Korea F-3 Dependent Visa: HiKorea Guide for Spouses and…

If you moved to Korea on a student or work visa, your family cannot just follow you on a tourist stamp and stay. They need the right status. For most long-term residents, that status is the F-3 dependent visa. This guide explains who qualifies, what documents you need, and how to book the application on the HiKorea (the online immigration portal) system.

The rules come from the Korea Immigration Service under the Ministry of Justice. They change often, so always confirm the current version before you book a visit.

Alien Registration Card application

What is the F-3 dependent visa, and who is eligible?

The F-3 visa is the accompanying-family status for foreign residents in Korea. It is granted to the legal spouse and the unmarried minor children of a person who holds an eligible long-term visa. F-3 eligibility depends entirely on the principal holder’s status. The dependent cannot get F-3 on their own merit; they ride on the main visa.

Which principal visas allow F-3 family members?

Most professional and study visas allow dependents. This includes the D-2 student visa (for degree students, not short language courses), the professorial and teaching E-1 and E-2 visas, the E-7 skilled-worker visa, and several F categories such as F-2 and F-5. Lower-skill statuses are the main exception. Holders of the E-9 employment permit visa under the Employment Permit System generally cannot bring family on F-3.

Marriage migrants are a separate case. If you married a Korean national, you do not use F-3 at all; you apply for the F-6 marriage visa instead. F-3 is for the family of a foreign resident, not the family of a Korean.

“A foreigner who is the spouse or unmarried minor child of a person staying in the Republic of Korea under a designated status may be granted Accompanying (F-3) status.” - guidance published by the Korea Immigration Service, www.immigration.go.kr

F-6 marriage visa

How do you apply for a spouse dependent visa on HiKorea?

The spouse dependent application has two stages. First, the principal holder gets their visa and Alien Registration Card. Then the spouse applies, either at a Korean embassy abroad for an initial visa, or inside Korea to change status. Both routes are booked through HiKorea at www.hikorea.go.kr. Walk-in service is rarely accepted, so reserve a slot first.

Step-by-step for the spouse already in Korea

If your spouse is in Korea on another visa or a visa-free entry and wants to switch to F-3, follow these steps.

1. The principal holder finishes their own registration and receives the ARC (Alien Registration Card).
2. Create or log into an account on HiKorea and select the reservation menu for your local immigration office.
3. Choose the application type. For a status change inside Korea, this is a change-of-status request; for first entry, it is a visa issuance confirmation.
4. Upload or prepare the document set described below.
5. Attend the booked appointment, pay the fee, and submit fingerprints if an ARC will be issued.
6. Wait for the result notice; you can track it on the HiKorea status page.

The principal holder usually must show stable income and housing. The exact income threshold is set per visa type and updated yearly, so confirm the current figure with your immigration office rather than relying on an old number.

HiKorea visa category change

What are the required documents for an F-3 application?

The required documents prove two things: the family relationship and the principal holder’s ability to support the family. You need an application form, passports, photos, proof of the relationship, and proof of the sponsor’s status and finances. Foreign-issued certificates must be apostilled or consular-legalized and translated into Korean or English.

Typical document checklist

• Completed application form (available on HiKorea) and one passport photo
• Passports of both the principal holder and the dependent
• The principal holder’s ARC and a copy of their visa
• Marriage certificate (for a spouse) or birth certificate (for a child)
• Apostille or embassy legalization on those certificates, plus a Korean or English translation
• Proof of income and a residence document, such as a lease or certificate of residence
• Application fee, paid at the office

Documents issued in many countries need an apostille under the Hague Convention. If your country is not a member, you use consular legalization at the Korean embassy instead. You can confirm civil-document rules for Korea through Government24, the central public-service portal.

Can children get a dependent visa in Korea?

Yes. Unmarried minor children of the principal holder qualify for the same F-3 status as the spouse. Children visa Korea cases use the child’s birth certificate to prove the parent-child link. Once a child turns 19 and is no longer a minor, they usually must move to a study or work visa, because F-3 only covers minor dependents.

Practical points for children

For school-age children, keep the F-3 ARC current, because schools, the National Health Insurance Service, and banks all ask for it. A child on F-3 is generally covered as a dependent under the principal holder’s health insurance, but you should confirm enrollment with NHIS after registration. If a child was born in Korea to two foreign parents, you still register the birth and apply for status; the child does not become Korean by birth here.

Can F-3 dependent visa holders work in Korea?

No, not automatically. F-3 is a residence status, not a work status. Dependent visa work rights are restricted: an F-3 holder who wants a job must first get permission from the immigration office, and in many cases must change to a work visa such as E-7 instead. Working without that permission is a violation that can affect future extensions.

If you want to work

If the F-3 holder finds a qualifying job, the realistic path is often a category change to a work visa, processed through HiKorea. Some part-time activity may be allowed with prior approval, but the rules are narrow and enforced. Treat F-3 as family residence first. If earning income is the goal, plan for a separate work-visa application from the start. For Korean-language study that can support a later category change, the KIIP program (Korea Immigration and Integration Program) is a common route.

How do you extend or change the F-3 visa?

The F-3 visa is tied to the principal holder, so it is extended in step with their status. Before your current period of stay ends, book an extension on HiKorea and submit updated proof of the relationship, income, and address. If the principal holder loses or changes their status, the dependent’s F-3 must usually change too.

Keep these in mind

Apply for the extension before the expiry date printed on your ARC; late filing brings fines. Keep your registered address current within 14 days of moving, which you can also handle through immigration channels. If the principal holder moves toward the F-5 permanent residency track, family members may later qualify for their own long-term or permanent status, but that is a separate application with its own criteria under the Ministry of Justice.