Obtaining U.S. records

Obtaining U.S. Records (birth cert. taxes, etc)

The Embassy in Seoul keeps no files of the different documents we issue, such as a Consular Report of Birth, or documents dealing with the death of an American in Korea. These records are instead filed in Washington. We also do not keep any files of Korean civil documents, such as records of marriages and divorces in Korea. These records are held by the Korean government. Other records, such as birth certificates for people born in the U.S., are stored in the state of origin.

This page is designed to help you locate the vital record documents you need. The Embassy cannot obtain documents on your behalf, and cannot provide translations of documents issued in Korean.

Jump ahead to information on obtaining vital documents from...

The Department of State  /   The Korean government  /   U.S. states

Documents that Must Be Ordered from the Department of State in Washington

Consular Report of Birth Abroad
A document issued by an American embassy or consulate reflecting the facts of a birth abroad of a child acquiring U.S. citizenship at birth through one or both parents. This record, also known as an FS-240, along with the Certification of Birth, DS-1350, are acceptable as proof of birth and U.S. citizenship for all legal purposes.

Please go to the State Department's web page on consular records for complete details on obtaining a copy of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.

Report of the Death of an American Citizen
A document issued by an American embassy or consulate reflecting the facts of a death abroad of an American citizen. The document is based upon the local death certificate.

Please go to the State Department's web page on consular records for complete details on obtaining a copy of a Report of Death of An American Citizen.

Certificate of Witness to Marriage
A document issued by an American embassy or consulate reflecting the facts of a marriage abroad in which at least one party is an American Citizen. A consular officer must have attended the ceremony. This accommodation was discontinued in 1987.

Please go to the State Department's web page on consular records for complete details on obtaining a copy of a Certificate of Witness to Marriage.

Documents that Must Be Obtained from the Korean Government

Report and Certificate of Marriage
A certified copy of your Report and Certificate of Marriage may be obtained by writing the specific ward office in which your marriage actually took place. A certified check or money order for the marriage certificate should be made payable to the specific ward office. For your information, most Americans in Korea registered their marriages at the Citizen Affairs Section, Jongno-gu Ward Office near the American Embassy in Seoul. The address is 146-2 Soosongdong Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-701 Korea, (Tel: 82-2-731-0640).

If your marriage was registered before January 31, 1995, this copy may be obtained by writing the Citizens Secton, City Hall, 31 Taipyungro 1-ka Chungku, Seoul 100-101 Korea (Tel: 82-2-731-6439). A certified check or money order for the marriage certificate should be made payable to City Hall, Seoul, Korea.

The charge is $9.00 per copy. Be sure to include complete information on names, place, and date of marriage.

Divorce Decrees
Korean divorce decrees may be obtained by writing the Family Court in Korea where the divorce was filed. The charge is $3.00 per copy. A certified check or money order for the divorce decree should be made payable to the Family Court concerned. Be sure to include complete information on the docket number, decree date, location, and court name. The address of Seoul Family Court is 1700-1 Seocho 3-dong Seochoku Seoul, Tel: 530-2530/2461.

If the divorce decree is to be submitted to the U.S. Government, you must also provide an English translation which the Family Court will not do. A list of attorneys is also attached. You may make arrangements through the office of one of these attorneys to obtain an English translation.

Korean Family Census Register
Korean Family Census Register(births, marriages, divorces, deaths and adoptions) may be obtained by writing the specific ward office in which the Family Census Register is filed. To facilitate locating the Family Census Register in the ward office files, the following must be provided:

• Name of the head of family written in either Korean or Chinese characters;
• Family's permanent address in Korea. The family register is compiled for each family unit when the family head has established a permanent address within the jurisdiction of the ward office.

The charge is $3.00 per copy. A check or money order should be made payable to the ward office concerned.

Documents that Must Be Obtained from a U.S. State

Vital Records are documents such as birth, death or marriage certificates. In the U.S., such records are usually held by state, county or city governments, depending on location. Here is some information to assist you in obtaining copies of such records.

Follow this link for an on-line source of more information about obtaining vital records in the U.S., such as birth certificates.

There are also on-line services that will help you obtain records for a fee.

One such service is VitalChek (800-255-2414), which allows you to request birth, death, and marriage certifications online, by phone, or by fax.

Another service called usbirthcertificate.net can help you obtain or amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, in addition to obtaining a birth certificate. You must have a physical street address to use this service (no APO's, FPO's, or PO Boxes).

For American Citizen Services (ACS) inquiries, please e-mail us at: seoul_acs@state.gov.

ACS may also be contacted by telephone at 02-397-4114 or by fax at 02-397-4101.

This is an official U.S. Government source for information on the internet. Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links or information does not imply endorsement of contents.

The U.S. Embassy is closed on both U.S. and Korean holidays.

Updated December 6, 2007