How to Immigrate to South Korea from Vietnam in 2026

Vietnamese-Korean marriages are the largest international marriage corridor in Korea — approximately 6,000-8,000 new marriages registered annually, making Vietnam the #1 source country (30-35% of all international marriages in Korea). The process: meet through introduction services (approximately 400 licensed international marriage agencies in Korea, regulated under the Marriage Brokerage Act — unlicensed agencies face fines of KRW 30,000,000+), marriage registration in Vietnam and Korea, apply for F-6 marriage visa at Korean embassy in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (fee: approximately USD 80). The F-6 visa grants immediate residence and work authorisation. After 2 years of marriage and Korean residence with TOPIK Level 1 Korean (basic), you can apply for F-5 permanent residence (fee KRW 235,000). After 5 years total residence, citizenship is available (fee KRW 300,000). Korean law requires the Korean spouse to demonstrate minimum income (approximately KRW 25,000,000/year for a 2-person household) and adequate housing before the marriage visa is approved.

EPS workers: KRW 2,000,000-2,800,000/month (VND 37,000,000-51,800,000). Korean minimum wage: KRW 10,030/hour (2026). Most EPS workers earn minimum wage plus overtime — overtime is where earnings increase significantly (construction and manufacturing often offer 10-20 overtime hours/week). Accommodation is typically provided by the employer (dormitory). Net after tax and insurance: approximately KRW 1,600,000-2,300,000/month. Korean pension contributions are refundable as a lump sum upon departure — this can amount to KRW 10,000,000-20,000,000 after a full EPS term. Total earnings potential over 4 years 10 months: KRW 100,000,000-140,000,000 (VND 1.85-2.6 billion) including pension refund.