Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco

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

They must file a report for Loss of Korean nationality through a Korean Embassy/Consulate overseas or a local Korean Immigration Service office in Korea.

e.g. A Korean who was born in Korea and immigrated to the U.S., he/she automatically loses his/her Korean nationality at the time he/she obtains U.S. citizenship. Not filing a report for loss of Korean nationality with the Korean government does not mean he/she still has Korean citizenship, they lost it the moment they obtained U.S. citizenship.

o Required documents

** All supporting documents and identifications must be originalto verify the authenticity, then you will be allowed to submit photocopies of them. **

① Loss of Nationality Form (*Form attached)

② 1 photo taken within 6 months (2inch x 2inch or 35mm x 45mm)

③ Original U.S. Passport and 1 copy of the passport (MUST BE VALID)

④ Original U.S. Naturalization certificate (Citizenship certificate) and 1 copy of the naturalization certificate

  - If you obtained 2 or more citizenships, you must file for the loss of Korean nationality with the citizenship that you obtained first. For example, if you immigrated to Canada and obtained Canadian citizenship first, and then immigrated to the U.S. later on and obtained U.S. citizenship, then you must file for the loss of Korean nationality with your valid Canadian passport and citizenship certificate. 

⑤ Original Petition for name change and 1 copy of the petition for name change (In case your name has changed due to naturalization)

 - If your last name changed due to marriage, you should submit your marriage certificate. (We will return the original after reviewing it.)

 - If your name changed due to adoption, you should submit the legal proof of adoption and name change.  

⑥ Same name verification form(동일인 증명서) (In case your name has changed due to naturalization)

⑦ Korean family relationship certificate(가족관계증명서 상세) and Korean basic certificate(기본증명서 상세)

 - Must be original and issued within 3 months.

 - The Korean resident no.(주민등록번호) of all family members on the document must be disclosed.(주민등록번호전부공개)

 - You can apply for these documents when you submit the report for Loss of Korean Nationality. You must know either your Korean resident no.(주민등록번호) or Korean family registry address(본적 또는 등록기준지). It costs $1.00/document (cash or personal check only).   

 - For how to apply for a Family relationship certificate(가족관계증명서) and Basic certificate(기본증명서), please click here.

⑧ Last Korean passport (In case you have it)

o How to submit

In-person only (Walk-ins are not allowed, by appointment only)

 ※ How to make an appointment ☞ Click here

 ※ When the report is submitted on behalf of the applicant, the proxy(should be immediate family members) must bring his/her own valid passport and the document to prove the relationship with the applicant along with all the required documents mentioned above.

o Processing time and fee

Processing time : 4~6 months 

Processing fee : $0 (No fee)