1. What Is F-5-5 High-Value Investor Permanent Residence
F-5-5 high-value investor permanent residence is a permanent-residence status granted to a foreign investor who has invested a high amount in Korea and employed a certain number or more of nationals. It is a track that recognizes permanent residence (settlement) status on the basis of economic contribution through investment and employment.
Unlike the “product-based” type of investing in a public-interest investment product (F-5-21), F-5-5 is closer to a “business-based” type in which you directly invest in a business and employ nationals. It may suit investors with a clear intention to operate a business and a large scale of capital.
Core requirements (correct standard). Investment of USD 500,000 or more + employment of 5 or more Korean nationals. The detailed recognition standards may be amended.
2. At a Glance — Requirements Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Status | F-5-5 high-value investor permanent residence |
| Investment | USD 500,000 or more (recognized as foreign investment) |
| Employment | 5 or more Korean nationals (domestic citizens) |
| Nature | Direct investment in and employment at a business (business-based) |
| Previous stage | Operating under D-8 (corporate investment) or another existing status and reviewing an application once the requirements are met |
| Changing standards | The recognized amount and employment standard may be amended — checking the latest version is essential |
3. Core Requirements — Investment and Employment
- Investment funds — USD 500,000 or more, a lawful investment recognized as foreign investment
- Employment — As of the application date, directly and continuously employing 5 or more Korean nationals (domestic citizens) as regular full-time employees for at least 6 months (executives and staff other than the investor himself/herself do not count)
- Maintaining the investment — Maintaining the investment under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act (for joint investors, the applicant's own share must be USD 500,000 or more)
- No grounds for disqualification — No grounds for ineligibility under the Immigration Act
For the scale of investment and employment, the “substance” is central. If you merely meet the requirements on paper but there is no actual business or employment, it is not recognized.
4. Differences From D-8 and Public-Business Investment Immigration
| Track | Nature | Core requirements | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-5-5 | Direct high-value investment in and employment at a business | USD 500,000+ + employment of 5+ Korean nationals | Permanent Residence (directly) |
| D-8 Corporate Investment | Establishing and operating a business | Investment recognized as foreign investment + operating a corporation | Residence (visa), then review of F-2 · F-5 |
| Public-business investment (F-2-12→F-5-21) | Investment in a government-designated public-interest product | Invest in and maintain a product per the notice standards | Residence 5 years → Permanent Residence |
If you plan to grow a business directly and create employment, D-8→F-5-5 is a candidate; if you want to settle through a product-based approach without the business-operation burden, public-business investment (F-5-21) is worth considering.
5. Document Checklist
- ☐ Integrated application form, passport, standard-size photo
- ☐ Foreign-invested company registration certificate
- ☐ Certified copy of the corporate register, business registration certificate
- ☐ Evidence of regular employment of nationals (employment contracts, four-major-insurance workplace enrollment roster, etc.)
- ☐ Income certificates and regular-employment confirmations for the employed nationals
- ☐ Grounds-for-disqualification confirmation documents (if applicable)
6. Application Procedure
- Design the investment and employment structure — Establish a plan for USD 500,000+ investment and employment of 5+ Korean nationals
- Foreign investment notification · corporation establishment · investment-fund payment
- Carry out and maintain employment of nationals
- Apply for Permanent Residence (F-5-5) — At the competent immigration office
- Screening and permission — After screening the substance of the investment and employment, permanent residence is granted
7. Screening Points
- The maintenance of the investment (USD 500,000 or more under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act)
- The substance and maintenance of the employment of nationals (excluding nominal employment; the four major insurances, etc.)
- The continuity and substance of the business
8. Cautions
- Failure to maintain requirements — If the investment or employment is interrupted partway through, recognition of permanent residence can become difficult.
- Code confusion — F-5-5 (high-value investment), F-5-21 (public-business investment), and F-5-12 (person of special merit) are each different.
- Changing standards — The recognized amount and employment standard may be amended, so checking the latest standards is necessary.
- Counting employees — Joint investors must each employ different nationals, and a national already counted toward another permanent-residence applicant's headcount within 6 months before the application date is excluded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the investment and employment requirements of F-5-5?
A. F-5-5 high-value investor permanent residence has as its core requirements an investment of USD 500,000 or more + employment of 5 or more Korean nationals. The detailed recognition standards may be amended, so confirmation at the time of application is necessary.
Q. How does it differ from the D-8 corporate investment visa?
A. D-8 is a status that grants residence (a visa) through corporate investment, whereas F-5-5 is permanent residence obtained after meeting the high-value investment and employment requirements. One may operate the investment under D-8 or another existing status and, once the requirements are met, review F-5-5 permanent residence.
Q. Is it different from public-business investment immigration (F-5-21)?
A. Yes. F-5-21 is a path of investing in a government-designated public-interest investment product (F-2-12 residence 5 years → F-5-21), whereas F-5-5 is a path of directly making a high-value investment in a business and employing nationals, with a different legal basis and requirements.
Q. How is the “5 Korean nationals” employment requirement recognized?
A. The standard is the number of Korean nationals (domestic citizens) in regular employment. The substance of the employment (e.g., the four major insurances) and whether it is maintained are screened, and the detailed recognition method follows the competent office's standards.
Q. What form must the investment funds take?
A. It must be a lawful investment recognized as foreign investment, and proof that the investment is being maintained (e.g., the foreign-invested company registration certificate) is required. A nominal investment may not be recognized as meeting the requirements.
Q. How much is the USD 500,000 investment in Korean won?
A. The standard is set in US dollars, and the won-equivalent amount varies with the exchange rate. Since the conversion method follows the standard of the competent immigration office, you must check the standard at the time of application.
Q. Can family members also obtain permanent residence together?
A. After you meet the F-5-5 requirements, the residence and permanent residence of the spouse and children are reviewed separately according to their own status requirements. Additional documents to prepare arise depending on family composition.
Q. How long does screening take?
A. Because screening the substance of the investment and employment is central, the period varies depending on the completeness of the documents. Preparing evidence of investment-fund payment and employment maintenance completely from the outset is key to shortening the period.