For an F-6-1 marriage visa, the foreign spouse's health certificate must be issued within 6 months before the visa application date, and it must include a tuberculosis (TB) test item in addition to the standard checkup items. The Korean spouse also submits a certificate in a set format, but if the couple is exempt from the International Marriage Guidance Program, the health certificate is waived and only a TB-related certificate for the foreign spouse may remain.
Key Summary
- Foreign spouse: issued within 6 months of the application date, with hospital name, address, contact and the doctor's signature, typed by computer
- A general checkup without a TB test item is unlikely to be accepted
- Korean spouse: certificate in the civil-service recruitment checkup format, within 6 months
- If exempt from the guidance program, the health certificate is waived but a TB-related certificate is still submitted
1. Why does a marriage visa need a health certificate?
The manual lists health certificates for both the Korean and the foreign spouse among the basic documents when inviting a spouse from a country covered by the International Marriage Guidance Program. They are submitted together with the invitation letter and family relation records.
2. What format must the foreign spouse's certificate follow?
- Issued within 6 months before the visa application date
- Shows the hospital name, address, contact number and the attending doctor's signature
- Prepared on a computer
- Includes a tuberculosis (TB) test item beyond the checkup items shown in the manual
Handwritten forms or certificates missing the hospital details or signature may trigger a request for supplements, so tell the clinic the requirements before the exam.
3. What does the Korean spouse submit?
A certificate issued by a hospital-level medical institution, a public health center, or a checkup institution under the civil-service recruitment medical examination rules, in the civil-service recruitment checkup form, also issued within 6 months before the application date.
4. Are there exemptions?
Couples exempt from the guidance program (for example, those who can prove a courtship during long-term residence, or cases needing humanitarian consideration such as pregnancy or childbirth) do not submit the health certificates. The foreign spouse must still submit a TB-related certificate. If pregnancy makes TB diagnosis difficult, the manual says to inquire separately.
5. Which spouses need the TB certificate?
The simplified document lists show "TB-related certificate (high-risk countries only)". The manual includes a list of 35 high-TB-burden countries as of 1 April 2020, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. Which document set applies differs by case, so confirm before filing.
6. Common problems
- Counting the 6 months from the exam date instead of the visa application date, so the certificate expires
- Getting a general checkup without the TB test item
- Missing hospital contact details or doctor's signature
- Replacing the Korean spouse's form with an ordinary checkup result
7. How Vision Administrative Office can help
We organize the right document set for your case (guidance program coverage and exemption grounds), and review the certificate checklist and submission package with you. We do not handle litigation or court representation (outside the scope of an administrative scrivener).
Official Basis
"Issued within 6 months of the visa application date, stating the hospital name, address, contact and the doctor's signature, and prepared by computer." — Residence Manual by Status, Marriage Migrant (F-6), note on the foreign spouse's health certificate (summarized from the Korean original)
"A TB test item must be included in addition to the checkup items shown as examples."
Basis: Ministry of Justice Residence Manual by Status (as of September 2026). Immigration offices decide each case and may request additional documents; no outcome can be promised.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an F-6 health certificate valid?
It must be issued within 6 months before the visa application date. If filing is delayed after the exam, you may need a new one.
Is the TB test mandatory?
The foreign spouse's certificate must include a TB test item. Even for exempt couples, a TB-related certificate is still to be submitted.
Does the Korean spouse also need a medical exam?
For spouses from guidance-program countries, the Korean spouse's health certificate is part of the basic documents; exempt couples do not submit it.
What if I am pregnant and cannot take the TB test?
The manual says to inquire separately when pregnancy makes TB diagnosis difficult, so check with the immigration office or Korean mission before filing.
Where do we get the certificates?
The foreign spouse gets it at a hospital; the Korean spouse at a hospital-level institution or public health center. Follow HiKorea and the Korean mission's notice for the exact form.
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Consultation
비전행정사사무소 (Vision Administrative Office) is an administrative office that supports document preparation and filing with the authorities. Fees vary by case and are explained during a consultation. Phone 02-363-2251 · Contact: https://f6visa.com/en/contact