Effective April 2025, South Korea’s immigration authority has begun enforcing stricter procedural and documentary requirements for the F-3 visa, the standard long-term dependent visa for family members of corporate visa holders (e.g., D-7, D-8, E-7). The most significant change is that Korean immigration no longer accepts in-country F-3 Dependent Family visa applications, except in limited humanitarian circumstances such as illness, pregnancy, or childbirth. This new restriction applies regardless of whether the F-3 application is submitted concurrently with or separately from the principal applicant’s long-term work visa (such as the D-8 Corporate Investment visa).
This is a developing situation and additional changes to the F-3 visa process may be introduced. Due to the abrupt implementation of these new rules, pending applications may be affected, and processing times for new applications may increase. It remains unclear whether exceptions to the new policy will be introduced. We are closely monitoring developments and gathering insights from immigration offices across South Korea to better understand the impact of these changes.
This alert is written in collaboration with Fragomen’s co-counsel for South Korea, Kim Chang Lee. This is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
Explore more at Fragomen
Media mentions
Senior Associate Clara Gautrais and Immigration Paralegal Sean Pearce outline the impact of new visa skill requirements and sponsorship rules on UK construction firms.
Media mentions
This article in Irish Legal News covers the firm's recent announcement of its new office opening in Cork, Ireland.
Media mentions
Director Audrey Morew outlines how US retirees may apply for Finnish residency under the “residence permit on other grounds” route.
Media mentions
Partner Louise Haycock explains how the UK’s decision to double the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain is creating uncertainty for international talent and increasing pressure on employers.
Fragomen news
Fragomen announces the appointment of Partner Daniel Brown to the position of Chief Executive Officer of WorkRight U.S., the firm’s I-9 employee verification technology.
Fragomen news
Fragomen earned top rankings in Chambers USA 2025, with Band 1 recognition nationally.
Media mentions
San Diego Managing Partner Karine Wenger discussed the upcoming Olympic immigration landscape and potential challenges for international participants.
Media mentions
Partner Daniel Pierce notes that limited social media activity or private accounts could lead to greater scrutiny for international students applying for US visas.
Fragomen news
Fragomen announces the opening of a new office in Cork, expanding its presence in Ireland to better support clients across the country's southern and western regions.
Awards
Fragomen is ranked both nationally and locally in "Best Law Firms in Australia" by The Best Lawyers.
Awards
Global Mobility Lawyer recognises Senior Immigration Manager Wout van Doren and Manager Tanya Loughran as Tomorrow's Leaders.
Media mentions
Senior Associate Clara Gautrais and Immigration Paralegal Sean Pearce outline the impact of new visa skill requirements and sponsorship rules on UK construction firms.
Media mentions
This article in Irish Legal News covers the firm's recent announcement of its new office opening in Cork, Ireland.
Media mentions
Director Audrey Morew outlines how US retirees may apply for Finnish residency under the “residence permit on other grounds” route.
Media mentions
Partner Louise Haycock explains how the UK’s decision to double the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain is creating uncertainty for international talent and increasing pressure on employers.
Fragomen news
Fragomen announces the appointment of Partner Daniel Brown to the position of Chief Executive Officer of WorkRight U.S., the firm’s I-9 employee verification technology.
Fragomen news
Fragomen earned top rankings in Chambers USA 2025, with Band 1 recognition nationally.
Media mentions
San Diego Managing Partner Karine Wenger discussed the upcoming Olympic immigration landscape and potential challenges for international participants.
Media mentions
Partner Daniel Pierce notes that limited social media activity or private accounts could lead to greater scrutiny for international students applying for US visas.
Fragomen news
Fragomen announces the opening of a new office in Cork, expanding its presence in Ireland to better support clients across the country's southern and western regions.
Awards
Fragomen is ranked both nationally and locally in "Best Law Firms in Australia" by The Best Lawyers.
Awards
Global Mobility Lawyer recognises Senior Immigration Manager Wout van Doren and Manager Tanya Loughran as Tomorrow's Leaders.