🇰🇷 South Korea · Naturalisation

General Naturalization (Resident of 5 Years) — requirements, costs & how to apply

Official source Updated 2026-06-09 · Government page ↗

Who is eligible

Language levelB1
Health insuranceRequired (valid in-country)
Age range19–65

Duration & renewal

Citizenship possible after 5 years.

Who can apply

Open to all nationalities.

How to apply

  1. Confirm you meet the eligibility above.
  2. Gather documents and apply via the official portal: https://elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/lawView.do?hseq=48862&lang=ENG.

Frequently asked

Do I need health insurance?

Yes — valid health insurance in the country is required.

Sources & verification

Every figure on this page is taken from an official government source and dated. Nothing is inferred.

Health insurance

“Foreigners residing in Korea who want to acquire status of sojourn such as nationality and permanent residency...”

Age range

“Article 5 (Requirements for General Naturalization) ... 2. He/she shall be an adult under the Civil Act of the Republic of Korea; — the Civil Act age of majority is 19.”

Open to all nationalities

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Informational only, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change — always confirm on the official government source linked above before applying. Last verified 2026-06-09.

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