South Korea F-2-7 Point-Based Resident Visa vs Korea F-5 Permanent Residency
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›Korea F-5 Permanent Residency requires a 300,000 USD investment; South Korea F-2-7 Point-Based Resident Visa does not.
South Korea F-2-7 Point-Based Resident Visa South Korea · skilled worker | Korea F-5 Permanent Residency South Korea · passive income | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Korea | South Korea |
| Category | Skilled Worker | Passive Income |
| Application Fee | $100 | $80 |
| Minimum Income | — | — |
| Minimum Investment | — | $300,000 |
| Processing Time | Not published | Not published |
| Family Included | Per the Korea Immigration Service guide, a spouse and underage children can be invited on Resident (F-2) status only if the principal F-2 holder meets the income standard (GNI or higher), and on family visitor (F-1) status if the income requirement is not met. However, the spouse and underage children of prospective talent may change to F-2 status with the same period of stay as the principal regardless of the principal's income (F-2-7S). Family relationships do not themselves add points. | Per the Korea Immigration Service guide, the spouse and underage children of a permanent resident (F-5) can be invited on Resident (F-2) status if the invitation requirements are met; they do not receive F-5 automatically. F-3 (Dependent Family) is for families of holders of Arts and Culture (D-1) to Special Occupation (E-7) status, not of F-5 holders. |
| Path to PR | Yes — 3 years | Yes — 0 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Physical Presence | No single continuous-stay threshold is mandated to hold F-2-7 status, but extended absences from Korea can jeopardize both the more-than-3-year bridge to F-5 permanent residency and the 5-year continuous domestic residence generally required for naturalization. | Varies by sub-category. The general route (F-5-1) requires 5 years of continuous qualifying residence in Korea before application; the investment route (F-5-11) requires maintaining the investment for at least 3 continuous years; the points-based route (F-5-16) requires more than 3 years as a point-based resident (F-2) immediately before applying. |
| Dual Citizenship | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax Impact | An individual becomes a Korean tax resident after 183 days of physical presence in a tax year (or upon establishing a domicile), triggering worldwide income taxation at progressive rates up to 45%. Korea's extensive double-taxation treaty network offers relief for many nationalities, but F-2-7 holders working locally are subject to standard Korean payroll withholding. | F-5 holders present in Korea 183+ days per year are Korean tax residents taxed on worldwide income at progressive rates up to 45%, subject to Korea's network of double-tax treaties. Some foreign professionals may separately elect a flat 19% tax rate on Korea-source employment income for a limited number of years, but this is unrelated to F-5 status itself. |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | $100 | — |
About South Korea F-2-7 Point-Based Resident Visa
South Korea's F-2-7 is the point-system route to Resident (F-2) status for foreign talent. It covers five categories: employees of KOSPI- or KOSDAQ-listed corporations; workers in promising industries (IT, tech management, nanotechnology, digital electronics, biotechnology, transportation/machinery, new materials, environment and energy) whose previous-year income was more than 1.5 times GNI; professionals who have stayed more than 3 consecutive years in News Coverage (D-5) to International Trade (D-9) or Professor (E-1) to Professional (E-7-1) status (excluding E-6-2; time on D-2 or D-10 status does not count, and the requirement is waived for those with annual income of KRW 40 million or more or those recommended for a science-and-engineering talent project); international student talent (a bachelor's degree from a Korean-war participant country plus a master's or higher obtained in Korea); and promising talent (an obtained or expected master's or doctoral degree in science and engineering). Applicants in these categories must obtain the score stipulated in the immigration guidelines and meet the requirements on good conduct, employment activities and public health. KIIP points are differentiated according to the completion level, and additional points are given to those who have completed level 5 or higher (Social Integration Program). After more than three years as a point-based F-2 (F-2-7) resident, holders can apply to upgrade to F-5 permanent residency.
Full South Korea F-2-7 Point-Based Resident Visa profile →About Korea F-5 Permanent Residency
Korea's F-5 status grants indefinite permanent residency and is reached through several distinct sub-category pathways rather than a single uniform process. The general long-term residence route (F-5-1) requires 5 years of continuous qualifying residence plus income and asset thresholds; the corporate investment route (F-5-11) requires investing roughly $300,000 or more in a Korean company (or more in designated real-estate investment zones) and maintaining it for 3 years while employing Korean nationals; and the points-based route (F-5-16) fast-tracks point-based F-2 residents who score highly across income, education, Korean-language ability, and age after more than 3 years as a point-based resident (F-2). Other sub-paths exist for spouses of Koreans, highly skilled professionals, and special contributors. Once granted, F-5 removes the need for further status renewals and provides a strong platform toward Korean naturalization, though Korea generally requires renouncing other nationalities upon naturalizing as an adult, with only narrow exceptions.
Full Korea F-5 Permanent Residency profile →Gotchas to Watch For
South Korea F-2-7 Point-Based Resident Visa
- ⚠Applicants must obtain the score stipulated in the guidelines — check the current guidelines with an immigration office before applying
- ⚠Korean naturalization generally requires renouncing your existing citizenship; Korea's dual-citizenship exceptions are narrow and mostly apply to overseas ethnic Koreans and certain elderly or highly skilled cases granted by special permission
- ⚠F-2-7 removes employer sponsorship but does not itself guarantee work authorization in every sector — some regulated professions still require separate licensing
- ⚠Volunteer and community-activity points require documentary evidence (certificates from registered organizations); informal participation is unlikely to count
- ⚠Time spent on short-term or unauthorized stays does not count toward the residence clock for F-5 or naturalization eligibility
Korea F-5 Permanent Residency
- ⚠F-5 is not a single visa but an umbrella status reached through materially different sub-category requirements (F-5-1, F-5-11, F-5-16, and others); applicants often assume one uniform rule applies to all
- ⚠Spouses and minor children do not automatically receive F-5 alongside the principal applicant; per the guide they can be invited on Resident (F-2) status if the invitation requirements are met
- ⚠The investment route's Korean-employee requirement (commonly at least 2 Korean nationals hired) is strictly checked and a common point of application rejection for under-staffed ventures
- ⚠Korea generally requires renouncing foreign nationality upon ordinary naturalization as an adult; only narrow categories (elderly overseas Koreans returning, global talent, certain marriage cases) may retain dual nationality by pledging not to exercise foreign nationality rights in Korea
- ⚠The points-based F-5-16 route requires having first held point-based F-2 status for more than 3 years, so applicants without that prior status cannot use this path directly
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.