I’ve received a couple of emails from Filipina women whose husbands are working in Korea. Basically, they just want to know how they could come here with a tourist visa. A tourist visa is only good for up to 90 days. There’s a better visa for dependent families (spouse and children younger than 20) and that is the F-3 visa. This visa will allow you to stay in Korea for a longer time but you’re still not allowed to work legally.
You have to ask your partner to do the work for you first. Remember that you should be legally married to get the F-3 visa. First your spouse need to have the following documents:
- marriage certificate for spouses/ birth certificate for kids (NSO copies if possible)
- copy of dependent family’s passport/s (first and last pages, include amendments if available)
- ARC (Alien Registration Card)
- Letter of Employment
- Tax payment (addtl document to prove employment)
- Application for Recognition of Visa Issuance
Bring the above documents to the immigration office wait for the issuance of the CRV. Once the CRV number is issued, the dependent family needs to apply for the visa at the local Korean Embassy with the following documents:
- Passport
- 2 pcs ID photos
- Application for Visa
- CRV number
- visa fee
The F-3 visa is not available for families of D-3, E-8, E-9 and E-10 visa-holders.
{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi, I got a offer in Korea, and my employer will arrange my work visa(E-7) for 1yr contract. my spouse having Master degree and i would like to move to korea along with my spouse. is that possible to get F-3 visa along with E-7 visa?
Hi!
Kamusta?
I’m also a Filipina. I live in the Philippines. I’ve come across your blog ever since i stumbled upon your ‘infamous’ post: Kim Sun Ah (a.k.a. Kim Sam Soon) in the flesh! (well… i’m a fan of kim sun ah, and had always been envious that you’ve already seen her in person)
Anyway, i visited your blog once in a while from then on.
I just have a couple of questions for you. I’m planning to go to Korea sometime this year. Is it difficult to get a tourist visa? I’ll jut be staying in Korea for less than 1 week. Also can you recommend movie theaters (preferably in the Seoul area) where they gave out half of the movie ticket back to the customer just like these pictures:
http://i29.tinypic.com/28c3b13.jpg
http://i28.tinypic.com/rw08m0.jpg
Sorry to bother you with these. I have a few Korean friends, i speak a little Korean too, but i cannot ask them about this, we might not understand each other, I’m still not that good in Korean and they are not fluent with English too.
고마워요.
Hi everyone,,I want to ask because I am getting married to my Fiance this coming September here in Philippines..He is a US Military stationed in Korea and he is going to come here in Philippines to get married with me,,I want to ask guys any help,,ano mga kailangan gawin after namin magpakasal para makapunta agad ako sa Korea as her spouse,,what are the procedure and reqiurements sa KOrean embassy to get a Visa as a military spouse to go to KOrea,,
thank you guys and hope to hear from all of you soon,,thank you so much,,
Is there a possibility to arrange a spouse visa(K-1 VISA) from Korea to US.Please help me out as my fiance has been working as IT professional in Newyork City in US,from last 2 months and i want to go there and we both are planning to get wedded in the month of July 2008
Hello,
My husband is an English teacher in South Korea and he have an E-2 visa.I’m here for an F-3 visa.I am a Filipina after I have an american passport can I get an E-2 visa?Or can I work as a partime job for an F-3 visa?
thanks
@mayen – as far as i know, as long as you carry a passport from the inner circle countries you can teach english legally with an E-2 visa
@mayen
E-2 is for North American passport holders with a 4 year degree diploma from accredited schools anywhere in North America. I’m not in particular lang kung ano anong mga schools yun sa North America.
Maki-double check na lang sa immigration link down here regarding of the visa categories.
http://www.immigration.go.kr
@ STELLA BAKER
Yes, any american citizen who can prove that their domicile is in US can petition a K-1 visa at the US Embassy here in Seoul (w/c is the fiance visa). But please be aware that you should have a visa to prove that your staying here in Korea legally to become eligible.
