F-5 Korean permanent residency is divided into 27 types depending on the applicant’s conditions.
Permanent residency is the right to permanently reside in the Republic of Korea, and the review period takes about 3-6 months and goes through a very difficult process. Permanent residency screening basically reviews the period of stay in Korea, annual income, assets, educational background, criminal record, Korean language ability, etc.
Additional documents are required depending on the type of green card you are applying for.
F-5 Korean Permanent Residence Benefits
- You can live in Korea permanently and it is easy to acquire nationality in the future. (Permanent Residence Prepositionalism)
- Foreign resident registration is possible, not alien registration.
- You will not be subject to deportation unless it is a serious crime.
- You can receive health insurance benefits in Korea.
- You can join the national pension.
- You only need to extend your visa once every 10 years.
- You may have limited voting rights such as local elections.
- You may be eligible for a state subsidy.
F-5 Korean Permanent Residency Screening Details
income
- Family income can be summed up: The income of the applicant, spouse, and parents who live with the applicant can be summed up.
- F-5 Examination of income for one year in the previous year from the date of application for permanent residence (proven as proof of income for the previous year)
- Only income for which income tax has been paid is recognized
- Income standard: Gross National Income per capita in the previous year or higher (depending on the type of permanent residence)
∗ Permanent residence permit exempt from income test
- Big Investor (F-5-5)
- Owner of specific field ability (F-5-11)
- Person of Special Merit (F-5-12)
- Real Estate Investor (F-5-17)
- Korean-born children of permanent residents (F-5-20)
- Spouse or unmarried child of a real estate investor (F-5-19)
- IISPB : Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business (F-5-21)
- Spouse or unmarried child of IISPB (F-5-22)
- IISPB Retire Investor (F-5-23)
- Technology start-up investor (F-5-24)
- IISPB Big Investor (F-5-25)
- Those who have completed graduation with a work-study-linked study abroad qualification
∗ Permanent residency with eased income test
- Overseas Chinese born in Korea (F-5-8)
KIIP : Korea Immigration & Integration Program 5 steps
This is the most difficult part of applying for permanent residency in Korea. This is because it takes a lot of time to complete level 5 and it is not easy to learn a foreign language. You must submit the following documents to prove your Korean language proficiency.
Documents to be submitted (choose 1)
- Korea Immigration Permanent Residency Qualification Test Pass Certificate (Comprehensive Assessment for Permanent Residency)
- Korea Immigration and Naturalization Qualification Test Pass Certificate (Comprehensive Evaluation for Naturalization)
- Social Integration Program Level 5 Completion Certificate (Korean Immigration Permanent Residency Eligible Course)
- Social integration program level 5 completion certificate (qualified course for Korean immigration and naturalization)
∗ KIIP exemption permanent residency
- Big Investor (F-5-5)
- Overseas Chinese born in Korea (F-5-8)
- Overseas Doctor of Hightech Fields (F-5-9)
- Owner of specific field ability (F-5-11)
- Person of Special Merit (F-5-12)
- Overseas Pensioner (F-5-13)
- Domestic Doctor of General Field (F-5-15)
- Real Estate Investor (F-5-17)
- Children born in Korea of permanent residents (F-5-20)
- Spouse or unmarried child of a real estate investor (F-5-19)
- IISPB : Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business (F-5-21)
- Spouse or unmarried child of IISPB (F-5-22)
- IISPB Retire Investor (F-5-23)
- Technology start-up investor (F-5-24)
- IISPB Big Investor (F-5-25)
- Research and development personnel of foreign invested companies (F-5-26)
- minor
Proof of overseas criminal record
It is to review whether the applicant has complied with the laws of the Republic of Korea. Criminal records in Korea are screened through a computerized domestic system, and foreign records must be submitted with an overseas criminal record certificate.
Domestic Criminal History Proof (Online Verification)
- A person for whom five years have not elapsed since the day the execution was terminated after being sentenced to an imprisonment or higher.
- A person for whom three years have not elapsed from the date of payment after being sentenced to a fine
- A person for whom 5 years have not elapsed after violating Article 7 Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 4 of the Immigration Control Act
- Those who have violated the Immigration Control Act 3 or more times in the 5 years prior to the application date and fines are excluded.
- A person who has not passed 7 years from the date of departure after receiving a forced eviction order, or 5 years has not passed since the date of leaving Korea after receiving a departure order.
- A person who has been sentenced to a crime equivalent to a threat, blackmail, fraud, voice phishing, or drug offense in a foreign country, or has been sentenced to a prison sentence or higher for other offenses through an overseas offense record certificate.
