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 a PhD — should I apply for Korea permanent residency under F-5-9 or F-5-15?
It depends on where and in what field you earned the doctorate. A doctorate in an advanced-technology field earned abroad falls under F-5-9 (advanced-field PhD); a doctorate earned through a regular PhD course at a Korean graduate school falls under F-5-15 (general-field PhD), whatever the major. Both require at least 1 year of continuous full-time regular employment with a Korean company up to the application date, and you submit a copy of the doctoral degree with employment and regular-employment documents.
I earned a PhD in business or the humanities abroad — can I get Korea F-5-9 permanent residency?
F-5-9 covers only overseas doctorates in advanced-technology fields, so a foreign PhD outside those fields does not meet F-5-9. F-5-15 requires a regular PhD course at a Korean graduate school, so a foreign degree cannot be used for it either. In that case we review the requirements of other permanent residence types, such as general permanent residence (F-5-1) or exceptional ability in a specific field (F-5-11).
I received a Korean doctorate without attending the PhD program — can I apply for F-5-15?
No. The regular PhD course for F-5-15 means one taken while meeting student (D-2) requirements, such as the doctoral program (D-2-4), so a degree obtained at a Korean graduate school without completing the required coursework does not qualify. If you completed the regular course, submit a copy of the doctoral degree; a transcript may also be requested.
I started work after my PhD less than a year ago — can I apply for F-5-9 or F-5-15 now?
You must have been in continuous full-time regular employment for at least 1 year up to the application date, so you do not qualify before then. If the days you were out of work while changing jobs total 30 or less within that year, your previous job counts toward it. F-5-9 requires work in a field related to the degree; F-5-15 allows any field except entertainment services. Plan to apply after the 1-year mark and prove regular employment with the workplace insurance enrollment list and employment contract.
If my income is too low for F-5-9 or F-5-15, can I use assets instead?
Yes. For the PhD types, the financial requirement is met if income is at or above the previous year's per-capita gross national income (GNI), or if assets are at or above the average household net worth in Statistics Korea's previous-year Household Finance and Welfare Survey. Income and assets cannot be combined, and assets mean financial and real assets held continuously for 6+ months up to the application date, minus debts, whose value must be kept until approval. Proof includes balance certificates, property registers and lease contracts.
For PhD permanent residency (F-5-9·F-5-15), can my spouse's income be added?
Yes. Unlike F-5-10 and F-5-13, where only the applicant counts, the PhD types also count a spouse (not common-law), minor children and parents (not parents-in-law) who lived with the applicant and shared living costs throughout the income period. The applicant's own income or assets must still be at least 50% of the threshold (with exceptions such as raising minor children), and sharing a registered address is treated as living together. Each income earner submits a tax clearance and income certificate.
Do F-5-9 and F-5-15 PhD permanent residency applicants need KIIP or the comprehensive test?
No. Advanced-field PhD (F-5-9) and general-field PhD (F-5-15) applicants are exempt from the basic-knowledge requirement, so no KIIP certificate or comprehensive test pass is needed. People who earned a doctorate through a regular PhD course at a Korean graduate school, or who meet the F-5-9 requirements, are also exempt when applying for other permanent residence types.
Do I need a home-country criminal record for F-5-9 or F-5-15, and how are past fines treated?
For the PhD types the overseas criminal record check may be skipped, so it is not submitted unless the office asks for it. The good conduct review still applies: you do not meet it if fewer than 3 years have passed since paying a criminal fine, or if in the last 3 years you received an immigration-law penalty of KRW 5 million or more (or KRW 7 million or more in total). Any violation of Korean law in the last 10 years may also require law-abiding citizen education before approval.
What documents do I need for Korea F-5-9 or F-5-15 permanent residency?
Common documents are the integrated application form (with revenue stamp), passport, alien registration card, proof of residence, identity surety form, tax clearance and income certificate (or balance certificates, property register, etc. if applying on assets), and the F-5 applicant information form. PhD-specific documents are a copy of the doctoral degree (transcript may be requested), the employer's business registration copy and employment certificate, and the workplace insurance enrollment list and employment contract confirming regular employment. Basic-knowledge proof is waived and the overseas criminal record may be omitted.
Can a PhD holder with both Korean and foreign nationality apply for F-5-9 or F-5-15?
No. A permanent residence applicant must not be a dual national holding Korean nationality. Check your nationality status first and decide on the application after that.
If I get F-5-9 or F-5-15 permanent residency, can my spouse and children get it too?
They are not included automatically; they apply separately as the spouse or minor child of a permanent resident (F-5-4). F-5-4 has its own stay-period and financial requirements, so each family member's eligibility is checked again.
After getting PhD permanent residency, can I keep it while working at a research institute abroad for a long time?
Long absences can cost you the status. If you do not return within the re-entry exemption period (2 years from departure) or your re-entry permit period, permanent residence is lost. The permanent residence card is valid for 10 years from issue and must be renewed before it expires.
Key terms
- Advanced-field PhD (F-5-9, 첨단분야 박사)
- The permanent residence type for people with an advanced-industry doctorate employed by a Korean company; it covers advanced-technology doctorates earned abroad.
- General-field PhD (F-5-15, 일반분야 박사)
- The permanent residence type for people who earned a doctorate through a regular course at a Korean graduate school and are employed by a Korean company.
- Advanced-technology field (첨단기술 분야)
- Fields designated under the Industrial Development Act, such as IT, technology management, nano, digital electronics, bio, transport and machinery, new materials, and environment and energy.
- Regular PhD course (정규 박사과정)
- A doctoral course completed while meeting student (D-2) requirements such as the doctoral program (D-2-4); a degree obtained without the coursework does not count.
- Continuity of work (근무의 계속성)
- The rule that work is treated as continuous, and added up, if days off between jobs total 30 or less within the year.
- Per-capita GNI (1인당 국민총소득)
- The income benchmark for permanent residence — the previous year's figure as of the application date, or the year before if it has not yet been published.
- Average net worth (평균 순자산)
- The average household net worth from Statistics Korea's previous-year Household Finance and Welfare Survey; PhD applicants with assets at or above it meet the financial requirement.
- Permanent residence card (영주증)
- The card issued to permanent residents, valid for 10 years from issue and to be renewed before it expires.
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
- Researchers with an advanced-technology doctorate from abroad working at a Korean corporate research centre
- Graduates who completed a PhD program at a Korean graduate school and joined a Korean company
- PhD professionals whose income is slightly short but who hold savings or property
- Applicants who share household costs with a spouse and want to know whether family income counts
- Doctorate holders deciding between F-5-9, F-5-15 and other permanent residence types
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