Adult Adoptee Simplified Naturalization
Citizenship in South Korea
- Eligibility
- ADULT ADOPTEE — simplified naturalization (간이귀화): a foreigner who was adopted by a ROK national AND was an adult under the Korean Civil Act at the time of adoption (입양 당시 「민법」상 성년) may obtain naturalization permission with at least 3 consecutive years' domicile in the ROK, waiving only the §5(1) 5-year-residence and §5(1의2) permanent-residence requirements; the other §5 requirements still apply.
- Timeline
- standard
- Renunciation
- Required
Overview
ADULT ADOPTEE — simplified naturalization (간이귀화): a foreigner who was adopted by a ROK national AND was an adult under the Korean Civil Act at the time of adoption (입양 당시 「민법」상 성년) may obtain naturalization permission with at least 3 consecutive years' domicile in the ROK, waiving only the §5(1) 5-year-residence and §5(1의2) permanent-residence requirements; the other §5 requirements still apply.
Who qualifies
- ADULT ADOPTEE — simplified naturalization (간이귀화): a foreigner who was adopted by a ROK national AND was an adult under the Korean Civil Act at the time of adoption (입양 당시 「민법」상 성년) may obtain naturalization permission with at least 3 consecutive years' domicile in the ROK, waiving only the §5(1) 5-year-residence and §5(1의2) permanent-residence requirements; the other §5 requirements still apply.
Legal basis
Primary statute: 국적법 제6조제1항제3호. Operative 1948-12-20–present. Authority: Minister of Justice (법무부장관); Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인정책본부).
Example scenarios
ELIGIBLE via adult-adoptee simplified naturalization
Nationality Act Art.6(1)3: an adoptee who was an adult at adoption uses the 3-year simplified route; other Art.5 requirements still apply.
ELIGIBLE (minor adoptee special naturalization)
국적법 제6조제1항제3호 covers minor adoptees of Korean parents.
NOT yet eligible
국적법 제6조제1항제3호 adult-adoptee route still requires the 3-year domicile.
Informational summary compiled from primary legal sources — not legal advice. Citizenship law changes; verify with the competent authority before acting. Last verified 2026-06-22.
Track changes to this route
Descent and naturalization rules change. We'll email you in plain English when anything affecting South Korea updates — no spam.