Family visas in Korea cover more than one situation: a short trip to see relatives, a stay with family already living in Korea, or a connection to an overseas Korean. Each situation uses a different status of stay, and the rules for entry, length of stay, and what you can do are not the same across them. The official HiKorea immigration guide groups these situations under one heading, but treats each status separately in terms of qualifications, entry documents, and what happens after you arrive.
This guide explains what the official HiKorea immigration guide says about visiting relatives, family, residence, dependants, and overseas Koreans. It covers who qualifies for the main short-term statuses, what each one allows, what documents each route asks for at entry and departure, and what to check before you travel or apply.
Because this category spans visa-free entry, visa-required entry, and longer family-based stays, the right starting point is to match your own situation — visiting, staying, or settling — to the matching status before you look at documents or costs.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who it applies to | Foreign nationals applying for family visas in Korea to visit relatives, stay with family, or enter as an overseas Korean |
| Main statuses covered | B-1 (visa exemption), B-2 (travel/transit), C-3 (temporary visit, including visiting relatives) |
| Length of stay in this category | Less than 90 days under the HiKorea "Visit & Stay with Family, Overseas Koreans" group |
| Entry documents for visa exemption | Passport and disembarkation card |
| Entry documents for C-3 | Visa; check the official page for any other required documents |
| Purpose of C-3 | Travel/transit, medical treatment, visiting relatives, major sporting events, conferences, cultural or artistic events, religious ceremony, or similar reasons, for non-profit purposes only |
| After arrival | Extension of stay or change of status of stay, depending on your case |
| Cost | Varies by case; check the current fee on the official HiKorea page before you apply |
Who Qualifies for Family Visas in Korea
The HiKorea immigration guide groups several situations under one heading: visiting relatives, family, residence, dependant, and overseas Koreans. This group is not a single status, but a category that includes different statuses depending on how long you plan to stay and your relationship to the person you are visiting or joining.
For stays of less than 90 days, the relevant group is called "Visit & Stay with Family, Overseas Koreans." Under this group, the statuses listed are B-1 (visa exemption), B-2 (travel/transit), and C-3 (temporary visit, which includes visiting relatives).
HiKorea lists each status of stay using four parts: qualifications, entry, staying in Korea, and departure. This structure applies to B-1, B-2, and C-3 alike, so the conditions you must meet, the documents you need when you arrive, your options while you are in Korea, and what you need when you leave are each set out separately for every status in this group.
⚠️ If your planned stay is longer than a short visit, or you are applying as a resident family member or dependant rather than a visitor, the specific status and requirements depend on your case. Check the matching category on the official HiKorea page before you apply.
Visa-Free and Short-Term Entry: B-1 and B-2
B-1 is the visa exemption status. Those who satisfy the conditions for visa-free entry may enter Korea without a visa. Whether you qualify depends on your nationality and the specific conditions for visa-free entry, so confirm this on the official page before you travel.
B-2 is listed as the travel/transit status. Both B-1 and B-2 fall under the same short-term, less-than-90-day family and relative visit group on HiKorea.
Both routes also set out what you need when you leave Korea. For the visa exemption and travel/transit statuses, HiKorea lists your passport as the document needed for departure, separate from what you needed to enter.
| Status | Who it’s for | Entry documents |
|---|---|---|
| B-1 (visa exemption) | Those who meet the conditions for visa-free entry | Passport and disembarkation card |
| B-2 (travel/transit) | Travel or transit purposes | Listed in the same entry column as B-1; check the official page for the specific documents |
| C-3 (temporary visit) | Travel/transit, medical treatment, visiting relatives, major sporting events, conferences, cultural or artistic events, religious ceremony, or similar reasons (non-profit only) | Visa |
C-3 Temporary Visit Status for Visiting Relatives
C-3 is the status most directly tied to visiting relatives among family visas in Korea. It is described as being for those seeking a short-term stay for travel/transit, medical treatment, visiting relatives, a major sporting event, attending conferences, various cultural or artistic events, a religious ceremony, or other similar reasons.
C-3 is for non-profit purposes only. HiKorea lists a visa as the entry document for this status, which is a different entry route from the visa-free B-1 option. Check the official page for any other documents you may need for your specific case.
- Travel or transit
- Medical treatment
- Visiting relatives
- A major sporting event
- Attending conferences
- Various cultural or artistic events
- Religious ceremony
- Other similar reasons (non-profit purposes only)
HiKorea also lists eligibility, procedure, and required documents as separate items for the C-3 status, alongside the entry and departure information. Because these details depend on your specific situation, confirm the current eligibility rules, application procedure, and document list on the official page before you apply.
Overseas Koreans in the Family Visa Category
The full HiKorea heading for this group of statuses is "Visiting Relatives, Family, Residence, Dependent, and Overseas Koreans," and the specific less-than-90-day entry point is titled "Visit & Stay with Family, Overseas Koreans." Overseas Koreans are grouped together with short-term family visitors under this same framework, rather than given a separate short-term category of their own.
