Many Korean citizens are currently living, working, and settling in Vietnam, and the demand for obtaining a single status certificate (proof of being unmarried) is increasing. So how can Koreans apply for this document in Vietnam? Is the process complicated or time-consuming?
At Nhat Thu Law Firm, we receive numerous inquiries from Korean clients about this issue. To help you understand clearly, we provide a detailed explanation below.
📞 Hotline: +84886798458 (Zalo / Line / Viber / Messenger)
Mục Lục
Regulations on the Single Status Certificate for Korean Citizens
According to the latest notice from the Korean Embassy in Vietnam and Official Dispatch No. 726/HTQTCT-HT dated June 13, 2023, issued by the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice, the official document proving a Korean citizen’s marital status for use in Vietnam is the “Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage”.
This certificate is issued by Korean diplomatic authorities abroad, including:
- The Korean Embassy in Hanoi,
- The Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, and
- The Korean Consulate General in Da Nang.
This new certificate replaces the old “Certificate of Marital Status” previously used under Official Dispatch No. 840/HTQTCT-HT (dated August 13, 2019).
Therefore, when applying for a single status certificate in Vietnam, Korean citizens must now use this updated format, and Vietnamese authorities are required to accept it.
If you encounter difficulties obtaining or using this certificate, contact us for support via the Hotline Luật Nhật Thư 0842894888 (zalo/line/viber/messenger)
Procedure for Obtaining a Single Status Certificate for Korean Citizens
Is the Single Status Certificate Required for Koreans Marrying in Vietnam?
Yes.
To register a marriage in Vietnam, both parties must be legally single — either never married or legally divorced.Có. Để đăng ký kết hôn tại Việt Nam, cả hai bên phải độc thân hợp pháp – chưa từng kết hôn hoặc đã ly hôn hợp pháp.
A Korean citizen typically needs the following three documents:
- Basic Certificate (equivalent to a Vietnamese birth certificate)
- Certificate of Marital Status
- Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage
These documents can be obtained from the Korean Embassy or Consulate in Vietnam upon request.
After issuance, the documents must be:
- Legalized at the Consular Department of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and
- Translated and notarized into Vietnamese.
Once these steps are complete, the couple can proceed to register their marriage at the District People’s Committee where the Vietnamese partner resides.
For fast and convenient service without embassy visits, contact Nhat Thu Law at +84 842 894 888.
Application Process for Korean Citizens Residing in Vietnam
Step 1. Eligible applicant: Korean citizen currently residing in Vietnam
Step 2. Submit application at: the Consular Section of the Korean Consulate
Step 3. Required documents:
- Application form for Certificate of No Impediment
- Copy of Korean passport
- ID of the Vietnamese fiancé/fiancée
Step 4. Complete the form accurately, including correct email (case-sensitive)
Requirements for the Korean Single Status Certificate
After obtaining the Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage, Korean citizens must complete several additional steps before the document becomes legally valid for marriage registration in Vietnam.
Consular Legalization of the Korean Single Status Certificate
To make the Korean single status certificate valid for use in Vietnam, it must go through consular legalization.
Therefore, your Korean single status certificatemust be consular legalized before you can use it to submit a marriage registration application in Vietnam.
What consular legalization means?
This procedure confirms that the signature, seal, and title of the person who signed your single status certificate are genuine and valid.
If you need assistance with consular certification/legalization or would like to use a full service package (including obtaining and legalizing the Certificate of Single Status for Korean citizens), please contact Nhat Thu Law Firm via hotline 0842 894 888 (Zalo/Line/Viber/Messenger)
Translation and notarization
Since the Certificate of Single Status is in Korean, it must be translated into Vietnamese and the translation must be notarized or certified.
If you are confident in your Vietnamese skills, you can translate it yourself and bring the translation to the Justice Division of your local People’s Committee for certification of your signature on the translation.
However, if you are not familiar with legal or Vietnamese terms, it is best to use a professional and reputable translation service.
Note: In the Vietnamese translation, you may keep Korean names or addresses in Romanized form (phonetic spelling) instead of trying to convert them into Vietnamese equivalents.
After this step, your Korean Single status certificate will be fully valid for marriage registration with a Vietnamese citizen at the competent authority in Vietnam.
Validity period of the Korean Certificate of Single Status
The validity period of the Korean Certificate of Single Status is six (06) months from the date of issue by the competent Korean authority.
You must complete the marriage registration within this 6-month period.
If the certificate expires before the marriage registration is completed, you will need to apply for a new one from the Korean authority.
