Home › Visa Services › South Korea Visa › South Korea Dependant Visa
South Korea family visa · Kochi, Kerala
South Korea Dependant Visa (F-3) from Kerala
If your spouse or parent works or studies in Korea on a long-term visa, you join them on the F-3 “dependent family” visa. From Kerala the file is submitted at the Korea Visa Application Centre in Chennai, and long-term visas take several weeks – so the apostilled marriage and birth certificates, the sponsor’s papers and the TB test must be ready first. Visa Xpert, Kochi prepares all of it with you.
Submission at KVAC Chennai
Call +91 89211 53604 WhatsApp Us See fees
★ 4.9 · 8,700+ Google reviewsSince 2015Independent consultancy · not VFS, not an embassy
South Korea dependant visa at a glance
- Government feeLong-term single-entry fee set in US dollars (US$60), collected by KVAC in rupees – about ₹5,400 on our last check. KVAC service charge about ₹1,600.
- Processing timeLong-term visas: at least 25 working days at KVAC Chennai (27 at Bengaluru). Plan 5–6 weeks plus document preparation.
- Stay and validityF-3 is granted for the same period as the sponsor’s visa and extended in Korea with it. Work is not permitted on F-3 without a separate permission.
- Where you apply from KeralaNo Kochi centre. Submit at KVAC Chennai (Egmore) or Bengaluru; decided by the Consulate General of Korea, Chennai.
Quick answer
Yes – spouses and minor children in Kerala join family in Korea on the F-3 dependant visa. The sponsor must hold a long-term Korean visa (for example E-7 or other E-series work visas, D-2 student, D-8 investor) and show income or funds; you submit at the Korea Visa Application Centre in Chennai with apostilled marriage or birth certificates and a TB test certificate. The fee is about ₹5,400 (US$60) plus a KVAC charge of about ₹1,600, and processing takes at least 25 working days. Visa Xpert’s service charge is quoted per case.
South Korea dependant visa: key facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official visa | F-3 (Dependent Family) – spouse and unmarried minor children of a foreigner holding a long-term status such as D-2, D-5 to D-9, E-1 to E-7, or similar. Single entry for first entry. |
| Who it is for | Families of Malayali engineers, IT and shipbuilding professionals, researchers, professors and university students in Korea. Spouses of Korean citizens use the F-6 marriage visa instead; families of E-9 (non-professional) workers generally cannot bring dependants. |
| Government fee | Set in US dollars – US$60 for a single-entry visa over 90 days; KVAC collects about ₹5,400 in rupees on our last check. Check the current fee. Non-refundable. |
| Centre / VFS fee | KVAC (VFS Global) service charge about ₹1,600; courier to Kerala extra. |
| Visa Xpert service charge | Ask us for a quote – call or WhatsApp +91 89211 53604. Government and KVAC fees are paid separately. |
| Standard processing time | At least 25 working days at Chennai (27 at Bengaluru) for long-term visas; some files take longer while the Consulate verifies the sponsor. Start early. |
| Stay / validity | On arrival you receive a residence card with F-3 status valid as long as the sponsor’s status; extensions are done together in Korea. F-3 holders may work only after obtaining separate permission (limited cases). |
| Where you apply from Kerala | No Korean visa centre in Kochi Kerala is under the Consulate General of Korea, Chennai. Submit at KVAC Chennai (Fagun Towers, Egmore) or Bengaluru. If the sponsor obtained a Visa Issuance Confirmation in Korea, the file is shorter. |
| Form / portal | Paper application form with originals and copies at KVAC; or the Visa Issuance Confirmation number from the Korea Visa Portal if the sponsor applied for one at their local Immigration office. |
| Checked on | 4 November 2026 |
Plain words: Sponsor is the family member already in Korea. ARC (Alien Registration Card) is their Korean residence card. Apostille is the MEA stamp that makes Indian certificates valid in Korea.
South Korea dependant visa documents
Two sets – yours in Kerala and the sponsor’s from Korea. Apostilles and the TB test take the longest; start them first.
Applicant (you)
- Visa application form, signed; one photo 35 × 45 mm, white background
- Passport valid 6+ months, plus copies and old passports
- Marriage certificate (registered) or child’s birth certificate – apostilled by the MEA
- Family relationship proof: family photographs, joint documents if available
- Tuberculosis test certificate from a Korean-Embassy-designated hospital (long-term applicants from India)
- Your own bank statement (6 months) if the sponsor’s funds are limited
Sponsor (family member in Korea)
- Copy of passport and ARC (both sides)
- Certificate of employment and employment contract, or certificate of enrolment for students
- Income proof: recent payslips, income certificate or tax records; bank balance certificate from a Korean bank
- Invitation / sponsorship letter stating relationship and that they will support you
- Proof of accommodation (lease contract) in Korea
- Visa Issuance Confirmation number, if obtained from Immigration in Korea
Children
- Birth certificate (apostilled) showing both parents
- Consent letter from the parent not in Korea, if applicable
- School records if required
Good to know
- Families of E-9 workers and some D-4 students usually cannot bring dependants – we check the sponsor’s status first
- The sponsor applying for a Visa Issuance Confirmation at their Korean Immigration office often makes the KVAC step faster
- F-3 does not allow work; a separate permission exists only in limited cases
Step by step: Korea dependant visa from Kochi
Six steps.
