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 extended 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.
What are the requirements of an F-3-1 visa?
Spouse and minor child under the age of 18 who hold the following visas can apply for an F-3-1 visa:
- 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)
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
- 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
- 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.
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.
Some other relevant types of visa are as follows:
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
Let’s sum up …
In this article, we 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 Soth 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
Comments (15)
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.
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.
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
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