South Korea’s F-3 visa is a dependent family visa for the legal spouse and unmarried minor children of a foreign resident who already holds a long-term visa in the D-1 through E-7 range. It is issued as a single-entry visa valid for up to one year, and its duration cannot exceed what remains of the sponsor’s own visa. To qualify, the sponsor has to prove the family relationship with authenticated documents and show enough income to support the whole household without Korean public assistance.
Who Qualifies as a Dependent
Only two categories of relatives are eligible: the legal spouse, and unmarried children who are still minors. South Korea sets the age of majority at 19, so a child loses eligibility once they turn 19 or marry. Parents, siblings, and adult children do not qualify under F-3 regardless of circumstances.
The sponsor’s status is the other half of the test. The primary visa holder must have a valid long-term visa in the D-1 through E-7 range, which covers professors, researchers, language instructors, and other professional and specialized workers. The D-3 industrial training visa is specifically excluded. The relationship between sponsor and dependent has to be documented with government-issued certificates.
Income the Sponsor Must Show
This is where many applications stall. The sponsor must demonstrate income sufficient to support everyone in the household. South Korea publishes minimum annual thresholds by family size, and the 2025 figures in Korean won are:
- Family of 2: 23,595,948 KRW
- Family of 3: 30,152,118 KRW
- Family of 4: 36,586,638 KRW
- Family of 5: 42,649,152 KRW
- Family of 6: 48,338,830 KRW
- Family of 7: 53,930,568 KRW
- Each additional person beyond 7: add 5,541,738 KRW
A married couple counts as two, and each minor child adds one. For self-employed sponsors and freelancers, immigration looks at net income rather than gross revenue.1Korea Visa Application Center. Dependent Family (F-3) Visa Requirements
International students sponsoring dependents run a different calculation based on monthly income multiplied by the number of months the family plans to stay in Korea. A student sponsoring a spouse needs to show at least 1,996,329 KRW per month for a household of two, and bank statements must cover at least six months of transaction history before the application date.1Korea Visa Application Center. Dependent Family (F-3) Visa Requirements
These are 2025 figures. Confirm the current numbers with the nearest Korean embassy or the Korea Visa Portal before you file.
Documents You Need
The application form is Form No. 17, available from the Korea Visa Portal or any Korean diplomatic mission. It asks for the applicant’s current address, the sponsor’s address in South Korea, and other biographical details, and a recent passport-sized color photo with a white background must be attached.2Korea Visa Portal. Visa Application Form
Supporting documents fall into two groups. For the family relationship, spouses submit an original marriage certificate, and children submit an original birth certificate. These typically need to be apostilled or authenticated through a Korean consulate before submission.
For the sponsor’s status and finances, you need a copy of the sponsor’s Alien Registration Card, a current employment certificate from the sponsor’s employer, and financial proof such as bank statements, pay stubs, or tax records showing income meets the household threshold. Officers review financial documents closely, and inconsistent or incomplete paperwork is one of the most common causes of delay or denial.
How to Apply
Most applicants submit at a South Korean embassy or consulate in their home country. If you are already in South Korea on a different visa, you may be able to apply for a change of status at a local immigration office instead of leaving the country.
Processing fees depend on nationality and any reciprocal agreements. Single-entry visa fees typically fall in the $40 to $60 range as a rough benchmark, though some nationalities pay more or less.3Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea. Consular Services – Visa Information Review generally takes five to ten business days, during which officials verify the sponsor’s visa status, employment, and finances. The visa is issued as a single entry valid for up to one year, capped by the remaining validity of the sponsor’s visa.
What to Do After You Arrive
Anyone staying in South Korea for 91 days or more must register at the local immigration office within 90 days of arrival, and this applies to every F-3 holder, including children.4Jung-gu Office. Alien Registration Registration produces an Alien Registration Card with a unique identification number that you will need for banking, phone contracts, medical care, and most other daily transactions. Bring your passport, the visa, a completed application form, and a passport photo to the immigration office covering your residential area. Missing the 90-day deadline can result in fines and a compliance record that may complicate future renewals.
Foreign residents who stay in South Korea for more than six months are automatically subject to the National Health Insurance system. F-3 holders are classified as self-employed insured individuals, and monthly premiums are calculated using the same contribution score system applied to Korean self-employed residents. If the calculated premium falls below the national average, the average premium is charged instead.5National Health Insurance Service. Guidance for Foreigners Falling behind on premiums can affect your visa renewal, so plan for the cost from the start.
Working on an F-3 Visa
The F-3 is a non-work visa. Dependents cannot take a job, run a business, or engage in income-generating activity, and that includes part-time work, freelancing, and informal cash arrangements. A foreign resident who works without proper authorization faces up to three years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 20 million won. The employer who hires them faces the same maximum penalty, and anyone who merely arranges unauthorized employment can be fined up to 5 million won, with up to three years imprisonment if they make a business of it.6Korea Legislation Research Institute. Immigration Act Beyond the criminal penalties, unauthorized work typically triggers visa revocation, deportation, and an entry ban, and it puts the sponsor’s visa at risk too.
There is a legal path if you find a legitimate opportunity. You can apply for Permission to Engage in Activities Outside of Visa Status, which lets you work while keeping F-3 classification, or apply for a full Change of Status to an employment-eligible visa.7Korea Legislation Research Institute. Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act Both require a separate application to the Ministry of Justice and proof you meet the qualifications for the specific work. Activity permission is more common for part-time or limited employment; a full status change fits a career-level position. Approval has to be in hand before you start. Reporting to work while the application is pending counts as unauthorized employment.
Enrolling Children in Korean Schools
Minor children on F-3 visas have the right to attend South Korean public schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Enrollment requires an admission or transfer application from the school or local office of education, proof of identity such as a certificate of entry and exit or the child’s Alien Registration Card, academic records showing enrollment dates and grade level from the previous school, and an immunization certificate under Korea’s infectious disease prevention guidelines.
If you cannot produce academic records, a local review committee can evaluate the child’s background and assign a grade. Records from schools recognized by Korea’s Ministry of Education are accepted at face value; records from other institutions may need apostille or consular authentication.8Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education. How to Start School in Korea – Guide for Entry into Public Education for Parents of Students with Migrant Background
Public school instruction is conducted almost entirely in Korean. Some larger cities offer international classes or after-school Korean language support for foreign students, but availability varies. If your child has no Korean background, contact the school or district office of education before enrolling to find out what support is available in your area.