F-3-1 dependent family visa, which is issued as a single entry, is for the spouses and children of people who have some South Korean visas. The conditions defined for this visa are similar to those set for the primary visa holder. In other words, if the E-2 visa holder extends his permit for another year, the F-3-1 visa of his dependent will be renewed for another year.
In this blog, we will review essential details regarding this visa, including the requirements, application process, renewal procedure, and validity.
Table of Contents
What is an F-3-1 dependent family visa?
The visa helps foreigners living, working, and studying in South Korea to reunite their families. With this visa, spouses and children under the age of 18 can join their families in South Korea.
Who is eligible for an F-3-1 visa?
Spouse and minor child under the age of 18 of the Korean visa holder can apply for an F-3-1 visa. The primary visa holder must have one of the following visas:
- Korean Arts and Culture (D-1)
- Student (D-2)
- General Trainee (D-4)
- Long-term News Coverage (D-5)
- Religious Worker (D-6)
- Intra-company Transferee (D-7)
- Corporate/Foreign Investor (D-8)
- International Trade (D-9)
- Job Seeker (D-10)
- Professor (E-1)
- Foreign Language Instructor (E-2)
- Researcher (E-3)
- Technology Instructor / Technician (E-4)
- Professional (E-5)
- Artist/Athlete (E-6)
- Foreign National of Special Ability (E-7)
What are the requirements for an F-3-1 visa?
Applicants for an F-3-1 dependent family visa must provide the following documents:
- Visa application form
- Photo of the applicant, which should be in color and white background
- A valid passport and a copy of it: the passport must be valid for at least six months and have a blank sheet.
- Application fee
- A copy of your Spouse’s Korean visa or Alien Registration Card
- Health Condition Report Form
The inviter must provide the following documents:
- Tax payment certificate
- Certificate of employment
- Bank statement proving the inviter can financially support his/her family
- Marriage certificate for spouse (in English)
- Birth certificate for a minor child (in English)
- Alien Registration Card of the primary visa holders
Tuberculosis test result (applicable to certain applicants)
| Nepal | Vietnam | Kyrgyzstan | Ukraine | Congo |
| Timor Leste | Sri Lanka | Thailand | Azerbaijan | Kenya |
| Russia | Uzbekistan | Pakistan | Belarus | Mozambique |
| Malaysia | India | Philippines | Moldova | Zimbabwe |
| Mongolia | Indonesia | Laos | Nigeria | Angola |
| Myanmar | China | Kazakhstan | South Africa | Peru |
| Bangladesh | Cambodia | Tajikistan | Ethiopia | Papua New Guinea |
The above list has some exceptions
- Children below the age of 6
- Pregnant applicants
- Applicants who apply for:
- A-1 (Diplomatic),
- A-2 (Official)
- A-3 (Treaties) visas.
If you are from the above list of countries, you need the following documents:
- Chest X-ray report / radiology report
- Certificate of Health
The above documents can not be older than three months from the date of issuance.
Applicants from countries listed in the following table must provide a health certificate:
| Nepal | Timor Leste | Russia | Malaysia | Myanmar | Bangladesh | Vietnam | Sri Lanka |
| Uzbekistan | India | Indonesia | china | Cambodia | Kyrgyzstan | Thailand | Pakistan |
| Phillippines | Laos | Kazakhstan | Tajikistan | Ukraine | Azerbaijan | Belarus | Moldova |
| Nigeria | South Africa | Ethiopia | Congo | Kenya | Mozambique | Zimbabwe | Angola |
| Peru | Papua New Guinea. |
Applicants from the listed countries are required to submit an invitation letter and a letter of guarantee from Korea. The notary public must notarize both letters in Korea.
| China | Philippines | Indonesia | Bangladesh | Vietnam | Mongolia | Thiland |
| Pakistan | Sri Lanka | India | Myanmar | Nepal | Iran | Uzbekistan |
| Kazakhstan | Kyrgyzstan | Ukraine | Nigeria | Ghana | Egypt | Preu |
| Syria | Cuba | Sudan | Afghanistan | Iraq | Kosovo | Palestine |
| Yemen | The Gambia | Senegal | Somalia | Cameroon |
What is the application process for an F-3-1 dependent family visa?
