Can a Patient's Accompanying Caregiver Also Get a Visa? (2026 Guide)

Yes. If the need for accompaniment is recognized, a caregiver can apply for a medical-purpose visa through the same process as the patient—C-3-3 status applies for stays of 90 days or less, and G-1-10 status applies for stays exceeding 90 days.

Key Takeaways

• Accompanying family members follow the same procedure as the patient: C-3-3 for short-term treatment of 90 days or less, and G-1-10 for longer-term treatment exceeding 90 days (per HiKorea visa guidance).
• The need for a caregiver must be recognized, with typical accepted cases being a parent accompanying a child patient, or a spouse/child accompanying a patient with limited mobility.
• Documents proving the family relationship (family relationship certificate, birth certificate, etc.) and proof of financial capacity to cover living expenses during the stay (such as bank balance certificates) are required.
• An invitation letter issued by a registered host institution, a confirmed hospital appointment, and a written opinion from the medical team serve as the common supporting documents for visa review.
• Whether a visa is issued and how long the review takes are matters decided by the Korean diplomatic mission abroad; the host institution cannot promise a particular outcome.

What documents does an accompanying caregiver need?

• An accompanying caregiver applies for a visa through the same process as the patient, but must additionally submit documents proving the family relationship and financial capacity to cover the stay.
• Required documents include a family relationship certificate, birth certificate, or similar proof of relationship, along with evidence of financial capacity for the duration of the stay, such as a bank balance certificate.
• Alongside these, an invitation letter from the registered host institution, a confirmed hospital appointment, and a written opinion from the medical team must also be submitted as supporting documents. The remote review (pre-arrival review) written opinion serves as this medical written opinion and is issued within 5 business days of all records being complete.
• The review fee is KRW 1,000,000 (about US$730), which is deducted from the treatment cost if you go on to contract for treatment.

What is the process from entry to staying in Korea?

• Step 1 – Remote review (pre-arrival review) and confirming the hospital appointment: once the written opinion is issued and the hospital appointment is confirmed, the invitation documents are prepared.
• Step 2 – Visa application: submit the number of accompanying family members along with relationship-proof documents together at the Korean diplomatic mission in your country of residence.
• Step 3 – Entry: after arriving at Incheon Airport, you move to your accommodation; on the evening of arrival, a coordinator checks passports, visas, and insurance documents and explains the schedule for the next three days.
• Step 4 – Staying in Korea: you stay together at accommodation within walking distance of the hospital, and if visits are restricted—as in a sterile ward—an interpreter explains the rules.

If treatment goes beyond 90 days, what should the accompanying caregiver do?

• You can either apply for the long-term treatment visa (G-1-10) from the start, or enter on a short-term visa and later apply to change your status of stay or extend your period of stay.
• If there is a likelihood the stay will lengthen, it's safer to prepare from right after entry; whether such a change is approved is a matter decided by the immigration office. For treatments requiring a long stay, such as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, it is common to consider a long-term visa from the outset.

FAQ — How many family members can come along?

One accompanying family member is standard. If more caregivers are needed—for example, for a child patient, a long-term stay, or a transplant patient—this is decided in advance at the estimate stage. The number of accompanying persons should be finalized before applying for visas, with each person's relationship-proof documents prepared together.

FAQ — Can a family member who already entered on a tourist visa switch to accompanying-stay status?

If the purpose is clearly medical, the principle is to apply for a medical-purpose visa from the start. If the need arises after entry, you may apply to change your status of stay, but approval is a matter decided by the immigration office and is not automatic.

Sources and Notes

• This article was written based on notes on medical visas, the treatment journey, insurance, and documentation (per HiKorea, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Medical Korea standards).
• This content is provided for general medical information purposes only, and diagnosis, treatment methods, and outcomes may vary depending on individual condition. Please consult with a medical professional for accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions.