F-1 Visa Korea — Family Visit Status, Subtypes & Who Can Sponsor You
The F-1 visa is Korea's family visit and family companion status — covering not just tourists visiting relatives, but also certain dependent family members of long-term residents, specific quasi-dependent statuses, and family members of Koreans who want to stay in Korea on a medium-term basis. F-1-D is a particularly important subtype for certain family dependency situations.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed July 2026
Review & source basis
Reviewed against
James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). License No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Korean Administrative Agents Association). Reviewed against the HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 and cross-checked with Ministry of Justice issuances.
Last reviewed
July 14, 2026
Source references
Filing caution
Requirements can change by nationality, local immigration office, and filing channel. Confirm exact requirements with HiKorea, the responsible Korean consulate, or a licensed immigration specialist before filing.
F-1 subtypes overview
F-1-1: Family of a Korean citizen (non-spouse) Parents, grandparents, adult children, or siblings of a Korean citizen wishing to live in Korea for an extended period.
F-1-2: Parents accompanying long-term resident foreigners Parents of foreigners holding E-1 through E-7 work visas or D-series study visas who wish to accompany their child.
F-1-3: Elderly parents of overseas Koreans Parents (typically 60+) of F-4 (overseas Korean) visa holders joining their overseas Korean child in Korea.
F-1-4: Dependent family of specific status holders Family members of certain visa categories not covered by standard F-3 companion status.
F-1-D: Digital nomad companion status (May 2025) F-1-D now has two distinct uses:
- Specific dependent companion — for certain dependents in quasi-family relationships tied to another status holder
- Digital nomad dependent — spouse and dependents accompanying an F-1-D digital nomad visa holder (added as the digital nomad F-1-D visa was formalized in May 2025). The digital nomad's companion also receives F-1-D status tied to the main F-1-D holder's permitted stay period.
F-1-28: New subtype A specific subtype added under the revised F-1 guidelines — covers additional family dependency situations not previously enumerated. Eligibility is defined by the Ministry of Justice guidelines.
F-1-52: Children from prior marriage of a marriage immigrant (March 2025) Added March 2025. Covers the biological or adopted children that a marriage immigrant (F-6 holder) had from a previous marriage or relationship, who are not children of the current Korean sponsor. This addresses a gap where stepchildren joining their F-6 parent in Korea had no clear F-1 subtype. Requirements: the F-6 holder must be actively residing in Korea, and the child must be under 19 (or under 25 in school).
Sponsoring requirements and income threshold
Korean citizen sponsor (F-1-1, F-1-3): • Korean citizen must be registered in Korea (주민등록 active) • Provide 가족관계증명서 showing the family relationship • Proof of income or financial capacity to support the F-1 holder
Foreign resident sponsor (F-1-2, F-1-4): • Sponsoring foreigner must hold a qualifying long-term visa (E-series, D-series, F-series) • Provide ARC, visa status confirmation, and income documentation • Relationship proven by apostilled official family documents
For most F-1 categories, the sponsoring party must demonstrate household income meeting the 기준 중위소득 threshold for the combined household size.
Stay duration and work restrictions
Duration: F-1 is typically issued for 1 year, renewable annually.
Work restrictions: Standard F-1 holders cannot work without separate work authorization. There is no inherent work right on F-1 — unlike F-2, F-4, F-5, or F-6. If you need to work in Korea, you need to qualify for a separate work visa.
F-1 vs F-3: F-3 is for immediate family (spouse and children) accompanying a specific visa holder, issued alongside the main visa. F-1 is for extended family members, adult children of residents, elderly parents, and situations where F-3 does not apply.
Tips from 행정사s
F-1 is non-employment status — if you need to work in Korea, F-1 alone won't cover it. Plan your visa strategy around whether work is intended from the start.
F-1-D holders: your status is tightly linked to your sponsor's status. Keep your sponsor's ARC and visa status documents updated — renewal requires current proof of the sponsor's continuing status.
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Key Immigration Terms
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Visa Process
Alien Registration Card (ARC)
The Alien Registration Card (ARC) is the official ID card issued to foreigners staying in South Korea for 91 days or longer. It is required to open a bank account, sign a phone contract, and access most public services.
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HiKorea
How to use HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) — Korea's official immigration portal for visa extensions, status changes, and ARC renewal. Processing time: 3-10 business days.
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Visa Extension (Stay Period Extension)
A visa extension — officially called a 'stay period extension' (체류기간 연장) in Korean immigration law — allows a foreigner to legally remain in Korea beyond the expiry date on their current visa or ARC without leaving the country.
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Status of Sojourn Change (체류자격 변경)
A status of sojourn change allows a foreigner already in South Korea to switch from one visa category to another without leaving the country — for example, from a D-2 student visa to an E-7 skilled worker visa upon graduation and employment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between F-1 (family visit) and F-3 (dependent companion)?
F-3 is for the immediate family (spouse and children) accompanying a specific visa holder — directly issued alongside the main visa. F-1 is a broader family visit category for extended family members, adult children, elderly parents, and situations where F-3 does not apply.
I am the parent of a Korean university student (D-2). Can I visit on F-1?
F-1-2 can cover parents accompanying a D-2 student child for medium-to-long-term stays. For a brief parental visit, C-3-1 or tourist visa is more appropriate. F-1-2 is for stays of 1+ years alongside the student.