South Korea Civil Documents ยท Updated August 2026
The Civil Documents You Need From South Korea for a U.S. Marriage Green Card
South Korea replaced its old family-register (hoju) system with an electronic family relation register in 2008, and most of the civil documents you need can be issued directly in English through that system.
Quick answer
For a U.S. marriage green card, the South Korean spouse generally needs the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, and Marriage Certificate. An apostille is generally not required by USCIS for a filing inside the U.S. Non-English documents need a certified English translation, which you can self-certify.
- 3 core documents
- Birth Certificate
- Police Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- No apostille needed
For a filing inside the U.S., USCIS accepts a certified copy plus an English translation.
- Translate it yourself
Any bilingual person can certify the English translation. No licensed translator required.
The documents you actually need
Start with these core records in order. Each one lists who issues it, what it costs, how long it takes, and exactly what USCIS wants.
Birth Certificate
What USCIS needs: USCIS and the State Department accept the detailed Basic Certificate together with the detailed Family Relation Certificate (๊ฐ์กฑ๊ด๊ณ์ฆ๋ช ์ ์์ธ) from the electronic family register in place of a traditional birth certificate.
How to get it: Request the detailed Basic Certificate (๊ธฐ๋ณธ์ฆ๋ช ์ ์์ธ) online at efamily.scourt.go.kr, at any district court or community service center (dong office) in Korea, or through a Korean embassy or consulate abroad; the system can issue the certificate in English.
- Issued by
- Supreme Court electronic family relation register
- Cost
- Approx. free to 1,000 KRW (about USD 1) per copy; no fee for online issuance
- Timing
- Immediate when issued online or at a service counter
Police Certificate
What USCIS needs: Required for consular processing applicants age 16 and older who lived in Korea for 6 months or more; if you are already in the U.S. and adjusting status (AOS), USCIS does not require a foreign police certificate.
How to get it: Apply in person at any local police station or through a Korean embassy or consulate abroad; you generally need Korean photo ID or passport, and you should request the version showing your full criminal history for immigration purposes.
- Issued by
- Korean National Police Agency
- Cost
- Approx. free to a small nominal fee
- Timing
- Often same day to a few business days
Marriage Certificate
What USCIS needs: The Marriage Relation Certificate proves your current marriage and also serves as proof of single status: if you have never married it shows no marriage record, and if you were previously married it shows the prior marriage and its termination.
How to get it: Request the detailed Marriage Relation Certificate (ํผ์ธ๊ด๊ณ์ฆ๋ช ์ ์์ธ) online at efamily.scourt.go.kr, at a district court or community service center, or through a Korean consulate; English output is available.
- Issued by
- Supreme Court electronic family relation register
- Cost
- Approx. free to 1,000 KRW (about USD 1) per copy; no fee for online issuance
- Timing
- Immediate when issued online or at a service counter
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At a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Apostille status | South Korea joined the Hague Apostille Convention, in force since 2007, with apostilles issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice; USCIS generally does NOT require an apostille on documents submitted for a marriage green card. |
| How records are kept | Since 2008 Korea uses an electronic family relation register (which replaced the abolished hoju family-head system); certificates such as the Basic, Family Relation, and Marriage Relation certificates can be issued in English online. |
| Typical time to gather | Family register certificates are usually issued immediately online or at a counter; a police certificate typically takes same day to a few business days |
| Translation | Many family register certificates can be issued directly in English, so no separate translation is needed; any Korean-only document must be accompanied by a full English translation with a certification of competence, which a competent bilingual person may self-certify. |
Source: U.S. State Dept Reciprocity Schedule: South Korea. Verified August 2026. Need to translate a document? See our certified translation guide.
Full document reference
Every civil record from South Korea that can come up in a marriage green card case, with the issuing authority, cost, and how to obtain it.
| Document | Issuing authority | Cost | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Certificate (Birth) | Supreme Court electronic family relation register | Approx. free to 1,000 KRW | efamily.scourt.go.kr, district court, community service center, or consulate; English available |
| Marriage Relation Certificate | Supreme Court electronic family relation register | Approx. free to 1,000 KRW | efamily.scourt.go.kr, district court, community service center, or consulate; English available |
| Family Relation Certificate | Supreme Court electronic family relation register | Approx. free to 1,000 KRW | efamily.scourt.go.kr, district court, community service center, or consulate; request detailed (์์ธ) version |
| Divorce record | Supreme Court electronic family relation register | Approx. free to 1,000 KRW | Shown on the detailed Marriage Relation Certificate; obtain via efamily.scourt.go.kr or a service counter |
| Death record | Supreme Court electronic family relation register | Approx. free to 1,000 KRW | Shown on the detailed Basic Certificate of the deceased; obtain via efamily.scourt.go.kr or a service counter |
| Criminal Record Check (Police) | Korean National Police Agency | Approx. free to a small nominal fee | Apply at a local police station or Korean consulate; request full-history version for U.S. immigration |
What applicants report
โApplicants consistently report that the biggest time-saver is choosing the English-language output when pulling the Basic, Family Relation, and Marriage Relation certificates from the family register, since that avoids paying for certified translations; several also note remembering to request the DETAILED (์์ธ) versions, because officers may reject the shorter standard versions that leave out prior status changes.โ
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- U.S. State Dept Reciprocity Schedule: South Korea
- U.S. Embassy Seoul: Obtaining Vital Records and Other Legal Documents
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea: Family Relationship, Basic, and Marriage Certificates
- Wikipedia: Family Relations Register (South Korea)
- HCCH: Apostille Convention status table
Verified August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Does South Korea still issue the old family register (hoju) document?
No. Korea abolished the hoju family-head system and replaced it with an electronic family relation register in 2008. Instead of a single household register, you now request individual certificates such as the Basic Certificate, Family Relation Certificate, and Marriage Relation Certificate, which together provide the birth, parentage, and marital-status information USCIS looks for.
Can I get Korean civil documents in English?
Yes. The electronic family relation register can issue the Basic, Family Relation, and Marriage Relation certificates directly in English, whether you request them online at efamily.scourt.go.kr, at a service counter in Korea, or through a Korean consulate abroad. When a document is issued in English you generally do not need a separate certified translation.
Do my Korean documents need an apostille for a marriage green card?
For a marriage green card filed with USCIS, an apostille is generally not required. South Korea is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Justice is available if a specific office ever asks for one, but USCIS typically accepts the certificates as issued. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do I need a Korean police certificate if I am adjusting status inside the U.S.?
Usually not. USCIS does not require a foreign police certificate for adjustment of status. A Korean Criminal Record Check is normally required for consular processing applicants age 16 and older who lived in Korea for six months or more. Confirm the current requirement for your specific case.
Key takeaways
- โ
The core documents most South Korean applicants need are the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, Marriage Certificate.
- โ
South Korea is a Hague Apostille Convention member, but USCIS generally does not require an apostille for a marriage green card filed inside the U.S.
- โ
You do not need a licensed translator: any competent bilingual person can translate a document and self-certify it for USCIS.
- โ
A home-country police certificate is generally needed only for consular processing abroad, not for adjustment of status inside the U.S.
- โ
Order fresh certified copies close to when you file, since older originals and short-form copies are common causes of delay.
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