- A person who has been punished with a penalty of 5 million won or more in violation of the Immigration Control Act for the last 3 years, or the combined penalty is 7 million won or more.
Submitting a certificate of overseas criminal history
- Submitting the applicant’s home country’s criminal history certificate (document validity period of 6 months)
- Apostille member country: Confirmation of Apostille in the country that issued the criminal record certificate
- Apostille non-registered countries: It is necessary to confirm the consular officer of the Republic of Korea in the country where the criminal record certificate is issued.
- In the case of the U.S., it is recognized when issued with criminal history across the U.S. through the FBI check.
- In the case of China, a certificate of no crime must be issued, notarized by the Chinese notary office, and certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then confirmed by the consular officer of the Republic of Korea.
∗ Permanent residency that can be omitted from checking overseas criminal record certificates
- F-5-5 Big Investors
- F-5-9 Overseas Doctor Degree of Hightech Fields
- F-5-15 Domestic Doctor Degree in General Field
- F-5-11 Individuals with abilities in specific fields
- F-5-12 Applicants for Permanent Residence for Special Merit
- minor
- Those who were born in Korea and have not stayed overseas for more than 6 months consecutively
- A person who has submitted a criminal record certificate in the past and has not stayed abroad for more than 6 months continuously and has been staying in Korea for more than 5 years as of the date of application
In addition, additional screening may be conducted depending on the type of permanent residence.
F-5 Korean Permanent Residence Application Documents
- Integrated application
- Passport and passport copy
- Alien registration card, copy of alien registration card
- Documents proving the place of stay (lease contract or certified copy)
- Overseas criminal record certificate
- Identity guarantee
- Certificate of income amount
- Social Integration Program Completion Certificate (Certificate of Passing Comprehensive Evaluation for Permanent Residents)
- Basic information of applicant
- Degree Certificate (Apostille)
- Business registration card and employment certificate of the company in which you are currently employed
- List of 4 major insurance subscribers, employment contract, etc.
- Additional documents appropriate to the characteristics of other supported permanent resident cards
F-5 Korean Permanent Residency type Examination (click)
income : GNI doubled
quality : Completion of KIIP level 5 or 60 points or more in the comprehensive exam for permanent residence and naturalization
Conduct : Submission of overseas criminal history certificate
income : Meets GNI 1 times (Spouse or family members living together (parents, children) who live together can add up income
Your income must be at least 50%
- If there are minor children, only husband’s income is recognized
- 80% of the standard
- -When a spouse is pregnant
- -In case of infertility treatment for childbirth
- -When raising a spouse’s minor children
- -When supporting and living with the spouse’s parents for at least 1 year
- -Over 60 years old
quality : Completion of KIIP level 5 or 60 points or more in the comprehensive exam for permanent residence and naturalization
Conduct : Submission of overseas criminal history certificate
income : exemption
quality : Completion of KIIP level 5 or 60 points or more in the comprehensive exam for permanent residence and naturalization
Exemption: Under 15 years old, 2 years elementary/middle school course
Conduct : Exemption from overseas criminal history certificate (under 15 years old)
2 years after holding F-2-3
income : Meets GNI 1 times (Spouse or family members living together (parents, children) who live together can add up income
ㅇ Your income must be 50% or more
ㅇ If there are minor children, only husband’s income is recognized
ㅇ Apply 80% of the standard
- -When a spouse is pregnant
- -In case of infertility treatment for childbirth
- -When raising a spouse’s minor children
- -When supporting and living with the spouse’s parents for at least 1 year
- -Over 60 years old
quality : Completion of KIIP level 5 or 60 points or more in the comprehensive exam for permanent residence and naturalization
Conduct : Submission of overseas criminal history certificate
Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP, exemption from certificate of no crime
F-5-7 Foreign nationals who meet the requirements to acquire nationality (separate guidelines apply)
Separate confirmation required
- Submit a copy of family register and birth certificate issued by the Chinese Association
- Relaxation of income screening
- 70% of GNI is applied when there are 2 or less family members living together, and more than GNI when there are 3 or more
- Recognized when the amount of real estate ownership or rental is 60 million won or more when annual income is not met
- KIIP exemption
- A person who is employed by a domestic company as an overseas doctoral degree holder in the field of high-tech
- High-tech fields: IT, technology management, nano, digital electronics, bio, transportation and machinery, new materials, environment and energy
- Income above GNI per capita, exemption from KIIP, exemption from overseas criminal record certificate
- Bachelor’s degree in high-tech fields (High-tech fields: IT, technology management, nano, digital electronics, bio, transportation and machinery, new materials, environment and energy)
- Bachelor of Science and Engineering who has completed a regular course at a domestic university
- Masters who have completed regular courses at a domestic university
- A holder of a technical engineer certificate issued by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea
- Stay in Korea for 3 years prior to the application date
- As of the date of application, you must be working as a full-time employee for at least one year at a domestic company.
