If you have 5+ years as a full professor at a university abroad (with an SCI-level paper in the last 5 years, or at a world top-200 university) and a PhD, you can come to Korea during an academic break (about two months), obtain permanent residency (F-5-11) and return. The 30 required points come through either of two routes. Route 1: a paper published in an SCI, SCIE, SSCI or A&HCI journal within the last 5 years + 5 years as full professor (or higher) at a 4-year university in Korea or abroad. Route 2: 5 years as full professor at a world top-200 university selected within the last 3 years by QS, THE, ARWU, CWUR or a similar ranking. With either route, a PhD adds 20 points for a total of 50. With 30+ required points and 50+ in total, you can obtain permanent residency for persons with outstanding ability in a specific field (F-5-11) regardless of how long you have stayed in Korea. You come to Korea on a short-term visit during a university break or similar period, change your status to permanent residence (F-5-11) at an immigration office, and leave after approval. Vision Administrative Office prepares the documents and files the application for you. From then on, the status is kept as long as you enter Korea once within 2 years of each departure. Timing may vary depending on the review.
What is F-5-11 permanent residency for professors?
F-5-11 is a permanent residence status for people with outstanding ability in a specific field such as science, business, education, culture and arts or sports, as recognized by the Minister of Justice. For professors, research output and university teaching are listed as required items in the points table, so the score is fairly easy to work out.
- The livelihood (income) requirement is waived. You do not need to prove income or assets in Korea.
- F-5-11 is also exempt from the basic-knowledge (Korea Immigration and Integration Program) requirement. No Korean-language test or integration program is needed.
- With 30+ required points and 50+ points in total, the status can be obtained regardless of your period of stay in Korea.
Two routes to the 30 required points + PhD 20 = 50 points
The 30 required points come through one of the two routes below. With either route, a PhD adds 20 points for a total of 50, which lets you apply regardless of your period of stay in Korea.
| Item | Route 1 — world-class research | Route 2 — teaching at a world top-200 university |
|---|---|---|
| Papers | A paper in an SCI, SCIE, SSCI or A&HCI journal within the last 5 years | No paper condition |
| University | 4-year university in Korea or abroad | World top-200 university selected within the last 3 years by QS, THE, ARWU, CWUR etc. |
| Career | 5+ years as full professor or higher in the field | 5+ years as full professor |
| Required points | 30 | 30 |
| Optional: PhD | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 50 | 50 |
Full names of the citation indexes: SCI (Science Citation Index), SCIE (Science Citation Index Expanded), SSCI (Social Sciences Citation Index) and A&HCI (Arts & Humanities Citation Index). Full names of the rankings: QS (QS World University Rankings), THE (Times Higher Education World University Rankings), ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities) and CWUR (Center for World University Rankings).
On both routes the 30 points apply only to full professors or higher; years as associate or assistant professor do not count toward them. On route 1, even 5 years as full professor are not scored without a paper in one of these indexes within the last 5 years. If both routes apply, they are separate items and their points are added; within one item, only the highest score counts.
If neither 30-point route applies to you, we check your case in an individual consultation.
Why you can hold Korean PR without living in Korea
The band of 30+ required points and 50+ in total is defined as obtainable regardless of the period of stay in Korea. There is no minimum residence in Korea, so a professor at a university abroad who has never lived in Korea can still apply.
- After approval you can keep working at your university abroad and live overseas.
- If you re-enter Korea within 2 years of the day you left, you are exempt from a re-entry permit. In other words, you must enter Korea at least once every 2 years.
- If you do not enter for more than 2 years, you lose permanent residence status. If you expect to be away longer, obtain an extension of the re-entry permit at a Korean diplomatic mission before the period ends (up to 3 months).
- The permanent residence card is valid for 10 years and must be reissued before it expires.
How to apply: change your status to permanent residence during a short visit to Korea in a break or similar period
- In a consultation we calculate your research, teaching and education points and fix the list of supporting documents.
- Abroad, you obtain the supporting documents: employment and career certificates, proof of publication, degree certificate and so on.
- You come to Korea on a short-term visit during a break or similar period.
- We file an application for change of status of stay to permanent residence (F-5-11) at the competent immigration office; Vision Administrative Office prepares the papers and files on your behalf.
- After approval you receive the permanent residence card and leave Korea. From then on, you enter Korea at least once within 2 years of each departure.
If less than 6 months of your current period of stay remains when you apply, the rule is to extend it first and then apply; holders of a status that cannot be extended any further are an exception. What you need to prepare depends on the status you hold when you enter, so it is best to check this before you travel. Among short-term visitors (C-3), even holders of group tourist or guaranteed individual (C-3-2) visas, whose extensions and changes of status are restricted, may be granted an extension of stay or a change of status for unavoidable reasons such as applying for permanent residence or naturalization.
With documents prepared in advance, the process can typically be completed within a two-month academic break. Timing may vary depending on the review. We review your break and departure dates together.
Government fees and what the review looks at
- Government fees (change of status in Korea): KRW 200,000 for the change of status permit and KRW 35,000 for issuing the permanent residence card
- There is a criminal-record review. For F-5-11 applicants, checking an overseas criminal record certificate may be omitted.
- Additional documents may be requested during the review, and approval is decided only after the review.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply if I have never lived in Korea?
Yes. With 30+ required points and 50+ in total, you are in the band that does not depend on your period of stay in Korea. You come to Korea on a short-term visit during a break or similar period, change your status to permanent residence (F-5-11) at an immigration office, and after approval and departure you keep it by entering Korea once within 2 years of each departure.
Can an associate or assistant professor get the 30 points?
No. On both route 1 (recent SCI-level paper + 5 years as full professor at a 4-year university) and route 2 (5 years as full professor at a world top-200 university), the 30 points apply only to full professors or higher. Years as associate or assistant professor do not count toward these 30 points.
What if my papers are older than 5 years?
The research item requires publication in an SCI, SCIE, SSCI or A&HCI journal within the last 5 years. Without recent papers, check whether you qualify through 5+ years as full professor at a top-200 university (30 points).
Can I keep living abroad after I get permanent residency?
Yes. If you re-enter within 2 years of each departure, no re-entry permit is needed and your status continues. If you stay out for more than 2 years you lose the status, so if you expect a longer absence, extend the re-entry permit at a Korean mission before it ends (up to 3 months).
Do I need to prove income or assets in Korea?
No. F-5-11 waives the livelihood requirement, and it is also exempt from the basic-knowledge (integration program) requirement.
What are the government fees?
For a change of status in Korea: KRW 200,000 for the change of status permit and KRW 35,000 for the permanent residence card.
If my points are enough, is approval certain?
No. Approval is decided after the review. There is a criminal-record review and additional documents may be requested, so complete supporting evidence matters.
Check whether your career qualifies first
Tell us your university, rank, recent publications and degree, and we will review your points and a schedule for applying during a break or similar period.
Request a consultation →📞 +82-2-363-2251Written by Lee Won-Jung (이원중), Administrative Agent · Vision Administrative Office