F-5-5 (High-Value Investor) Korea Visa Guide | 2026

1. What F-5-5 Is

F-5-5 (고액 투자자) is for investors who have invested above a set dollar threshold AND employ Korean nationals above a set headcount. Both limbs must be satisfied — capital alone is not enough. Its distinguishing document is the foreign-invested company registration certificate.

2. Eligibility Checklist

• Applicant satisfies current F-5-5 pathway criteria.
• Pathway status history is complete and verifiable.
• Support/income evidence meets applicable standards.
• No unresolved compliance issues remain.
• Any pathway-specific proof requirements are fulfilled.

3. Criteria Summary

• F-5-5 is not points-based.
• Review is threshold/pathway evidence driven.
• Continuity and reliability of records are core decision factors.
• Inconsistencies across years commonly trigger supplements.

4. Salary and Contract Rules

• Financial review emphasizes stable, documented support capacity.
• Income/tax record consistency is essential.
• Short-term anomalies require clear explanatory support.
• Unexplained discrepancies can increase refusal risk.

5. Employer and Workplace Change Rules

• F-5-5 is not employer-sponsored.
• Historical work/business compliance remains relevant.
• Legacy reporting issues can affect adjudication.
• Pre-file cleanup of historical records is recommended.

6. Required Documents

• Application form, passport, ARC, photo, and fee proof.
• F-5-5 pathway and status-history evidence.
• Income/tax/support-capacity records.
• Any pathway-specific required supporting documents.
• Additional office-requested verification records.

7. Fees and Processing

• Fees follow current F-5 schedules.
• Processing timelines are longer than temporary categories.
• Supplement rounds are common in incomplete historical files.
• Submit an organized evidence index to reduce delay risk.

8. Common Rejection Reasons

• Pathway criteria are not satisfied for F-5-5.
• Support/income evidence is insufficient or inconsistent.
• Status-history continuity is weak or contradictory.
• Compliance issues remain unresolved.
• Core records cannot be verified by reviewing office.

9. FAQ