Please check the US Embassy, Seoul Korea link
http://www.asktheconsul.org/
Hi… i’m now here in korea working at an engineering & construction firm with an e-7 visa.. i want to bring my family here for a vacation, most probably on summer 2009… what is the best & convenient visa applicable for my family (my wife & 3 kids)? is it f-3 or an ordinary tourist visa (they will stay here at 3 mons maximum and planning to be back again every summer or xmas break).
another thing, am i going to apply independently for their visas (confirmation of visa issuance & application for visa) or 1 visa number blanket for all of them?
my best regards & be bless… gamsahamnida!
Hello Ms. Betchay,
I just wanna ask you something about the tourist visa, I got married to a foreigner who’s working in Korea. He wants me to get a tourist visa first because the immigration in Korea said that my husband can’t do the processing in there for spousal visa, and he’s told to ask me to get a tourist visa here in the Philippines first and so we can just work for my spousal visa when I get to Korea. I just wanna know the requirements for it, I don’t have any job here in the Philippines or any bank accounts. Because I searched for its requirements before online and it says that I need a bank account? And, do I have to get my passport amended? And lastly, my husband already sent me an invitation through mail and as well as his company. But what is a notary invitation? Anyway, thank you very much and i hope to get good answers from you. And I hope that I explained it well to you. God Bless and More Power:)
Hello there, we have the same problem my husband is a foreigner too working in Korea with E2 Visa. He apply for my visa issuance number in Korea but he was told that i have to apply C3 here in the Philippines and change it to F3 when i arrived Korea. But when i ask in the embassy here in the Philippines they told me there is also a chance to be denied with a C3 visa Like you i can’t show any bank statements. So please notify me what are the required documents…
Thanks in advance,
To Sherlyn,
Hello there, we have the same problem my husband is a foreigner too working in Korea with E2 Visa. He apply for my visa issuance number in Korea but he was told that i have to apply C3 here in the Philippines and change it to F3 when i arrived Korea. But when i ask in the embassy here in the Philippines they told me there is also a chance to be denied with a C3 visa Like you i can’t show any bank statements. So please notify me what are the required documents…
Thanks in advance,
Ryanne
hello Ryanne i already have the requirements for it.. and yeah i can give it to you, I’ll be processing mine next week so hopefully everything’s gonna work out fine
requirements:
application form
1pc. passport size colored pic.
passport original(6 mo.s valid)
copy of passport first page
invitation letter from husband’s company in Korea
copy of husband’s passport first page
copy of husband’s alien ID
copy of husband’s contract or employment certificate
NSO Marriage certificate photocopy
hi miss sherlyn i have all these, can i already apply for a visa at korean embassy?naka alis k n b ppnta sa south korea?
kmusta po ung application mo sa embassy miss sherlyn?nakuha mo po b ung f3 visa u?
Ate Betchay,
Hello there, as i have told to Sherlyn we have have the same problem my husband is a foreigner too working in Korea with E2 Visa. He apply for my visa issuance number in Korea but he was told that i have to apply C3 here in the Philippines and change it to F3 when i arrived Korea. But when i ask in the embassy here in the Philippines they told me there is also a chance to be denied with a C3 visa Like you i can’t show any bank statements. So please notify me what are the required documents ate betchay…
Thanks in advance,
hi miss ryanne nag present k pa po b ng bank statement sa embassy?pls need answers:( hndi pa b enough ung requiremnets for f3 visa?kz apply ng c3 magkaiba ng requirements.na tetense ako
Hi-yes tama sila appy ka c-3 pero submit mo marriage contract NSO at copy of contract ng husband mo at ERC copy niya-di muna kailangan ung bank statement. ganyan din ako dati tourist punta ko dito then pagdating ko sa korea dito na ako nga -apply ng F-3 visa
hi ms betchay.i just wna asked kung anu ang una kong dpat e apply sa embassy?my husband is an e7 visa holder, frsh grad lng po ako. i dont have job here in phil, no bank certificate,no itr certificate. ang nsaken lng po notarized invitation letter galing sa boss ng asawa ko,and passport.sabi saken sa embassy hndi ako pwede sa tourist kz wla ako trabaho d2 and wla din ako bank cert.san po ba dpt e apply ung F3 visa?anyone can help me with this?open po sa lht ng may useful info regarding f3 and c3.thanx and more power!