The South Korean family visa application process is as follows:
- Step 1: First, the application form (or e-Form) on the Korean visa portal must be completed.
- Step 2: When you have completed the form, sign it, and submit it to the South Korean Embassy along with the other documents mentioned.
The embassy may ask you for more documents, if necessary.
The ARC card
When you get to South Korea, you need to apply for the ARC or Alien Registration Card at a local immigration office. Bear in mind that you have to do it within 90 days of arriving in the country. It takes 2-3 weeks to issue the ARC for the officials. Everyone who wants to stay in Korea for longer than 90 days has to apply for the ARC and receive a card from the authorities.
The requirements for the ARC card are:
- Completed Application Form, download or receive it from the Immigration office in the city you live in.
- Passport (Original & Copy, including the visa page)
- A passport photo (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm)
- A fee of 30,000 KRW in Cash
- Proof of residency
The application process is as follows:
- Visit the official immigration website of Korea named “HiKorea.”
- Make an online reservation at the center.
- Visit the center on the exact date and provide your fingerprints and digital photo.
- The authorities complete the bureaucracy and issue the card in 2-3 weeks.
Changes to the ARC and report to the officials
If you experience any of the following changes, you need to report them to the local immigration office in two weeks:
Changing:
- Name
- Sex
- date of birth
- nationality
Any change in your passport:
- Passport number
- Date of issuance
- Expiration date
Any change in the place you live or the palace you work in Korea.
If you don’t inform the officials of the changes, you have breached the Immigration Act Article 35, and you will be fined. There might come heavy consequences as well.
Leaving South Korea
When you want to leave Korea, you have to submit the ARC card to the immigration office or immigration officer at the departure airport. Not doing so leads to a fine. In the process of receiving the ARC, the embassy can not help you, and you need to complete it on your own.
How long can a visa holder stay in South Korea?
The validity of your visa is determined based on the length of stay of the primary visa holder. Keep in mind that the terms of the F-3-1 dependent family visa are tied to the terms of the primary visa holder.
Can a dependent family visa be extended?
Yes. If the holder of the primary visa extends his/her stay, you are allowed to renew your visa. You will need the following documents when renewing your visa:
- Visa application form
- Passport
- Alien Registration Card
- Application Fee
- Proof of residency
Can F-3-1 visa holders change the status of their visa to another one?
Yes. If you can find a proper job opportunity, you can qualify for the following visas:
- E-1
- E-5
- E-6
- E-7
How long is the F-3-1 dependent family visa valid for?
The validity of the F-3-1 dependent family visa is up to the person residing in Korea. You can stay with your spouse or parents as long as they are allowed to stay in the country. In case they have to leave South Korea, the companions also need to leave the country unless they have received eligibility for another type of visa and applied for it. For example, they have been able to find a job offer and apply for a work visa and convert their family visa to a work visa.
Can you apply from inside the country?
Yes. An F-3-1 dependent family permits you to apply from inside the country. However, your stay must be legal. For example, you can stay under a tourist visa and then apply for a family visa. You could also be from visa-free countries and stay with your passport or legal travel document.
Family visa processing time
The average processing time for a family visa is about 14 days. However, it could take longer due to some reasons. First, your case might be complete if you haven’t provided the full list of requirements by authorities. Then, the officials could ask for further supporting documents. Second, after the COVID-19 vaccination, the country is open to foreigners, and the government is issuing more visas. So it would be normal to expect a longer processing time.
Remember that there is no urgent or express service with the family visa.
Status update on your application
Some applicants prefer to follow updates on their applications during the processing stage. This feature is up to the Korean embassy or consulate you apply to. For instance, the Korean embassy in Singapore doesn’t provide such a service, and they announce the final decision on the scheduled collection date.
If you need such a service, ask the embassy if they provide a status update service or not.
Can you extend your family visa?
Yes, the authorities permit you to extend your Korean family visa and stay longer if you are eligible. Your spouse must be allowed to stay in the country so you can stay with him or her. You need the following requirements to extend your visa:
- Application form
- Passport
- ARC (Alien Registration Card)
- Application fee
- Proof of Residency
- Contact of house rental or ownership
- The mail received from Immigration
- Paid utility bills with your name
Let’s sum up …
This article explained the details of a South Korea F-3-1 dependent family visa, including the application process, requirements, costs, and validity. On the Visa Library website, you can learn about other South Korean visas as well as ways to immigrate to other countries. In case you have some experience, please write it down in the comment section. Your comments let the readers choose better and avoid mistakes. Conveying your experiences in comments is a great help for applicants.
