Overview
Status codes beginning with F fall into six types: Visiting/Cohabiting (F-1), Residence (F-2), Dependent Family (F-3), Overseas Korean (F-4), Permanent Resident (F-5) and Marriage Migrant (F-6). All are for people staying in Korea for a longer period, but each has a different target group and scope of activity.
The table below condenses each status definition into one line. Work out which category fits you, then read the dedicated article on that status for requirements and documents. Cases are reviewed individually, so confirm the final position with your local Immigration Office.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| F-1 Visiting/Cohabiting | Staying to visit relatives, live with family, be supported, wind up household affairs, or for similar purposes |
| F-2 Residence | Long-term stay in Korea aimed at obtaining permanent residence (with many sub-categories) |
| F-3 Dependent Family | Spouse and minor children (who have no spouse) of holders of D-1 to E-7, F-2, F-4 and similar statuses |
| F-4 Overseas Korean | Persons who held Korean nationality by birth and acquired foreign nationality, and their lineal descendants |
| F-5 Permanent Resident | A status not restricted by the activity limits that apply to other statuses |
| F-6 Marriage Migrant | Persons in a valid marriage in Korea who will continue married life with a Korean national, and similar cases |
Scope of Activity
- F-1 and F-3 are family-based stays. F-1 covers visiting relatives, living with family and similar purposes, while F-3 is for the spouse and minor children of holders of certain statuses. See the separate articles on F-1 and on the F-3 dependent visa and work.
- F-2, F-4 and F-5 are long-term, settlement-oriented statuses. F-2 is long-term stay aimed at permanent residence, F-4 is for foreign-national Overseas Koreans, and F-5 carries no activity restrictions. F-2 has many sub-categories (including the points-based F-2-7), so it is covered in separate articles on F-2 sub-categories, F-2-7, F-4 and F-5.
- F-6 is the marriage-migrant status based on marriage to a Korean national, divided into sub-codes F-6-1, F-6-2 and F-6-3. Documents and sub-codes are covered in the F-6 marriage visa articles.
Who Qualifies
- People who want to stay to see or live with family → Visiting/Cohabiting (F-1) or Dependent (F-3)
- People planning a long-term stay with permanent residence in mind → Residence (F-2)
- Foreign-national Koreans who held Korean nationality by birth, and their lineal descendants → Overseas Korean (F-4)
- People who want to stay without activity restrictions tied to the status → Permanent Resident (F-5)
- Spouses of Korean nationals, or parents raising a child born in a marriage with a Korean national → Marriage Migrant (F-6)
Required Documents
- Current status and the expiry date of your period of stay (check your Alien Registration Card)
- Passport, Alien Registration Card (ARC), application form (Form No. 34) and fee — the basic set for stay-related applications
- Family-based statuses (F-1, F-3, etc.): documents proving the family relationship with the principal holder (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.)
- Overseas Korean (F-4): documents proving you are a foreign-national Korean (family register, resident ID, birth certificate, etc.)
- Proof of residence (lease, accommodation confirmation, utility bill receipts, etc.)
- Status-specific additional documents: check the dedicated article or your local Immigration Office
Application Process
- Check eligibility — confirm your current status, career, degree and contract type match the requirements.
- Prepare documents — foreign public documents need a translator's certification plus an apostille (or consular confirmation for non-member states).
- Book a visit — reserve a slot at your Immigration Office via HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr), or file online where e-Application is available.
- File and pay — submit the Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34) and pay the screening fee.
- Review — respond to any request for supplementary documents within the deadline.
- Result — on approval, the period of stay and status are granted; reissue your ARC if required.
Key Points
- F-2 (Residence) and F-5 (Permanent Resident) have similar names but are different statuses. F-2 is for people staying long-term to obtain permanent residence, and some F-5 eligibility categories actually require time spent in F-2 status.
- A person staying on F-3 may need a separate permission for activities outside the status before taking a job, so always check with your local Immigration Office first.
- New issuance of the Visiting Employment (H-2) visa stopped on 12 February 2026 and the compatriot statuses were unified under Overseas Korean (F-4).
- Each status has sub-codes (for example F-2-7 or F-6-1), and requirements and documents differ by sub-code even within the same F category. Check the dedicated articles for specifics.
- Documents issued in Korea must normally be dated within 3 months unless another validity period applies.
- Documents already on file in your alien registration record need not be resubmitted.
- Health certificates, drug test results and pre-employment medical reports must be submitted sealed by the issuing hospital (do not open).
- You must be in Korea when applying; leaving the country after filing may result in refusal.
- Screening fees are non-refundable once the application is accepted.
- The head of the Immigration Office may add or waive documents where necessary for review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the F visa a single visa?
A. No. Statuses starting with F are F-1 (Visiting/Cohabiting), F-2 (Residence), F-3 (Dependent Family), F-4 (Overseas Korean), F-5 (Permanent Resident) and F-6 (Marriage Migrant), each with its own target group and scope of activity.
Q. Which F visa type is the permanent residency?
A. F-5. It is a status not limited by the activity restrictions of other statuses, and the eligible categories are set out item by item.
Q. What is the difference between F-2 and F-5?
A. F-2 is for people staying long-term in Korea in order to obtain permanent residence, while F-5 carries no activity restrictions. The F-2 sub-categories are covered in a separate article.
Q. Which F visa applies if my family is in Korea?
A. It depends on the relationship. The spouse and minor children of holders of certain statuses are considered for F-3, visiting relatives or living with family for F-1, and spouses of Korean nationals for F-6. Cases differ, so confirm with the Immigration Office.
Q. Who can get the Overseas Korean (F-4) status?
A. The basic targets are persons who held Korean nationality by birth (including compatriots who emigrated before the founding of the government) and acquired foreign nationality, and their lineal descendants who acquired foreign nationality.