The F-3 Dependent Family Visa: Requirements, Documents, and Stay for Spouse and Children (2026)

When planning employment and settlement in Korea, place your spouse's and children's entry and residence schedule on the same plan. In family consultations, GEA begins by organizing the sponsor's principal status, family relationships, income and housing, authentication of overseas records, and the post-entry schedule. This order shows which family member needs each document and when it should be issued.

Who the F-3 dependent status is for

Eligible principal statuses and family scope

A person holding certain work statuses such as E-7 or residence statuses such as F-2 can prepare an F-3 (동반, Dependent Family) route for a spouse and minor children. The starting point is the exact principal-status subcode and remaining period of stay. Parents, adult children, and siblings are organized under separate residence routes. GEA places each family member's passport information and relationship on one sheet, then arranges the filing route using the latest standards from HiKorea and the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.

Marriage and parent-child relationships must be documented

A spouse uses an official marriage certificate, while a child uses a birth certificate or equivalent official record from the issuing country. Comparing English names, dates of birth, and parents' names with the passports before translation and authentication speeds up the later steps. During consultation, GEA reviews originals, issue dates, authentication methods, and translation needs together to identify records that should be reissued first.

Why income and housing capacity are reviewed

The sponsor's stable stay and livelihood

Employment confirmation, a contract, and income and tax records show the sponsor's basis for living with the family. The document combination is arranged according to the principal status, family size, and filing location. GEA connects the principal-status expiration, employment period, latest income evidence, and planned family entry date to determine which records should be issued first.

The home where the family will actually live

A lease or residence confirmation establishes the address where the family will live. For company housing or a sublease, add records showing that family residence is permitted and explaining the relationship between the contracting party and the residents. Align the address across the application, lease, and foreigner registration data, and include the post-entry address-reporting date in the plan.

Prepare relationship documents and authentication

Documents commonly reviewed

The family member's passport and application, marriage or birth certificate, the sponsor's passport and 외국인등록증 (Residence Card), and employment, income, tax, and housing records form the main preparation groups. Compare the actual list for the principal status and filing location with guidance from the Korea Immigration Service or the competent Korean diplomatic mission. GEA creates a separate checklist for each person and distinguishes originals, copies, and translations.

Apostille or consular legalization

Foreign-issued marriage and birth records use an apostille or consular legalization according to the issuing country and document type. Vietnamese records may use the consular-confirmation route based on the issuing authority and receiving office, so identify the competent authorities and authentication order at the beginning. Arrange whether translation follows authentication and whether the translated version requires added confirmation under the filing office's guidance.

Translation and name consistency

A foreign-language record may require a Korean translation and translator information. Compare every character in the passport's English name, the name order on marriage or birth records, dates of birth, and parents' names. Add correction records or same-person explanations when differences appear. GEA creates a name-comparison sheet first so every translation uses consistent spelling.

Residence·employment·schooling require separate planning after entry

F-3 stay is connected to the principal status

Connect the F-3 plan to the principal holder's expiration date and job or status-change schedule. Managing entry, 외국인등록 (foreigner registration), and extension milestones for the whole family on one calendar reduces scheduling conflicts. Choose the in-Korea change process or an overseas diplomatic-mission application according to the family's present location and status.

Employment for the spouse

F-3 is a dependent-family status. When a spouse plans to work, use the proposed duties, contract, and starting date to design a work-status change or 자격외활동허가 (permission for activities outside the status) route in advance. GEA reviews the principal status together with the spouse's experience and role, then prepares specific questions for 1345 and the competent immigration office.

Schooling for children

Prepare admission and grade placement according to the address, age, prior education, and school or education-authority standards. Asking the intended school or local education office in advance about translated academic records, vaccination records, and other requirements helps the child meet the school calendar. Place the housing-contract date and school-registration date on the family entry plan.

Pre-application checklist and frequently asked questions

1. Record the principal status's exact subcode and remaining period.
2. Obtain official originals proving the spouse or parent-child relationship.
3. Set the order for apostille or consular legalization and translation.
4. Align addresses and dates across income, employment, tax, and housing records.
5. Connect entry, foreigner registration, visa expiration, and school dates.

Q. How do I organize F-3 eligibility within my family?

First create a table showing the principal-status code, relationship, and age of each person. GEA separates F-3 preparation for a spouse and minor children from the routes for parents and adult children, creating one residence plan for the family.

Q. How should we prepare the spouse's employment plan?

Identify the desired duties, major and experience, employment structure, and proposed starting date. Use those facts to arrange a status-change or activity-permission sequence and coordinate the family entry date with the employment schedule.

Q. How does the family continue its stay when the principal status changes?

Place the sponsor's F-2 or F-5 transition and every family member's expiration date on one calendar, then prepare maintenance, extension, and change records in order. See the long-term sequence in the post-graduation settlement roadmap and the F-5 permanent residence guide. GEA settlement consultation analyzes each person's status and document schedule, then connects you with a cooperating certified administrative agent office when procedural review is needed.

Final review date: 2026-07-18 · Writing standard: 2026 · Official confirmation: HiKorea / Immigration Contact Center 1345