F-5-9 / F-5-15 Permanent Residency

1. Overview

F-5-9 is for people who obtained a doctorate in an advanced-technology field overseas and are employed by a domestic company at the time of application; F-5-15 is for people who completed a regular doctoral course at a Korean graduate school and obtained the degree, and are employed by a domestic company.

2. Eligibility Requirements

• F-5-9: doctorate in an advanced-technology field obtained overseas before the application date, and continuous full-time regular employment of 1 year or more at a domestic company in a field related to the degree
• F-5-15: regular doctoral course completed and degree obtained at a Korean graduate school before the application date, and continuous full-time regular employment of 1 year or more at a domestic company (the field need not relate to the degree; entertainment-service businesses are excluded)
• If work interruptions during job changes total 30 days or less within the 1 year, continuity is recognized
• Subsistence ability (one of): income of the previous year's per-capita GNI or more, or assets of the previous year's average net assets or more
• Basic-literacy requirement is exempt; overseas criminal record verification may be omitted

3. Required Documents

Documents may differ by individual case, and the immigration office may request other documents it deems necessary.

4. Procedure

1. Consultation and review of eligibility for this F-5 sub-category
2. Preparation of common documents and category-specific documents
3. Application for permanent residence (F-5) status at the competent immigration office
4. Review by the immigration office (timing varies by case; confirm with the office)
5. Receipt of the permanent residence card

5. Frequently Asked Questions

6. Related Services