hello!i’ve read alot about the E7 visa and f3 visa.i just wanna ask if there’s a chance for me to go to korea because my husband has E9 visa.i know f3 visa is not applicable for people with e9 visa.but i just wonder if there’s a way for me to be able to go to korea.im a math teacher here in the philippines and i really want to be with my husband in order for us to have a baby.the chance for us to have a baby with our set up being away frm each other most of the time is very slim so i really want to know if there’s a way for me.pls…answers will be much appreciated.tnx
hello again.since my husband cant get me through f3 visa bcoz he has e9 visa,is there a way for him to have or to change his visa from e9 to e7?thanks again!
hi ms. happy. yes there is.u can apply for a tourist visa.requiremnts are the foloowing bank certificate,ITR cert,passport,cert of employment,and a notarized invitation letter from a korean citizen.good luck!
Hi to all Filipino living in Korea,
I wanna know, If there is a Filipino Community in Seoul? and where?
Thanks a lot.
hello. ahm i already had all the requirments to apply for a visa going to korea including my baby’s passport and birth certificate.( our marriage certificate from NSO,my passport,my bank certification and my husband’s bank statement,my husband’s ARC,cert.of employment,his passport with his visa, letter of invitaion(notarized) from his company) then my husband (a french national working in korea)will go home here in philippines so we can go together and apply for the visa just wanna ask if anyone know how long it will take to get a tourist visa?
i hope everything will work out right.
thank you.
and i also have my ORIGINAL CFO CERTIFICATION
hi mis betchay, i just wna know if i have to change my surname sa passport ko kz ung passsport ko 2013 pa ma eepire kya lng last month ngpaksal n kmi ng bf ko and hes an e7 visa holder.kaialngan ko po ba palitan ung passport ko kz ung apelyedo ko dun nung dlaga pa aq.pls need answers thnk you
ms. lynn nung pmnta k po ba sa embassy and apply for c3 visa nag present k pa po b ng bank certificate?employment certificate?itr?kz apply po ako c3 muna then renew ko nlng ng f3.ang problema wla po ako itr and employment cert kz fresh grad lng po aq.gusto ko lng ppo mkasiguro na completo requirements ko bago pmnta sa embassy.slmt po.
wlang reply???:(
hi there. i’ve been reading your blog for quite a while now since my husband decided that i go and visit him in korea where he is working right now. i am scheduled to go there first week of october 2009. i am quite confused lang po about the c-3 and f-3 visa. would it be better if i apply for c3 first since this is just the first time i am going there? i am planning kase to visit him every year and i want my kids to join me next year as well. pls enlighten me. thanks.
ps:
any suggestion on the best places i can visit when i’m there?
whats ur husband’s visa?u can come here with a c3 visa since yun nmn ang binibigay ng embassy ng korea sa mga filipina. then renew nlng or apply nlng ng f3 d2.im here in seoul the embassy gave me c3 visa and next week process n namin ung f3 visa.pero try ur luck bka ma grant ka ng f3 agad sa pinas pero bihira ung gnon.good luck
Thank you so much Ms. Dhang for the reply. I’m excited na nga to apply for my visa pero sabi ng embassy I can do it by 1st week of September na kase October pa naman ang trip ko. They said it will just take maximum of 1 1/2 weeks for me to get my visa application result and ang validity daw nun is 3 months lang. I’d like to take advantage kase of the Cebu Pacific low airfare, baka kase by September tumaas na ung rate. Anyway, thanks again.
hi to everyone, just want to ask about F-3 visa application, what are the requirements needed? My wife is taking a Masteral Degree in South Korea for almost 2 years from now, at galing narin po ako sa Korea for 2 times with C-3 visa, ngaun gus2 po ng wife ko na pumunta ako doon. Ano po ba mga kailangan na documents at anong type ng visa ang mas magandang iapply is it F-3 or C-3? At anong window po ba sa embassy kung F-3 visa application? Thanks po sa reply and more power to all… God Bless!
hi trojan these are the documents that u need to prepare before goin to the korean embassy.you need c3 visa then renew it pag nsa korea k na.sop kz un for f3 visa.good luck
1. 1 passport picture
2. Passport (original & Photocopy)
3. CFO Certificate (photocopy)
4. ARC copy of my husband
5. invitation letter from the company of your wife(notarized)
6. Employment letter of your wife
7. Employment Contract of your wife
8. NSO copy Marriage Certificate
9. Copy of your wife’s visa and her passport.
Try to call the embassy and ask what you need.
