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Permanent residence, overseas Koreans & family stay

F-1-5 Requirements for Inviting a Marriage Immigrant's Parents — Childcare Purpose and the Child's Age 9 Deadline

F-1-5 is a status of stay under which a marriage immigrant who is pregnant or raising a minor child in need of care invites a parent or sibling from the home country. The invitation can be made until the end of September of the year in which the child turns 9 (for single-parent and multi-child families, the year in which the child turns 12), and in principle 1 person is invited, but both parents of the marriage immigrant can be invited together. It is not a simple family visit; the need for childcare must be shown concretely.

Written by Hwang Yunsang, Administrative Agent · Published 2026-09-26 · Updated 2026-10-05

Procedure

  1. 1. Check the inviter's eligibility

    The inviter is the marriage immigrant's Korean spouse. A marriage immigrant staying with marriage immigrant permanent residence (F-5-2) status, or one who acquired Korean nationality after staying with marriage immigrant (F-6) or F-5-2 status, can invite on behalf of the spouse. A single-parent marriage immigrant raising a child alone after the marriage has ended can invite regardless of permanent residence or nationality.

  2. 2. Check the need for childcare and the deadline

    The marriage immigrant must be pregnant or have a minor child who needs care, and the invitation can be made only until the end of September of the year in which the child turns 9 (the year in which the child turns 12 for single-parent families and families with 3 or more minor children). If the inviter does not fulfill the duty to send the child to school, the invitation is not possible. Organize supporting materials on whether both parents work, the number and ages of the children, and the circumstances of the gap in care.

  3. 3. Review the invitee's stay history

    If the invitee has stayed in Korea in the past, it must be explained that the stay was not for the purpose of employment. Illegal employment or overstaying during a previous stay can be a ground for refusal, so check in advance.

  4. 4. Apply for a visa or a status of stay

    Apply through the applicable route: a visa application at a Korean diplomatic mission abroad or a change of status of stay in Korea. After entry, the period of stay is extended 1 year at a time, and the person can stay within 3 or 4 years from entry (4 years only once) until the end of March of the year in which the child turns 10. For single-parent and multi-child families, it is within 3 years from entry until the end of March of the year in which the child turns 13.

Required documents

  • Visa application form (Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Form No. 17, filed at an overseas mission) or integrated application form (Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Form No. 34, for a change of status of stay in Korea)
  • Letter of invitation, letter of guarantee
  • Family relation certificate, marriage relation certificate (of the inviter and the marriage immigrant)
  • Documents on the child's birth or confirmation of pregnancy
  • Documents proving the family relationship between the invitee and the marriage immigrant (issued in the home country; translation and authentication required)
  • Documents on the inviter's employment and income (depending on the case)
  • Materials explaining the need for childcare (both parents working, gap in care, etc.)

Fees

Immigration office fees and the cost of translating and authenticating home-country documents are charged separately. Service fees in the industry are generally around several hundred thousand won and vary if an explanation of past stay history or proof of an exception requirement is needed. We will advise you after a consultation based on the family situation.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

  • Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, attached Table 1-2
  • Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Article 23
  • Immigration Act, Article 18
  • Immigration Act, Article 90
  • Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Article 18-3
  • Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, attached Table 1
  • Ministry of Justice, Visa Guidance for Visiting Family (F-1-5) of Marriage Immigrants' Parents and Other Family (January 5, 2026)

Checked against the statutes on

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

  • The invitation deadline is the end of September of the year in which the child turns 9 (the year in which the child turns 12 for single-parent and multi-child families). Check the deadline first.
  • Review the invitee's past stay history in Korea before applying.

Frequently asked questions

How old must the child be to invite my parents under F-1-5?
The marriage immigrant must be pregnant or have a child who needs care, and the invitation can be made until the end of September of the year in which the child turns 9 (the year in which the child turns 12 for single-parent families and families with 3 or more minor children). After the deadline it is difficult to make a new invitation under this status.
Can both of my parents be invited together?
Yes. In principle 1 person is invited, but both parents of the marriage immigrant can be invited and stay together. In that case it counts as 2 invitations, 1 each. The number of invitations is up to 2 per child, and there is no limit for single-parent and multi-child families.
What is the maximum number of years of stay under F-1-5?
Within 3 or 4 years from entry (4 years only once), until the end of March of the year in which the child turns 10. For single-parent and multi-child families it is within 3 years from entry until the end of March of the year in which the child turns 13, and the period of stay is extended 1 year at a time. If the child's school entry or promotion was postponed because of illness or similar reasons, the stay can be extended until the end of March of the 4th grade of elementary school (1st year of middle school for single-parent and multi-child families).
What are common reasons an F-1-5 invitation is refused?
In many cases the need for childcare is not shown concretely and the application looks like a simple family visit. It can also be refused where the invitee's past stay is suspected of having been for the purpose of employment.
Can the invitee work while staying on F-1-5?
F-1-5 is a visiting or joining family status for supporting childcare, so employment is not permitted in principle. Activities outside the permitted scope can adversely affect the stay.

Other guides in this area

Contact us

Hwang Yunsang Administrative Office in Songdo, Incheon prepares and submits administrative documents and explains the procedure. If your situation is similar, send us a message.

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This guide is general information based on public sources. Requirements, documents and deadlines differ by case and by the competent agency, so please confirm them before you proceed.