A: The final decision on all matters relating to Korean law, including immigration law, rests with the Korean authorities and not with the U.S. Embassy. The information below is a guide to obtaining a Korean visa for your child. In cases where our general information conflicts with that published by the Korean authorities, their requirements are controlling. Please call (1345) or visit the
Korea Immigration Service website for more information.
Korean Immigration requires parents of U.S. citizen children who are not also dual citizens of Korea to obtain a Korean visa in the child's passport within 90 days of the child's birth, if the child will remain in Korea for more than 90 days. Failure to register the child for a Korean visa within 90 days after birth could result in a fine by Korean Immigration.
If your U.S. citizen child has a dual U.S. and Korean citizenship (i.e., one parent is a Korean national), she/he must be registered at the Korean ward office closest to your residence within 30 days of birth, as required of all Korean citizens. Please note that for all dual citizens, when entering the United States he/she must enter on a U.S. passport.