1. Eligible Individuals and Scope of Activity

Scope of Activity: Dependent Family Members

Eligible Individuals:

• Spouses and minor children (of the principal alien holder without a spouse) of individuals with the following statuses of stay: Cultural Arts (D-1) to Specific Activities (E-7), Sojourn (F-2), Overseas Korean (F-4), and Working Holiday (H-2).
• However, individuals with the status of stay for Technical Training (D-3) are excluded.

2. Maximum Sojourn Period Granted at One Time

The period granted will be the same as the period determined for the accompanying principal alien holder.

3. Activities Other Than Permitted by Status of Stay

1) Permission for Activities Other Than Permitted by Status of Stay for Spouses of Skilled Professionals, etc.

Eligible Individuals:

• Spouses of holders of statuses of stay for skilled professionals (E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6-2 excluding E-6, E-7) (including spouses of skilled labor (E-7-4)).
• Adult spouses of holders of statuses of stay: Sojourn (F-2), Overseas Korean (F-4), Working Holiday (H-2).

Permitted Fields:

• Professional occupation fields (E-1 to E-7, excluding E-6-2).
• Simple labor fields (within the scope of employment for H-2: agriculture, forestry, livestock, domestic work, childcare, and nursing).

Permitted Period:

• Maximum of 1 year within the principal alien holder's period of stay (if an employment contract is in place, up to the employment contract period within the period of stay).

Required Documents:

• Submit supporting documents for each status of stay as per Article 76 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Immigration Act. The guarantor's letter is exempted.
• ※ For those wishing to engage in Specific Activities (E-7), follow the guidelines for the issuance of a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa for E-7 status.

Additional Documents for Simple Labor Field Activities:

• 1. Standard Employment Contract
• 2. Business Registration Certificate or Certificate of Corporate Registration
• 3. Copy of Employer's Identification Card
• 4. Proof of Korean Language Proficiency (TOPIK Level 2 or TOPIK Social Integration Program Level 2 or higher)
• 5. Proof of Completion of Early Adaptation Program (Exempted until the program is established)
• 6. Overseas Criminal Background Check Certificate (in cases of employment involving domestic work)

2) Expansion of Exemption Scope for Activities Other Than Permitted by Status of Stay

Individuals wishing to receive education at regular educational institutions (elementary, middle, high schools, and universities) without compromising their original purpose of stay may do so within their period of stay without a separate permit process. (Effective June 15, 2009)

3) Holders of Visit and Co-habitation (F-1) and Dependent (F-3) statuses working as Foreign Language Proofreaders (E-7) for National Institutions and Public Organizations (Local Governments, Government-Invested Enterprises)

• 1. Application form (Form No. 34), Passport and Alien Registration Card, Fee
• 2. Employment Contract
• 3. Copy of Business Registration Certificate
• 4. Letter of Recommendation (from the head of the relevant institution)
• 5. Degree Certificate (Original and copy)

4) Holders of Visit and Co-habitation (F-1) and Dependent (F-3) statuses working as Foreign Language Instructors (E-2) and Foreign School Teachers (E-7)

Commonly Submitted Documents:

• 1. Application form (Form No. 34), Passport and Alien Registration Card, Fee
• 2. Employment Contract
• 3. Business Registration Certificate

Additional Documents for E-2 (Foreign Language Instructor) Activities:

• 4. Degree Certificate (Same as E-2 eligibility requirements)
• 5. Criminal Background Check Certificate (Same as E-2 eligibility requirements)
• 6. Health Certificate for Employment (Same as E-2 eligibility requirements)

Additional Documents for E-7 (Foreign School Teacher) Activities:

• 4. Original Teaching Certificate from the respective country (if no teaching certificate, then 'Degree Certificate and Career Certificate')
• 5. Criminal Background Check Certificate (Same as E-2 eligibility requirements)
• 6. Health Certificate for Employment (Same as E-2 eligibility requirements)
• 7. Letter of Request from School Principal
• 8. Foreign Teacher Status Report

4. Change or Addition of Place of Employment

Not applicable.

5. Granting of Status of Stay

Required Documents:

• 1. Application form (Form No. 34), Passport, One standard-sized photograph, Fee
• 2. Alien Registration Card of the parent.
• 3. Documents proving family relationship.

Document Submission Criteria:

For Children:

• Original Birth Certificate from the home country (must be an official document), etc.
• Domestic Birth Certificate if born in South Korea.
• Documents proving parent-child relationship, such as a Family Relations Certificate from the home country.
• (For Chinese nationals) Resident Identity Card, Marriage Certificate, Household Register (Hukou), etc.