ARC of your wife rather.im here in seoul and my visa is c3.and na apply ko ung f3 ko last july 17 and ill be getting it this july 27.kakalunkot wla akong kaibigan d2 na mlpit sa flat namin.lht ng mga friends nmn nsa ansan…so sad..goodluck to your application
hi I am a Ph.D student in seoul. my husband is in my country. can he come here in dependent visa? please answer me.
hi ms. dhang, thanks for your information, pero paano po kaya ung employment certificate kasi di nman po cya nagwowork, student lang po cya at D-2 yong visa nya, pero meron na po cyang school certification from the university. anyway once again thanks a lot for your response and if I’m lucky to have my visa hahanapin kita jan at kita-kits nlang tau… ^_-
hi trojan,just present her university certification.and it should be notarized.sure cge ba kita kits nlng…
elow ms. dhang, I already got my visa last July 31 pa but thesame status with my previous visa C-3, medyo busy kaya ngaun lang ako nkapag post d2, maybe last week of this month or 1st week of Sept. anjan na ako sa Seoul. Ask ko lang ano mga requirements sa application for F-3 at gaano katagal b4 makuha ung result, thank’s once again and see U soon…
hi..i have a problem on what visa should i get and what are the requirements to get it?..
i will get married with my korean boyfriend this year…
he want’s me to stay in korea for a long time..
what should i do?pls help..
thanks a lot…
hi..i have a problem on what visa should i get and what are the requirements to get it?..
i will get married with my korean boyfriend this year…
he wants me to stay in korea for a long time..
what should i do?pls help..
thanks a lot…
hi abby! sorry but i didn’t fully understand your dilemma… if he wants you to stay in korea for a long time, then get married…
hello! my husband to be is coming here in philippines on december, i hope.
we’re getting married on april next year. was just curious about what stuff do i need to get for the visa.
what ARC means? sorry..
Hi Tintin! It’s Alien Registration Certificate. If you’re staying in Korea for more than 90 days (not with a tourist visa of course), then you’ll need to get an ARC.
hi ms, betchay
i am a filipina and marrying a US national who work for the army as a DoD civilian, last year we tried to get a tourist visa i submmitted complete documents but still embassy denied my visa application and so we decided just to be married and do the spouse visa, but the requirements for the spouse visa which they required includes inviatation letter notarized in seoul i am wondering what should be the contents of the letter. he is confuse too.
and what is the CRV? and do i have to get that? and where is that immigration office? what are the requirements that i should prepare? i know the requirements but any other documentation as for support? should i apply for F3 visa or C3? and also i dont know what is c3 visa is.
sorry i have lots of questions. i want to make sure that i will be in korea after our wedding. thanks for reading and thank u in advance if you responce to my questions. please email me jquiapo1985@yahoo.com for the answers thanks very much
have a good day
hi jessa! The Korean Embassy is stricter when it comes to Filipinas who are fiancees of US servicemen. It will be easier if you get married in the Philippines first before you come to Korea. This way, your husband could apply for an A-3 visa for you. It would be best for him to ask the Legal Office in his workplace.
Hello,
Am a Korean am going to apply for employment visa to work in India and i want to take my spouse and my two sons to india.Can you help me how i want to apply for family visa pls.
Awaiting for your reply,
Thanks,
Mr.Jang
can you help me as soon as possible pls..
By
Mr.Jang
hi po!
i’ve read many threads from you po. and they are very useful and great. Well, i have a question about F-3 visa. i’m a filipina married to a canadian and living here in korea for almost 2years now w/ a 1year old baby. my baby and i both have F-3 visas. My question is, i want to work legally. And there’s a lot of job opportunity for me but they dont want to hire me coz i have F-3 visa nga. how can i go on changing it po? w/o needing the help of my employer?
thanks! would really appreciate a reply.
hey, my fiance is a filipina, who is living in the philippines. im an american soldier stationed in south korea, i want to bring her here so i can marry her, what should i do?