Korea F-5-2 is permanent residency for marriage migrants who have stayed continuously in Korea for 2 years or more on marriage migrant (F-6) status, and F-5-3 is for minor foreign children of Korean nationals after 2 years or more on residence (F-2) status. F-5-2 is assessed on good conduct, income of at least the previous year's per-capita GNI or household net assets at or above the median, and basic knowledge, while F-5-3 has no financial requirement. As a Korea F-5-2 visa agent, Vision Administrative Office prepares the marriage and family documents, the income or asset proof and the basic-knowledge evidence and files the application.
In what situations do clients bring this to us?
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Spouses of Korean nationals with 2+ years' continuous stay on marriage migrant (F-6) status, parents raising a child born of a marriage to a Korean in Korea, and marriage migrants whose marriage ended through no fault of their own (F-5-2) / minor foreign children of Korean nationals with 2+ years' continuous stay on residence (F-2) status (F-5-3)
Requirements
F-5-2: genuine married life (or raising the child, or a no-fault end of the marriage), 2 years' continuous F-6 stay, good conduct, income of 1x the previous year's per-capita GNI or net assets at the median or above, basic knowledge / F-5-3: 2 years' continuous F-2 stay, good conduct, basic knowledge (may be exempt by age or schooling), no financial requirement. The financial and basic-knowledge requirements may be eased or waived under a Ministry of Justice notice
Process
Identify the case (spouse, parent raising a child, ended marriage, minor child) → obtain family relation and married-life proof, income or asset, basic-knowledge and overseas criminal record documents → file the change of status to permanent residence (F-5) at the competent immigration office → review
Documents
Passport, alien registration card, integrated application form, standard photo, proof of residence; the Korean spouse's (or parent's) basic, marriage and family relation certificates and resident registration; 3+ photos of the couple (F-5-2); overseas criminal record certificate issued within 6 months of the application (not for children under the age of criminal responsibility); income amount certificate or household asset documents and credit report (F-5-2); KIIP completion or KIPRAT/KINAT pass certificate
Processing time
Processing time depends on the immigration office, the filing period and any requests for more documents; we tell you at filing
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① Application form (Form No. 34), passport, alien registration card, and fee (if you do not have alien registration card, 1 color photo on the nameplate)
② Ability to sustain livelihood (spouse of nationals)
○ Principle Standards
-The sum of the income of the person or family members living together is equal to or greater than the GNI per capita last year as announced by the Bank of Korea.
When household assets are recognized as above the median level
Make a reservation
○ Exemption / mitigation targets and standards (set by the Ministry of Justice notice on relaxing or exempting F-5 requirements; the lists below are for reference, so please confirm applicability with 1345 or the competent immigration office)
Exemption
If you are a minor child of a Korean
Mitigation (relaxed criteria)
If you are a married immigrant ( one of these cases )
-People who are pregnant with their spouse’s children (including miscarriage)
-People who have been infertile to give birth to a child of a national spouse
-A person raising a minor child of a national spouse
-A person who has lived with the parents of a national spouse for at least one year
-People 60 years or older
○ Documents to prove
-Proof of income and property
Common (Required)
Certificate of Income Amount (issued by the National Tax Service)
Proof of income from previous year (all income reported to the IRS can be checked, and if there is no income report, it shall be submitted as no income amount)
Credit Information Inquiry Form (Debt Check and Debt Check)
When using earned income
Withholding receipt (Issuance of Issuance)-Required to use income proof at the place of work for the past 1 year
Certificate of employment (if you are currently employed)
Certificate of Career (if you were employed)
Copy of business registration certificate (if necessary to check the existence of business place)
If it is difficult to prove with the above documents, copy of bankbook, salary statement, health insurance qualification confirmation
When using business income
Certificate of Business Registration Certificate (Except Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, etc.)
Additional documents-Documents that can prove income (e.g., Ministry of Agriculture, Labor Union, Certificate of Cultivation, Confirmation of Farming and Fisheries Facts, etc.)
