Applying·6 min read
F-1 Visa Korea — Family Visit Status, Subtypes & Who Can Sponsor You
The 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. is a particularly important subtype for certain family dependency situations.
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
April 22, 2026
Source references
HiKorea — Korean visa & residency manual
Ministry of Justice Immigration Policy Bureau
Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인정책본부)
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 through 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 (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 companion status.
F-1-D: Digital nomad companion status (May 2025)
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 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 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)
Tips from 행정사s
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.
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.
Need help with this?
Talk to a verified 행정사
Our specialists handle f-1 visa korea — family visit status, subtypes & who can sponsor you cases regularly and know exactly what Korean immigration officers look for.
Immigration Specialists
Verified professionals who can help with your visa application
Verified Specialists
Find a certified immigration administrative agent.
Mr. Visa Korea lists certified immigration administrative agents (행정사) who have been verified by our team. Book a consultation directly — no cold calls, no guessing.
Verified profiles only
Direct consultation booking
Key Immigration Terms
Unfamiliar with a term?
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between F-1 (family visit) and F-3 (dependent companion)?
is for the immediate family (spouse and children) accompanying a specific visa holder — directly issued alongside the main visa. 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 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.
