The 국내 성장기반 외국인 청소년 취업·정주 체류제도 (Domestic Growth-Based Foreign Youth Employment and Settlement Residency System) was introduced in April 2025. It addresses a gap for a specific group: foreign nationals who grew up in Korea, attended Korean schools, but reached adulthood without acquiring Korean citizenship or a qualifying long-term visa. This program provides a pathway for them to work and settle in Korea based on their Korean upbringing.
This program is specifically for foreign nationals who:
1. Grew up in Korea:
• Have lived in Korea for a significant portion of their childhood and adolescence
• Attended Korean elementary, middle, or high school in Korea
2. Age criteria:
• Generally aged 18–30 at the time of application (the program targets youth who recently reached adulthood or are in the transition period)
3. Educational background:
• Graduated from a Korean high school (한국 고등학교 졸업) or are enrolled in/graduated from a Korean university
• The Korean school education is the core qualifying factor — it demonstrates the 'domestic growth' (국내 성장기반) that the program is designed to support
4. Current status:
• Currently in Korea on some legal status — which may be about to expire or not sufficient for long-term stay and work
• Not currently holding an F-2, F-4, or F-5 long-term residency that already provides work rights
Common applicants: Children of foreign workers (E-9, H-2 parents) who attended Korean schools, children of foreign marriage migrants who held Korean education but did not receive citizenship, or foreign youth who came to Korea at a young age and have no practical ties to their home country.
Accepted participants receive:
Special residence status:
A dedicated residence status that allows legal stay in Korea for the program period — providing stability while the participant establishes themselves in the Korean workforce.
Work authorization:
Open work rights — participants can work for any employer in any industry without a specific employer-tied work visa. This is a significant improvement over the typical D-10 or E-series which tie work rights to a specific employer or occupation.
Employment support:
The Ministry of Employment and Labor provides job matching services, career counseling, and Korean workplace integration support specifically for this program's participants.
Settlement pathway:
After successfully participating in the program and meeting employment and integration milestones, participants can apply to transition to a longer-term residency status (F-2 or equivalent) that sets them on the path toward F-5 permanent residency.
Step 1 — Confirm eligibility:
Gather documents proving your Korean upbringing: Korean school graduation certificates (고등학교 졸업증명서, 학교생활기록부), proof of Korean residence during school years, current passport and visa status.
Step 2 — Apply at the immigration office:
Submit an application at the local immigration office with supporting documentation. The application form and required document list are available at the immigration office or via HiKorea.
Step 3 — Review:
Immigration reviews the application and verifies the Korean educational background and residence history. Processing time is typically 2–4 weeks.
Step 4 — Enrollment confirmation:
Upon approval, the participant receives their residence card under the program status and begins accessing employment support services.
Key supporting documents:
• All Korean school records (elementary, middle, high school)
• Proof of residence in Korea during the school years (family ARC, lease agreements, utility bills if applicable)
• Proof of current Korean residence and legal status
• If already employed: employment contract
• Personal statement explaining life in Korea
Gather all Korean school records before applying — school record books (학교생활기록부) are the most important documents and can take time to obtain if you attended school years ago.
This program is specifically for those who grew up in Korea — not for those who recently arrived and are young. The emphasis is on genuine Korean upbringing, not just youth.
If you qualify for F-4 (overseas Korean with Korean ancestry), that may be a faster and broader pathway than this program. Confirm whether F-4 applies to your situation first.
Need help with this?
Our specialists handle korea domestic growth-based foreign youth employment & residency program (국내 성장기반) cases regularly and know exactly what Korean immigration officers look for.
Find a SpecialistMy parents are E-9 visa holders and I attended Korean schools for 12 years. Do I qualify?
Yes — this is exactly the profile this program is designed for. Children of foreign workers who attended Korean schools are the core target group. Gather your Korean school records (고등학교 졸업증명서) and your parents' prior ARC records showing residence during your school years.
Is this program the same as the April 2025 'domestic youth employment' program mentioned elsewhere?
Yes — this program was introduced in April 2025 under the name 국내 성장기반 외국인 청소년 취업·정주 체류제도. It is the same program referenced in immigration policy updates from that period.
What is the long-term path after this program?
The program is designed as a bridge to F-2 (long-term resident) status. After completing the program period and demonstrating employment stability and integration into Korean society, participants apply for F-2-99 (5-year long-term resident) or F-2-7 (points-based) depending on their qualifications. F-5 permanent residency follows after F-2 eligibility is met.