Can I register my foreign spouse and children as dependents on my health insurance?

Yes. If you are an employee subscriber (직장가입자), you can register your foreign spouse and children as dependents. They must meet all the requirements for relationship, income and assets, and support. The employee subscriber applies.

Requirements checklist

• Relationship: A spouse (including a common-law spouse), direct ascendants, direct descendants and their spouses. Siblings are generally excluded.
• Income: Total income from business, finance, pension, other sources and wages must be 20,000,000 KRW or less per year.
• Business income: If there is no business registration, it must be 5,000,000 KRW or less per year. If there is housing rental income, the person is excluded.
• Assets: The property tax base must be 540,000,000 KRW or less. If it is over 540,000,000 KRW and up to 900,000,000 KRW, annual income must be 10,000,000 KRW or less.
• Support: The person must mainly depend on the employee subscriber for living costs. The standard differs depending on whether you live together and on your relationship.
• Income requirement for both spouses: If the dependent is married, both spouses must meet the income requirement.

Conditions only for foreigners

Foreigners who entered Korea on or after April 3, 2024 must in principle stay in Korea for at least 6 months after entry. Their status of stay must also be D-2, D-4-3, E-9, F-5, F-6 and so on. This residence requirement does not apply to the spouse of an employee subscriber or to minor children (the spouse's children). So a spouse and children can apply right after entering Korea.

How to apply

1. The employee subscriber fills in the dependent qualification (acquisition/loss) report form.
2. Attach family relation register certificates (a family relation certificate, a marriage relation certificate, etc.) issued for the person who will become the dependent.
3. Submit it by one of these: the National Health Insurance Service (국민건강보험공단) website, the Health Insurance 25 (건강보험25시) app, 1577-1000, a branch office visit, fax or mail.

⚠️ Points to watch

• If a certificate is for viewing only, it has no legal effect. You may be asked to get it reissued.
• Documents issued in Korea are valid for 3 months from the issue date. Documents issued abroad are valid for up to 9 months from the issue date or the date of confirmation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• If you fail even one requirement, you may be switched to a regional subscriber (지역가입자).

First, check using the "Check eligibility to acquire dependent status" menu on the Service website. For final confirmation, contact the National Health Insurance Service (1577-1000).