FAQs
Can your dependent work in South Korea under a dependent visa?
No, they need to change their status to a work permit.
How can you invite your relatives?
Apply and submit the documents to the officials in your home country.
Who can apply for a dependent visa?
A person living in Korea under a valid visa can apply to bring his/her family members.
Is a TB test necessary?
The list of countries in the article needs a TB test to enter.
As a monk, I had no clue I can bring along my weak father. Thanks to your blog, now I can take close care of him.
My sister currently holding a long term visa under F6 for 5years now. My question, it is possible that I can apply a visa under F3-Dependent Family? Is there age limit? I plan to stay together with her and to my Korean 3yrs old nephew.
We are afraid to admit that only the applicant’s spouse and children could count as dependents to apply for an F-3-1 visa.
Hello, I am married to a Korean, I would like to bring my mother to Korea to take care of it.
Is this visa compatible with my request?
Hello there. Thanks for leaving a comment on our website. You can only apply for an F-3-1 visa if you want to bring your spouse or minor child to South Korea. However, bringing your mother is not an option.
HI, I’m now D-10 visa holder(job-seeking), but I do not have Tax payment certificate nor
Certificate of employment. Am I eligible to bring my spouse?
Hello there. Thanks for leaving a comment on our website. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to bring dependents under your visa unless you can cover their expenses. However, your spouse can apply for their proper visa separately. To check the eligibility of other visas, you can visit the left sidebar.
Hiii…
Thanks for providing valuable information.
I am having D 7 Visa, can I bring my dependent mother on a F3 1 Visa. If not then please provide some other option. Because my mother is dependent on me and I need to have her here. I need to take care of her. Else I will be under tremendous pressure and dilemma to quit from here.
Dear sir/Madam
There is no information indicating that you can bring your mother to South Korea. However, you would better ask the Immigration Officials and ensure that you are allowed to bring your mother to the country. There might be a way and you can always receive advice from immigration lawyers. They might know a loophole.
Best wishes
Hello there..!
How long after getting my D-2 VISA can I apply for an F-3-1 VISA? I heard that only after 6 months, my family members can apply for F-3-1 VISA, is that correct? Can my parents and siblings be eligible for F-3-1 VISA? What if I do not have Tax payment certificate and Certificate of Employment, can I apply for F-3-1 VISA? Instead of me submitting bank statement, can my parents do so as a proof of that they can supply themselves with enough money during their stay in South Korea?
Thanks for your response beforehand…!
Hello there. Thanks for leaving a comment on our website. An F-3-1 visa is only issued for the spouse or children of the applicant. Therefore, your parents and siblings are not eligible to obtain this visa. However, they may want to apply for a visitor visa individually.
HI
How much bank balance need to show for spose visa.
Dear Sajid
The sponsor living in South Korea often undertakes financial responsibility for the applicant. The bank statement needs to sho that the sponsor has enough funds to cover expenses in The country.
Best wishes
Can I apply for f3 visa while in Korea. My husband has d-2 visa.
Yes, you can apply.
Can F-3-1 visa holders convert to D-2 if they want to study in South Korea?
Dear Razwan Khan
Converting to another type of visa is often not allowed. But ask the officials that of they allow it or not. However, you need acceptance letter to apply for a student visa. So you can visit the university and apply in person.
Best wishes
can a holder of g1 visa change to f3 visa?
Do you have a family member in Korea? If yes, read the article to know whether you fulfill the conditions or not.
Hi Dear,
I’m Student with D 2 visa and just received resident card too. I’m 18y.o now and my question is can i invite my parents and sibling in my place now? In that case are they can cover F-3-1 visa?
Thanks
Dear Sir/Madam
Thank you for your good question.
You are kindly informed that you can bring your spouse and children under the family visa and bringing parents and siblings is not available as far as we know. The tourist visa is the option but you would better as the Korean authorities to ensure about it.
Best regards.
Good afternoon,
I am in the military and traveling to Korea in January. In order to take my family (wife and son) do I need to apply for the F-3-1 visa so they can stay the entire year? (My command sponsorship was denied, so the military will not pay for them to travel with me)
Dear Michael
Thank you for your question.
Our data indicate that your family might need a visa to enter South Korea, however, you would better ask the authorities in the country as there might be exceptions by your nationality.
Best regards
Hello, I am going to Korea for spring semester as a PhD student, with a D-2 visa. Can I apply for F-3-1 visas for my 2 children together with my D-2 visa? I would like to bring them together with me. Thanks in advance.
ِDear Sherry
Thank you for your comment and good question
It’s often as this that you can apply for a family visa after moving to South Korea to bring your relatives to the country. Is your D-2 visa finalized? If yes, ask the officials whether you can begin an application for a family visa or not. They will inform you whether you can do it before moving to the country.
Best wishes with your studies in South Korea.
If I study in Korea on a d-2 visa can I bring my husband to Korea? I don’t have tax payment certificate because I’m a student, but my husband would provide he’s financially secure with his own bank statement.
Dear Klaudia
When you submit the supporting documents to the immigration officials, inform them that you do not have the tax payment certificate. They provide you a solution or ask for another requirement.
Hello, I have been offered a job in Korea on an E2 visa in December 2021. Can you advise how long I will have to wait before my wife can apply for an F-3-1 visa, and more or less how long the application may take to process?
If it´s too long, can she come on a 90 day tourist visa and apply to change it into a F-3-1 while in Korea, or would she have to apply from her home country?
Thanks very much for your help!
Dear John
Thank you for asking the question and we are glad that you have been offered a job in South Korea.
You are kindly informed that From 2021.09.01, the citizens of EU don’t need a visa to enter Korea for 90 days. If you are from the EU or Schengen Area, your wife can enter the country and apply for a family visa.
We couldn’t find the answer to the question that how long your wife should wait until being able to apply for a family visa. You would better ask the Korean officials when applying for your visa.
The rules could carry by your nationality
Best wishes with your stay in South Korea with your wife
Hi there! I was just trying to confirm that when I enter on my E2 visa my family will be permitted to apply for their dependent visas from WITHIN Korea, and where they need to do this?
Dear Samantha Jade Wilder
Thank you for asking your question from Visa Library
You are kindly informed that you need to apply to the Korea Immigration Service at the Ministry of Justice. The website is as follows:
https://www.immigration.go.kr/immigration_eng/index.do
Best wishes with your application
I have a d2 visa in South Korea and I want invite my husband in f3 visa . What are the documents I need in Korea and what are document I have send nepal for my husband further process
Dear Lama Chanda
Thank you for asking your question from us
You are kindly informed that the requirements as follows:
Visa application form
Photo of the applicant, which should be in color and white background
A valid passport and a copy of it: the passport must be valid for at least six months and have a blank sheet.
Application fee
The inviter must provide the following documents:
Tax payment certificate
Certificate of employment
Bank statement proving the inviter can financially support his/her family
Marriage certificate for spouse (in English)
Birth certificate for a minor child (in English)
Alien Registration Card of the primary visa holders
Health Condition Report Form
You have mentioned that your husband is from Nepal so he needs a TB test result as well.
The most important piece of document is the marriage certificate that indicates you are married. Also, provide the documents that you have lived together (if applicable)
My child is a Korean citizen. I gave up my korean citizenship many years ago and now I am a US citizen. What kind of Visa would I need to go live with my son in South Korea? Thanks in advance!
Dear Youngja
You need a visitor visa to visit your child in South Korea.
Hello..i just graduate here in Busan and apply for master degree .My question is can i bring my spouse as sson as i get vissa for master or should have to wait for certain period?
Dear Rehan
Thank you for your question. You would better wait to see whether you will receive a visa and can stay in Korea then apply to bring your spouse.
Hello sir, please I’m holding F1 visa is it possible for me to married and what what visa will my partner hold. Thank you
Dear Richard
If you get married and want to bring your wife to South Korea, she needs an F-3-1 visa. But you and your wife need to fulfil the requirements.
I’m on an F-3-1 visa with my wife’s D7 visa for 1 year. If I get a job offer:
1. Can I change my visa to E5 ?
2. If yes, then once my wife’s visa expires what would be my options?
Thank-you
Dear Ronnie
If you find a job offer, if you get a job offer, you can change your visa status to E5.
Your wife can look for a job in Korea and stay or he might be able to be your dependant.
Hello ~
Thanks for the above sufficient explanation, but I would like to inquire if a student under D2 can bring his cousin since he has no one to take care of him and has sufficient medical papers and documentation?
Dear Timmy
Only spouses and children of a person holding a South Korea visa can apply for a family visa. But you can explain your conditions to the immigration officials and submit the documnest. There might be a way. You can always get help from a lawyer.
Helo…the above article was so informative…I want to ask that if someone has a student visa and they are studying in korea on Korean scholarship , can they bring thier family via F-3 family dependent visa? Is it possible? Or they need to acquire a good job and then apply for thier family?
Dear Zaib
Yes, you can bring your spouse and children under 18.
Hello,
My husband will be working as an engineer in Seoul for five years starting next year. I would come with him as his wife. Can I attend language courses or do a language programme at the university with a spouse visa? Or do I need a special visa? And if I want to study after the language course, can I change to a student visa?
You can attend language courses, but study after it is up to your conditions but is possible in most cases. Ask the local immigration officials to ensure.
Hello there !!
My current situation is that my to be spouse/husband have only 6 months of validity D-2 visa and he came Nepal and staying right now and going to leave for South Korea within 3-4 days because we need to apply dependent visa before his visa expires. But the main problem is we cannot marry right now because of our some Hindu rituals and we can marry after -6-7 months but till then his D-2 visa will expire. so, what can be the solutions?
We can make the marriage certificate but what if an embassy asks for marriage photos ?
Please help me out .
Thank you
It is up to the embassy to accept your relationship or not. Explain things to them and ask for a solution.
Hello! I will enter Korea with an E-2 visa from the USA and my wife is from Panama. Can my wife enter Korea with a tourist visa and then change to a F-3 visa within Korea?
Yes, it is possible to do so.
Hello! I have an E-2 visa and I wanted my wife to get an F-3 visa so she could come to Korea. I was told that I had to have 20M won in the bank so that the Korean immigration would have proof of my ability to support my wife. Has anyone else heard of this requirement? I was happy to read that she can come on a tourist visa and get an F-3 while inside Korea. Is this still accurate? Thank you for your help!
Yes, your wife can get a tourist visa and enter Korea, then she can apply for F-3-1 visa.
After getting an F-3 visa by applying from inside Korea, do my family members need to go to the embassy in Bangladesh? we are Bangladeshi. I am a professor at a Korean university. E 1 visa holder.
The Korean officials inside the coutnry inform you whether your family needs to visit the embassy or not. They often need to submit the biometrics.
What does F-3-2 visa means?
Dear Ericson,
South Korea does not have an F-3-2 visa.
Hi, I’m on an E2 Visa. My son and I came to Korea about 11 years ago when he was 6 years old. He had since graduated from Kindergarten, Elementary, and Middle School in Korean Public Schools. Next year (2023) he will be in High School in 3rd grade and then go to college. Well, now the immigration officer told me that since he will be eighteen next year he has to leave the country. This came as a shock ): to me since he is still in school next year. What can I do? Is there another VISA he can apply for? Or should I consult with a lawyer? Thanks in advance!
Hello dear Gladys,
You didn’t mention the visa status of your son. Generally, foreigners who intend to carry out unallowable activities must leave Korea and re-enter Korea with a new visa that allows them to engage in those activities. The foreigner, however, must undergo a strict review to change their staying status after meeting the requirements.
Nevertheless, I suggest you talk to a laywer, too.
Hi there
I have an E-2 visa and would like to obtain an F-3 visa for my husband to join me in Korea. Can my husband enter the country with a tourist visa, and then convert it to an F-3 visa once he is here? With regards to the health certificate that must be provided with the application. Must this be provided by myself if I am already living in Korea? Or must it be provided by my husband coming into the country? Thank you.
Hello dear Yolanda,
You’re in luck. Yes. However, your husband’s initial stay must be legal. For example, he can stay on a tourist visa and then apply for a family visa. He
could also be from a visa-free country and stay with his passport or legal travel documents.
About health certificates, your husband needs to get them.