Last week, a friend contacted me urgently. They had booked a ticket to Incheon for the end of December but just realized that their child's Korean passport had already expired.

Many families around Palisades Park are traveling to Korea during winter break. However, there are more things to consider for dual citizenship children's passports than you might think, so today I'll outline what to check before departure.

First, the basic principle. The U.S. Department of State advises that dual citizens must use their U.S. passport when entering or exiting the United States.

This applies to children as well. The same guidance states that the other country may require its own passport.

Korea actually enforces this. Within Korea, dual citizens are treated as Korean citizens and are expected to use their Korean passport for entry and exit.

So the official rule is simple: use your U.S. passport at Newark or JFK, and your Korean passport at Incheon. Ultimately, you need to carry both.

Some people ask, "Can't I just enter with my U.S. passport?" There are always those who wonder. If you repeatedly enter Korea with a foreign passport or exercise foreigner rights domestically, the Ministry of Justice can issue a nationality selection order requiring you to choose a nationality within six months.

While entering once may not immediately cause issues, I see no reason to leave a record. If it were me, I would definitely keep the Korean passport active.

A common oversight is the birth registration. You need to have the child registered in the family relationship register to obtain a Korean passport.

If you haven't registered the birth yet, it might be tight to get the Korean passport before this winter break. In such cases, it's best to call the consulate first to confirm the schedule.

New Jersey falls under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of New York, so you'll need to go to Manhattan. The first electronic passport cannot be applied for online, so keep this in mind.

There's good news too. Starting June 12, 2026, parents will be able to apply online for passport renewals for minors under 18.

Overseas residents can apply through the Overseas Korean 365 Civil Service Portal (g4k.go.kr). However, this only applies to children who have received an electronic passport at least once, and those changing their Romanized name or with changes in parental rights are excluded.

The photo requirements can be quite strict. The photo must be taken within the last six months, and if you alter it or reuse an old ID photo, it will be rejected.

If your application is rejected due to not meeting the specifications, you will receive an automatic refund within seven days from the application date. The issue is not the money, but the time lost in the meantime.

Now, regarding the U.S. passport. Passports for children under 16 are valid for five years, so it's common to become complacent thinking of it like an adult passport, leading to expiration.

For those under 16, renewals cannot be done by mail; you must apply in person each time using form DS-11. The fee is $100 for the passport book and $35 for the application fee according to the Department of State.

In principle, both parents should go together. If one cannot attend, that person must fill out and notarize form DS-3053 and submit it within 90 days after notarization.

The processing time is generally 4-6 weeks for routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited service, according to the Department of State's announcements. This does not include mailing time, and expedited service costs an additional $60.

Since it's mid-November now, if you're departing in December, honestly, routine processing is cutting it close. If your passport is nearing expiration, don't hesitate and go for expedited service.

If you have a son, there's one more thing to consider. For boys with dual citizenship by birth, the deadline for reporting nationality renunciation is March 31 of the year they turn 18.

If you miss this deadline, it will generally be difficult to renounce Korean nationality until military service issues are resolved. If you have a high school son, it's best to sort this out before your visit.

What if the child has no Korean passport? They will enter with their U.S. passport, but the exemption for U.S. citizens from K-ETA is valid until December 31, 2026.

There has been no official announcement regarding extensions after that. If you're planning to enter Korea in January, make sure to check k-eta.go.kr again before departure.

There can be confusing moments at the airport. When checking in for departure from the U.S., have both the U.S. and Korean passports ready and show them as requested by the staff.

Upon arrival in Incheon, line up as a domestic passenger with your Korean passport, and when returning to the U.S., use your U.S. passport again. If the spellings of your names on the two passports differ, make sure they match your ticket name.

To summarize, check the validity of both passports and verify the birth registration for the Korean passport.

If it's a renewal, apply online at g4k; if it's the first issuance, visit the consulate. Consider expedited service for the U.S. passport and take action today.

Since regulations can vary based on individual circumstances, if in doubt, it's quickest to check directly with the Consulate General of New York or the Department of State. Investing 10 minutes now is much better than scrambling a month before departure.