The investment standard amount varies by region for real estate investment visas. Additionally, the types of goods are limited to living accommodations, recreational condominiums, general accommodations, and tourist pensions. Be aware that you will not be able to obtain a visa even if you purchase a real estate unless it is a designated property.
The main one is the Foreign Investment System, which allows foreigners who invest in real estate in government-designated areas to be granted a residence visa (F2 visa) immediately, and then permanent residency (F5 visa) if they maintain their investment for five years.
Applicant
- Foreigners who purchased real estate worth KRW 1 billion or more
- Current officers and shareholders of foreign entities that purchased real estate worth KRW 1 billion or more
- Can be obtained with a spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child
Application procedure
| Investor entry (required) |
| Pre-screening for real estate investments (immigration offices) |
| Real estate site visits and provisional agreements |
| Investment Declaration / Bank Account Opening and Remittance (Designated Foreign Exchange Bank) |
| Get a registration number for foreign real estate |
| Real estate registry |
Apply for an F2 resident visa |
| Apply for F5 green card after maintaining investment for 5 years |
| Can sell real estate after obtaining permanent residency |
Notes
- The investor must be present in the country to be eligible for the investment pre-screening process. Other tasks can be accomplished with a power of attorney.
- Foreigners with a down payment of KRW 100 million or more can apply for an F1 visa.
- Once your investment is complete, you can change to an F2 visa.
- If you do not make an additional investment of at least 100 million won within one year of obtaining your F1 visa, your stay will be restricted.
- It is also possible to invest in public utilities (fund investment) in conjunction with real estate investment with a total amount of KRW 1.5 billion or more.
- If you recoup your investment before obtaining permanent residency (sell property, cancel a contract, transfer a membership), your visa will be canceled.
The investment threshold for the real estate investment visa varies by region, and the types of properties are limited to living accommodations, vacation condominiums, general accommodations, and tourist pensions. It’s important to note that you can’t get a visa even if you buy a property unless it’s a designated property.
| Incheon | Songdo International City, Cheongna International City, Yeongjongdo Island | Over KRW 1 billion |
| Jeju Island | Designated Real Estate | 10 billion won or more |
| Jeonnam | Yeosu Hwayang District Yeosu Gyeonggi-do Marine Tourism Complex | Over $700 million 1 billion or more |
| Gangwon-do | Pyeongchang Alpensia Gangneung Jeongdongjin District | 1 billion or more Over $700 million |
| Busan | Haeundae Tourist Resort Dongbusan Tourist Complex | 1 billion or more 1 billion or more |
The most popular areas for real estate investment visas are Incheon Songdo International City or Jeju Island, which are close to Seoul. These areas have the best conditions for real estate investment visas because they are new cities, close to the sea, have international business districts, international schools, hospitals, parks, and are very foreigner-friendly.
While some properties can be worth over $1 billion, most are smaller properties worth $500,000 or less, so you may need to buy 2-5 properties.
The following is the Songdo Hillstate Building, which is considered to be the most investment-worthy (living accommodation)
- Prove that the investment is from abroad.
- Demonstrate investment formation history
- Maintain the investment without eroding the investment threshold.
- There must be no disqualification reasons falling under any of the following
- A person who has received a fine or a criminal punishment
- In case of entry ban or there is a risk of harming the security and order maintenance of the Republic of Korea, public welfare, or other interests of the Republic of Korea
- Submitting false documents
- In case the investment facility is used for profit activities, such as sale, lease, or collateral setting, or the investment facility is seized;
- application
- passport, photo
- Alien registration card for foreign registrants
- real estate sales contract
- If you are a registered person, a certified copy of the real estate register
- For condominiums, membership certificate and deposit receipt
- Confirmation of vacancy of unsold housing (investor of unsold housing)
- View details of households moved into the house (investors of unsold houses)
- Proof of foreign currency importation, such as a foreign exchange repurchase certificate
- Documents proving that the investment was remitted to the corporation (in case of indirect investment in the name of the corporation)
- Documents proving that you are an incumbent executive or an oligopoly shareholder of a corporation (for executives and shareholders of a corporation)
- Foreign Criminal Background Certificate (Apostille)
- Proof of Family Relationship (Apostille)
- Certificate of unmarried status (apostille) for adult children
- Must have maintained for at least 5 years after receiving real estate investment immigrant residence (F-2) status
- The investment status shall be maintained for 5 years without losing investment requirements such as rental, collateral setting, trading, and seizure of investment facilities;
- It must not fall under the separately stipulated reasons for disqualification, such as reasons for prohibition of entry, submission of false documents, etc.
- Pre-investment review guidance
- Investment Report and Account Opening
- Real estate tour guide in foreign languages
- Reviewing the contract
- Issuance of Alien Registration Number
- Registration of transfer of ownership
- Real estate acquisition report
- Issuance of investment visa
- Tax agency
- Administrative Documents Agency
- Administrative office registered with the Ministry of Justice
- Free consultation
- Refund if visa is denied
- Advice on Visa Pathways
- Prepare the correct documents
- Sample documents provided
- Immigration Office Agent
- Issuance of Alien Registration Card