Which visa applies is decided by the relationship and the sponsor's status. Starting from the visa name is how people pick the wrong one.
- F-6 marriage immigration — a foreign spouse of a Korean national
- F-3 dependent — the spouse and minor children of an E-series work-visa holder
- F-1 visiting and cohabitation — covers several family situations, with eligibility differing by subtype
Order of preparation
- Fix the sponsor's exact status, the family relationship, and where the application is filed first
- Gather marriage, birth and family records, the invitation, and financial and housing evidence
- Ask the responsible Korean mission whether foreign documents need translation, notarization, an apostille or consular authentication
- Organise originals and copies so a request for more evidence or an interview does not stall you
F-6 is assessed on more than documents
The genuineness of the relationship, income, housing and the ability to communicate may all be examined separately. That runs alongside the paperwork rather than after it, so find out early what applies to you.
A dependent status is not a work permit
Statuses such as F-3 generally do not carry unrestricted work rights. Check whether separate permission is needed, or whether the status has to change, before anyone starts a job. Working without it puts the status itself at risk.
What to check now
- The sponsor's current status and how the relationship is classified in law
- Which documents must come from your home country, and how long they take
- Whether anyone in the family intends to work in Korea
Eligibility, documents and processing time vary by nationality, relationship and sponsor status. Do not apply from a general article — use the HiKorea and consular checklist for your own case. The full guide by type is on the WeBring blog.