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 married a Korean permanent resident less than 2 years ago — can I apply for F-5-4 permanent residency now?
Not yet. You become eligible for F-5-4 after staying in Korea on F-2 as the spouse of a permanent resident while keeping the legal marriage and family relationship for 2 years or more. Until then you keep extending your stay on F-2-3 (spouse or minor child of a permanent resident), submitting a family relationship certificate showing the marriage and proof of residence at each extension. Prepare the income and basic-knowledge documents ahead so you can file as soon as the 2 years are complete.
My husband (wife) got Korean permanent residency less than 2 years ago — when can I apply for F-5-4?
The 2 years for F-5-4 means that your spouse (or parent) obtained permanent residence at least 2 years earlier. So even if you have lived in Korea longer than 2 years, you do not meet the test until 2 years have passed as the spouse of a permanent resident. Check your spouse's permanent residence date and the start of your own F-2 stay together to find your filing date.
Does the time I spent on E-7 or F-4 before switching to F-2 count toward the F-5-4 stay requirement?
For a spouse, from 2 years before the filing date until the decision date you must stay on one of D-7 to E-7, F-2, F-4 or H-2, and periods on these statuses can be added together if there was no complete departure. Separately, the review checks that you held F-2 as the spouse of a permanent resident and kept the marriage for 2 years or more. If you spent time on a status outside this list in between, continuity has to be checked first.
For F-5-4, can I meet the financial requirement with my permanent-resident spouse's income?
Household income counts, with a condition. For F-5-4, income of you or family sharing your living costs must be at least the previous year's per-capita GNI, or net assets at least the previous year's average, and income and assets are not combined. Your own income or assets must be at least 50% of the threshold, but this 50% rule does not apply if you are raising minor children or if the applicant is a minor child. Each earner submits an income certificate from the tax office and proof of full tax payment.
If our income is below the threshold, can I apply for F-5-4 using assets such as savings or a jeonse deposit?
Yes. The household's financial assets and real estate minus debts must total at least the previous year's average net assets. Deposits, funds, insurance, shares, rental deposits, housing and land are accepted if held continuously for 6 months or more up to the filing date and kept at that value until approval. Prove them with the real estate register, lease contracts and balance certificates; debts are deducted as shown in your credit report.
My child of a Korean permanent resident is about to become an adult — can they still get F-5-4 permanent residency?
The child must be a minor under the Civil Act on the filing date, so file before adulthood. The F-5 parent must have obtained permanent residence at least 2 years earlier, the child must be staying on F-2 keeping the family relationship for 2 years or more, and that parent must hold parental authority and custody until the decision date. For an adopted child, the period counts from when the adoption created a legal family relationship. Dual nationals holding Korean nationality are not eligible.
Does a child applying for F-5-4 also have to complete the KIIP integration program?
Most children are exempt. F-5-4 is subject to the basic-knowledge requirement, but minors under 15 on the filing date, and minors aged 15 or older who are enrolled in a regular school (public or private schools, foreign schools, alternative schools and similar), are exempt. Exempt applicants do not submit basic-knowledge proof.
How does the spouse of a permanent resident prove basic knowledge for F-5-4?
Basic knowledge is met by completing KIIP Level 5 or scoring 60 or more on the permanent residence or naturalisation comprehensive evaluation. Submit at least one of the evaluation pass certificates or the KIIP completion certificate (permanent residence or naturalisation course), and any document with an expiry date must be valid on the filing date. TOPIK Level 4 or higher only applied to people who filed by 31 March 2019.
Which family relationship documents do I need for the F-5-4 permanent residency application?
On top of the common documents (application form, passport, alien registration card, proof of residence, letter of guarantee, overseas criminal record, income and tax documents, basic-knowledge proof, applicant basic information form), F-5-4 adds proof of family relationship and a birth certificate, etc. If the family relationship proof cannot be obtained for unavoidable reasons, a marriage certificate can be used instead. Mark F-5-4 as the sub-type on the basic information form.
Does a child applying for F-5-4 also need an overseas criminal record certificate?
It depends on age and stay history. Children under 14 on the filing date do not submit one, and neither do those born in Korea or who entered before 14 and have not stayed abroad for 6+ months in a row since turning 14. Otherwise, submit a certificate from the country of nationality (and any third country lived in for 1+ year in a row within the last 5 years), issued within 6 months of filing, with an apostille or consular legalisation, as the original plus a notarised translation.
My spouse got points-based permanent residency (F-5-16) after F-2-7 — do I apply under F-5-4?
No. F-5-4 is for the spouse or minor child of a permanent resident other than a points-based permanent resident; the spouse or minor child of an F-5-16 holder applies under F-5-18. Families of tourism and leisure facility investors (F-5-17) apply under F-5-19, and families of public-interest project investors (F-5-21, F-5-23) under F-5-22, each with separate rules. Exemptions from the financial and basic-knowledge tests differ by type, so identify the type first.
Does a baby born in Korea to permanent-resident parents apply under F-5-4?
If the child was born in Korea while the father or mother was staying as a permanent resident, look first at F-5-20 (child of a permanent resident born in Korea). F-5-20 must be applied for within 1 year of birth and has its own conditions, such as the parents being legally married and the child being their biological child, and it is exempt from the financial requirement. If more than a year has passed or F-5-20 does not fit, review the F-5-4 requirements (2+ years on F-2, etc.).
Key terms
- Permanent residence for a permanent resident's spouse or minor child (F-5-4, 영주권자의 배우자·미성년 자녀)
- The permanent residence type for the spouse or minor child of an F-5 holder other than a points-based permanent resident.
- Residence for a permanent resident's spouse or minor child (F-2-3, 영주권자의 배우자·미성년 자녀 거주)
- The residence status given to the spouse and minor children of an F-5 holder; it is the status used to complete the 2-year stay for F-5-4.
- Spouse or minor child of a points-based permanent resident (F-5-18, 점수제 영주자의 배우자·미성년 자녀)
- The permanent residence type for the family of an F-5-16 holder, separate from F-5-4.
- Child of a permanent resident born in Korea (F-5-20, 영주권자의 국내 출생자녀)
- The type for a child born in Korea while a parent held F-5, applied for within 1 year of birth.
- Financial requirement (생계유지 요건)
- For F-5-4, household income of at least the previous year's per-capita GNI or net assets of at least the previous year's average.
- Basic knowledge requirement (기본소양 요건)
- Met by KIIP Level 5 or 60+ on the comprehensive evaluation; minors under 15 and similar applicants are exempt.
- Complete departure (완전출국)
- A departure that breaks continuity of stay; an F-5-4 spouse must have none from 2 years before filing until the decision.
- Decision date (심사 결정일)
- The date the application is decided; the spouse's marriage and the parent's custody of the child must continue until then.
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
- Hours
- Weekdays 09:30–17:30 (KST)
Who hires us for this
- Spouses of permanent residents living in Korea on F-2
- Families with minor children on F-2 alongside a permanent-resident parent
- Households with more savings or deposits than income
- Families timing the filing before a child reaches adulthood
- People whose spouse holds points-based or investor permanent residence and need to identify the right type
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