Proof of documentation Required to use income and property verification
-Documents to be exempted or mitigated
∙ Documents that can prove that the child is a minor child, such as a birth certificate
∙ Documents that can prove pregnancy or infertility
∙ Proof of custody of a minor child, such as a certificate of family relations, a copy of resident registration, a judgment, a confirmation of making a relative within four villages of a Korean spouse
∙ Proof of parental support and living of a national spouse, such as a certificate of family relations, a copy of resident registration, a confirmation of making a relative within 4 villages of a Korean spouse
③ Basic knowledge
○ principle
-Completion of Social Integration Program
-Score more than 60 points out of 100 points in the comprehensive evaluation of the social integration program
Exemption / mitigation targets and criteria
Waiver (principle of standard exemption)
If you are a minor child of a national who is under 15 years old
If you are married or older than 60
If your marriage immigrant or national is a spouse, or your child has a serious illness *
* Four major serious illnesses including intellectual and mental disorders (grades 1-3), autistic disorders (grades 1-3), brain lesions (grades 1-3), cancer, heart, cerebrovascular and rare incurable diseases
Mitigation (passed the Intermediate Assessment of the Social Integration Program (Phase 4))
When a married immigrant is raising his / her own child due to the death or disappearance of a spouse
If you are married with a national and have three or more children (including marriage-related children) of a national spouse
If you are raising a child with a disability outside of the exemption
If you have lived in Korea for more than 10 years and have a living base in Korea
Passed the Intermediate Assessment of Social Integration Program (Phase 4)
○ Documents to prove
-Documents showing completion or acceptance of social integration program
Principal Standards
Comprehensive Evaluation Pass Certificate of Korean Immigration Permanent Examination (KIPRAT) Certificate of Korean Immigration Naturalization Test (KINAT)
5 steps Certificate of Social Integration Program (Korea Immigration Permanent Eligibility Course) Certificate of Social Integration Program (Korea Immigration Naturalization Program)
Mitigation target Step 4 Pass Certificate of Integrated Korean Language Program and Korean Culture Exam (KLCT)
-Proof of exemption / mitigation target
∙ Documents that can prove that the child is a minor child, such as a birth certificate
∙ Proof of raising a minor child, such as a certificate of family relations, a copy of resident registration, a judgment sentence, a confirmation of making a relative within 4 villages of a Korean spouse, etc.
∙ Proof of handicapped, such as a disability certificate under the Disability Welfare Act
∙ Documents supporting serious diseases such as medical certificate, National Health Insurance Corporation certificate
④ Official criminal record certificate
-The following persons can be omitted
‣ A person who has stayed in Korea * after submitting a criminal record of his / her home country in case of permission to stay in the past
* In this case, if you stayed abroad for more than 6 months, you did not stay, so you will be issued a criminal record certificate issued by the government of your country of residence during your stay abroad.
‣ Persons under 14 years of age at the time of application
⑤ Proof of place of stay (rental agreement, accommodation confirmation letter, notice of expiration of period of stay, utility bill receipt, dormitory fee receipt, etc.)
① Declaration of Missing
※ Missing persons are those who are declared missing according to the Civil Code.
② Documents certifying that there is no reason for the fault: official documents such as a court ruling
③ Documents for nurturing minors: A copy of a child’s family register, a copy of resident registration, a ruling (a copy of a divorce report and a confirmation), a confirmation of the preparation of a relative or residence (group) residence within 4 villages of a Korean spouse
④ Minor children of the citizen: Documents proving that they are minor children of the citizen, such as birth certificate
※ Multi-national citizens with Korean nationality are entitled to “Guidelines for Immigration and Stay of Multiple Nationals” apply
Questions by situation
Each answer starts with the conclusion, then who it applies to, the documents and the timing. Jump here from “Choose your situation” above.
I have lived in Korea on the F-6 marriage visa for over 2 years — what do I need for F-5-2 permanent residency?
If you have kept up a genuine legal marriage with your Korean spouse and stayed continuously in Korea for 2 years or more as the spouse of a Korean national (F-6-1), you are eligible for F-5-2. Two years alone does not mean approval: you also need good conduct, financial self-sufficiency and basic knowledge. The financial and basic-knowledge requirements may be eased or waived under a Ministry of Justice notice, so we check that first and then file a change of status to permanent residence (F-5) at the competent immigration office. Processing time varies by office and period.
What is the income requirement for F-5-2 — can my Korean husband's income count?
The combined income of you or family sharing your living costs must be at least the previous year's per-capita gross national income (GNI) announced by the Bank of Korea. Family sharing your living costs means your spouse, your lineal relatives and your spouse's lineal relatives who have lived with you for 1 year or more, so the income of a Korean spouse living with you can be added. Submit the income amount certificate for you or the family member; withholding tax receipts, salary deposit records and other income proof may also be requested.
My income is below GNI — can I apply for F-5-2 with assets like a home or savings?
Yes. If the total assets of you or family sharing your living costs are at or above the median net assets in the household finance and welfare survey, the financial requirement is met. The standard is the median, not the average net assets used for other permanent residence types, and the income and asset standards cannot be added together. Submit bank transaction records, deposit certificates, lease contracts and real-estate registers for you and each family member, plus credit reports.
How many couple photos do I need for F-5-2 permanent residency, and what kind?
As proof of ongoing married life, submit 3 or more photos of the two of you taken during the marriage. Photos from family events such as relatives' weddings, school entrance or graduation, holidays, trips and everyday life all qualify. They go in with the Korean spouse's family relation documents, so we pick photos from different times and settings.
Which documents does my Korean spouse need to get for my F-5-2 application?
Your Korean spouse's basic certificate, marriage relation certificate, family relation certificate and resident registration copy. If you have children, add the children's family relation certificate. These are added to your common documents (passport, alien registration card, integrated application form, standard photo, proof of residence) and the documents for the financial, basic-knowledge and good-conduct requirements.
