F-5
영주 (F-5)Permanent Residence (F-5)
Visa for permanent residence in South Korea
No limit (issued once)
Varies (typically 5 to 10 business days)
Varies (please consult with the embassy or consulate)
Subcategories
General Permanent Resident
Person aged majority under Civil Act who has resided in Korea for 5+ years under D-7 to E-7 or F-2 status.
Spouse of Korean National
Marriage migrant (F-6-1) residing 2+ years in Korea in valid marital relationship with Korean spouse.
Minor Child of Korean National
Minor foreign child of a Korean national residing in Korea under F-2 for 2+ years.
Spouse or Minor Child of General Permanent Resident
Spouse or minor child of F-5 holder (excluding point-based PR) residing 2+ years in Korea.
High-Amount Investor
Foreign investor investing at least USD 500,000 and employing 5+ Korean nationals.
Overseas Chinese Born in Korea
Ethnic Chinese born in Korea previously holding F-2 status under former regulations and recognized as needing continued residence.
Doctorate in Advanced Field (Overseas)
PhD holder in advanced technology field employed in Korea for 1+ year.
Bachelor/Master Degree or Certified Professional
Holder of qualifying degree or technical certification with 3+ years stay and employment meeting income threshold.
Outstanding Talent
Person with exceptional ability in science, management, culture, arts, sports, etc., meeting point-based criteria.
Special Contributor
Person recognized for special contributions to Korea (e.g., national merit awardees).
Pension Recipient (60+)
Person aged 60+ receiving foreign pension above required GNI threshold.
Domestic PhD Holder
Person who completed regular PhD course in Korea and employed for 1+ year.
Point-Based Permanent Resident
Holder of F-2-7 status residing 3+ years and meeting income/assets criteria.
Tourism/Resort Investor
F-2-8 holder maintaining qualifying investment for 5+ years.
Spouse/Minor Child of Point-Based PR
Spouse or minor child of F-5-16 holder residing 2+ years.
Spouse/Unmarried Child of Tourism Investor
Spouse or unmarried child of F-5-17 holder.
Child Born in Korea to PR Parent
Child born in Korea whose parent held F-5 at time of birth; application within 1 year of birth.
Public Interest Investor
F-2 investor maintaining public investment 5+ years.
Spouse/Unmarried Child of Public Investor
Spouse or unmarried child of F-5-21 or F-5-23 holder.
Retirement Public Investor
Retiree maintaining public investment 5+ years and 300M KRW domestic assets.
Technology Startup Investor
D-8-4 holder residing 3+ years, raising KRW 300M investment and employing 2+ Koreans.
Conditional High-Amount Investor
Person depositing KRW 3 billion in designated public fund for 5 years.
R&D Personnel of Foreign-Invested Company
D-8 holder working 3+ years as essential R&D personnel.
Eligibility Requirements
- A person who does not fall under any of the subparagraphs of Article 46 (1) of the Act and who falls under any of the following subparagraphs.
- An individual who has resided in the Republic of Korea for more than 5 years under the D-7 to E-7 or F-2 status as an adult according to the Korean Civil Code.
- A person who has resided for more than 2 years as a spouse or minor child of a citizen or holder of permanent residency (F-5), and who is born in South Korea with at least one parent holding F-5 status, as recognized by the Minister of Justice.
- Foreign investors who invest more than 500,000 USD and employ more than 5 nationals
- A person who has continuously resided for more than 2 years under the F-4 status and has been recognized for the necessity of continued residence.
- A person who meets the requirements for acquiring nationality under the Nationality Act as a foreign national of Korean descent
- Individuals who previously held F-2 status and have been recognized for the necessity of continued residence
- Holders of a doctoral degree in a specific field or holders of a domestic doctoral degree
- Those who hold a bachelor's degree or higher or a technical qualification certificate, have resided for more than 3 years, and meet certain wage requirements.
- Individuals with exceptional abilities in specific fields such as science, management, education, culture and arts, and sports
- A person who has made special contributions to the Republic of Korea
- Recipients of foreign pensions above a certain amount who are over 60 years old
- A person recognized after meeting the F-2 requirements as an H-2 visa holder
- Those recognized after residing for more than 3 years under a specific F-2 status
- Investors who have maintained their investment for more than 5 years under the F-2 (sub-category) qualification, along with their spouse and children
- Those who have stayed for more than 3 years under the D-8 (Multi-purpose) visa and have met the requirements of attracting investments of more than 300 million KRW and employing more than 2 people.
