South Korea: Visa and Citizenship Procedures Modified

JoongAngDaily reports that South Korea has eased the path to citizenship and relaxed immigration restrictions as follows:

  • seventeen additional citizenship examination centers are opening in local immigration offices this month (previously, there was only one venue for taking citizenship examinations);
  • companies can submit visa applications online (www.visa.go.kr) instead of sending company officials to apply on-site at immigration offices;
  • procedures for obtaining re-entry permits following short home visits and overseas trips will be eased for international students and foreign nationals married to South Korean nationals;
  • applicants who file re-entry applications on-site or through the Immigration Service’s official website will be permitted to make unlimited overseas trips and re-enter on multiple occasions regardless of their length of residence in South Korea; and
  • individuals applying for re-entry will be exempt from paying fees.

Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.