Additional documents required for marriage registration in Vietnam
Under Korean law, the Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage is the only document issued to a Korean citizen for marriage with a Vietnamese national.
However, in practice, Vietnamese authorities usually require three documents together:
- Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage
- Certificate of Marital Relationship
- Basic Certificate (or Basic Information Record)
If any of these three documents are missing, the local Vietnamese authority may refuse to process the application and request that all be provided.
This is the common administrative practice in Vietnam, so Korean citizens should prepare all three documents in advance.
With these steps completed, your Korean Certificate of Single Status and related documents are ready for use in the marriage registration process in Vietnam
Conclusion
The above information is a complete guide from Nhat Thu Law Firm on how to obtain one of the most important documents in the marriage registration process between a Korean citizen and a Vietnamese citizen — the Certificate of Single Status issued to Korean nationals.
Based on over ten years of experience in assisting and consulting for Korean–Vietnamese marriage cases, we have found that the most common difficulty couples face is preparing the Korean partner’s documents, especially the Certificate of Single Status. This document is crucial and can directly determine whether the marriage registration is accepted or not.
However, many people are not familiar with the legal process, so they may not know where to go, what to prepare, or how to make the documents valid for use in Vietnam.
If you are unsure about the process or do not have enough time to handle it yourself, it is best to seek help from a trusted and professional law firm. With our practical experience and a team of skilled lawyers and consultants, Nhat Thu Law Firm can help you achieve the best results.
📞 For quick support, please contact us via Hotline: 0842 894 888 (Zalo/Line/Viber/Messenger).
Service: Applying for a Certificate of Single Status for Koreans in Vietnam
As you may know, registering a marriage with a foreigner in Vietnam is not simple. The procedure can be complicated, especially if you are not familiar with the legal requirements.
For Korean citizens marrying Vietnamese nationals, it is necessary to prepare several documents carefully. If the documents are incomplete or not properly prepared, your application may be returned or delayed, causing you to go back and forth multiple times just to fix minor issues.
With many years of experience in handling Certificate of Single Status applications for Korean citizens in Vietnam and consulting on Korea–Vietnam marriage procedures, Nhat Thu Law Firm will assist you with every step of the process.
Our services include:
- Consulting on the process, steps, and procedures for marriage registration between a Korean and a Vietnamese citizen.
- Advising on the rights and obligations of both husband and wife after the marriage is registered.
- Assisting Korean citizens in obtaining the Certificate of Single Status and the Certificate of No Marriage Impediment from the Korean Embassy.
- Reviewing, preparing, and verifying all legal documents required for marriage registration with a Vietnamese partner.
- Representing clients to submit documents and work directly with Vietnamese authorities.
About Us
The above information covers Nhat Thu Law Firm’s services for obtaining a Certificate of Single Status for Korean citizens in Vietnam.
If you still have questions or need more details, please feel free to contact us for personalized advice.
Office Address:
Lotus Villa 50, Eurowindow River Park, Truong Sa Street, Dong Hoi, Dong Anh District, Hanoi, Vietnam.
📞 Hotline: 0842 894 888 (Zalo/Line/Viber/Messenger)
📩 Email: luatnhatthu@gmail.com
🌐 Website: https://luatnhatthu.vn
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Working Hours
- Hotline: 24/7 support
- Office hours: Monday to Saturday morning
- Working time:
- Morning: 8:15 AM – 11:45 AM
- Afternoon: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Closed: Sundays and public holidays (in accordance with Vietnamese labor law).
Among all legal consultation methods, phone consultation is the most convenient — it saves time, cost, and can be done from anywhere. Our consultants are available 24/7 to answer your questions at any time.
Contact Information
Nhat Thu Law Firm
🏛 Head Office: No. 4, Group 32, Hoang Van Thu Ward, Hoang Mai District, Hanoi, Vietnam.
📍 Branch Office: Lotus Villa 50, Eurowindow River Park, Truong Sa Street, Dong Hoi, Dong Anh, Hanoi.
✅ Business License No.: 01022087/TP/ĐKHĐ issued by Hanoi Department of Justice.
✅ Law Practice License No.: 17466/TP/LS-CCHN issued by the Ministry of Justice on November 22, 2019.
📞 Hotline / Zalo: +84886798458 (Zalo / Line / Viber / Messenger)
📩 Email: luatnhatthu@gmail.com
🌐 Website: https://luatnhatthu.vn
Representative Office in Japan
📍 Address:
VISTERIA Building, 4-9-17 Hirai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan (〒132-0035)
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