This means that if you are entering Korea as an overseas Korean for a short stay, the statuses that apply are the same ones covered above: B-1 (visa exemption), B-2 (travel/transit), and C-3 (temporary visit). The qualifications, entry documents, and departure requirements for each status are the same regardless of whether you are visiting as a relative or entering as an overseas Korean under this group.
Residence and dependant situations are named in the same overall heading but are not part of the less-than-90-day group described here. If your situation is based on residence or dependant status rather than a short visit, look for the matching category on the official HiKorea page instead of the statuses in this guide.
Extending or Changing Your Status Once You Are in Korea
Once you have entered under one of these statuses, HiKorea lists two options for staying longer or shifting your purpose of stay: extension of stay and change of status of stay. These are listed for the visa exemption (B-1) and travel/transit (B-2) categories; for C-3, HiKorea instead lists eligibility, procedure, and required documents, which depend on your case.
| Stage | B-1 (visa exemption) / B-2 (travel/transit) | C-3 (temporary visit) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Passport and disembarkation card, for those who meet the conditions for visa-free entry | Visa |
| Staying in Korea | Extension of stay or change of status of stay, depending on eligibility | Eligibility, procedure, and required documents depend on your case |
| Departure | Passport | Depends on your case; confirm on the official HiKorea page |
- Confirm which status you currently hold and whether it allows extension or a change of status.
- Prepare the documents requested for your specific case, since requirements vary by status and situation.
- Apply for the extension or change of status before your current permitted stay ends, and apply through the official HiKorea channels.
⚠️ The eligibility, procedure, and required documents for extension or change of status depend on your individual case. Check the official HiKorea page for the exact steps that apply to your status before you apply.
Common Mistakes and What Depends on Your Case
Because this category sits across several different statuses, the most common mistake is assuming one set of rules applies to every family situation. A visitor entering visa-free under B-1, a traveler under B-2, and someone entering specifically to visit relatives under C-3 all have different entry documents and different purposes allowed.
- Assuming you can enter visa-free when your nationality or purpose does not meet the conditions for visa-free entry.
- Entering under C-3 for a purpose that is not non-profit, when the status only covers non-profit purposes.
- Not checking current extension or change-of-status requirements before your permitted stay runs out.
- Treating "residence" and "dependant" family categories as the same as a short visiting-relatives stay, when they are separate categories on HiKorea.
- Assuming the departure requirements are the same as the entry requirements, when HiKorea lists them as separate steps for each status.
Because requirements can depend on your nationality, your relationship to the person in Korea, and how long you plan to stay, always confirm the current conditions, documents, and any cost on the official HiKorea page for your specific status before you travel or apply.
Frequently asked questions
What are family visas in Korea exactly?
This is not one single status. HiKorea groups visiting relatives, family, residence, dependant, and overseas Korean situations together, and for stays of less than 90 days the relevant statuses are B-1 (visa exemption), B-2 (travel/transit), and C-3 (temporary visit, including visiting relatives). Which one applies to you depends on your nationality, your purpose, and how long you plan to stay.
Can I visit relatives in Korea without a visa?
You can if you meet the conditions for visa-free entry under the B-1 status, entering with your passport and a disembarkation card. If you do not meet those conditions, you would need a visa, such as C-3, and you would also need to meet the eligibility rules and document requirements for that status.
What does the C-3 status allow?
C-3 is for short-term stays for travel/transit, medical treatment, visiting relatives, a major sporting event, conferences, cultural or artistic events, religious ceremony, or similar reasons, and it is for non-profit purposes only. Eligibility, procedure, and the required documents for C-3 are listed separately on the official page, since they depend on your situation.
Can I extend my stay after entering to visit family?
Extension of stay and change of status of stay are listed as options for the visa exemption and travel/transit categories. For C-3, HiKorea instead lists eligibility, procedure, and required documents, which depend on your case, so check the official page. Both the extension and the change of status are listed as separate processes from your original entry.
Are residence and dependant family statuses the same as visiting relatives?
No. HiKorea lists visiting relatives, family, residence, dependant, and overseas Koreans as related but separate categories. The status and requirements that apply to you depend on your specific situation, including whether you are an overseas Korean, a close family member, or a dependant.
Start by identifying which part of the family visas in Korea category matches your situation: a short visit to relatives, travel or transit, a stay as an overseas Korean, or a longer family-based residence or dependant stay. Requirements for entry documents, staying in Korea, departure, and any cost depend on your case, so confirm the current rules on the official HiKorea page before you travel or apply.
Last checked: October 4, 2026. Rules, fees and required documents in Korea change often, and some depend on your visa type and district office. Always confirm the current details on the official pages below before you go.