South Korea F-2-99 Point-Based Long-Term Residency Visa
South Korea KOR
South Korea's F-2-99 sub-status is a points-based long-term residency track for foreigners already on a qualifying work or study visa (commonly E-1 through E-7, D-2, D-9, or D-10). Eligibility is scored across weighted criteria — age, education, annual income, Korean language proficiency (TOPIK or KIIP completion), and social contribution such as volunteer work or years in Korea. Applicants scoring at least 80 of 120 points may convert to F-2 residency, removing the employer-sponsorship tie of most work visas and granting freedom to change jobs or start a business. After three years holding F-2-99 status, holders can apply to upgrade to F-5 permanent residency, a common stepping stone toward naturalization after five years of cumulative domestic residence. Korean law generally requires renouncing prior citizenship upon naturalization, with only narrow statutory exceptions.
Program Details
- Category
- Skilled Worker
- Processing Time
- 2 months
- Application Fee
- $100
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- A spouse and minor children may accompany the principal on dependent (F-3) status. Family relationships do not themselves add points, though a Korean spouse or Korean ancestry can contribute under separate visa categories not applicable to F-2-99.
- Path to PR
- Yes — 3 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 5 years
- Physical Presence
- No single continuous-stay threshold is mandated to hold F-2-99 status, but extended absences from Korea can jeopardize both the 3-year bridge to F-5 permanent residency and the 5-year continuous domestic residence generally required for naturalization.
- Dual Citizenship
- 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-2-99 holders working locally are subject to standard Korean payroll withholding.
- Renewal Cost
- $100
There is no fixed minimum income threshold. Instead, annual income (assessed in KRW relative to Korea's per-capita GNI) is one of several weighted criteria in the points table, alongside age, education, Korean language ability, and social-integration activity. A composite score of at least 80 out of 120 possible points is required to qualify.
Application Timeline
Apply
2mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 3 years
Citizenship
After 5 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Currently hold a qualifying Korean visa status (e.g., E-1–E-7 professional/skilled categories, D-2 student, D-9 trade, or D-10 job-seeking)
- ✓Score at least 80 of 120 points across the age, education, income, Korean-language, and social-integration criteria
- ✓Demonstrate Korean language ability, typically via TOPIK score or completion of a KIIP (Korea Immigration & Integration Program) stage
- ✓No disqualifying criminal record in Korea or abroad
- ✓Valid health insurance coverage or enrollment in the National Health Insurance Service
- ✓Continuous lawful residence in Korea without status violations at time of application
- ✓Supporting documents proving income, academic credentials, and any volunteer/community activity claimed for points
Am I eligible for South Korea F-2-99 Point-Based Long-Term Residency Visa?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Confirm eligibility on a qualifying base visa
destinationApplicants must already hold an eligible status such as E-1–E-7, D-2, D-9, or D-10. Review the current points table on HiKorea or with an immigration office to estimate your score before applying.
Typical duration: Self-assessment, no fixed duration
- 02
Complete KIIP or obtain a TOPIK score
destinationKorean language points are usually the largest swing factor. Completing stages of the Korea Immigration & Integration Program or sitting the TOPIK exam builds the language-proficiency component of the score.
Typical duration: Several months to over a year, depending on starting level
- 03
Compile supporting documentation
destinationGather proof of income (tax filings or employment contracts), academic degree certificates (apostilled/notarized if foreign), and evidence of volunteer or community activity used for social-integration points.
Typical duration: 2–4 weeks
- 04
Submit the F-2-99 status-change application
destinationFile the application with supporting documents at the local immigration office (or via HiKorea online where available) requesting change of status to F-2-99 point-based long-term residency.
Typical duration: 4–8 weeks for a decision
- 05
Receive F-2-99 residence card
destinationOn approval, the immigration office issues an updated Alien Registration Card reflecting F-2-99 status, which is generally valid for a renewable multi-year period without employer sponsorship.
Typical duration: 1–2 weeks after approval
- 06
Maintain status and renew as required
destinationF-2-99 status must be renewed periodically; continued compliance (no criminal issues, valid health insurance, stable residence) is required to remain in good standing.
Typical duration: Ongoing
- 07
Apply for F-5 permanent residency after 3 years
destinationOnce three years have been held on F-2 status (accumulated, not necessarily all as F-2-99), holders may apply to the immigration office to upgrade to F-5 permanent residency, removing further renewal obligations.
Typical duration: 2–4 months for a decisionsource ↗
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠The points table is periodically revised by the Ministry of Justice, so a score that qualifies today may not next year — reconfirm the current table 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-2-99 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for F-2-99 directly from outside Korea?+
No. F-2-99 is a status-change category available only to individuals who already hold an eligible Korean visa and are residing in Korea. It is not a visa issued at a consulate abroad.
How is the 80-point threshold distributed across categories?+
Points are drawn from a table covering age (higher points for younger working-age applicants), education level, annual income relative to Korea's GNI per capita, Korean language proficiency, and bonus points for social contribution such as volunteer work or years of prior lawful residence. The exact weighting is published and periodically updated by Korean immigration authorities.
Does F-2-99 allow me to change employers freely?+
Yes — a key advantage of F-2 status generally is that it is not tied to a single employer, unlike most E-series work visas, allowing holders to change jobs or start their own business without a new sponsorship application.
Will I need to give up my current citizenship to naturalize after F-5?+
In most cases, yes. Korean nationality law requires renunciation of foreign citizenship upon naturalization, with limited statutory exceptions that do not apply to most F-2-99/F-5 holders.
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
Related Guides
Sources & last verified
- Official source
- Last verified