Questions About The F-4 Visa Process.
Posted to Paperslip on January 24th, 2026.
A U.S. Korean Adoptee was asking us about the F-4 visa process, which is not something we have gone through before, but which we have seen a lot of Korean Adoptees discuss over the years on various forums online. We are not at all an expert in this and the best resource for guidance on this is GOAL in Korea. GOAL requires a $100 per year membership, which is for sure worth it if you are considering moving to Korea. Please note that GOAL’s membership automatically renews unless you opt out. For those planning to live in Korea, you will probably want to keep your membership active while you are living in Korea.
People often ask about the F-4 (and separate Korean Citizenship) process online on various Korean Adoptee forums, but you'll get fragmented answers. Most people end up referring you to GOAL.
GOAL:
https://goal.or.kr/
Please note that *we believe* (but are not sure) that part of the process may be easier to do while you are in the U.S. - specifically regarding the FBI background check and apostile process, but we advise also asking GOAL about this.
We Googled “What is the best resource for Korean Adoptees attempting to get an F-4 visa for Korea?” and stumbled on this website with some F-4 visa guidance:
How to Obtain an F4 Visa and Determine Your Eligibility
We can’t vouch for the accuracy of the information above, but it seems to pretty much jive with what we’ve heard online about the F-4 visa process over the years.
*Please note that Korean Adoptees often do NOT have family registries, because our origins were disguised by our Korean / Western Adoption Agencies, were unknown, or we were never registered officially in Korea.
+
We asked ChatGPT about the process - however, please do your own research as anything from ChatGPT is certainly NOT official! But it can help to give you an overview of the process so that you can start to prepare certain kinds of documents. Again, please take anything from ChatGPT with a big grain of salt, but it's often a very useful starting point for deeper research:
We asked ChatGPT:
What are the steps for the F-4 visa process for Adoptees who wish to move from the US to Korea?
ChatGPT said:
Here’s a step-by-step overview of the F-4 visa process specifically for Korean adoptees in the U.S. who want to move to South Korea. The F-4 is the “Overseas Korean” visa category that many adoptees are now eligible for because of changes in Korean law recognizing their status.
1. Determine Your Eligibility
The F-4 visa is available to:
People of Korean descent who once held Korean nationality (i.e., naturalized foreign citizens who lost Korean nationality, including adoptees).
As a U.S. citizen adoptee who was born in Korea and naturalized as an American, you typically qualify because you formerly held Korean nationality by birth.
2. Gather Required Documents
Required documents can vary depending on your personal history and what the Korean consulate requires, but for adoptees this generally includes:
Identity & Relationship Documents
Valid U.S. passport (must be valid for a long period—often 2-3+ years)
Adoption certificate (official document showing you were adopted from Korea)
Korean family registry (호적등본 or 가족관계등록부 if available) showing your place in your birth family line (proof of Korean origin)
Birth certificate to link you to your adoptive parents and establish relation to Korean ancestry if registry isn’t complete
Citizenship & Nationality
Certificate of naturalization or foreign citizenship (U.S. naturalization document) to show when you acquired U.S. citizenship
In some cases: a documentary proof of loss of Korean nationality, often dealt with administratively by the consulate or Korea Immigration Service
Other Standard Visa Requirements
Completed visa application form
Passport photos
Criminal background check (often FBI check apostilled) — widely reported as required at consulates
Visa fee (varies by consulate)
Note: Some applicants may also be asked for translations, Notarizations, or other supporting documentation depending on consulate policy. Always confirm with the consulate where you’ll apply.
3. Obtain an Adoption Verification Certificate (if needed)
Recently, South Korea centralized adoption record verification for visas. Adoptees may need an Adoption Verification Certificate from the National Center for the Rights of the Child (NCRC). You can apply by email or via an online system as it becomes available.
This certificate is often required by the consulate or immigration authorities as proof of your adoption and therefore your eligibility for the F-4.
4. Apply for the F-4 Visa
You can apply either:
From the U.S. (Recommended)
Make an appointment at the Korean consulate serving your state.
Submit your prepared documents, passport, photos, and fees.
Wait for processing — usually 2–4 weeks, but times vary.
Once approved, you’ll receive the F-4 visa sticker in your passport allowing entry into Korea.
Or After Arrival in Korea
Enter Korea on a tourist visa (e.g., K-6 or visa waiver).
Then apply for the F-4 and ARC/거소신고 (residence report) at a Korean immigration office within 90 days.
5. Arrive in Korea & Complete Residence Registration
After entering Korea with an F-4:
Register your domestic residence within 90 days of arrival.
You’ll then receive a residency card (ARC equivalent) (외국국적동포 국내거소신고증), which functions similarly to a Korean resident ID.
This allows you to work, open bank accounts, enroll in health insurance, etc.
6. Renewal & Long-Term Stay
The F-4 visa is usually issued for 2–3 years and is renewable through immigration in Korea.
You may later consider naturalization or long-term residency options if desired.
Tips & Considerations
Start early: background checks, apostilles, and obtaining Korean family registry documents can take weeks or months.
Confirm requirements with the specific Korean consulate you’ll use because procedures can vary slightly by location.
Consider support from adoptee organizations like GOA’L, which specialize in helping Korean adoptees with visas and documentation.
+
Here is Google AI's overview (take with a grain of salt):
We asked Google:
How can Korean Adoptees get an F-4 visa?
Google AI's overview said:
Korean adoptees can obtain an F-4 visa (Overseas Korean visa) by proving their Korean heritage, often through documentation of their birth family or adoption agency records, and completing a formal renunciation of Korean citizenship if necessary. The F-4 visa allows for a 3-year, renewable stay, offering employment rights similar to citizens.
Steps to Obtain an F-4 Visa:
Verify Eligibility: Must be a person of foreign nationality who once held Korean citizenship or is a descendant of someone who did (e.g., parents/grandparents).
Renounce Citizenship: Adoptees who gained foreign citizenship usually need to formalize the loss of Korean nationality. Contact your adoption agency or a Korean consulate to confirm if this was completed.
Gather Documents: Required documents often include:
Adoption Certificate/Confirmation Letter (if available)
Birth Certificate (showing Korean parentage)
Korean Family Registry (if known)
Proof of citizenship renunciation
Foreign passport and application form
Apply: Submit applications to a local Korean embassy/consulate (abroad) or an immigration office (in Korea).
Register Residence: Upon entering Korea, you must file a "Domestic Residence Report" within 90 days to receive your F-4 ID card.
Adoptees might need to provide background checks (criminal records) from their current home country. Organizations like G.O.A.'L. (Global Overseas Adoptees' Link) can help with the application process.
+
Please note that the F-4 visa process is DIFFERENT from obtaining Korean Citizenship. That's another process I don't know much about, but GOAL would know.
We recommend being very careful about renouncing US citizenship or obtaining Korean citizenship without first doing a LOT of research.