- GNI or higher per income
- KIIP Level 5 Completion or Pass Certificate
- People with excellent skills in specific fields such as science, business administration, education, culture and arts, and physical education
- Income examination exemption, KIIP exemption, overseas criminal record certificate exemption
- Persons and their families who have received a medal for contributions to the independence and development of the Republic of Korea
- A person who has been appointed and commissioned as a member of the government and local governments, etc., and has been active for the public interest for more than 5 years.
- A member of a diplomatic institution who has contributed greatly to friendship or cultural exchange with the Republic of Korea.
- A person who has made great achievements in improving the international status while working as the secretary-general, deputy general manager, etc. of an international organization affiliated with the Republic of Korea.
- Those who have contributed to the promotion of international exchange in the fields of economy, society, culture, and science
- Those who have contributed greatly in the field of social welfare and have been recommended by the ministers of the relevant ministries.
- A clergyman who has contributed significantly to volunteer activities for more than 5 years in the field of social welfare
- An executive dispatched to a foreign-invested company located in Korea by a foreign corporation that has invested more than 5 million dollars and has stayed in Korea for more than 3 years.
- A person who has been recommended by the head of a relevant institution by providing important information such as high-tech industry information leakage and terrorism.
- Persons who have made a great contribution to the organization of international crimes such as human trafficking, drugs, smuggling, passport forgery, etc. and have been recommended by the central agency of the investigation
- Those who have contributed greatly to the protection of people’s lives and property from crime, disaster, disaster, accident, etc.
- Income screening exemption, KIIP exemption, and no crime certification exemption
- Over 60 years of age and the pension amount received from overseas must be at least twice the GNI per person
- Must have received a pension for the past year and have a legal visa.
- Documents to be Submitted: A copy of the pension certificate and the details of the bankbook where the pension has been deposited for one year
- KIIP exemption
- A person employed by a domestic company as a person who has completed a regular course at a domestic graduate school and obtained a doctorate degree
- Income per capita GNI or higher, KIIP exemption, overseas criminal record certificate exemption
- Those who have stayed in Korea for at least 3 years from the date of application with F-2-7 qualification
- Income is more than twice the GNI per person
- A person who has maintained investment for a total of 5 years or more with a status of real estate investment residence (F-2)
- Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP, excluding submission of identity guarantee
- Determined by F-2-7 who is the main resident
- You must be staying in Korea while maintaining family relations for at least 2 years.
- The applicant’s spouse, father, or mother must hold F-5-17 status at the time of application.
- Unmarried children of spouse who have maintained F-2 status for at least 5 years
- Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP, and submission of identity guarantee
- The father or mother must stay in Korea with a permanent resident status (F-5) at the date of birth in Korea (excluding children born overseas)
- Must be a minor as of the date of application
- Must have maintained investment for a total of 5 years or more as a resident status for IISPB(F-2)
- Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP, and submission of identity guarantee
- A person who has maintained residence (F-2) status for at least 5 years as a spouse or unmarried child of IISPB investor
- At the time of application, either spouse, father, or mother of the applicant must be eligible for F-5-21.
- Children must be unmarried at the time of application.
- Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP, and submission of identity guarantee
- Retired IISPB Status (F-2) and must have continued to invest for a total of 5 years or more
- Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP, and submission of identity guarantee
- Continued stay in Korea for at least 3 years with a technology start-up (D-8-4) qualification
- Must have attracted more than 300 million won of investment from domestic and foreign investors, or secure equivalent capital
- Must have employed two or more nationals as regular workers for at least 6 months.
- Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP
- You must have deposited more than 1.5 billion won in the Korea Development Bank’s public service investment immigration fund.
- Make a pledge to maintain the investment status for 5 years (permanent residence status will be canceled if part or all of it is withdrawn in the middle)
- Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP
KIIP exemption
Stay : Over 2 years with F-2-4 status
income : Meets GNI 1 times
quality : Completion of KIIP level 5 or 60 points or more in the comprehensive exam for permanent residence and naturalization
conduct : If you have lived in a foreign country for a long time before applying for refugee status, submit a foreign criminal history certificate from that country
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