South Korea Dependent Visa - Definitive Guide

A dependent visa for South Korea is a permit that is issued to the immediate family members of the earning individual who is living in the country on a temporary resident permit. The most common type is a South Korea dependent visa for spouse and children. It is issued for other family members as well such as a South Korea dependent visa for parents. The holder is allowed to travel across the country as a tourist and other kinds of leisure activities are also permitted. The dependent may be allowed to work as well depending on the norms and policies of the country.

It is extremely crucial that you meet the eligibility criteria for the application of the permit as specified by the South Korean Embassy. Only after you know you are eligible, you can then proceed to make the application. The process is mainly offline and the application has to be at a visa application centre. The detailed procedure for a South Korea dependent visa is given as follows:

1. Download the visa application form from the official website of the visa application centre.
2. Fill out all the required information on the form and go through the checklist provided.
3. Fulfil all the requirements that are asked by the authorities.
4. Attach all the supporting documents along with the photographs as per the specifications.
5. Submit the application form to your nearest branch of the visa application centre.
6. Pay the fee at the time of submission.
7. Collect your passport after the processing of the visa.

Application form is the most important part in the visa application process. The information that is to be provided in the form, should be true and must match the details in the passport and other documentary proof. In case there is any kind of information that is false or incorrect, there are chances that the visa application will get rejected. There are several other reasons for visa rejection. It is essential to note that visa rejection can affect future applications and cause issues in their acceptance and processing. Therefore, it is recommended that you acquire professional visa consultation.

Given by the South Korean embassy, there are several criteria that are to be met by the applicant before making the application for a dependent visa for South Korea. Listed below are these criteria which can still vary as per the individual case:

• You must have a resident sponsor in South Korea
  1. The applicant must be directly related to the work visa holder in South Korea.
  2. The applicants must be sponsored by the work visa holder in South Korea.

• You must meet the health requirements
  1. You must be healthy enough to travel to South Korea.
  2. You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide relevant documentary proof.
  3. You must be within the age limit to be able to apply for a work permit.

• You must meet the character requirements
  1. You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind working in South Korea.
  2. You need to provide relevant documentary proof for the same (if asked) as well in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).

• You must have sufficient funds
  1. There must be sufficient funds to support your stay in the country.
  2. The travel insurance must be issued from a certified company only.
  3. Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.

The dependent visa requirements for South Korea may differ from case to case. There are some documents that are mandatory irrespective of the case. These common documents are listed as follows:

• Documents required from the Applicant
  1. Completely filled out and signed visa application form.
  2. Recent photographs as per the photo specifications.
  3. Original passport valid ahead of the duration of the stay.
  4. Proof of relationship - original marriage certificate and/or birth certificate.
• Documents required from the Sponsor in South Korea
  1. Copy of passport showing the visa stamp.
  2. Invitation letter to the applicant.
  3. Government registration ID copy
  4. Proof of accommodation - rental agreement, etc.
  5. Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement for the last three months, 3 months pay slip.

The photo specification of South Korea dependent visa are as follows -

• Two copies must be provided
• Photo size: 35 mm x 40 mm.
• Coloured copy must be provided
• The head must cover 80% of the photo frame. 
• Head should be well-centred.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white
• Neutral expressions
• Glasses are not permitted
• Headgear is not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background

The validity of a dependent visa for South Korea will depend on several factors that include the needs of the applicant and the validity of the resident permit of the host who is going to cover the expenses of the dependents. The permit will mostly be valid for at least more than a year and multiple entries will be permitted to the holder. Also, note that having a valid dependent visa for South Korea does not guarantee you an entry into the country. If the border officers find an issue with your permit or yourself, there is a possibility that you shall be asked to leave the country or even deported.

The processing time required for the issuance of the dependent visa for South Korea is about a couple of weeks. The time will still vary depending on certain factors like the workload at the embassy office, the staff availability, whether the documents are complete or the rest of the documents are yet to be submitted and others. The time increases and decreases affected by these parameters.

The fee for South Korea dependent visa is estimated based on several parameters and it will vary as per the type of visa too. It is to be paid to the visa application centres along with the service charges. Also, you can pay the fee in cash, else if you do not have access to a visa application centre branch, you can send in the fee with a demand draft.

When the submission of the South Korea dependent visa application form is done along with your passport and other documents -

• You can then wait for the processing before you can collect your passport. 
• You can choose any feasible branch of the visa application centre as per your reach.
• Meet the checklist that is provided by the centre in order to get the visa sooner. 
• If the documents are missing, it will only take time for the processing and verification of the same.
• If there are any other requirements to be fulfilled or if there are any mistakes in the application, the embassy or the agency must be informed.
• If there are any changes related to the application, for instance, change in marital status or birth of a child, you must inform the embassy/agency.
• You can even check the status of the application and the processing in the meantime. 
• If there is a change of plans, you can withdraw the application.
• The visa fee is generally not refundable.

The status of your dependent visa for South Korea can be tracked online. To check the status, you can visit the official website of the VAC. You will need to enter your reference number and your date of birth to check the processing of the visa. Alternatively, you can call the helpline number provided by the visa application centre to know the status of your visa.

After the submission, the processing will take place and you will then receive the permit. There are certain things that you need to know once you have the visa -

• Before you travel
  1. Make a note of the visa expiry date, as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
  2. You should travel to South Korea within the validity of your visa.
  3. Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
  4. Issue health insurance and travel Insurance from a certified company.

• At the Border
  1. Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
  2. Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
  3. Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
  4. Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.
• When you enter South Korea
  1. You may be allowed to get involved in some kind of employment but it must first be checked out with the authorities.
  2. The rules and restrictions of the country must be taken seriously and followed at any cost.
  3. The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
  4. Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for a visa extension in time.