Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA

Beginning 12/21/2020, online reservation is required for all consular services provided at the Korean Consulate in Washington, D.C. office.

☞[Link for reservation]: Make an Appointment Online (DC, VA, MD, WV residents only) to visit us

Please select “ Embassy of Korean in the US” for your consular service jurisdiction( DC, VA, MD, WV residents only) office when making the reservation online.

Those without a pre-booked appointment many not be able to come in or experience significant delays in processing their applications.

Nationality Act Article 15

(Loss of nationality caused by gaining of foreign nationality)

·         Those born as Korean nationals that voluntarily acquire foreign nationality through naturalization or other means of gaining foreign nationality will automatically forfeit Korean nationality upon said acquisition.

·         If acquisition of foreign nationality was involuntary, they must report their willingness to maintain Korean nationality within 6 months of the said acquisition. Otherwise, they will automatically be considered to have lost their Koran nationality on the day of the acquisition of foreign nationality.
- Those that do declare their willingness to maintain Korean nationality within six months of acquiring foreign nationality will then be eligible for application of nationality choice system as dual nationality holder.

·         Dual nationality holders that do not choose Korean nationality within the assigned period will forfeit their Korean nationality.

·         Foreigners that acquire Korean nationality through naturalization or reinstatement of Korean nationality will forfeit it if they do not give up their original nationality within six months from the acquisition of Korean nationality.

Cautions in filing the loss of nationality report

·         Reporting the loss of nationality is possible in overseas Korean Embassies / consulates.

·         Reporting the loss of nationality is possible regardless of status of military service (applicable to males) or age (applicable to females).

·         When reporting the loss of nationality, the name stated in family relation certificate must be used as the name of the applicant.

·         If the name stated in family relation certificate and the name stated in passport differ by more than two letters, a legal document is needed to certify the change of name. 
- Ex.: A certificate of name change or a copy of the back page of USA citizenship certificate

·         If such document does not exist, name change certificate issued by corresponding Embassy or mother country must be reported. Alternatively, parents (or equivalent persons) must give written guarantee that both names refer to the same person (fixed with registered seals) with public certification as well as the certificate of seal impression of guarantor(s).

·         Males between 18-38 years of age(from January 1^st of the year he becomes 18 to December 31st of the year he becomes 38) that cannot provide foreign national’s certificate or military service certificate (documents showing fulfillment of military service, exemption from military service, or register as 3rd National Service) must instead provide certificate showing the date of gaining of foreign citizenship issued by corresponding foreign Embassy.

Application Center

·         Immigration Office of Nationality department
- View Immigration Offices currently accepting applications → 

URL: http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/InfoDetailR_en.pt?categoryId=2&parentId=398&catSeq=453&showMenuId=377

·         Those with foreign address may file the report to the head of Korean Embassies or consulates overseas.

Documents to be filed for the loss of nationality (국적상실신고시 제출서류)

If you are not a resident of one of the states(Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia), Please contact Jurisdiction Korean Consular Offices in your area as below.