Can your spouse join your NHIS as a dependent?

If you are an employee member (직장가입자) of National Health Insurance, your family can be covered under you as dependents (피부양자) and pay no premium of their own. There are conditions.

Who can be a dependent
Your spouse; your parents and grandparents, and your spouse's; your children and grandchildren, and their spouses; and brothers or sisters only if under 30, aged 65 or over, disabled, or a person of national merit. They must be registered in Korea.

Income and property

• Total yearly income of 20 million won or less, from all sources.
• No registered business, or business income of 5 million won or less. Housing rental income disqualifies.
• Property tax base of 540 million won or less (up to 900 million if yearly income is 10 million or less). For brothers and sisters, 180 million.
• If the dependent is married, both spouses must pass the income test.

Residence rule for foreigners (since 3 April 2024)
A foreign dependent must have lived in Korea for 6 months, or hold D-2, D-4-3, E-9, F-5 or F-6. Your spouse and your children under 19 are exempt from this rule. A dependent who stays abroad for more than a month loses the status.

Documents
The foreigner registration card; the family or marriage document from your home country, confirmed by that country's foreign ministry or by apostille; and a notarised Korean translation if it is not in Korean. Foreign documents must be under 9 months old. Apply within 14 days of the day the family member qualifies. If you apply within 90 days of their foreigner registration, cover runs from that date.

It depends on income, property, visa, age and the family relationship.

Next step: ask your company's HR or NHIS (1577-1000, press 6) which documents your family needs before you order them from home.

Sources: NHIS, dependents of foreign members; NHIS, income and property conditions; NHIS, guidance for foreigners in English. Checked 11 October 2026.