How to Renew F3 Visa in Korea

When we renewed our visas in Korea, I previously shared the requirements we needed for renewing an E-2 visa. This time, I wanted to share my experience renewing an F-3 visa, which is the dependent status commonly used by eligible family members of certain foreign residents in Korea.

Compared with the E-2 visa renewal process I experienced, renewing my F-3 visa at that time seemed fairly simple. I didn't have a long list of documents to prepare.

F-3 Visa Renewal Requirements I Had in 2012

For my F-3 visa renewal, the documents I prepared were:

• Application form
• Passport
• Alien Registration Card (ARC)
• ₩30,000 for the revenue stamp/fee

And that was it for my experience at the time.

There was also a fingerprint registration requirement during the immigration process. I remember having my fingerprints scanned as part of the new regulations that were being implemented at the time.

The process felt much easier than the E-2 visa renewal I had written about previously.

Important: F-3 Visa Requirements Have Changed

Since this post was originally written in 2012, please don't use the list above as a current checklist for renewing an F-3 visa.

Korea's Immigration Service currently states that applications for an extension of stay generally require an application form, a valid passport, a residence card, proof of your current address in Korea, and the applicable fee. Additional documents may be required depending on your specific status and circumstances.

Immigration rules can change, so anyone preparing for an F-3 visa extension in Korea should check the latest requirements through HiKorea or Korea Immigration Service before visiting an immigration office.

You can also contact the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 for current guidance.

Looking Back at My Visa Renewal

Reading this old post now reminds me how different things can be when you're living abroad. At the time, renewing a visa was simply another task I needed to take care of while living in Korea.

I remember preparing my documents, going through the immigration process, and thinking that the F-3 renewal was surprisingly straightforward compared with the E-2 renewal.

A lot has changed since I originally wrote this in 2012, though, which is why I'm keeping this post as a record of my personal experience at that time, rather than presenting the old requirements as current immigration advice.

If you're currently renewing an F-3 visa in Korea, always verify the latest requirements before submitting your application.

Originally published: February 20, 2013

Updated: August 2026