The February 12, 2026 changes to Korean Immigration Law bring H-2 and F-4 under a unified F-4 framework and have ended the issuance of new H-2 visas. We shall write an article on this in the near future. This article was prompted by a client interested in applying for an F-4 visa.
Applying for an F-4 Visa at a Korean Consulate or at Korean Immigration
Updated F-4 document checklist
The following is a preparation checklist. The final submission requirements depend on whether the applicant is a former Korean citizen or a descendant, and where the application is filed. Current consular instructions differ in their supporting-document requirements; use this only as a guide. In many cases, to save time and energy, it is advisable to retain an attorney for assistance. If you have a criminal record, have violated Korean Immigration Law, or have Korean Nationality Act/Military Service/Dual-Nationality concerns, it is essential to consult with a lawyer in Korea.
| Document category | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Application and identification | Completed application, foreign passport and copy, recent photograph, and applicable fee. At least six months’ passport validity and a 3.5 × 4.5 cm photograph taken within six months. |
| Former Korean citizen: nationality records | Korean Basic Certificate (기본증명서) and Family Relations Certificate (가족관계증명서), or an applicable removed family register (제적등본), together with foreign citizenship/naturalization evidence. In most cases, these certificates need to be issued within three months. |
| Descendant: ancestry and relationship evidence | Evidence that the qualifying ancestor held Korean nationality, plus family records establishing the relationship to the applicant. Birth certificates and other relationship documents are normally required to document the connection. |
| Korean nationality-status documentation | Evidence of nationality loss or renunciation, where applicable. Some consulates permit an F-4 application alongside a nationality-loss report and accept the filing receipt while the report is pending. This has been an issue in recent years, and requirements can change based on the specific consulate or Immigration Office. |
| Criminal-record evidence | Unless deemed exempt, the required national criminal-record certificate with appropriate authentication. Additional certificates may be required for third countries where the applicant lived continuously for at least one year during the preceding five years. |
| Korean-language evidence or exemption | Applicable proficiency evidence, or documents establishing an exemption. Former Korean citizens are exempt from submitting Korean-language proficiency evidence in most cases. |
| Military-service-related documents, where applicable | Additional nationality and family-status evidence may be required. For example, requests for parents’ citizenship or permanent-residence documents for relevant male applicants aged 18–40. |
For a U.S. criminal-record certificate: The FBI report should be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not a state government. Its six-month document-validity period runs from the FBI report’s issuance date, not the apostille date.
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