Can I bring my child with an F-3 (dependent) visa? Is there an age limit for the child?

Yes, you can bring a minor child with an F-3 (dependent) visa. However, the main visa holder must have an eligible status. The child must be a minor and must be unmarried.

Age and child requirements

• The Ministry of Justice (법무부) manual says "a minor child who has no spouse." It does not state an age number.
• The HiKorea (하이코리아) guide says "unmarried child under 20." You can usually use this as the standard.
• A married child is not eligible for F-3.

Whose child can come?

• The main visa holder must hold a status from Culture and Arts (D-1) to Specific Activities (E-7), Residence (F-2), or Overseas Korean (F-4).
• Technical Training (D-3) is excluded.
• Visiting Employment (H-2) is included in the manual, but it was merged into F-4 from 2026.2.12. If you hold H-2, first check how to change to F-4.
• In practice, the spouse and children of an F-4 holder are sometimes treated as Visiting Family (F-1-9). Please check on HiKorea.

Prepare these documents

You usually need the documents below. This applies to applications from abroad using a certificate of visa issuance confirmation (사증발급인정서).

• Proof of family relationship: original birth certificate from your home country, etc. (if the child was born in Korea, a Korean birth certificate)
• Proof of parent-child relationship: family relations certificate from your home country, etc.
• Translation and authentication: a certified translator's confirmation is required, and an apostille or consular confirmation is needed
• Proof of ability to support the family: the inviter's employment certificate, tax payment certificate, etc. (exempt for E-1, E-3, E-4, E-5, F-4, H-2)
• Letter of identity guarantee
• Proof of residence in Korea: exempt for the statuses above
• Basic documents (application form, passport, photo, fee)

As a rule, you must apply for the certificate of visa issuance confirmation together with the main visa holder for the certificate to be issued. A tuberculosis certificate may be needed in some cases. The examiner may also ask for more documents.

💡 Good to know

An F-3 child does not need a separate permit for activities outside the status of stay to attend elementary, middle, high school, or university. The child can go to school during the period of stay.

Please check the exact requirements again on HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or the Immigration Contact Center (외국인종합안내센터) at 1345.