For Official Documents from the Home Country (Foreign Country), the following requirements must be met:

• Must include a confirmation from a certified translator.
• If the country is a signatory to the Apostille Convention, an Apostille confirmation is required.
• If the country is not a signatory to the Apostille Convention, consular confirmation from the Republic of Korea mission in the country of residence is required.

6. Permission to Change Status of Stay

Permitted Individuals: This applies to individuals who entered Korea and require humanitarian consideration due to changes in circumstances such as pregnancy, childbirth, or illness, and who meet the following criteria.

• 1. Individuals who entered with visa exemptions (B-1), transit visas (B-2), or short-term visas.
• 2. Aliens legally residing in Korea for a long term.

Mandatory Submission Documents:

• 1. Application form (Form No. 34), Passport, One standard-sized photograph, Fee
• 2. Documents proving family relationship (Marriage Certificate or Birth Certificate, etc.)
• 3. Documents proving place of residence
• 4. Guarantor's Letter
• 5. Statement of Reason for Change of Status of Stay

Criteria for Family Relationship Proof Documents:

For Spouses:

• Original Marriage Certificate from the home country (must be an official document), etc.
• (For Chinese nationals) Resident Identity Card, Marriage Certificate, Household Register (Hukou), etc.

For Minor Children:

• Original Birth Certificate from the home country (must be an official document), etc.
• Domestic Birth Certificate if born in South Korea.
• Documents proving parent-child relationship, such as a Family Relations Certificate from the home country.
• (For Chinese nationals) Resident Identity Card, Marriage Certificate, Household Register (Hukou), etc.

※ Official documents from the home country (foreign country) must be accompanied by a certified translator's confirmation and require either Apostille confirmation or consular confirmation from the Republic of Korea mission in the country of residence.

Additional Submission Documents:

• Alien Registration Card of the spouse or parent.

1) Permission to Change to a Professional Status for Spouses of Skilled Foreign Professionals

Eligible Individuals:

• Spouses of holders of statuses of stay for skilled foreign professionals (E-1 to E-5, E-6-2 excluding E-6, E-7) who hold a Dependent (F-3) status of stay.

Permitted Fields:

• All professional occupation fields (E-1 to E-5, E-6-2 excluding E-6, E-7).

Required Documents:

• 1. Application form (Form No. 34), Passport and Alien Registration Card, One standard-sized photograph, Fee
• 2. Employment Contract
• 3. Business Registration Certificate
• 4. Degree Certificate
• 5. Certificate of Qualification and Career Certificate
• 6. Employment recommendation letter from the head of the relevant ministry or documents proving the necessity of employment.
• 7. Guarantor's Letter

2) Permission to Change Status of Stay to Visit and Co-habitation (F-1-9, F-1-11) for Spouses and Minor Children of Holders of Working Holiday (H-2) and Overseas Korean (F-4) Statuses

Permission Details:

• Spouses and minor children of individuals legally residing in Korea with a Working Holiday (H-2) status of stay will be granted permission to stay with the status of Visit and Co-habitation (F-1) until the expiry of the Working Holiday (H-2) holder's period of stay. Minor children of Overseas Korean (F-4) status holders will be granted permission to stay with the status of Visit and Co-habitation (F-1) until they reach the age of 25 (excluding married children).

Required Documents:

• 1. Application form (Form No. 34), Passport, One standard-sized photograph, Fee
• 2. Documents proving family relationship (Birth Certificate, Household Register (Hukou), etc.)
• 3. Alien Registration Card of the father or mother.

7. Permission to Extend Period of Stay

Mandatory Documents:

• 1. Application form (Form No. 34), Passport and Alien Registration Card, Fee

Additional Documents:

• 2. Documents proving place of residence (Lease agreement, Real estate register, Tenancy agreement, Sales contract, etc., or Confirmation of Accommodation Provider)
• 3. Alien Registration Card of the principal alien holder (spouse or parent).

8. Re-entry Permit

Implementation of Re-entry Permit Exemption System (Amended Enforcement Regulations effective December 1, 2010):

• Individuals who have completed alien registration are exempted from the re-entry permit requirement if they re-enter within one year from the date of departure.
• If the remaining period of stay is less than one year, re-entry is permitted without a re-entry permit within the remaining period of stay.
• ※ However, individuals subject to entry restrictions or visa issuance restrictions must visit the immigration and foreign affairs office responsible for their place of residence to obtain a re-entry permit.

