1. Overview
F-5-14 is a permanent residence (F-5) status for foreign-national ethnic Koreans who have worked in Visiting Employment (H-2) status in manufacturing, agriculture and livestock, fishing, caregiving or domestic help for a set period (Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Annex 1-3, item 12). The Ministry of Justice states that this category is reviewed under a separate guideline.
Note that new issuance of Visiting Employment (H-2) visas stopped on February 12, 2026. This page concerns ethnic Koreans who entered on an H-2 visa before that date and are already staying in Korea, including those who switched to Overseas Korean (F-4) status.
2. Eligibility Requirements
- Working in Visiting Employment (H-2) status in manufacturing, agriculture and livestock, fishing, caregiving or domestic help
- Four or more years of continuous work at the same employer without changing workplace (including those who switched to Overseas Korean (F-4))
- Exceptions treated as continuous work: a move to a workplace in the same industry within 3 months for unavoidable reasons such as unpaid wages or closure; time off for a work-related injury or illness while employment continues (up to 1 year); and, after 4 or more years of work and a complete departure, re-entry in H-2 within 1 year and 2 or more years at the same employer or in the same industry
- Either of the following: a technical or skills qualification from bodies such as the Human Resources Development Service of Korea / annual income at application of at least 70% of the prior-year GNI per capita published by the Bank of Korea (only the applicant's own income counts)
- Good conduct (Article 10-3 of the Immigration Act etc., common to ethnic Korean permanent residence). The basic literacy requirement (KIIP or the integration test) is exempted for F-5-14.
3. Required Documents
4. Procedure
- Confirm H-2 status, a permitted industry and 4 or more years at the same employer
- Decide whether you rely on a skills qualification or on the 70% income standard
- Prepare the common documents and the work records (overseas public documents need authentication)
- Book a visit with the competent Immigration Office and submit
- Review (processing time varies by office and filing date; confirm individually)
- On approval the permanent resident card is issued (valid 10 years from issue; renew before expiry)
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Must the 4 years be at the same employer?
A. The manual describes 4 or more years of continuous work at the same employer without changing workplace. There are exceptions treated as continuous work, such as a move to the same industry within 3 months for unavoidable reasons like unpaid wages or closure.
Q. Which industries count?
A. The manual lists manufacturing, agriculture and livestock, fishing, caregiving and domestic help. Construction is not listed in this item.
Q. Can I apply without a skills qualification?
A. Yes, if your annual income at application is at least 70% of the prior-year GNI per capita. Only your own income counts. Alternatively you can hold a technical or skills qualification.
Q. Do I need a Korean test or the KIIP course?
A. Under the manual, F-5-14 is exempt from the basic literacy requirement. Confirm with your Immigration Office how it applies at the time of filing.