Minor Adoptee Special Naturalization
Citizenship in South Korea
- Eligibility
- MINOR ADOPTEE (adopted by a Korean parent) — special naturalization (특별귀화): a foreigner whose father or mother is a ROK national may obtain naturalization with domicile in the ROK and WITHOUT the §5 residence/PR/age/livelihood requirements (§5 subpara 1, 1의2, 2, or 4 waived), EXCEPT that a person adopted as an ADULT under the Civil Act is expressly EXCLUDED from this route. Thus the §7(1)1 special-naturalization route is available to a Korean national's child adopted as a MINOR (and to natural children), but adult adoptees fall instead under §6(1)3 simplified naturalization.
- Timeline
- standard
- Renunciation
- Required
Overview
MINOR ADOPTEE (adopted by a Korean parent) — special naturalization (특별귀화): a foreigner whose father or mother is a ROK national may obtain naturalization with domicile in the ROK and WITHOUT the §5 residence/PR/age/livelihood requirements (§5 subpara 1, 1의2, 2, or 4 waived), EXCEPT that a person adopted as an ADULT under the Civil Act is expressly EXCLUDED from this route. Thus the §7(1)1 special-naturalization route is available to a Korean national's child adopted as a MINOR (and to natural children), but adult adoptees fall instead under §6(1)3 simplified naturalization.
Who qualifies
- MINOR ADOPTEE (adopted by a Korean parent) — special naturalization (특별귀화): a foreigner whose father or mother is a ROK national may obtain naturalization with domicile in the ROK and WITHOUT the §5 residence/PR/age/livelihood requirements (§5 subpara 1, 1의2, 2, or 4 waived), EXCEPT that a person adopted as an ADULT under the Civil Act is expressly EXCLUDED from this route. Thus the §7(1)1 special-naturalization route is available to a Korean national's child adopted as a MINOR (and to natural children), but adult adoptees fall instead under §6(1)3 simplified naturalization.
Legal basis
Primary statute: 국적법 제7조제1항제1호. Operative 1948-12-20–present. Authority: Minister of Justice (법무부장관); Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인정책본부).
Example scenarios
ELIGIBLE via special naturalization (minor adoptee)
Nationality Act Art.7(1)1: a minor adoptee of a Korean parent - special naturalization with no residence requirement.
ELIGIBLE (minor adoptee special naturalization)
국적법 제7조제1항제1호 covers minor adoptees of Korean parents.
NOT yet eligible
국적법 제7조제1항제1호 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.