F-5-13 (Foreign Pension Retiree PR) Korea Visa Guide | 2026

1. What F-5-13 Is

F-5-13 (연금수혜자) is the permanent-residence category for pension recipients. Its whole substance is the income test, and the manual sets out precisely which income counts — a narrower and more procedural definition than 'proof of pension' suggests.

2. Eligibility Checklist

• Receives a qualifying pension. Pensions paid FROM ABROAD are expressly recognised as income, so an overseas pension is not a disqualifier.
• The income relied on must have had INCOME TAX PAID on it. The manual is explicit that income which was taxable but on which tax was not paid is not recognised at all.
• Recognised income types are those under the comprehensive income provisions of the Income Tax Act: interest, dividends, business income (including freelance work, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and house rental), employment income, pension income, and other income. More than one type may be added together.
• Non-taxable income can still count, but only after the office reviews the supporting evidence — and where the documents submitted cannot be relied on, the decision is HELD until official proof of income amount is filed.
• Assets do NOT count as income. Owning a house is not income; renting it out and paying tax on the rent is, as business income.
• Can submit complete identity, background and supporting financial documentation.

3. Criteria Summary

• F-5-13 is not a K-point pathway category.
• Review emphasis is retiree-income credibility, sustainability, and lawful-residence stability.
• Officers evaluate whether the applicant can reside without labor-market dependency risks.
• Policy handling can evolve, so applicants should verify latest subtype interpretation before filing.

4. Salary and Contract Rules

• F-5-13 does not depend on employer salary contracts like E-series visas.
• Core financial review centers on pension and other stable lawful income evidence.
• Income documentation should be consistent across source certificates, bank flow, and tax/official records.
• Unclear income provenance or volatile unsupported funds can undermine PR credibility.

5. Employer and Workplace Change Rules

• F-5-13 is not employer-sponsored.
• Applicants should still maintain lawful activity boundaries during review period.
• Past workplace or status-compliance history may be reviewed for overall credibility.
• If holding another status before conversion, all prior reporting obligations should be cleanly resolved.

6. Required Documents

• Permanent residency application set (form, passport, ARC, photo, fee proof).
• Official pension/retirement income proof documents and supporting statements.
• Financial self-support evidence (assets, account statements, and source consistency proofs).
• Background/compliance documents required under current F-5 review practice.
• Any additional office-specific supporting materials requested during adjudication.

7. Fees and Processing

• F-5-related fees follow the official stay-fee schedule in the manuals.
• PR processing is typically longer than ordinary extension workflows due to deeper review.
• Retiree-income cases often receive supplements if source continuity is unclear.
• Document normalization and translation/certification quality strongly affect timeline.

8. Common Rejection Reasons

• Relying on income on which income tax was due but not paid — that income is not recognised at all.
• Counting assets as income. A house you own is not income unless it produces taxed rental income.
• Documents submitted for non-taxable income cannot be relied on, in which case the decision is held pending official proof of income amount.
• Required permanent-residence background and compliance documents are incomplete.
• Prior immigration irregularities weaken the overall suitability review.
• ⚠️ After approval the office may still call for official income proof to cross-check. Where it does not match and the requirement turns out not to have been met, the STATUS CAN BE CANCELLED — this risk does not end at approval.

9. FAQ