A child's residence status

A child who is not a Korean national also needs a residence status.

Common cases

• Parents on F-6 (marriage migrant) with a foreign-national child — accompanying status or visiting cohabitation (F-1) is considered.
• Parents on an employment status (E-9 and similar) — whether dependants are allowed varies by status. Always check.
• Parents on study (D-2) or intra-company transfer (D-7) — some statuses allow dependants (F-3).
• Parents with permanent residence (F-5) — the child's status is checked separately.

Whether dependants are allowed, and on what terms, differs by status. Always ask 1345 about your own situation.

Steps

1. Get the child's passport from your embassy.
2. Apply for the child's residence status at an immigration office or through HiKorea.
3. Complete alien registration. See arc-for-children.
4. Track the expiry date. The parents' and child's dates can differ.

What you need

• The child's passport
• Birth certificate (translation and consular certification may be needed)
• Parents' passports and Alien Registration Cards
• Proof of family relationship
• Documents on housing and ability to support

Where to go

• 1345 Immigration Contact Centre (20 languages)
• HiKorea www.hikorea.go.kr
• Your local immigration office
• 1577-1366 Danuri Helpline
• Your nearest family centre

Questions people ask

Only my child's stay has expired. Contact 1345 immediately. A child's residence problem directly affects school and medical care. Do not leave it.

Can a child without status attend school? Primary and secondary education is meant to be available regardless of residence status. Ask the school or the education office.

My child is ill and has no health insurance. Check eligibility for regional subscription on 1577-1000. If it is difficult, consult 129 or a family centre.

If my status changes, must the child's change too? Generally they must be considered together. When changing your status, ask 1345 about the child at the same time.

Take care

Parents' and children's expiry dates can differ. Put both in your calendar. If a child's status lapses, school and hospital access are affected immediately.

Related

child-nationality · arc-for-children · child-birth-registration · extension-application

Source

Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice www.hikorea.go.kr / As of 2026-08