Guide · as of 2026-08-08
F-6 requirements: the 2026 numbers
For F-6 (marriage-immigrant) visa applications from 2026-01-02, the sponsoring Korean spouse must show past-year income of at least ₩25,195,752 for a 2-person household (the couple, no other dependents), rising by household size (MOJ standard, published via consulates). The foreign spouse must show basic Korean ability, meaning TOPIK level 1 or a recognized equivalent, unless an exemption applies. Sponsors marrying nationals of 7 designated countries (China, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Thailand) must first complete the International Marriage Guidance Program (국제결혼 안내프로그램, MOJ notice).
Income requirement (2026)
| Household size | Minimum annual income |
|---|---|
| 2 | ₩25,195,752 |
| 3 | ₩32,154,216 |
| 4 | ₩38,968,428 |
| 5 | ₩45,340,314 |
| 6 | ₩51,335,712 |
| 7 | ₩57,090,900 |
| each additional | +₩5,775,188 |
- Household size counts the couple plus co-residing direct relatives on the sponsor’s register (minor children, parents, grandparents); siblings are excluded.
- Qualifying income: the sponsor’s previous-year earned, business, rental, interest, dividend, and pension income, per tax records.
- Asset conversion: where income falls short, 5% of the sponsor’s net assets (deposits, insurance, securities, real estate) counts as income; assets must have been held for 6+ months.
- Exemptions include: a child born to the couple, and other MOJ-notice grounds (unverified: full current exemption list).
Language requirement
Any one of (MOJ notice on the 한국어 구사요건):
- TOPIK level 1 or higher;
- Completion of a beginner course of 120+ hours at a King Sejong Institute (세종학당) or Korean Education Center;
- Completion of a designated beginner Korean course specified by the consulate;
- KIIP (사회통합프로그램) Korean course completion at the qualifying stage (unverified: exact KIIP stage);
- A degree involving Korean language study.
Exemptions: the couple has a child; the couple communicates in the foreign spouse’s language because the Korean spouse speaks it; the foreign spouse has lived in Korea 1+ year in the past; other notice grounds.
Process
- (7-country cases) Korean spouse completes the International Marriage Guidance Program; the certificate is an application document.
- Marriage registration in both countries (Korean 혼인관계증명서 showing the marriage is required).
- Visa application by the foreign spouse at the Korean mission in their country: income documents (tax-office issued), housing proof (거주 공간: ownership or lease in the sponsor’s or family’s name), language proof, criminal-record and health certificates as required by post.
- Review, which may include interviews of either spouse; consulates state processing targets of weeks to a few months, varying by post.
- Entry, foreigner registration, then extensions in-country; the extension fee for F-6 is ₩30,000, half the standard ₩60,000 (출입국관리법 시행규칙).
Notes on scope
- The income requirement tests the sponsor, not the foreign spouse.
- F-6 subtypes cover spouses (F-6-1), parents raising a child of a Korean national (F-6-2), and continued stay after marriage breakdown attributable to the Korean spouse (F-6-3).
- F-6 permits employment without a separate work permit.
Related data
- /visa/f-6: F-6 holders by nationality and trends
- /fees: official fee schedule (extension: F-6 ₩30,000)
- /countries: country profiles including the 7 designated countries
- /tools/entry-check: entry requirement checker