When your marriage ends — what happens to your stay and naturalization
This page is machine translated from Ieumi's guide written in Korean. If the meaning is confusing, please look at the Korean original text. View original text (Korean)
Even if you divorce or your spouse passes away, the path does not close on that day. However, it depends on circumstances, so don't decide on your own — ask first.
📌 Key points
Article 6(2) of the Nationality Act sets out two separate paths. Item 3 states that a person "who was unable to maintain a normal marital life due to the spouse's death, disappearance, or other reasons not attributable to the person" may apply for simplified naturalization after completing the remaining period. Item 4 places, in the same position, a person "who is raising or must raise a minor child born of the marriage with that spouse." In other words, the end of the marriage itself does not close off the path.
📍 Where to go
The immigration office (출입국·외국인관서) with jurisdiction over your place of stay. Phone inquiries: 1345 (20 languages). If you're experiencing domestic violence or other difficulties, the Danuri Call Center at 1577-1366 is available in your native language, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
⚠️ Things to watch out for
Visa status is assessed separately. Since Marriage Immigration (F-6) is a status premised on marriage, a change in circumstances may require you to obtain permission to change your status of stay. Article 24(1) of the Immigration Act only says to obtain it "in advance" and does not set a number of days — so rather than waiting for a specific date, it's right to ask right away. Whether a reason is "not attributable to the person" is determined by the Ministry of Justice. We cannot make that determination for you. However, materials showing this (medical certificates, counseling records, court judgments, statements from those around you, etc.) become harder to gather as time passes, so gather what is currently available first.
❗ What happens if you don't
If you leave it as is, the mismatch with your visa status continues longer. Those who proactively inform and consult are viewed differently in screening than those whose situation only becomes known later. Even when you don't know what to do, calling 1345 to explain your situation is better than doing nothing.
See also
Basis
- 국적법 제6조 제2항 — 법제처 API 원문 대조 2026-09-11 (MST 244609, 시행 2022-10-01) (법제처 — 현행 판(시행 2022-10-01 그대로) 2026-10-05 대조)
- 출입국관리법 제24조 제1항 · 같은 법 시행령 제44조 — 법제처 API 원문 대조 2026-09-11 (법 MST 272921 · 시행령 MST 271319)
This content was checked on 2026-10-03.