Korean passports are issued by the embassy or the consulate general covering your state, and the document everything rests on is the family relations register. A Korean passport can only be issued to someone who appears in it, which is why families sometimes discover a missing birth report at the passport counter rather than before.
Quick facts
Passports are produced in Korea and returned to the post, so the timetable depends on shipping as much as on processing.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ten-year passport | Consular schedule | Adults |
| Five-year passport | Lower tariff | Minors and certain cases |
| Emergency travel certificate | Separate tariff | Single journey to Korea |
| Basic and family relations certificates | Small fee each | Required with the application |
| Return by mail | Prepaid envelope | Where the post offers it |
Fees are set in won and charged in dollars, so the exact amount moves. Confirm it with your post before attending.
How to renew
- Check which post covers your state and whether it requires an appointment for passports.
- Obtain your basic certificate and family relations certificate from the Korean register, which can be requested online.
- Complete the application and prepare a photograph to the Korean specification, which differs from the U.S. one.
- Attend in person, or use the post’s mail procedure where one exists.
- Pay the tariff in the accepted form.
- Collect the passport or receive it by mail once it arrives from Korea.
Required documents
- Current or most recent Korean passport.
- Basic certificate and family relations certificate.
- Photograph to the Korean specification.
- Proof of lawful status and address in the United States.
- Evidence of a name change where the register and the passport differ.
- For minors: consent from a parent listed in the register.
Where to apply
The embassy and the consulates general divide the United States into districts, and applications go to the post covering your address.
No offices currently listed.
Additional notes
Register first, passport second
If a birth was never reported to the Korean authorities, the register holds no entry and no passport can be issued. That report is the prior step, not a formality.
Men approaching military age
For male dual nationals, passport and travel matters interact with military service obligations. Check the position before travelling rather than at the airport.
Photographs
Korean photograph rules are specific about size, background and framing, and U.S. passport photos are frequently rejected.
Name consistency
The romanised name on the passport is taken from the register. Changing it later is possible but restricted, so check it carefully at the counter.