F-6 Marriage Visa for Vietnamese Spouses
The F-6 marriage migrant visa is for spouses of Korean nationals — and Vietnam is the largest source of marriage migrants in Korea. The steps match the main F-6 guide; this page covers only what is specific to Vietnamese spouses. Always confirm your exact list with 1345 or the Korean embassy in Vietnam.
What differs for Vietnam applicants
The marriage guidance program applies to Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the seven designated countries, so your Korean spouse must complete the International Marriage Guidance Program (국제결혼 안내프로그램) before sponsoring you (applied for on the Social Integration Network, socinet.go.kr; a completion certificate (이수증) is issued). It is waived if your Korean spouse stayed 6+ months in Vietnam (or a third country) on a long-term visa while you dated, if you legally stayed 91+ days in Korea on a long-term status while dating, or on humanitarian grounds such as pregnancy or childbirth.
Registering the marriage in both countries — order & documents
The marriage must be registered in both countries before you apply. Korea-first is the common route: your spouse files the marriage (혼인신고) at a district office (구청) — you'll need a Vietnamese single-status certificate (Giấy xác nhận tình trạng hôn nhân), legalized and translated — then the marriage is recorded on the Vietnamese side (ghi chú kết hôn) at your commune/ward-level People's Committee (UBND cấp xã; since July 2025 civil-status work sits at the commune level — district offices were abolished). Vietnam-first (registering at the same commune/ward-level People's Committee) also works; either way both countries' certificates must exist before the visa application.
Consular legalization — Vietnam has no apostille
Until Vietnam's accession to the Apostille Convention takes effect on September 11, 2026, Vietnamese documents — the criminal record certificate (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp số 2) and civil-status papers — go through consular legalization (notarize → certify → legalize at the Korean Embassy/Consulate), not apostille; from that date an apostille replaces the legalization step, so confirm which applies to your timing. This is often the slowest part, so start early. The health certificate (건강진단서) the spouses exchange must, for Vietnamese nationals, come from a TB-screening hospital designated by the Korean embassy — Vietnam is on Korea's designated TB list.
Where to apply — and the interview
Apply by the region responsible for your residence: in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City applications go through the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC), while the Consulate General in Da Nang takes direct submissions for the central region. After document review, selected applicants are called for an interview (both spouses in some cases) about how you met and whether the marriage is genuine. Keep your contact records (chats, call logs, photos, visit history) organized and consistent with your relationship statement (결혼배경진술서).
Frequently asked questions
Does my Korean spouse need the marriage guidance program for a Vietnamese F-6?
Yes — Vietnam is one of the seven designated countries, so the International Marriage Guidance Program (국제결혼 안내프로그램) completion certificate is required. It's waived if your Korean spouse stayed 6+ months in Vietnam (or a third country) on a long-term visa while you dated, if you legally stayed 91+ days in Korea on a long-term status while dating, or for pregnancy/childbirth.
Do Vietnamese documents need an apostille for the F-6 visa?
Not yet. Until September 11, 2026 — when Vietnam's accession to the Apostille Convention takes effect — your criminal record and civil-status documents go through consular legalization at the Korean Embassy/Consulate. From that date an apostille replaces it.
How much income does my Korean spouse need for the F-6 visa?
Above the yearly threshold the Ministry of Justice publishes — for 2026, KRW 25,195,752 per year for a 2-person household (higher for larger households). Shortfalls can sometimes be covered by cohabiting family members' income, and the requirement can be waived (e.g., pregnancy of 20+ weeks or a child born to the couple).
Do I need to speak Korean for the F-6 visa?
The couple must be able to communicate. Basic Korean — a TOPIK 1 certificate, KIIP level 2+, or a 120-hour beginner course at a designated institution — is the usual proof, but a shared language (e.g., your spouse speaks Vietnamese) also counts, and the requirement can be waived when you have a child together or are 20+ weeks pregnant.
Ready to start? Follow the full guide
This page covers only what's specific to Vietnam. The complete F-6 guide has every step and document, with a checklist you can stamp as you go.
Open the full F-6 guide →Not sure which visa? Find my visa →
This is a guide — confirm before you act
Get into Korea is an independent guide, not a government body and not legal or administrative advice. Requirements change often and depend on your nationality and situation, so details here may be outdated or not apply to you. We take no responsibility for any decision made from this page — always verify your exact case with the official sources below before you apply or pay any fee.
Official sources — verify here