Many people in Jecheon live here as family members of foreign nationals who work or study: 383 with dependent family (F-3) status and 161 with visiting or joining family (F-1) status (as of the end of June 2026). Most dependent family members are the spouses and children of people who received region-specific visas (F-2-R, E-7-4R, F-4-R).
Family visas follow the principal status holder
- The period of stay for dependent family (F-3) lasts up to the end of the principal status holder's (husband's, wife's or parent's) period of stay. As a rule, extensions are also applied for together with the principal status holder.
- If the principal status holder loses the status or breaks its conditions, the family is affected as well. With a region-specific visa, the family must also actually live together in the same region.
- When a minor child becomes an adult, they may need to change to another status, so check in advance.
Can I work?
| Status | Employment |
|---|---|
| Spouse with region-specific family status (F-3-1R, F-3-3R) | Can work at a business in Jecheon with permission |
| Spouse with other dependent family (F-3) status | Only in some fields, with permission, depending on the principal status holder |
| Visiting or joining family (F-1) | As a rule, cannot work |
Working without permission is illegal employment and can put the whole family's stay at risk. In its reform of the wide-area visa (2027), the Ministry of Justice has also proposed allowing spouses to work within the region.
Home-country family of marriage migrants (F-1-5)
- This status is for inviting parents, siblings and other family members to help marriage-migrant families with childbirth and raising children.
- The period lasts until the end of March of the year the child turns 10 (age 13 for single-parent or multi-child families). In September 2026 the Ministry of Justice began discussing a plan to extend this to age 12 (not yet in effect).
- You cannot work. If illegal employment is discovered, you will be ordered to leave the country, and it will also become difficult to be invited again later. The only exception is when you receive permission through a local government seasonal work program.
What you must do
- If you move, report your change of address within 15 days
- If a child is born in Korea, apply for a grant of status of stay within 90 days
- You can apply for an extension from 4 months before expiry. Prepare together, in line with the principal status holder's extension schedule.
Jecheon Bareun Visa can help
- Applications on your behalf for a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance to invite a spouse or children, and for dependent family (F-3) extensions together with the principal status holder
- Applications for permission for activities outside the status of stay so your spouse can work
- Invitations and extensions for home-country family of marriage migrants (F-1-5)
- Grant of status of stay for children born in Korea, and reports of change of address
The procedures you need depend on your family make-up and the principal status holder's situation. We review the whole family's stay schedule at once. Please contact us via Book a visit or Ask a question.
Sources
- Ministry of Justice moves to extend the period of stay for home-country family of marriage migrants and lay the groundwork for supporting children and youth with migrant backgrounds — Ministry of Justice press release, 18 Sep 2026.
- Ministry of Justice implements the 2025 region-specific visa operation plan — Ministry of Justice press release, 20 Feb 2025.
- Wide-area visa system fully reorganized around regional industry and regional settlement — Ministry of Justice press release, 24 Aug 2026.
- Ministry of Justice establishes the "Regional Stay Support Division" and the "Overseas Korean Stay Integration Division" — Ministry of Justice press release, 2 Jan 2026. (seasonal work for families of marriage migrants)
- Ministry of Justice Immigration and Foreign Policy Monthly Statistics, June 2026 (법무부 출입국·외국인정책 통계월보)
The information above is as of the date of the Ministry of Justice press release. Actual requirements must be checked against the laws and guidelines in effect when you apply. If you have any questions, please leave them via Ask a question.