Citizenship
Reinstatement
FOR KOREAN ADOPTEES
What’s this about?
Children adopted from Korea gave up Korean citizenship involuntarily as part of the adoption process. Since 2011, adoptees were granted the right to reinstate their Korean citizenship while retaining that of their adoptive country (dual citizenship). Originally, this process had to be initiated and completed in Korea, creating a barrier for many adoptees. Since 2020, reinstatement is now available through the Korean consulates abroad in the U.S. and many other countries.
Reinstatement is a lengthy and often confusing procedure. As some of the first adoptees to have our citizenship restored in the U.S., we wanted to help others navigate the process with a centralized collection of resources.
Together with the help of Korean immigration attorneys, adoptee advocacy organizations, Consulates, and our own experiences, we created KAD Citizenship Collective, LLC and produced a comprehensive guide to walk adoptees step-by-step through the entire process.
Our Resources
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Guide
Our comprehensive guide includes step-by-step instructions, tips, downloadable forms including translated English examples and Korean originals, costs, timeline and additional outside resources to help you through the process
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Webinar
This free webinar is a high-level overview covering the considerations, implications and process of citizenship restoration
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Resources
Helpful links to organizations, vendors and services
Help us make an impact
Disclaimer
While the authors of this site have been through the citizenship reinstatement process, we are are not immigration professionals. We have made every effort to provide official information, resources and documents, but the process of reinstatement is subject to continual change. Only use the KAD Citizenship Collective information alongside the advice of a qualified legal professional. Read our terms and conditions here.