2024-04-07BY Immikorea

한국영주권

There are 27 different pathways to apply for Korean permanent residency, depending on the applicant’s income, education, work experience, Korean language proficiency, investment, period of stay, and criminal background.

Common screening criteria include

Income screening criteria

  1. The income standards only recognizes earned in Korea, reported on a tax return, and for which income tax has been paid.
  2. Immigration officer look at your previous year income for the full calendar (1.1-12.31).
  3. The income criteria is primarily based on the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita in South Korea. You must meet one or double of GNI to obtain green card.
  4. You can add up the income of the applicant’s family members living together. (except for F-5-10)
  5. There is also a green card that is exempt from income screening. See the vetting requirements for each type below

Language screening criteria

  1. You must complete 5 level of the Korean Immigration Integration Program (KIIP), which is run by the Korean government.
  2. If you are fluent in Korean, you can advance the period if you pass the KIIP pre-evaluation exam and the Korean Immigration Permanent Residency Eligibility exam.
  3. The Test of Proficiency assessment in Korean (TOPIK) does not apply.
  4. There are also green cards that exempt you from completing a social integration program. Check out the screening requirements for each type below

Behavior requirements

  1. The behavior requirement is to examine whether the law and order of the Republic of Korea have been observed well and whether whether you have any criminal record abroad.
  2. Criminal backgrounds in Korea are automatically screened by the Korean computerized system. People with the following work experience are restricted from applying for a green card
    1. A person for whom five years have not elapsed since the day the execution was terminated after being sentenced to an imprisonment or higher.
    2. A person for whom three years have not elapsed from the date of payment after being sentenced to a fine
    3. A person for whom 5 years have not elapsed after violating Article 7 Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 4 of the Immigration Control Act
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
  3. You must submit a certificate of overseas criminal background notarized by the Apostille or Korean Consulate General. Criminal background checks certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of issuance.
  4. Some green cards are exempt from criminal background checks certificate. Check out the screening requirements for each type below.
  1. Income requirement: double of GNI
  2. Basic skills: Completion of KIIP 5 levels or a score of 60 or higher on the comprehensive test for permanent residence and naturalization
  3. Conduct Requirements: Submit a foreign criminal background check

More Information

  1. Income requirement: 1x GNI (you, your spouse, or your primary household (parents, children) can combine your income. Your income must be at least 50% of the whole income. If there are minor children, only husband’s income is recognized
  2. 80% of the standard
    1. When you’re pregnant with your spouse’s child
    2. If you have undergone a fertility procedure to have children
    3. When raising your spouse’s minor children
    4. Dependent and living with your spouse’s parents for more than one year
    5. -Over 60 years old
  3. Qualification Requirements: Completion of KIIP 5 levels or 60 points or higher on the comprehensive test for permanent residence and naturalization
  4. Conduct requirements: Submit a criminal background certificate

More Information

  1. Income Requirements: Exempt
  2. Qualification Requirements: Completion of KIIP 5 levels or 60 points or more in the comprehensive test for permanent residence and naturalization / Exemption: Under 15 years old, completion of elementary and middle school for 2 years
  3. Conduct requirements: Foreign criminal background check exemption (under 15 years of age)
  1. Residence requirement: 2 years after possessing F-2-3 (excluding the period of residence when leaving the country for more than 3 months)
  2. Income requirement: 1x GNI (you, your spouse, or your primary household (parents, children) can combine your income. Your income must be at least 50% of the whole income. Counting only husband’s income if you have minor children
  3. Apply 80% of the criteria
    1. When you’re pregnant with your spouse’s child
    2. If you have undergone a fertility procedure to have children
    3. When raising your spouse’s minor children
    4. Dependent and living with your spouse’s parents for more than one year
    5. If you are 60 years of age or older
  4. Qualification Requirements: Completion of KIIP 5 levels or 60 points or higher on the comprehensive test for permanent residence and naturalization
  5. Conduct Requirements: Submit a foreign criminal background check
  1. Exempt from means testing
  2. Exemption from the Social Immigration Integration Program (KIIP)
  3. Exempt from submitting a criminal background check

More Information

  1. Submit a copy of family register and birth certificate issued by the Chinese Association
  2. easing of income screening
  3. 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
  4. Recognized when the amount of real estate ownership or rental is 60 million won or more when annual income is not met
  5. KIIP exemption
  1. A person who is employed by a domestic company as an overseas doctoral degree holder in the field of high-tech
  2. High-tech fields: IT, technology management, Nano, digital electronics, Bio, transportation and machinery, new materials, environment and energy
  3. Income above GNI per capita, exemption from KIIP, exemption from overseas criminal record certificate
  1. 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)
  2. Bachelor of Science and Engineering who has completed a regular course at a domestic university
  3. Masters who have completed regular courses at a domestic university
  4. A holder of a technical engineer certificate issued by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea
  5. Stay in Korea for 3 years prior to the application date
  6. As of the date of application, you must be working as a full-time employee for at least one year at a domestic company.
  7. GNI per capita or higher (only the applicant’s income counts)
  8. KIIP Level 5 Completion or Pass Certificate
  1. People with excellent skills in specific fields such as science, business administration, education, culture and arts, and physical education
  2. Income examination exemption, KIIP exemption, overseas criminal record certificate exemption