- Sponsor checkWe review the sponsor’s ARC and visa type to confirm F-3 eligibility and the income evidence needed.
- Apostille and TB testMarriage and birth certificates apostilled through the MEA; TB test at a designated hospital.
- Sponsor documents from KoreaEmployment or enrolment certificate, income proof, ARC and invitation letter – we send the sponsor a checklist.
- File assembly in KochiForms, photos, originals and copies arranged in KVAC order.
- Submit at KVAC ChennaiIn person at Fagun Towers, Egmore (or Bengaluru). Pay about ₹5,400 plus the KVAC charge.
- Decision and travelAt least 25 working days. Collect the passport, fly, and register for your residence card within 90 days of arrival.
How Visa Xpert helps families
The Consulate General of Korea decides every visa; we never promise an outcome. We make the two-country paperwork simple and complete.
- Eligibility firstNot every Korean visa allows dependants. We confirm before you spend on apostilles and fees.
- Apostille and TB guidanceWhere to go, what to carry, how long it takes – from Kochi.
- Sponsor checklistA one-page list for your family member in Korea, reviewed when it arrives.
- Chennai submission and trackingAppointment, file check and follow-up until the passport is back in Kerala.
2026 notes for families joining relatives in Korea
What to expect this year
- Long-term visas take weeks: KVAC’s minimum is 25 working days at Chennai; plan around 6–8 weeks including document preparation.
- Apostille is standard: Korea accepts MEA apostilles on Indian marriage and birth certificates.
- TB certificate: required for long-term applicants from India; use only designated hospitals.
- Visa Issuance Confirmation: sponsors can apply at their Korean Immigration office; it shortens the KVAC file and often the wait.
- E-7 and shipyard workers: many Kerala families now follow E-7 professionals to Korea; the sponsor’s income proof is the key document.
- After arrival: register at Immigration within 90 days to receive your residence card; children can then enrol in school.
South Korea dependant visa: frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the Korea F-3 dependant visa?
Spouses and unmarried minor children of foreigners in Korea on long-term statuses such as D-2 (student), D-8 (investor) and E-1 to E-7 (professional work visas). Spouses of Korean citizens apply for F-6 instead, and families of E-9 non-professional workers generally cannot bring dependants.
How much does the Korea dependant visa cost from Kerala?
The fee is set in US dollars (US$60 for a single-entry long-term visa), collected by KVAC in rupees – about ₹5,400 on our last check – plus a KVAC service charge of about ₹1,600. Visa Xpert quotes its service charge per case. Apostille and TB test costs are separate.
How long does the F-3 visa take?
KVAC requires at least 25 working days at Chennai (27 at Bengaluru) for long-term visas, and the Consulate may take longer to verify the sponsor. With apostilles and the TB test, plan 6–8 weeks in total.
Can my spouse work in Korea on an F-3 visa?
Not by default. F-3 is a dependant status; work requires a separate permission from Immigration, granted only in limited cases. Many spouses later change to a work visa when they find eligible employment.
Which documents does my spouse in Korea need to send?
Copies of their passport and ARC, a certificate of employment (or enrolment) and contract, income proof such as payslips or a bank balance certificate, their lease contract and a signed invitation letter. A Visa Issuance Confirmation from Immigration, if they obtain one, replaces several of these.
Do children need a TB test too?
Requirements depend on age and the current Embassy rule; younger children are often exempt. We confirm this for each child before booking the test.
Where do we submit from Kerala?
At the Korea Visa Application Centre in Chennai (Fagun Towers, Egmore) or Bengaluru. There is no Korean visa centre in Kerala; we prepare the complete file in Kochi.
Is Visa Xpert part of KVAC or the Korean Consulate?
No. Visa Xpert is an independent consultancy in Kochi since 2015. The Consulate decides; KVAC (VFS) receives the file. We prepare and track your application – no guarantees.
Official sources
- Korea Visa Application Centre (VFS Global) – India
- Korea Visa Portal – visa types and issuance confirmation
- Hi Korea (Korea Immigration Service) – residence and family visas
- Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chennai
- Ministry of External Affairs – Apostille services
Last checked: 4 November 2026. Government fees, exchange rates and processing times change; we confirm the latest before you pay anything.
Joining family in Korea?
WhatsApp your sponsor’s ARC and your marriage or birth certificate. We will confirm eligibility and send both checklists with a quote the same day.
Call +91 89211 53604 WhatsApp Us
Visa Xpert · North Mulloth House, Ravipuram Junction, opposite HDFC House, MG Road, Kochi 682016 · Mon–Fri 9:30 am – 6:30 pm, Sat 9:30 am – 3 pm