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immigration

How to Apply for an F-2 Resident Visa in Korea

The F-2 Resident Visa is one of the most flexible visas in Korea. It allows you to work in almost any field without employer sponsorship, and is a stepping stone toward permanent residency. Here's everything you need to know about qualifying and applying.

What Is the F-2 Visa?

The F-2 (Resident) visa gives foreigners long-term residency rights in Korea with minimal work restrictions. Unlike work visas (E-series), F-2 holders can work in virtually any industry without needing employer sponsorship.

βœ… Key Benefits of F-2 Visa

Work in any industry without employer sponsorship Β· Valid for 1–3 years (renewable) Β· Pathway to F-5 permanent residency Β· Bring family members on F-3 visa Β· No restrictions on job changes

Who Can Apply for F-2?

There are several pathways to the F-2 visa depending on your situation:

πŸ† F-2-7 Points System (κ°€μž₯ 일반적)

The most common pathway. Earn points based on age, education, Korean language ability, income, and years in Korea. Must score 80+ points out of 120.

Best for: Skilled workers, professionals, graduates

πŸ’ Spouse of Korean National (F-2-1)

Married to a Korean citizen for 2+ years, or have a child together.

Best for: International couples

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§ Long-Term Resident (F-2-99)

Held a legal visa status in Korea for 5+ consecutive years.

Best for: Long-term expats

πŸŽ“ Korean University Graduate (F-2-6)

Graduated from a Korean university with a Bachelor's degree or higher.

Best for: International students who graduated in Korea

πŸ’° Investor (F-2-4)

Invested 300 million KRW or more in a Korean business that employs Korean nationals.

Best for: Business investors

F-2-7 Points System Explained

The points-based F-2-7 is the most common pathway. Here's how points are calculated:

πŸŽ‚ Age (max 20 points)

18–24: 20 points

25–29: 18 points

30–34: 16 points

35–39: 14 points Β· 40–44: 12 points Β· 45+: decreasing

πŸŽ“ Education (max 35 points)

PhD: 35 points

Master's: 30 points

Bachelor's: 25 points

πŸ—£ Korean Language (max 20 points)

TOPIK 6: 20 points

TOPIK 5: 18 points

TOPIK 4: 14 points

TOPIK 3: 10 points

πŸ’Ό Work Experience & Income (max 20 points)

Annual income 80M+ KRW: 20 points

Annual income 60–80M KRW: 16 points

Annual income 40–60M KRW: 12 points

πŸ“… Years in Korea (max 15 points)

5+ years: 15 points

4 years: 12 points

3 years: 9 points Β· 2 years: 6 points Β· 1 year: 3 points

πŸ’‘ Tip: Calculate Your Score

Use the Hi Korea website (hikorea.go.kr) to calculate your points before applying. You need 80+ points to qualify for F-2-7.

Required Documents

πŸ“‹ Basic Documents (All Applicants)

  • Passport (original + copy)

  • Alien Registration Card (ARC)

  • Application form

  • 1 passport photo

  • Application fee: 130,000 KRW

πŸ“‹ Additional for F-2-7 (Points System)

  • Diploma (Apostille if foreign degree)

  • TOPIK certificate

  • Employment contract + pay stubs

  • Tax payment certificate (납세증λͺ…μ„œ)

  • Health insurance certificate

Document preparation

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1 β€” Check eligibility
Calculate your points at hikorea.go.kr or visit your nearest Immigration Office for a pre-consultation.

Step 2 β€” Gather documents
Collect all required documents. Foreign documents must be apostilled and translated into Korean if not in English.

Step 3 β€” Book an appointment
Book online at hikorea.go.kr. Walk-ins are possible but appointment holders are prioritized.

Step 4 β€” Submit application
Visit the Immigration Office, submit documents, and pay the 130,000 KRW fee.

Step 5 β€” Wait for processing
Processing takes 2–4 weeks. You'll be notified by SMS when your new ARC is ready.

Step 6 β€” Pick up your new ARC
Return to the Immigration Office with your receipt to collect your F-2 ARC.

F-2 to F-5: Pathway to Permanent Residency

After holding an F-2 visa for a certain period and meeting financial and language requirements, you can apply for an F-5 Permanent Residency visa.

πŸ† F-5 Requirements (General)

Held F-2 for 2+ years Β· Total of 5+ years in Korea Β· Annual income above a certain threshold Β· Clean criminal record Β· Basic Korean language ability (TOPIK 3+)

Tips for Foreigners

  • Start improving your TOPIK score β€” Korean language ability gives the most points per effort in the F-2-7 system

  • Keep all tax records β€” proof of consistent income and tax payments strengthens your application

  • Apply before your current visa expires β€” you can apply for F-2 while on another valid visa

  • Get foreign documents apostilled early β€” apostille processing can take several weeks in your home country

  • Consult an immigration lawyer for complex cases β€” fees are typically 200,000–500,000 KRW

  • Hi Korea helpline: 1345 β€” available in English for immigration questions

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