More Information

  1. Persons and their families who have received a medal for contributions to the independence and development of the Republic of Korea
  2. 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.
  3. A member of a diplomatic institution who has contributed greatly to friendship or cultural exchange with the Republic of Korea.
  4. 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.
  5. Those who have contributed to the promotion of international exchange in the fields of economy, society, culture, and science
  6. Those who have contributed greatly in the field of social welfare and have been recommended by the ministers of the relevant ministries.
  7. A clergyman who has contributed significantly to volunteer activities for more than 5 years in the field of social welfare
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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
  11. Those who have contributed greatly to the protection of people’s lives and property from crime, disaster, accident, etc.
  12. Income screening exemption, KIIP exemption, and no crime certification exemption

More Information

  1. Over 60 years of age and the pension amount received from overseas must be at least double of the GNI per person
  2. You must have received a pension in the past year.
  3. 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
  4. KIIP exemption
  1. 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
  2. Income per capita GNI or higher, KIIP exemption, overseas criminal record certificate exemption
  1. Those who have stayed in Korea for at least 3 years from the date of application with F-2-7 qualification
  2. Income requirement: double of GNI or 1.5 times of average net worth from the previous year
  3. Basic skills: Completion of KIIP 5 levels or a score of 60 or higher on the comprehensive test for permanent residence and naturalization
  4. Conduct Requirements: Submit a foreign criminal background check

More Information

  1. A person who has maintained investment for a total of 5 years or more with a status of real estate investment residence (F-2)
  2. Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP, excluding submission of identity guarantee

More Information

  1. Determined by F-2-7 who is the main resident
  2. You must be staying in Korea while maintaining family relations for at least 2 years.
  1. The applicant’s spouse, father, or mother must hold F-5-17 status at the time of application.
  2. Unmarried children of spouse who have maintained F-2 status for at least 5 years
  3. Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP, and submission of identity guarantee
  1. 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)
  2. Must be a minor as of the date of application
  1. Must have maintained investment for a total of 5 years or more as a resident status for IISPB(F-2)
  2. Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP, and submission of identity guarantee
  1. A person who has maintained residence (F-2) status for at least 5 years as a spouse or unmarried child of IISPB investor
  2. At the time of application, either spouse, father, or mother of the applicant must be eligible for F-5-21.
  3. Children must be unmarried at the time of application.
  4. Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP, and submission of identity guarantee
  1. Continued stay in Korea for at least 3 years with a technology start-up (D-8-4) qualification
  2. Must have attracted more than 300 million won of investment from domestic and foreign investors, or secure equivalent capital
  3. Must have employed two or more nationals as full-time employees for at least 6 months.
  4. Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP
  1. Have deposited at least KRW 3 billion in the Korea Development Bank’s IISPB Fund
  2. 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)
  3. Exemption from income examination, exemption from KIIP
  1. Status: F-2-4 status for at least 2 years
  2. Income requirement: 1x GNI
  3. Qualification Requirements: Completion of KIIP 5 levels or 60 points or higher on the comprehensive test for permanent residence and naturalization
  4. Conduct requirement: If you have lived in another country for a long period of time before applying for refugee status, submit a certificate of foreign criminal history from that country.

More Information

The processing time for Korean permanent residency is approximately 3 to 6 months. Applicants with the right documents and the best conditions will be approved faster.

The documents you need to submit for Korean permanent residency vary by green card type. Common documents include
  1. Integrated application
  2. passport
  3. Alien Registration Card
  4. Proof of residency (lease or registeration)
  5. Foreign criminal background certificate (apostille or consular notarization)
  6. Identity guarantee
  7. Certificate of income amount
  8. KIIP Completion Certificate (Certificate of Passing Comprehensive Evaluation for Permanent Residents)
  9. Basic information of applicant
  10. Degree Certificate (Apostille)
  11. Company registration and employment certificate of the company in which you are currently employed
  12. List of 4 major insurance subscribers, employment contract, etc.
  13. Other supporting documentation specific to the green card you are applying for
  • 법무부에 등록된 출입국 민원대행기관
  • 무료상담
  • 비자 불허시 100% 환불
  • 정확한 상담
  • 정확한 서류 준비
  • 샘플 서류 제공
  • 출입국사무소 접수 대행
  • 외국인등록증 발급
  • 외국인정착서비스
  • 외국인 회사 설립
  • 투자법인 / 지사 / 연락사무소 설치
  • 정확한 서류 준비를 위한 샘플 제공
  • 유학수속
  • 부동산 계약
  • 생활서비스
  • 법률서비스

Privacy Preference Center

    Necessary

    Advertising

    Analytics

    Other