How can I invite my foreign parents for a short-term visit?

You can usually invite your foreign parents with a Short-Term Visit (C-3) visa for up to 90 days. Your parents apply at the Korean embassy or consulate (overseas diplomatic mission, 재외공관) in the country where they live.

Prepare these

• Basic documents (visa application form, passport, photo, fee) — your parents submit these to the overseas mission
• Family relationship documents — documents that show the parent-child relationship (usually required)
• The inviter's Alien Registration Card or ID document — used to confirm who is inviting them in Korea (usually required)
• Financial ability documents — submit only when needed. They are limited to 2 types or fewer, such as a certificate of employment or a credit card statement for the last 6 months

Steps

1. First, check whether your parents need a visa based on their nationality. If their country has visa-free entry, they can come without a visa.
2. If a visa is needed, your parents submit the documents to the Korean overseas mission in their country of residence.
3. They receive the visa and enter Korea. The stay is usually up to 90 days.

⚠️ Things to note

• C-3 is for purposes like tourism or visiting relatives. They cannot do paid work (profit-making activities).
• A short-term visit cannot go over 90 days. An extension may be approved only for unavoidable reasons, such as illness or an accident.
• If you want them to live with you in Korea for a long time, a short-term visit is not the right option. Depending on the inviter's status of stay, there are other statuses such as F-1-5 and F-1-15, and they have separate requirements, such as the inviter's income.

Documents can differ a little by nationality and by mission. If you tell me your parents' nationality, I can give more specific guidance. For final confirmation, check HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or call 1345.