging, tourist pensions โ€” in MOJ-designated zones (Jeju, Incheon FEZ Songdo/Yeongjong/Cheongna, Pyeongchang Alpensia, Yeosu Gyeongdo, Busan Haeundae/East Busan).

from KRW 1,000,000,000

Sources: Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority โ€” Investor Immigration System

Permanent residencePR path: yesCitizenship path: yes

F-4 Overseas Korean visa

F-4 visa for overseas Koreans (ethnic Koreans with foreign nationality): broad labour-market access and a credible path to F-5 permanent residence. Functions as quasi-membership for the Korean diaspora. PR and citizenship require ordinary residence; Korea restricts dual citizenship for naturalisers.

Sources: Korea Visa Portal โ€” F-4 Overseas Korean

Driving licence

Where a licence connected to South Korea can be exchanged, based on mapped official lists. Search every issuing country.

Licence issued in South Korea

27 mapped destinations
Check the full exchange conditions

Exchanging a foreign licence in South Korea

The mapped official list contains 19 issuing origins; 0 are listed without theory or practical tests.

MOFA treaty register, ์šด์ „๋ฉดํ—ˆ ์ƒํ˜ธ์ธ์ • category โ€” nineteen ๊ณ ์‹œ-numbered bilateral instruments

Official exchange list

Exchange normally requires residence in the destination and replaces the original licence. The official authority still decides validity, deadlines, classes, and any extra checks.

Treaty & country paths

This passport benefits from: E-2 Treaty Investor ยท Panama Friendly Nations Visa