Multiple Re-entry Permit:

• Eligible Individuals: Those wishing to re-enter within two years, exceeding one year from departure, within their period of stay.
• Required Application Documents: Application form (Form No. 34), Original Passport, Alien Registration Card, Fee
• Restricted Countries: Multiple re-entry is restricted for Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Libya. (However, nationals of these countries with statuses of stay for marriage migration (F-6), study abroad (D-2), or general training (D-4) are eligible.)

9. Alien Registration

Required Documents:

• 1. Application form (Form No. 34), Passport, One standard-sized photograph, Fee
• 2. Documents proving family relationship.
• 3. Documents proving place of residence (Lease agreement, Real estate register, Tenancy agreement, Sales contract, etc., or Confirmation of Accommodation Provider)

10. Other Information

Tuberculosis Certificate: As per the "Guidelines for Visa Issuance and Stay Management for Tuberculosis Patients" and other related regulations, a tuberculosis diagnosis certificate must be submitted.

※ Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q1: Can I work in Korea while staying on an F-3 visa?

A1: Employment is generally restricted. However, with "Permission for Activities Other Than Permitted by Status of Stay," employment is possible in specific fields. Spouses of principal alien holders with professional statuses (E-1 to E-7) can work in professional fields or certain simple labor fields (agriculture, domestic work, nursing, etc.). Furthermore, studying at regular educational institutions (elementary, middle, high schools, and universities) is possible without a separate permit.

Q2: What is the period of stay for an F-3 visa holder?

A2: The period of stay for an F-3 visa is granted to be the same as the period of stay determined for the accompanying principal alien holder (holders of D-1 to E-7, F-2, F-4, H-2 statuses).

Q3: What documents are required for an F-3 visa holder to work as a language instructor (E-2)?

A3: You must apply for "Permission for Activities Other Than Permitted by Status of Stay." In addition to common documents (application form, passport, alien registration card, employment contract, etc.), you need to submit a degree certificate, criminal background check certificate, and a health certificate for employment equivalent to the E-2 eligibility requirements.

Q4: If I give birth to a child in Korea, how do I apply for an F-3 visa for the child?

A4: You must apply for "Granting of Status of Stay" within 90 days of the child's birth. You will need the application form, the child's passport, a photograph, a fee, and documents proving the family relationship, such as the parents' alien registration cards and birth certificate.

Q5: Can I change my visa to F-3 (Dependent) after entering Korea on a short-term visa?

A5: It is generally not possible. However, in exceptional cases due to humanitarian reasons such as pregnancy, childbirth, or illness, a change of status of stay may be permitted.

Q6: What documents are needed to extend the period of stay for an F-3 visa holder?

A6: The mandatory documents are the application form, passport, alien registration card, and fee. Additionally, you need to submit the alien registration card of the principal alien holder (spouse or parent) and documents proving your current place of residence (e.g., lease agreement).

Q7: Can the spouse or minor children of a Working Holiday (H-2) visa holder also receive an F-3 visa?

A7: Yes, it is possible. According to the guidelines, spouses and minor children of Working Holiday (H-2) status holders are included in the eligible recipients for the F-3 dependent visa.

Q8: What is the 'Re-entry Permit Exemption' system?

A8: This is a system where individuals who have completed alien registration and hold an F-3 visa are exempted from obtaining a separate re-entry permit if they re-enter Korea within one year of their departure. However, if the remaining period of stay is less than one year, the exemption applies only within that remaining period.

Q9: What are the requirements for an F-3 visa holder, spouse of a skilled foreign professional (E-visa series), to work in simple labor fields (e.g., domestic helper, caregiver)?

A9: You must obtain "Permission for Activities Other Than Permitted by Status of Stay." The permitted fields include agriculture, forestry, livestock, domestic work, childcare, and nursing. Additionally, you need to submit documents such as a standard employment contract, the employer's business registration certificate, proof of Korean language proficiency (TOPIK Level 2 or Social Integration Program Level 2 or higher), and an overseas criminal background check certificate.

Q10: Do I need to submit a tuberculosis diagnosis certificate when applying for an F-3 visa?

A10: Yes, you must submit a tuberculosis diagnosis certificate in accordance with the "Guidelines for Visa Issuance and Stay Management for Tuberculosis Patients" and other relevant directives.