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
Fragomen news
Blog post
Manager Zaur Gasimov discusses Georgia’s new immigration and labour-migration reforms introducing mandatory work permits, stricter employer compliance requirements and increased penalties for non-compliance.
Awards
Senior Associate Agata Danuta Richardson is recognized with a prestigious Pro Bono Publico Award by the Casa Cornelia Law Center.
Media mentions
Frankfurt Managing Partner Dr. Axel Boysen highlights the growing skilled labor gap as Europe’s defense industry expands.
Media mentions
Senior Manager William Diaz outlines the US visa options available to the games industry for bringing international talent to the United States, including O-1, L-1 and E-2.
Media mentions
Partner Jo Antoons and Manager Andreia Ghimis explain how businesses can navigate Europe’s new ETIAS pre-travel authorisation and avoid disruptions.
Media mentions
Partner Louise Haycock and Associate Jennifer Gray analyse the barriers and opportunities for overseas creatives navigating the UK’s immigration system.
Blog post
Associate Chloe Evans outlines eligibility criteria for individuals seeking British citizenship based on ancestral ties.
Fragomen news
Fragomen’s Semiconductor Industry Group publishes the next installment of its “Voice of the Industry” Q&A series, featuring Shari Liss, Vice President of Global Workforce Development and Initiatives at SEMI.
Media mentions
Partner Karolina Schiffter highlights how Poland’s tightened visa system affects foreign hiring and the challenges companies face in navigating it.
Media mentions
Partner Carl Hampe provides insight on the impact of the $100,000 H-1B fee and the US Chamber of Commerce’s related lawsuit.
Awards
Fragomen was honoured with the “Best Partnership Between a Corporate Organization and a Service Provider” EMMA at FEM's 2025 EMEA Summit.
Fragomen news
Blog post
Manager Zaur Gasimov discusses Georgia’s new immigration and labour-migration reforms introducing mandatory work permits, stricter employer compliance requirements and increased penalties for non-compliance.
Awards
Senior Associate Agata Danuta Richardson is recognized with a prestigious Pro Bono Publico Award by the Casa Cornelia Law Center.
Media mentions
Frankfurt Managing Partner Dr. Axel Boysen highlights the growing skilled labor gap as Europe’s defense industry expands.
Media mentions
Senior Manager William Diaz outlines the US visa options available to the games industry for bringing international talent to the United States, including O-1, L-1 and E-2.
Media mentions
Partner Jo Antoons and Manager Andreia Ghimis explain how businesses can navigate Europe’s new ETIAS pre-travel authorisation and avoid disruptions.
Media mentions
Partner Louise Haycock and Associate Jennifer Gray analyse the barriers and opportunities for overseas creatives navigating the UK’s immigration system.
Blog post
Associate Chloe Evans outlines eligibility criteria for individuals seeking British citizenship based on ancestral ties.
Fragomen news
Fragomen’s Semiconductor Industry Group publishes the next installment of its “Voice of the Industry” Q&A series, featuring Shari Liss, Vice President of Global Workforce Development and Initiatives at SEMI.
Media mentions
Partner Karolina Schiffter highlights how Poland’s tightened visa system affects foreign hiring and the challenges companies face in navigating it.
Media mentions
Partner Carl Hampe provides insight on the impact of the $100,000 H-1B fee and the US Chamber of Commerce’s related lawsuit.
Awards
Fragomen was honoured with the “Best Partnership Between a Corporate Organization and a Service Provider” EMMA at FEM's 2025 EMEA Summit.