Overview
F-3 (Dependent) is for the spouse and unmarried minor children of persons holding statuses from D-1 through E-7, F-2, F-4 or H-2. Persons under D-3 (Industrial Training) are excluded. Families of investors holding Corporate Investment (D-8) status apply for F-3 in the same way.
The most common question in practice is spousal employment. Spouses of professional personnel may work in professional fields (E-1 to E-7, excluding E-6-2) and, in defined cases, certain simple-labour fields.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Status | Dependent (F-3) |
| Coverage | Spouse and unmarried minor children of D-1 to E-7, F-2, F-4 and H-2 holders (D-3 excluded) |
| Period of stay | Per Table 1 of the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act |
| Spousal work permit duration | Up to 1 year within the holder's own period of stay (or the contract term within that limit) |
| Tuberculosis | Tuberculosis certificate required under the relevant guideline |
Scope of Activity
- Residing as an accompanying family member
- Where permitted, activity in professional fields (E-1 to E-7, excluding E-6-2)
- Where permitted, simple-labour fields (agriculture, forestry and livestock within the H-2 employment scope)
Who Qualifies
- Spouses of persons holding statuses from D-1 through E-7, or F-2, F-4 or H-2
- Minor children of such persons who have no spouse
- Persons under D-3 (Industrial Training) are excluded
Required Documents
- Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34), passport, one standard photo, fee
- Family relationship documents (original marriage or birth certificates; for China, resident ID, marriage certificate and hukou)
- ARC of the principal status holder (spouse or parent)
- Letter of guarantee
- Evidence of financial capacity and proof of residence
- Tuberculosis certificate under the applicable guideline
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
- Out-of-status activity for spouses of professionals: eligible are spouses of E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6 (excluding E-6-2) and E-7 holders (including spouses of E-7-4 skilled workers), and adult spouses of F-2, F-4 and H-2 holders.
- Permitted fields are professional occupations (E-1 to E-7, excluding E-6-2) and simple labour (agriculture, forestry and livestock within the H-2 scope).
- For simple-labour work, additional documents are required: standard labour contract, business registration or corporate registry extract, a copy of the employer's ID, proof of Korean ability (TOPIK level 2 or KIIP level 2 or above) and proof of completing the early adaptation programme (waived until the programme is in place).
- Talent spouse pilot (30 Mar 2026 – 29 Mar 2027): adult spouses of domestic master's (D-2-3) and doctoral (D-2-4) students, and of E-1, E-3, E-4 and E-5 holders, receive a comprehensive permit covering all activity except restricted fields. Starting and ending work must be reported within 15 days; failure to report leads to cancellation of the permit.
- 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.
D-8 Investor Families: F-3 for Spouse and Minor Children
The spouse of a D-8 (Corporate Investment) holder, and an unmarried minor child, are eligible for F-3 (Dependent). The manual’s scope runs from D-1 (Culture and Arts) to E-7 (Specific Activities), which includes D-8; only D-3 (Industrial Training) holders are excluded.
- Applying for an F-3 visa at a Korean mission abroad: visa application form (Annex No. 17), passport, one standard-size photo, fee; documents proving the family relationship (the spouse’s marriage certificate original from the home country; the child’s birth certificate original, etc.); proof of ability to support oneself (the inviter’s employment certificate and tax payment certificate, etc.); letter of guarantee; and proof of residence in Korea. Official documents from the home country must come with a translator’s confirmation, plus an apostille (Hague Convention countries) or consular confirmation by the Korean mission in that country (non-member countries).
- Document exemption for high-value investors: D-8 holders who are high-value investors above the amount set in the manual are exempt from the proof of ability to support and the proof of residence. Check the manual for the threshold.
- Changing status inside Korea: changing to F-3 after entering Korea is limited to cases requiring humanitarian consideration because of changed circumstances such as pregnancy, childbirth, childcare or illness.
- Period of stay: follows the maximum period of stay by status in Annex 1 of the Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act.
- Spousal work: the spouses the manual lists as eligible for out-of-status activity permission are those of professional foreign personnel (parts of E-1 to E-7) and of F-2, F-4 and H-2 holders; spouses of D-8 holders are not listed. If you plan to work, check first with the competent Immigration Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can an F-3 spouse take any job?
A. No. A permit is required, and permitted fields are professional occupations (excluding E-6-2) and agriculture, forestry and livestock within the H-2 scope. Under the talent-spouse pilot, all activity except restricted fields is comprehensively permitted during the trial period.
Q. Is Korean ability required for simple labour?
A. Yes — TOPIK level 2 or KIIP level 2 or above must be evidenced as an additional document.
Q. Must I report when I start work?
A. Under the talent-spouse pilot, starting and ending work must be reported within 15 days, and each workplace must be reported separately.
Q. How do I bring my spouse and minor children on a D-8 visa (F-3 application)?
A. The spouse of a D-8 holder and an unmarried minor child are eligible for F-3 (Dependent). At a Korean mission abroad you submit the visa application form, passport, photo and fee together with proof of the family relationship (marriage or birth certificate, with a translator’s confirmation and an apostille or consular confirmation), proof of ability to support, a letter of guarantee and proof of residence. D-8 holders who are high-value investors above the amount set in the manual are exempt from the proof of ability to support and the proof of residence.
Q. Can the spouse of a D-8 investor work in Korea?
A. An F-3 spouse needs out-of-status activity permission to work. The manual lists spouses of professional foreign personnel (parts of E-1 to E-7) and of F-2, F-4 and H-2 holders as eligible; spouses of D-8 holders are not listed, so check first with the competent Immigration Office if you plan to work.