Visa Change Guide

A guide for those changing their status to a long-term residence visa.

F-1

Family Visit / Stay Visa

For relatives visiting, family members residing together, dependents, housekeeping, and similar purposes. Stay duration: up to 2 years per grant.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Relative visits, family cohabitation, dependent support, domestic assistance, and similar purposes. Stay duration: up to 2 years per grant.

Eligibility Requirements

•Domestic household helpers of foreign diplomats stationed in Korea
•Non-household dependents of A-1 to A-3 visa holders
•Family (spouse and minor children) of F-4 (Overseas Korean) or H-2 (Working Visit) visa holders
•Parents accompanying minor foreign students enrolled in schools up to and including high school
•Dependent minor children of SOFA Article 21 holders

Required Documents

Click each item to mark it as prepared.

0 / 3

Required documents vary by sub-status (F-1-3, F-1-5, F-1-9, F-1-11, F-1-12, F-1-13, F-1-15, F-1-21~24)
Common: visa application form, passport, photo, fee, family relationship documents
Additional: financial proof, employment documents, invitation letters, personal guaranty as applicable

F-2

Residence Visa

For persons seeking long-term residence in Korea with the intent to obtain permanent residence. Stay duration: up to 5 years per grant.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Long-term residence for those intending to obtain permanent residency, including minor foreign children of Korean nationals, spouses/minor children of permanent residents, recognized refugees, and qualifying investors. Stay duration: up to 5 years.

Eligibility Requirements

•Minor foreign children of Korean nationals; spouses and minor children of permanent residents (F-5)
•Persons born from marriages (including de facto) with Korean nationals, as recognized by the Minister of Justice
•Recognized refugees
•Foreign investors under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act (investment ≥ USD 500,000, D-8 status for 3+ years)
•Persons who have resided in Korea for 5+ years with established domestic base of living

Required Documents

Click each item to mark it as prepared.

0 / 2

Documents vary by sub-status (F-2-2, F-2-3, F-2-7, etc.)
Common: visa application form, passport, photo, fee, relevant relationship/investment documents, financial proof, background check

F-2-7

Point-Based Skilled Worker Visa

Point-based residence visa for listed company employees, workers in promising industries, professionals with specific visa status (E-1~E-7, D-5~D-9), and academic talent with master's degree or higher from Korean institutions.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Residence for high-skilled foreign workers meeting a point-based scoring system (≥80/160 points): listed company employees in managerial/professional roles, workers in high-tech industries with income ≥ 1.5× per capita GNI, qualified professional visa holders with 3+ years consecutive legal stay, and Korean-educated master's+ graduates employed in professional fields within 5 years of graduation.

Eligibility Requirements

•Point-based evaluation total score ≥ 80 points (refer to F-2-7 point system)
•No infectious diseases such as tuberculosis

Required Documents

Click each item to mark it as prepared.

0 / 3

Basic documents: application form, passport, alien registration card, photo, fee, proof of residence, overseas criminal background check, employment contract
Point evaluation documents: completed score sheet, supporting documents for each score category
Additional: family relationship documents, TB test result, diploma, STEM university president's recommendation (if applicable)

F-3

Accompanying Dependent Visa

For spouses and minor children accompanying holders of D-1 through E-7 visas (excluding D-3), and families of certain professional visa holders (E-1, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-7 with Gold Card).

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Accompanying spouses and minor children of D-1 to E-7 visa holders (excluding D-3 technical training), and family members of key professional visa holders (E-1, E-3, E-4, E-5, and Gold Card E-7 holders).

Eligibility Requirements

•Spouses and minor children of D-1 to E-7 (excluding D-3) visa holders
•Spouses and minor children of key professional visa holders (E-1, E-3, E-4, E-5, Gold Card E-7)

Required Documents

Click each item to mark it as prepared.

0 / 3

Visa issuance confirmation application, passport copy, 1 standard-size photo
Family relationship documents: marriage certificate, family relationship record, birth certificate, etc.
Proof of financial self-sufficiency: inviting person's employment certificate, tax payment proof, etc.

F-4

Overseas Korean Visa

For foreign nationals who previously held Korean nationality (including those who emigrated before the establishment of the Korean government) and their lineal descendants.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

For ethnic Koreans who have acquired foreign nationality. Allows broad activities in Korea. Stay duration: up to 3 years per grant (in principle).

Eligibility Requirements

•Persons who held Korean nationality by birth (including those who emigrated before 1948) and subsequently acquired foreign nationality
•Their lineal descendants who have acquired foreign nationality
•Note: Males who first renounced Korean nationality after May 1, 2018 must have completed or been exempted from military service to qualify before age 40

Required Documents

Click each item to mark it as prepared.

0 / 4

Korean language proficiency proof
Overseas criminal background check
Family relationship records (family register extract, resident registration abstract)
Documents proving overseas Korean status: alien registration book, resident ID, birth certificate, etc.

F-5

Permanent Residence Visa

Permanent residency with no restrictions on activities based on visa category. Stay duration: unlimited.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Permanent residency in Korea with no activity restrictions. Stay duration: unlimited.

Eligibility Requirements

•F-5-1: 5+ years of continuous legal stay in Korea
•F-5-4: Spouse or minor children of a permanent resident
•F-5-5: Investor of USD 500,000+ employing 5+ Korean nationals
•F-5-9: PhD in cutting-edge industry field, employed by Korean company
•F-5-10: Bachelor's/master's degree in cutting-edge field or master's+ in general field with technology qualifications, employed by Korean company
•F-5-11: Persons with outstanding ability in science, management, education, arts, or sports
•F-5-12: Persons with special contribution to Korea
•F-5-16: F-2-7 point-based holders with 3+ years continuous stay
•F-5-25: Persons who pledge investment of KRW 1.5 billion or more for 5+ years

Required Documents

Click each item to mark it as prepared.

0 / 2

Common documents: integrated application, passport, alien registration card, proof of residence, overseas criminal background check, personal guaranty, income proof, tax-related documents, immigration/naturalization eligibility test results, KIIP completion certificate
Additional documents by specific F-5 subtype (investment proof, family relationship documents, degree/employment certificates, pension certificates, etc.)

F-6

Marriage Immigration Visa

For spouses of Korean nationals with a valid marriage in Korea (F-6-1), foreign parents raising children born from a marriage with a Korean national after the relationship ends (F-6-2), and those who cannot maintain their marriage due to their spouse's death or disappearance (F-6-3).

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

F-6-1: Valid marriage to a Korean national, intending to cohabitate in Korea. F-6-2: Foreign parent raising minor children born from a relationship with a Korean national after the relationship ends. F-6-3: Persons unable to maintain their marriage due to the Korean spouse's death, disappearance, or other circumstances not attributable to the applicant. Stay duration: up to 3 years.

Eligibility Requirements

•F-6-1: Valid marriage in Korea to a Korean national
•F-6-2: Foreign parent with custody of children born from a marriage (including de facto) with a Korean national
•F-6-3: Persons unable to maintain marriage due to spouse's death, disappearance, or non-attributable reasons, as recognized by the Minister of Justice

Required Documents

Click each item to mark it as prepared.

0 / 5

Basic documents: visa application form, 1 passport photo, applicant's original + copy passport, fee
Invitation letter (written in Korean by Korean spouse)
Personal guaranty (written in Korean by Korean spouse)
Marriage background statement (written in English by foreign spouse)
Korean spouse's documents: passport copy, detailed family records, marriage relationship certificate, family relationship certificate, resident registration, international marriage program certificate, medical certificate