Korea F-2 Resident Visa Subtypes — F-2-1 to F-2-7 and the Startup Exception Explained

These subtypes cover specific circumstances where a foreigner has strong ties to Korea but does not fit into a standard work or family visa:

• F-2-1: Spouse or child of a Korean national who does not qualify for F-6 (e.g., unmarried partner, stepchildren in certain circumstances)

• F-2-2: Person of Korean descent (not covered by F-4) in specific circumstances

• F-2-3: Individual recognized under special treaties or MOJ discretion

• F-2-4: Holders who have lived in Korea for a long period and meet stability criteria

• F-2-5: Persons with significant investment in or contribution to Korea

• F-2-6: Humanitarian-related long-term residents (often connected to G-1 humanitarian cases)

These subtypes are issued case by case at the MOJ's discretion. They are less common than F-2-7 and cannot be applied for through a standard application — they are typically granted after review by the immigration office based on specific circumstances.

F-2-7 is by far the most widely-used F-2 subtype for skilled foreigners. It is earned through Korea's K-Point scoring system — you need 80 or more points out of a possible 120.

K-Point categories:

• Age (max 25 pts): Younger applicants score higher

• Education (max 35 pts): PhD = 35, Master's = 30, Bachelor's = 25; Korean university graduates get bonus points

• Korean language / TOPIK score (max 20 pts): TOPIK 6 = 20 pts, TOPIK 5 = 15 pts, etc.

• Korean work experience (max 15 pts): Time spent working legally in Korea

• Annual salary (income above per-capita GNI adds points)

• Bonus points: Korean university graduate (+10), priority industry sector (+10), national certification (+5)

Stay period: Initially issued for 1–3 years. Extensions are for up to 5 years after the first renewal.

F-2-7 is NOT permanent — it must be renewed. There is an important rule about extensions:

• At each extension, you must still meet the income requirement (≥ per-capita GNI)

• If you fail the income requirement THREE consecutive times, your F-2-7 cannot be renewed

• After the 3rd rejection due to income, you must revert to a different visa status (such as your previous work visa)

This rule is designed to ensure F-2-7 holders maintain economic contribution. If your income drops — due to a career change, freelancing slump, or gap period — plan ahead. The 3-strikes rule applies at each renewal cycle.

-7S is a special subtype for foreign entrepreneurs who start a business in Korea. The key difference from standard F-2-7:

• Income requirement is evaluated differently: if you meet the income requirement in Year 1 of your startup, the income check is waived for Years 2–5

• If you fail the income requirement in Year 1, you must re-apply annually until you meet it

• This effectively gives startup founders a 5-year window to build their business to profitability without losing visa status

• After 5 years under -7S with the income requirement met, you may be eligible for permanent residency

-7S is specifically designed for holders of startup-related visas (D-8-4 or D-10-2) who establish a qualifying Korean company.

F-2-7 is the most efficient stepping stone to permanent residency:

1. Maintain F-2-7 status for 3 consecutive years
2. During that period, maintain income ≥ per-capita GNI each year
3. Pass TOPIK Level 3 or above (or equivalent Korean language test)
4. Maintain a clean immigration record
5. Apply for at your local immigration office

This 3-year path to via F-2-7 is faster than the 5-year path for most other visa types. It is one of the main reasons skilled foreigners target F-2-7 as their intermediate goal.