Professor permanent residency (F-5-11) can be obtained regardless of your period of stay in Korea when you have 30+ required points and 50+ in total, so you can get it without living 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 you live abroad and enter Korea once within 2 years of each departure. If you do not enter for more than 2 years you lose the status, so this one rule must be kept.
At a glance: get it during a visit, keep it with one entry every 2 years
| Stage | What to do |
|---|---|
| Get it | Come to Korea on a short-term visit during a break or similar period and change your status to permanent residence (F-5-11) at an immigration office in Korea |
| After approval | Receive the permanent residence card, leave Korea and keep working at your university abroad |
| Keep it | Enter Korea at least once within 2 years of the day you left (no re-entry permit needed) |
| Away more than 2 years | Before the period ends, extend the re-entry permit at a Korean diplomatic mission (up to 3 months) |
| Every 10 years | Reissue the permanent residence card (valid 10 years) before it expires |
Why no period of stay in Korea is required
For F-5-11, with 30+ required points and 50+ points in total the status can be obtained regardless of your period of stay in Korea.
| Required points | Required + optional | Residence condition |
|---|---|---|
| 30 or more | 50 or more | Regardless of period of stay in Korea |
A professor with route 1 (a paper in an SCI, SCIE, SSCI or A&HCI journal within the last 5 years + 5+ years as full professor at a 4-year university, 30) or route 2 (5+ years as full professor at a world top-200 university selected within the last 3 years by QS, THE, ARWU, CWUR etc., 30), plus a PhD (20), meets this threshold and can apply without ever having lived in Korea.
Changing your status to permanent residence during a short visit in a break or similar period
- Before you travel: we confirm your points and supporting documents, and you obtain the documents issued abroad.
- 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 F-5-11 at the competent immigration office; Vision Administrative Office prepares the papers and files on your behalf.
- If extra documents are requested during the review, we supply them.
- After approval you receive the permanent residence card and leave.
If less than 6 months of your current period of stay remains when you apply, the rule is to extend it first; a status that cannot be extended any further is an exception. If you apply without an alien registration card, you add one passport photo taken within the last 6 months and the permanent residence card fee. 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 together what to prepare within your break.
The 2-year rule once you live abroad
- A permanent resident who re-enters within 2 years of the day they left is exempt from a re-entry permit.
- If you do not enter within the 2-year exemption or the re-entry permit period, you lose permanent residence status.
- If a sabbatical or overseas posting will keep you away for more than 2 years, extend the re-entry permit at the Korean diplomatic mission in your country before the period ends. The extension is up to 3 months.
If unavoidable reasons such as an epidemic, natural disaster, sudden illness or accident made you overstay the period, there is a way to change back to permanent residence status, but you must prove the reason, so plan to enter within the period.
The 10-year permanent residence card
The permanent residence card is valid for 10 years from issue. It must be reissued before it expires, and missing the deadline can lead to a fine. While you live abroad, note the expiry date and combine the reissue with a visit to Korea before it runs out.
What professors abroad should check in advance
- Applying before you change university or rank keeps the career proof simple.
- There is a criminal-record review. Checking an overseas criminal record certificate may be omitted for F-5-11 applicants, but extra documents may still be requested.
- The livelihood (income) and basic-knowledge requirements are waived.
Frequently asked questions
How often do I have to enter Korea after getting PR?
If you re-enter within 2 years of the day you left, no re-entry permit is needed. So even while living abroad, you must enter Korea at least once every 2 years to keep the status.
What happens if I cannot enter Korea for more than 2 years?
If you do not enter within the re-entry exemption or permit period, you lose permanent residence status. If you expect to exceed 2 years, extend the re-entry permit at a Korean mission before it ends (up to 3 months).
Can I really apply without ever having lived in Korea?
The band with 30+ required points and 50+ in total 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 and change your status to permanent residence (F-5-11) at an immigration office in Korea.
How long is the permanent residence card valid?
10 years from issue. It must be reissued before it expires; missing the deadline can lead to a fine.
Is living abroad a problem for the income requirement?
No. F-5-11 waives the livelihood requirement, so you do not prove income or assets in Korea.
Will everything be finished within my break?
With documents prepared in advance, the process can typically be completed within a two-month academic break. Timing may vary depending on the review, so complete your documents before you travel and plan the schedule with us.
Let us plan your schedule for getting PR while living abroad
Tell us your break dates, university and years of service, and we will review when to apply and how to plan your 2-year re-entries.
Request a consultation →📞 +82-2-363-2251Written by Lee Won-Jung (이원중), Administrative Agent · Vision Administrative Office