The spouse of a Corporate Investment (D-8) investor, and minor children who are not married, can stay with the investor on Dependent (F-3) status. Family members who wish to enter together with a D-8 holder may be issued a single-entry visa with a stay period of 1 year or less at the discretion of the head of the Korean mission, and the family of a D-8 high-value investor of half a million US dollars or more is exempt from submitting proof of financial means and proof of residence.
This guide walks D-8 investors who run, or are preparing, a business in Korea through bringing their family. The visa application, extensions after entry, a child born in Korea and a spouse who wants to work each involve different points to check.
Key Summary
- Who: the spouse and unmarried minor children of a D-8 investor
- Visa: a single-entry visa of 1 year or less may be issued to accompanying family at the mission head's discretion
- Documents: application, passport, photo, fee; proof of family relationship; proof of financial means; personal surety form; proof of residence (plus a tuberculosis certificate under the relevant guidelines)
- High-value investors of half a million US dollars or more: proof of financial means and proof of residence are exempt
- Extension: application, passport, alien registration card, proof of residence, and the spouse's or parent's alien registration card
- Children's education at elementary, middle and high schools and universities needs no separate permit within the stay period
- Spouse employment: the spouse of an investment-status holder who invested half a million US dollars or more may receive permission for activities outside status in all occupations except simple labor
1. Who can come along on Dependent (F-3) status?
Dependent (F-3) status is for the spouse and unmarried minor children of a person holding a status from Culture and Arts (D-1) to Specific Activities (E-7), Residence (F-2), Overseas Korean (F-4) or Working Visit (H-2). Corporate Investment (D-8) falls within this range, so a D-8 investor's spouse and unmarried minor children qualify.
Parents and adult children are not covered by Dependent (F-3). If you want to bring your parents, a separate family-visit route needs to be considered.
2. How do you apply for the visa, and what documents are needed?
Family members who wish to enter together with a Corporate Investment (D-8) holder may be issued a single-entry visa with a stay period of 1 year or less at the mission head's discretion. The documents submitted to the Korean mission are:
| No. | Document | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ① | Visa application form (Form No. 17), passport, 1 standard photo, fee | Common |
| ② | Proof of family relationship (marriage or birth certificate, etc.) | Home-country official documents need a translator's confirmation; apostille for convention countries, consular confirmation by the Korean mission in non-member countries |
| ③ | Proof of financial means (the inviter's certificate of employment and tax payment certificate, etc.) | If a tax payment certificate is hard to submit, other financial documents may be used instead |
| ④ | Personal surety form | |
| ⑤ | Proof of residence such as the place of stay |
A tuberculosis certificate is submitted in accordance with the guidelines on visa issuance and stay management for foreign tuberculosis patients. The head of the mission may add or remove some documents when needed for the review.
3. What is exempt for investors of half a million US dollars or more?
For the family of a high-value investor of half a million US dollars or more among D-8 holders, item ③ proof of financial means and item ⑤ proof of residence in the table above are exempt. Proof of family relationship and the personal surety form are still submitted.
Investors below half a million US dollars must submit ③ and ⑤. Where a tax payment certificate is hard to submit, such as for some D-series statuses or when applying together with the principal status holder, other financial documents may be submitted instead. Which financial records are accepted needs to be checked case by case.
4. How do extensions and children's schooling work after entry?
The maximum stay granted at one time on Dependent (F-3) follows the per-status upper limits in Annex 1 of the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act. The period actually granted can vary with the review.
For an extension, submit the application, passport, alien registration card and fee, proof of residence (lease, real estate register, jeonse contract, sales contract, etc., and confirmation of accommodation), plus the alien registration card of the spouse or parent. At alien registration, proof of family relationship is submitted only when an additional stay permit such as an extension is needed, without official confirmation, and a copy is acceptable.
Children receiving education at regular educational institutions such as elementary, middle and high schools and universities do not need a separate permit procedure within the stay period, as long as it does not undermine the original purpose of stay.
5. What if a child is born in Korea, or a family member is already here on another visa?
A child born in Korea applies for a grant of status. Along with the application, passport, photo and fee, submit the father's or mother's alien registration card, a personal surety form and proof of family relationship (such as a Korean birth certificate).
If a family member is already in Korea on another status, a change of status to Dependent (F-3) is limited to people who need humanitarian consideration because of changed circumstances after entry, such as pregnancy, childbirth, childcare or illness. It covers people who entered under visa exemption (B-1), as tourists in transit (B-2) or on short-term visas, and foreigners lawfully staying long term in Korea. A statement of reasons for the change with supporting evidence and the alien registration card of the principal holder (spouse or parent) are needed. Entering on a short-term basis and switching merely for convenience may not meet this requirement.
6. Can the spouse work in Korea?
The guidance on activities outside status for professional statuses contains an item titled "employment of spouses of high-value foreign investors and professionals", and its eligible group includes the spouse of an investment-status holder who invested half a million US dollars or more (including through a corporation). In that case, permission for activities outside status is possible for all occupations except simple labor (D-3, E-9), and the permit runs until the end of the spouse's stay period (renewable). Working in Specific Activities (E-7) follows the guidelines for E-7 Visa Issuance Certificates.
The spouse of an investor below half a million US dollars is not listed in this eligible group. Whether such a spouse can work needs to be checked case by case, and care should be taken not to start working without permission.
7. Common problems
- Not attaching a translator's confirmation or apostille (or consular confirmation) to marriage and birth certificates
- Trying to apply for adult children or parents as Dependent (F-3)
- Leaving out proof of financial means and residence when the investment is below half a million US dollars
- The spouse starting work without permission for activities outside status
- Not preparing a copy of the spouse's or parent's (principal holder's) alien registration card at extension
8. How A-One Certified Administrative Agent can help
We match the Dependent (F-3) document list to your investment size and family composition and check the translation and confirmation requirements for family documents and the financial records. The missions and immigration offices decide the outcome, so we cannot promise results, and we do not represent clients in lawsuits or trials (outside the scope of an administrative agent).
Frequently Asked Questions
Up to what age can a D-8 investor's child be on Dependent (F-3)?
Minor children who are not married are covered. A child who becomes an adult falls outside Dependent (F-3).
How long is the dependent visa valid?
A person who wishes to enter together with a Corporate Investment (D-8) holder may be issued a single-entry visa with a stay period of 1 year or less at the mission head's discretion.
Are there fewer documents if the investment is half a million US dollars or more?
The family of a high-value D-8 investor of half a million US dollars or more is exempt from proof of financial means and proof of residence.
Does my child need a permit to attend a Korean school?
Education at regular educational institutions such as elementary, middle and high schools and universities needs no separate permit procedure within the stay period.
Can my spouse get a job at a company?
The spouse of an investment-status holder who invested half a million US dollars or more may receive permission for activities outside status in occupations other than simple labor. Other cases need to be checked individually.
Related Guides
- D-8 Corporate Investment Visa Guide
- Re-entry permits for D-8 investors
- Alien registration documents after entering on a D-8 visa
Consultation
에이원 행정사사무소 (A-One Certified Administrative Agent) is an administrative office that supports document preparation and filing with the authorities. Fees vary by case and are explained during a consultation. Phone 02-309-3107 · Contact: https://investkorea.co.kr/en/contact