How to Get Korean Permanent Residency (F-5)

F-5 is issued to foreigners who have demonstrated long-term ties to Korea and meet financial and conduct requirements. Once granted, the F-5 card is replaced every 10 years (로 alien registration card renewal) but the underlying status does not expire.

Key benefits of F-5:

• No employment restrictions — work in any legal sector, change jobs freely
• No stay limit — live in Korea indefinitely
• Re-entry right — return to Korea freely after travel abroad (no re-entry permit needed)
• National Health Insurance and National Pension — same as Korean nationals
• Property and financial rights — same as Korean nationals in most respects
• Path to naturalisation — F-5 is typically a prerequisite for naturalisation (귀화)

The most common path for working professionals. Requirements:

1. 5 years of continuous legal stay in Korea — must be on a qualifying non-tourist/non-short-term visa (E-1 through E-7, D-2, D-5 through D-9, F-2, F-4, etc.). Short-term status (C, D-1, D-4) time can be counted but absences of 30+ days interrupt the continuous stay calculation.
2. Livelihood / financial self-sufficiency — annual income and assets meeting the KIS threshold:

- *Income:* Roughly equal to the per-capita GNI for the previous year (updated each year — approximately ₩38–42M/year for 2025 reference; check the current KIS announcement)

- *Assets:* Sufficient to support yourself and dependants (typically ₩30–50M in liquid assets or property)

1. Basic Korean language and social understanding (기본소양) — one of:

- TOPIK Level 1 or higher

- KIIP (사회통합프로그램) Stage 1 or higher completion

- Graduation from a Korean elementary, middle, or high school

- Korean Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) permanent residency eligibility test (KIPRAT) pass

1. Good conduct — no serious criminal record, no major immigration violations in the past 5 years
2. Housing — must demonstrate stable accommodation in Korea

If you hold an (marriage to a Korean national) visa, you can apply for after:

• 2 years of continuous stay in Korea on , OR
• 3 years in total, of which 1 year must be continuous in Korea

Additional requirements:

• The marriage must still be legally valid (or the Korean spouse must have died and you have custody of a Korean-nationality child)
• Same income/assets and basic Korean language requirements as the general pathway apply
• Proof of genuine marital cohabitation (co-registration, shared utility bills, photos)

This is among the fastest paths to — two years of stable marriage-visa residence followed by a straightforward application.

If you have been living on F-2-7 (points-based skilled migrant residency) for 3 years, you can apply for (specifically F-5-16, the points-based permanent residency).

F-2-7 itself requires scoring ≥ 80 points across categories including age, education, Korean language ability, income, and employment. After holding F-2-7 for 3 years:

• Same basic requirements: good conduct, financial self-sufficiency
• Korean language: TOPIK Level 2+ or KIIP Stage 2+
• Continuous employment or entrepreneurial activity in Korea during the 3-year period

The F-2-7 → pathway is popular with skilled workers in technology, finance, and management.

Ethnic Koreans with foreign citizenship who hold can apply for after 5 years of continuous stay in Korea. This is F-5-6 (overseas Korean permanent residency).

Requirements:

• 5 years continuous stay on (or partially on an earlier qualifying visa)
• Financial self-sufficiency (income and assets at the KIS threshold)
• TOPIK Level 1+ or KIIP Stage 1+ (basic Korean language)
• No serious immigration violations

Note: Long absences (30+ consecutive days abroad) may affect the continuous stay count. Maintain records of your entry/exit stamps.

Foreign investors can obtain directly if they:

• Have invested USD 500,000 or more in Korea AND are currently employing 5 or more Korean nationals, OR
• Have invested USD 500,000 or more through a Korean corporation and have been stationed in Korea for 5+ years

The investment must be registered under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act and be an active, ongoing investment at the time of application. under this pathway is usually processed more quickly for significant investors.

Individuals with exceptional credentials can qualify:

F-5-10 (첨단산업 분야 박사 / Advanced technology PhD): Hold a PhD in an advanced technology field AND be employed by a Korean company in that field. Stay requirement is typically 3 years.

F-5-11 (학사·석사 및 자격증 소지자): Hold a bachelor's or master's degree in an advanced technology field or a general field (with a master's), plus a relevant national technical qualification, and be employed by a Korean company. Stay requirement varies.

Both require employment at a Korean company in the field of your qualification and a continuous stay of at least the minimum period.

Where to apply: Your local immigration office (출입국ㆍ외국인청) in Korea. cannot be applied for from abroad — you must be in Korea.

Common documents for most pathways:

• Application form (체류자격변경허가 신청서)
• Passport and current ARC (alien registration card)
• Photo
• Proof of financial self-sufficiency: income tax certificate (근로소득원천징수영수증 or 소득금액증명원) + bank statement or asset documents
• Korean language certificate (TOPIK score report, KIIP completion certificate, or school graduation certificate)
• Proof of continuous stay: entry/exit history printout (from HiKorea or immigration office)
• Proof of housing (lease contract, utility bill, etc.)
• Pathway-specific documents (marriage certificate for holders, investment documents for investors, etc.)

Fee: ₩200,000

Processing time: Typically 4–8 weeks. Complex cases may take longer.