K-STAR Visa Program Korea — F-2-7S, F-5-S1, and the Top Talent Residency Track

K-STAR is an administrative designation within the Korean immigration system that recognises individuals as 'strategic foreign talent' — professionals and researchers whose skills are considered critical to Korea's long-term economic and technological competitiveness. K-STAR status unlocks a set of dedicated visa sub-types (F-2-7S, F-2-71, F-5-S1, F-5-S2) that operate alongside but separately from the general F-2-7 points system.

The program is targeted at: PhD holders in STEM fields; senior researchers at globally recognized institutions; individuals with significant patents in strategic technology areas (AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, clean energy, advanced materials, quantum computing); and highly experienced senior professionals who have been designated through KIS's talent recognition process. The '32 designated university partners' — a list of Korean universities approved for K-STAR intake maintained by the Ministry of Justice — also provide an academic gateway into the K-STAR system for graduates of those institutions.

F-2-7S is the primary residency status for K-STAR designated talent. Key differences from standard F-2-7:

• Point score deficiency permitted: F-2-7S can be granted even if you do not meet the standard F-2-7 K-Point threshold (typically 80+ out of a capped maximum). K-STAR designated talent can receive F-2-7S through a separate assessment track rather than the points ladder.
• Maximum stay: 5 years per grant (compared to 3 years for standard F-2-7).
• Work rights: Unrestricted — same as standard F-2. You can work for any employer, in any sector, or as a self-employed professional.
• Income requirement: More flexible than standard F-2-7 for the initial grant period.
• Gateway to F-5-S1: F-2-7S holders who maintain status and meet the F-5-S1 requirements have a clear pathway to K-STAR permanent residency.

F-2-71 is the dependent residency status for the immediate family (spouse and minor children) of -7S holders. Critical distinction from standard (companion visa):

• Income waiver for first 5 years: While the -7S holder is in their first 5 years of K-STAR status, the family members on F-2-71 are exempt from the income compliance threshold that would normally apply to companion/dependent visas.
• After 5 years: F-2-71 holders must meet standard income compliance requirements for renewal. If the -7S holder has transitioned to -S1, the dependent's status is reviewed accordingly.
• Work rights: F-2-71 dependents have access to Korean healthcare and social services, and depending on their own qualifications, may be able to independently apply for their own or other work authorization.

-S1 is the K-STAR track permanent residency. It is separate from the standard F-5 (영주) and operates under a different scoring system specifically calibrated for top-tier talent. Key features:

• A separate K-STAR point system is used — different categories and weightings from the general F-5 requirements.
• The time-based threshold for -S1 may be shorter than the 5-year general F-5 route for qualifying K-STAR talent, though the exact eligibility period is subject to KIS updates.
• -S1 holders have all the rights of standard F-5 permanent residents — no renewal required, unrestricted work rights, full access to national health insurance and pension on par with Korean citizens.
• -S2 is the companion permanent residency for the dependent family members of F-5-S1 holders.

K-STAR is not only accessible via D-10-T. KIS has designated 32 Korean universities as official K-STAR intake partners — graduates and researchers from these institutions who meet certain criteria can access the K-STAR track through their university's international affairs office or directly through KIS. The list of 32 universities is maintained by the Ministry of Justice and subject to periodic updates. It includes major research universities (KAIST, POSTECH, Seoul National University, Yonsei, Korea University, UNIST, GIST, and others with strong research output). Researchers enrolled in graduate programs at these institutions, or postdoctoral fellows at affiliated research centres, may be eligible to initiate K-STAR status during or after their program.

The standard F-2-7 points system is designed for the broad population of skilled foreign workers in Korea who have accumulated experience, income, and language skills over several years. K-STAR is designed for an elite segment that may not have years of Korean employment history but who bring extraordinary global credentials.

Choose K-STAR if: you have a PhD in a strategic STEM field, significant research outputs or patents, a track record at globally recognized institutions, or you come through a designated university research program.

Choose standard F-2-7 if: you have been working in Korea for several years on or similar status, have been building K-Points through income, TOPIK scores, and tenure, and are approaching the 80-point threshold through the conventional accumulation route.

The two paths are not mutually exclusive — K-STAR candidates who are in Korea on standard status can request K-STAR assessment while still technically accumulating standard F-2-7 points.