F-3 Dependent Family Visa Invitation Requirements and Documents — Inviting the Spouse and Children of E-7 and D-8 Holders

Procedure

1. 1. Check the inviter's status and who can be invited

   Check whether the inviter's current status of stay is one that allows F-3 dependents. The persons who can be invited are the legal spouse and minor children, and a child must not have a spouse. Parents and adult children cannot be invited on F-3.

2. 2. Check income and financial ability

   The required income level rises as the number of household members increases. The review is based on documents that show steady income, such as the withholding tax receipt, pay statements and certificate of employment. A one-off deposit received just before the application is not regarded as income. If income falls short, it is safer to apply after building up more salary and a longer period of employment.

3. 3. Authenticate the family relationship documents

   Obtain an apostille or consular legalization in the issuing country for the marriage certificate and the birth certificate, and attach Korean translations. Originals without authentication are often not accepted, so complete the authentication at the stage of obtaining the documents.

4. 4. Apply for the Confirmation of Visa Issuance

   The basic method is to apply for a Confirmation of Visa Issuance at the immigration office having jurisdiction over the inviter's address. Entering on a short-term stay and then changing to F-3 inside Korea is not permitted in principle. Once the confirmation number is issued, the family obtains the visa at a Korean diplomatic mission abroad and enters Korea.

5. 5. Foreigner registration after entry

   Complete foreigner registration at the immigration office having jurisdiction over the place of stay within 90 days from the date of entry. The F-3 period of stay is set within the inviter's period of stay, so extend the family's stay together when the inviter extends.

Required documents

• Application for Confirmation of Visa Issuance (one for each person invited)
• Copies of the inviter's passport and residence card (residence card)
• Marriage certificate and birth certificate (with apostille or consular legalization, and Korean translation)
• Inviter's certificate of employment and employment contract, or materials showing the substance of the business (D-8)
• Proof of income (withholding receipt for wage and salary income, pay statements, etc.)
• Proof of housing (lease contract, etc.)
• Copy of the passport and a photo of each person invited

Fees

Agency fees for F-3 invitation documents are generally priced in the industry at several hundred thousand won and vary with the number of persons invited and the scope of document authentication. Immigration fees and the cost of authenticating overseas documents are separate. We will tell you the fee after a consultation, based on your family composition and income materials.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, attached Table 1-2, item 25
• Immigration Act, Article 9
• Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Article 17
• Immigration Act, Article 31

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-05

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

• After a Confirmation of Visa Issuance is issued, the visa must be applied for at a Korean diplomatic mission abroad within a set period, so time it to fit the family's departure schedule.
• If little of the inviter's period of stay remains, extend the inviter's stay first.

Frequently asked questions