A father or mother who wants to enter Korea to raise a minor child after the marriage ended applies for a Child-Rearing (F-6-2) visa at a Korean diplomatic mission abroad. The visa is issued as a single-entry visa with a stay of 90 days or less (multiple-entry for US nationals), and alien registration and extension of stay must be done within 90 days of entry. Marriage Migrant (F-6) is not eligible for a visa issuance confirmation, so plan to apply at the mission.
Key Summary
- Eligible: a father or mother who raises, or intends to raise, in Korea a minor child born of a marriage (including a de facto marriage) with a Korean national after the marriage ended
- Visa: single-entry visa with a stay of 90 days or less (multiple-entry for US nationals)
- Attachments: visa application form, passport, photo, fee; proof of family (parent-child) relationship; proof of child-rearing; criminal record certificate and health certificate
- Not eligible for a visa issuance confirmation
- Alien registration and extension within 90 days of entry; registering after 90 days is treated as a violation
1. Who applies for F-6-2 from abroad?
F-6-2 is the status for a father or mother who raises, or intends to raise, in Korea a minor child born of a marriage (including a de facto marriage) with a Korean national after the marriage ended. Because it covers not only those already raising the child in Korea but also those who intend to, a parent abroad who wants to enter Korea to raise the child considers this visa.
2. What kind of visa is issued?
A person entering for Child-Rearing (F-6-2) receives a single-entry visa with a stay of 90 days or less. US nationals receive a multiple-entry visa. When the visa is issued, you are told to complete alien registration and extension of stay within 90 days of entry.
3. Which documents are attached?
- Visa application form, passport, 1 standard photo, fee
- Proof of family (parent-child) relationship: the child’s basic certificate, birth certificate, DNA test confirmation, or other documents confirming the family relationship
- If the child was born in a de facto marriage, documents proving that fact
- Proof of child-rearing: a judgment containing custody terms, a child-rearing confirmation from a Korean relative of the child within the 5th degree (including the father or mother), or similar documents
- Criminal record certificate and health certificate
The head of the mission may add or omit some documents or request additional ones where especially necessary.
4. Can I apply with a visa issuance confirmation instead?
Marriage Migrant (F-6) is not eligible for a visa issuance confirmation. So instead of obtaining a confirmation in Korea and sending it, the applicant applies for the visa directly at the mission.
5. What must I do after entering?
Within 90 days of entering on the Child-Rearing (F-6-2, 90 days) visa, apply for extension of stay and alien registration at the immigration office for your address. The stay granted is stated as 1 year from the date of entry; whether 2 years applies after completing the early adaptation program needs to be confirmed with the immigration office case by case. You submit the application form, passport, 1 standard photo and fee, along with the child’s basic certificate and family relation certificate if the child is a Korean national, a foreigner occupation report and proof of residence. Registering more than 90 days after entry is treated as a violation, so keep to the deadline.
6. Common problems
- The judgment contains no custody terms, so other child-rearing evidence must be prepared
- The child was born in a de facto marriage, but no document proving it is ready
- Seeing only the 90-day stay on the visa and missing the alien registration deadline
- Delays in issuing the criminal record or health certificate in the home country push back the schedule
7. How 비전행정사사무소 (Vision Administrative Office) can help
We check your relationship with the child and your child-rearing plan to see whether the F-6-2 visa applies, and guide the composition of parentage and child-rearing evidence and the preparation of alien registration documents after entry. We do not represent clients in family court proceedings on custody or other lawsuits or court proceedings (outside the scope of an administrative agent).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for F-6-2 if I do not yet live with my child?
F-6-2 covers not only parents raising the child in Korea but also those who intend to, so you can consider applying if you are entering to raise the child.
How many entries does the F-6-2 visa allow?
It is issued as a single-entry visa with a stay of 90 days or less. US nationals receive a multiple-entry visa.
Can someone in Korea obtain a visa issuance confirmation for me?
Marriage Migrant (F-6) is not eligible for a visa issuance confirmation, so you apply at the mission.
What can I submit as proof of child-rearing?
A judgment containing custody terms, a child-rearing confirmation from a Korean relative of the child within the 5th degree (including the father or mother), or similar documents.
By when must I complete alien registration after entry?
Within 90 days of entry. Registering after more than 90 days is treated as a violation.
Related Guides
Consultation
비전행정사사무소 (Vision Administrative Office) is an administrative office that supports document preparation and filing with the authorities. Fees vary by case and are explained during a consultation. Phone 02-363-2251