- Investors who invest above the announced amount under the condition of maintaining the investment for more than 5 years
- D-8 (Subparagraph) Essential Professional Personnel in Research and Development Facilities who have resided for more than 3 years
- Those who have resided for more than 2 years under the F-2 (Multiple) status
- No restrictions on activities based on the classification of residence status
Required Documents
- 1Visa Issuance Application Form (Appendix No. 17)
- 2Passport
- 31 standard-sized photo
- 4Commission
- 5Letter of Guarantee
- 6Integrated application form (with revenue stamp)
- 7Passport
- 8Alien Registration Card
- 9Proof of residence
- 10Overseas criminal record certificate (if applicable)
- 11Identity guarantor letter (unless exempt)
- 12Tax payment certificates (national/local)
- 13Income amount certificate
- 14Basic competency proof (if applicable)
- 15F-5 applicant basic information form
- 16Copy of Foreign Investment Company Registration Certificate
- 17Copy of Business Registration Certificate
- 18Certificate of Corporate Registration
- 19Income Certificate of the Applicant
- 20Income Certificate for Employment of 5 or More Korean Nationals
- 21Documents proving the employment of regular domestic workers
- 22Documents proving the relevant items for the points system
- 23Foreign Investment Registration Certificate
- 24Corporate registration
- 25Proof of employment of 5 Koreans (4 insurance records, contracts)
- 26PhD diploma
- 27Employment certificate
- 284 insurance enrollment proof
- 29Real estate registration
- 30Proof of 5-year investment maintenance
- 31Business registration
- 32Investment proof (≥300M KRW)
- 33Proof of employment of 2 Koreans
- 34KDB deposit certificate
- 35Foreign exchange purchase certificate
- 36Investment maintenance pledge
Extension & Renewal
No extension limit (unlimited stay once granted).
Living Guide: Important Information
Benefits & Exemptions
- +Korea-born ethnic Chinese (F-5-8)Reduced income threshold (70% of GNI if ≤2 family members).
- +COVID-19 PR status loss (2020.1.1–2021.12.27)Eligible for restoration via C-3-1 visa and simplified review (livelihood/basic competency exempt).
Restrictions
- !Criteria for domestic crime review (specific violent crimes, periods of imprisonment, probation, and fines, violations of immigration law, periods of forced departure, etc.)
- !Overseas crime review criteria (including specific violent crimes, fraud, drug offenses, drunk driving, etc., with a 10-year limitation rule)
- !Criteria for Eligibility and Exemption for Law-abiding Citizen Education
- !Examination of negative impact on national finances (taxes, health insurance premiums, fines, etc. unpaid)
- !Requirements for livelihood maintenance (income and asset criteria and GNI comparison)
- !Basic competency requirements (Social Integration Program, Comprehensive Evaluation, TOPIK standards)
- !Submission and Certification Requirements for Overseas Criminal Record Certificate
- !Regulations on Exemption and Relaxation of Annual Income Assessment
Exceptions & Special Conditions
- Individual with specialized skillsExemption from the requirement for livelihood maintenance capability
- Person with expertise in a specific fieldApproval from the Minister of Justice is required.
- Certain categories (e.g., F-5-5, F-5-11, F-5-12, F-5-17, F-5-21, etc.)Exempt from the livelihood (income) requirement.
- Minor applicants or completion of qualifying educationExempt from the basic competency requirement.
- High-amount investors, advanced PhD holders, and special contributors.Submission of an overseas criminal record certificate may be exempted.
Procedures
No extension limit (unlimited stay once granted).
Eligible applicants may apply for a change to F-5 if they meet the subcategory requirements.
Not applicable (no restrictions on employment).
Certain subcategories allow spouse and children to apply (e.g., F-5-4, F-5-18, F-5-19, F-5-22).
Source: Official Immigration Guidelines
Ready to Apply?
Visit the official Korean immigration website to submit your application.
Important Notice
This information is for reference only. Visa requirements and procedures may vary depending on your nationality and individual circumstances. Always verify with official sources before applying.