Korea's investment immigration program (투자이민제) allows foreign nationals to obtain long-term residency (F-2) and eventually permanent residency (F-5) by making qualifying investments in government-designated real estate or public interest funds. There are two main schemes — tourism/resort real estate and public interest investment funds — with a cross-scheme option that allows investors to move between the two while maintaining their qualifying investment timeline.
The tourism real estate investment scheme allows foreign nationals to obtain F-2 residency by purchasing qualifying real estate in government-designated tourism or resort zones.
Investment threshold: Approximately in a qualifying designated zone property. The exact threshold is set by the Ministry of Justice and may be adjusted by zone.
Designated zones (current examples):
• Gangwon Province: Alpensia Resort complex (정선군), Jeongdongjin resort complex
• Jeju Island: Designated tourism development zones within Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
• Incheon: Certain resort/marina development zones
• Other MOJ-designated tourism development areas (the list is updated periodically)
How it works:
Key conditions:
• The property must remain in your name throughout the 5-year period — selling before 5 years resets the timeline
• The property must be in an MOJ-designated tourism zone — regular residential property does not qualify
• Annual proof of continued ownership is required at each F-2 renewal
The public interest fund scheme allows F-2 residency in exchange for investment in government-designated public interest funds (공익펀드).
Investment threshold: Approximately KRW 500 million (approximately USD 370,000) in a qualifying public interest fund.
How public interest funds work:
The funds are managed by designated fund management companies approved by the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The funds invest in:
• Regional development projects
• Social welfare infrastructure
• Public benefit enterprises designated by relevant ministries
Investors do not directly select specific projects — they invest in the fund and the fund manager allocates the capital to qualifying public interest projects.
How it works:
Key conditions:
• Full redemption of the fund investment before 5 years resets the F-5 eligibility clock
• Partial redemptions below the threshold investment amount are also disqualifying
• The fund manager must be on the MOJ's approved list at the time of investment
Foreign investors who have invested under one scheme (e.g. real estate) and wish to switch to the other (e.g. public interest fund) — or vice versa — may do so under the cross-scheme rules:
• The investor must fully exit one scheme and immediately enter the other
• If the transition is completed within a defined grace period (as specified in MOJ guidelines), the accumulated time in the prior scheme counts toward the 5-year PR requirement — the clock does not fully reset
• If the transition takes longer than the grace period, the timeline may partially or fully reset
This allows investors to adjust their investment approach based on market conditions or personal preference while preserving their residency pathway progress.
F-2 investment residency:
• Issued for 1 year, renewable annually while the investment is maintained
• Open work rights — F-2 holders can work for any employer, start a business, or remain unemployed
• Family accompaniment: spouse and children may receive F-3 (dependent companion)
F-5 permanent residency pathway:
• After 5 years of F-2 investment residency with maintained investment:
- Real estate scheme → F-5-21
- Public interest fund scheme → F-5-22
- Cross-scheme → F-5-23
• Standard F-5 universal requirements also apply: basic Korean language (TOPIK 1 or KIIP participation), clean immigration record, stable income/assets during the period
No language/civics waiver: Investment immigration F-5 pathways still require meeting minimum language and civics standards, unlike the high-talent fast-track paths. KIIP participation is strongly encouraged.
Use a registered Korean real estate agent (공인중개사) who specializes in investment immigration zones — not all properties in a tourist area qualify. Verify the MOJ designation before purchasing.
Public interest fund investment: confirm the fund manager is on the current MOJ approved list before investing. The approved list changes and investing with an unlisted manager will invalidate the immigration pathway.
Keep meticulous annual records of investment maintenance — property tax receipts, ownership certificates, fund statements — as these are required at each F-2 renewal.
도움이 필요하신가요?
저희 전문가들은 korea investment immigration — f-2 residency via tourism real estate & public fund investment 사례를 정기적으로 처리하며 한국 출입국관리소가 요구하는 사항을 정확히 알고 있습니다.
전문가 찾기Can I rent out the tourism real estate property while on the investment immigration program?
Renting out the property to tourists or tenants is generally permitted — the investment immigration requirement is about ownership, not personal use. However, the specific terms depend on the zone's regulations. Confirm with the regional authority managing the designated zone.
What happens to my F-2 status if the public interest fund returns the capital early?
Early redemption of the investment fund before 5 years disqualifies you from the F-5-22 pathway and may cause loss of F-2 investment status. You would need to re-invest in another qualifying fund to restart the clock. Review your fund subscription agreement carefully — some funds have lock-up periods that prevent early redemption.
Do I need to live in Korea to maintain investment immigration F-2?
F-2 investment residency requires actual residence in Korea — you cannot maintain F-2 status as a non-resident. You must be physically present in Korea for most of the year and comply with standard F-2 continuous residence requirements (generally no single absence exceeding 1 year, and total annual presence above a minimum threshold).