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F-2-7points-basedresidency visapermanent residency

How to Improve Your F-2-7 Points Score in Korea 2026 β€” Age, Income, Language & Certifications

A practical breakdown of each scoring category for Korea's F-2-7 points-based residency visa, with real strategies to reach 80 points.

1. Scoring Overview

The F-2-7 visa uses a 120-point system. Most applicants need at least 80 points to qualify.

CategoryMax Points
Age20
Education30
Income20
Korean proficiency20
Certifications10
Volunteer & tax bonusup to 10

2. Age β€” Fixed, But Sets Your Strategy

Age points cannot be changed. Use the remaining categories to compensate.

  • 25–29: 20 pts
  • 30–34: 18 pts
  • 35–39: 16 pts
  • 40–44: 12 pts
  • 45–49: 8 pts
  • 50+: 4 pts

Applicants over 40 must maximize income, Korean proficiency, and volunteer points.

3. Income β€” The Fastest Category to Improve

Evaluated using the prior year's income from the National Tax Service certificate. The 2025 GNI benchmark is approximately β‚©42 million.

Annual IncomePoints
GNI 300%+ (β‚©126M+)20
GNI 200–300% (β‚©84M–126M)16
GNI 150–200% (β‚©63M–84M)12
GNI 100–150% (β‚©42M–63M)8
GNI 80–100% (β‚©33.6M–42M)4

4. Korean Proficiency β€” TOPIK or KIIP

TOPIK exam levels or KIIP (Social Integration Program) completion stages both qualify.

LevelPoints
TOPIK 620
TOPIK 5 / KIIP Stage 516
TOPIK 4 / KIIP Stage 412
TOPIK 38
TOPIK 24

TOPIK level 4 is the most achievable target for most applicants balancing time and cost.

5. Education β€” STEM Bonus

DegreeGeneralSTEM
PhD3030
Master's2528
Bachelor's1822
Associate's1013
High school or below55

6. Certifications

Korean national technical qualifications (Engineer-level or above) or professional licenses (lawyer, doctor, CPA) earn up to 10 points.

7. Volunteer & Tax Bonus Points

  • 200+ volunteer hours/year: 10 pts
  • 100+ hours/year: 7 pts
  • 50+ hours/year: 5 pts
  • 3+ years of diligent tax filing: 3 pts

8. Sample Calculation β€” Age 42

Age 42 / GNI 180% / Bachelor's (general) / TOPIK 4 / 60 volunteer hours β†’ 12+12+18+12+5 = 59 pts β€” below threshold.

Fix: achieve TOPIK 5 (+4), push income to GNI 200% (+4) β†’ 67 pts. Add 100 volunteer hours (+2) β†’ 69 pts. Earn a national certificate (+10) β†’ 79 pts. Tax bonus (+3) β†’ 82 pts β€” qualified.

9. Deductions to Watch

  • Overstay history: up to βˆ’20 pts
  • Criminal record: up to βˆ’10 pts or more
  • Unauthorized activity: βˆ’5 pts

Always audit your own history before applying.

FAQ

Q. What is the passing score for F-2-7?
A. The standard threshold is 80 out of 120 points, though immigration offices may adjust this depending on the period. Confirm with your local office before applying.
Q. Does TOPIK score expire?
A. No. TOPIK scores do not have an expiry date. Submit your highest level certificate.
Q. How do I prove volunteer hours?
A. Activity records from organizations registered on the 1365 Volunteer Portal (1365.go.kr) are accepted. Print the confirmation and submit it with your application.