I divorced my Korean husband but I am raising our child — can I get F-5-2 permanent residency?
In some cases, yes. A parent raising in Korea a child born of a marriage (including a de facto marriage) with a Korean national, who has stayed continuously for 2 years or more on marriage migrant (F-6) status, is eligible for F-5-2, with good conduct, financial and basic-knowledge requirements also reviewed. Submit the marriage relation certificate with your Korean (former) spouse, the child's basic and family relation certificates, 3 or more photos taken while raising the child, and records of child-rearing expenses such as pocket money, school fees and medical costs.
If I divorced because of my Korean spouse's fault, or my spouse died, can I still apply for F-5-2?
In some cases, yes. A person who can no longer keep up the marriage because of the spouse's death or disappearance or another reason they are not responsible for, and who has stayed continuously for 2 years or more on marriage migrant (F-6) status, is eligible; it must be shown that the couple had a normal married life until the breakdown and that the Korean (former) spouse was mainly responsible. The key evidence is proof of married life (photos, messages, statements from people around you) and proof of the spouse's fault (divorce judgment, medical certificates, investigation or criminal record documents).
How does a minor child with foreign nationality and a Korean parent get F-5-3 permanent residency?
A minor foreign child of a Korean national who has stayed continuously in Korea for 2 years or more on residence (F-2) status is eligible for F-5-3. Good conduct and basic knowledge are reviewed, but there is no financial requirement. Submit the Korean parent's basic, marriage and family relation certificates and resident registration copy, and the child's birth certificate or other family relation proof; photos together or proof of upbringing may be requested. Children under the age of criminal responsibility do not submit an overseas criminal record certificate.
Does a child applying for F-5-3 also have to pass KIIP or the comprehensive assessment?
It depends on age and schooling. Children below compulsory school age are exempt, and children from compulsory school age to under 15 attending an elementary, middle or high school (not a foreign school) may be exempt. From 15, a child may be exempt if they graduated from such a school, passed the equivalency exam, or have been enrolled for 2 years or more, shown with a graduation certificate, exam pass certificate or enrolment certificate. Otherwise a KIIP completion certificate or KIPRAT/KINAT pass certificate is needed.
For F-5-2 permanent residency, is there another way to meet basic knowledge besides completing KIIP?
Yes. Either complete the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (permanent residence or naturalization course) or score 60/100 or more in the comprehensive assessment. The proof is the KIIP completion certificate or the KIPRAT or KINAT pass certificate. The basic-knowledge requirement may be eased or waived under a Ministry of Justice notice, so if a reason applies we prepare the supporting evidence too.
How recent must the overseas criminal record certificate be for an F-5-2 application?
Submit an overseas criminal record certificate issued within 6 months of the application date as good-conduct evidence. For F-5-2 the marriage migrant submits it; for F-5-3, children under the age of criminal responsibility are excluded. Issuance takes time, so we fix the filing date first and time the certificate to fall within those 6 months.
Key terms
Marriage migrant permanent residence (F-5-2, 결혼이민자)
The permanent residence type for spouses of Korean nationals and other marriage migrants with 2+ years' continuous stay on F-6 status.
Minor child of a Korean national (F-5-3, 국민의 미성년 자녀)
The permanent residence type for minor foreign children of Korean nationals with 2+ years' continuous stay on residence (F-2) status.
Marriage migrant status (F-6, 결혼이민)
The status for marriage migrants such as spouses of Korean nationals (F-6-1); 2+ years' continuous stay on it is needed for F-5-2.
Family sharing living costs (생계를 같이하는 가족)
Your spouse, your lineal relatives and your spouse's lineal relatives who have lived with you for 1 year or more; their income and assets can be counted.
Median household assets (가계자산 중위수준)
The median net assets in the household finance and welfare survey, used as the F-5-2 asset standard.
Basic knowledge requirement (기본소양 요건)
Met by completing KIIP or scoring 60/100 or more in the comprehensive assessment.
Spouse's fault for the breakdown (혼인단절 귀책사유)
Whether the Korean (former) spouse was mainly responsible for the end of the marriage — the core requirement for F-5-2 after a no-fault breakdown.
Overseas criminal record certificate (해외범죄경력증명)
Good-conduct evidence issued within 6 months of the application; children under the age of criminal responsibility are excluded.
About our office
Office
Vision Administrative Office (비전행정사사무소 · VISAS KOREA)
Principal
Alex Lee (이원중), licensed administrative agent (행정사)
Licence
Administrative agent (행정사) — preparing immigration and residence filings and submitting them on the client’s behalf with written authorization (위임장)
Scope
Korean visas (visa issuance certificate, change of status, extension), permanent residency (F-5), foreign-invested company, branch and liaison office setup, immigration violation review and entry-ban response
Languages
Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese
Address
3F Sungwoo Bldg, 324 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04614, Korea
