What is the difference between F-1 and F-3?

F-3 (동반 — dependent companion) is specifically for the spouse and minor children of F-4 or H-2 visa holders. F-1 (방문동거 — visit/cohabitation) covers a wider set of family-related situations — parents of students, parents of outstanding talent, domestic helpers, and other cohabitation cases. If you are the spouse or child of an F-4 or H-2 holder, you need F-3 (specifically F-3-19 or F-3-20), not F-1.

Can I work in Korea on an F-1 visa?

Generally no. F-1 is a family cohabitation status and does not authorise independent paid employment. There are very limited exceptions — for instance, some F-1 sub-types allow certain part-time activities, but these are case-specific and must be authorised in advance.

F-1-D is the Digital Nomad / Workation sub-type under the F-1 code. It is a distinct visa category for remote workers employed by non-Korean companies, with its own income and insurance requirements. See the dedicated F-1-D page for full details.

Can the F-1 lead to permanent residency?

Not directly. F-1 is a temporary family/cohabitation status. Long-term continuous residence on F-1 combined with meeting income, language, and other criteria could eventually qualify you for F-5 (Permanent Residency) via certain pathways, but you would need specialist advice to map your specific route.

What is F-1-52 and who can get it?

F-1-52 (added to immigration guidelines on 17 March 2025) is for children born from a marriage migrant's prior relationship — specifically children of a foreign national who currently holds F-6 (marriage migrant) status in Korea, where the child is from a different, previous relationship and not the child of the current Korean spouse. The F-6-holding parent can invite the child to Korea under this sub-type. Required documents include the F-6 holder's ARC, the child's birth certificate, and evidence of the F-1-52 parent-child relationship.

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가족 비자

한국 F-1 비자Visit / Cohabitation Visa

Visit or live with family in Korea — for relatives of long-term residents, students, and diplomatic staff.

검토됨 March 2026 — 대한민국 공식 출입국관리 포털 기반

체류 기간

Typically 1 year (single entry); renewable; some sub-types allow multiple-entry

처리 기간

2–4 weeks at consulate; some sub-types require 사증발급인정서

개요

The F-1 visa (방문동거 — visit and cohabitation) covers a broad range of family-related long-stay situations that do not fit the narrower F-3 (dependent companion) or F-6 (marriage migrant) categories. It is issued to relatives visiting or cohabiting with Korean residents: parents accompanying children in Korean schools, parents of outstanding talent or investors, domestic helpers of foreign diplomatic staff or high-value investors, and others with compelling personal circumstances requiring an extended stay without independent employment. F-1-D (the digital nomad visa) is a separate sub-type under the F-1 code but has its own dedicated page. F-1 holders may not engage in independent paid employment.

Notable sub-type added March 2025 — F-1-52: issued to children born from a marriage migrant's prior relationship (결혼이민자의 전혼관계 출생자녀). This allows a foreign national currently residing in Korea as an F-6 marriage migrant to invite their child from a previous relationship (a child not born to the current Korean spouse) to live in Korea. The F-1-52 sub-type was added to the official immigration guidelines effective 17 March 2025.

F-1 비자는 누구를 위한 것인가요?

Parents accompanying foreign children enrolled in Korean schools (elementary through high school); parents of foreigners classified as outstanding talent or investors; domestic helpers of foreign diplomatic personnel or qualifying investors; and other family members in compelling cohabitation situations approved by immigration.

자격 요건

Qualifying family relationship or cohabitation circumstance as described in the relevant F-1 sub-type
F-1-13 (school-age child's parent): the child must be admitted to or attending a Korean school from elementary through high school; financial requirements apply (bank balance above a threshold for nationals of high-overstay countries)
F-1-15 (outstanding talent/investor parent): the primary holder must be classified as outstanding talent or a qualifying investor by immigration
F-1-52 (marriage migrant's prior-relationship child, added March 2025): the inviting parent must hold F-6 (marriage migrant) status in Korea; the child must be born from a prior relationship (not the current Korean spouse); birth certificate proving the F-6 holder is a parent is required
Domestic helper sub-types: the employer (diplomat, investor, or specialist) must hold the qualifying Korean visa/status
No independent employment in Korea

필요 서류

1.
Valid passport + visa application form + passport photo
2.
Proof of family relationship — marriage certificate or birth certificate (apostilled or authenticated with certified Korean translation)
3.
Primary holder's ARC or visa documentation (proving the qualifying status)
4.
Financial ability documents (bank statements, income certificate) — especially required for nationals of high-overstay countries
5.
For domestic helper sub-types: employer's identity documents, employment contract, and employer's qualifying visa
6.
사증발급인정서 (for cases that do not qualify for direct consulate issuance)

단계별 신청 방법

1
Confirm the qualifying F-1 sub-type
Identify which F-1 sub-type applies to your situation (e.g., F-1-13 for school-age child's parent, F-1-15 for talent/investor parent). Each sub-type has different document requirements.
2
Gather relationship and financial documents
Obtain apostilled birth or marriage certificates proving your relationship to the primary holder. Prepare bank statements if the financial requirement applies to your nationality.
3
Apply at the Korean consulate or immigration office
Apply at the Korean embassy or consulate in your home country (for new entry) or at the local immigration office if already in Korea (for status change). Most F-1 sub-types can be issued directly by the consulate.
4
Register and renew annually
After arriving in Korea, register at the immigration office and obtain your ARC. Renew F-1 annually, and coordinate renewals with the primary holder's status renewal.

F-1 비자 도움이 필요하신가요?

F-1 신청을 전문으로 하는 검증된 전문가와 연결하세요.

주요 출입국 용어

용어가 생소하신가요?

한국 F-1 비자Visit / Cohabitation Visa

개요

F-1 비자는 누구를 위한 것인가요?

자격 요건

필요 서류

단계별 신청 방법

주요 출입국 용어

F-1 비자 — 자주 묻는 질문

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