Korea Dependent Visa (F-3): Bring Your Family the Right Way

Bringing your husband, wife, or children to Korea sounds simple until you meet the paperwork. Korea sorts family members into different visa codes, and picking the wrong one costs weeks. This guide explains the Korea dependent visa clearly, so you file once and get it right.

The main dependent visa is the F-3. It is meant for the family of foreigners who already hold a long-stay visa. If you are a student, a professional worker, or a resident, your spouse and children can join you under this code. The rules come from the Korea Immigration Service under the Ministry of Justice.

Korea visa types guide

What is the Korea dependent visa (F-3)?

The F-3 visa is Korea’s accompanying-family visa. It is issued to the spouse and unmarried minor children of a foreigner who holds most long-stay visas, such as D-2, E-7, or F-2. The F-3 does not grant its own work rights. Its validity is tied to the main visa holder, so it usually matches the sponsor’s permitted stay.

Who is the “sponsor”?

In F-3 terms, the sponsor is the family member who already lives in Korea legally. Their visa decides whether dependents qualify. Common qualifying codes include the D-2 student visa, the E-7 skilled-worker visa, the E-1 professor visa, and the F-2 long-term resident visa. Short-term and some low-skilled work visas (like E-9) usually cannot bring F-3 dependents. Always check your specific code on HiKorea before you plan.

“A person who intends to stay with a family member holding a specific status of stay may be granted the F-3 (Dependent Family) status.” - Korea Immigration Service, visa status guidance

Because the F-3 mirrors the sponsor’s status, any change to the sponsor’s visa affects the whole family. If the main holder’s visa is extended, dependents extend too. If it is cancelled, dependents lose their basis to stay.

Who are eligible family members for the Korea dependent visa?

Eligible family members for the F-3 are the legal spouse and unmarried children under 20 of the main visa holder. Parents, siblings, and adult children are generally not covered. The relationship must be provable with official documents. Same-sex partnerships are not currently recognized for F-3. The sponsor must show they can support these dependents financially in Korea.

The core relationship rules

Korea keeps the F-3 family circle tight. The two accepted relationships are:

• Spouse: a legally married husband or wife. Common-law or unregistered relationships do not count.
• Children: unmarried children under the age of 20, including step-children and legally adopted children.

Parents, in-laws, and grown-up children fall outside F-3. They need their own visa route, such as a visitor (C-3) or a separate long-stay category. This is the part most families get wrong, so confirm your case with an officer.

One important spouse distinction

Many people search for a Korea spouse visa application and land on the wrong code. If your spouse is a foreigner living in Korea on a work or study visa, you use F-3. If your spouse is a Korean national, you do not use F-3 at all; you apply for the F-6 marriage-migrant visa. We cover this difference near the end.

F-6 marriage visa Korea

What are the F-3 visa Korea requirements and documents?

The F-3 visa Korea requirements center on proving the family relationship and the sponsor’s stable status. You need the applicant’s passport, a visa application form, and a photo. You also submit the sponsor’s passport and ARC copy, proof of the relationship, and proof of funds. Documents issued abroad usually need an apostille or embassy legalization plus a Korean translation.

Korea dependent visa required documents

Bring the full set below. Missing one item is the most common reason for delay.

Foreign-issued civil documents (marriage or birth certificates) normally need an apostille if your country is in the Hague Apostille Convention. If not, use consular legalization. Add a certified Korean or English translation. The exact checklist can vary by office, so verify on HiKorea or with the nearest Korean embassy first.

How do you apply for a family visa in Korea?

There are two paths. From abroad, the family member applies for an F-3 visa at a Korean embassy or consulate, then enters Korea. Already inside Korea on another visa, they file a change-of-status application at an immigration office, booked through HiKorea. Both routes need the same core documents. After approval, dependents register for an ARC within 90 days.

Step-by-step: how to apply for a family visa in Korea

1. Confirm the sponsor qualifies. Check that the main holder’s visa code allows F-3 dependents.
2. Gather documents. Collect the relationship proof, funds proof, and the sponsor’s ARC copy. Apostille and translate foreign documents.
3. Choose your route. Apply at a Korean embassy abroad, or book a visit through HiKorea to change status inside Korea.
4. Submit and pay the fee. Hand in the file and the visa fee at the embassy or immigration office.
5. Wait for the result. Processing often takes about 2 to 4 weeks, but timing varies by office and case.
6. Register for an ARC. After arrival or approval, apply for the Alien Registration Card within 90 days at your local immigration office.

Immigration officers have discretion, so approval is never automatic even with a complete file. Keep originals ready in case an officer asks to see them.

Alien Registration Card ARC guide

Can F-3 dependents work, study, or get health insurance?

F-3 dependents can live and study in Korea but cannot work freely. To take a job, an F-3 holder must apply for a separate work permit or change to a work visa. Children can attend Korean schools. Dependents can enroll in the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) as household members once they hold an ARC and register locally.

Work limits

The F-3 is a residence visa, not a work visa. Taking paid work without permission risks penalties and future visa refusals. If an F-3 holder finds a job, the usual path is to change status to a work code (such as E-7) or request activity-outside-status approval from immigration. Do not start work before that approval is granted.

Healthcare and schooling

Once registered, F-3 dependents can join national health coverage. Foreign residents are generally required to enroll in the National Health Insurance Service, which gives access to subsidized hospital care. School-age children can enroll in local public schools. Many families also use the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) via KIIP to build Korean skills and earn points toward long-term residency.

F-3 vs F-6: which spouse visa do you need?

Use F-3 if your spouse is a foreigner living in Korea on a work, study, or resident visa. Use F-6 if your spouse is a Korean citizen or a holder of F-5 permanent residency. F-6 grants work rights and a path to permanent residency; F-3 does not. Choosing the wrong code leads to a rejected application and a fresh start.

Quick comparison

If your goal is long-term settlement, the difference matters. F-6 spouses can move toward permanent residency and citizenship more directly. F-3 families often plan a later switch, for example when the main holder moves to an F-2 or F-5 status. For statute wording in English, check MOLEG and confirm your route on Government24.