- F-5 status has no limit on activities or period of stay (Immigration Act Article 10-3(1)). The physical card is valid for 10 years and must be renewed.
- The Enforcement Decree (Annex 1-3) lists 19 categories of eligible people. The MOJ manual (September 2026) splits them into sub-codes F-5-1 to F-5-29, and a newer Top-Tier scheme adds F-5-T and F-5-T1.
- Every type is tested on conduct, livelihood and basic integration unless it is relaxed or exempt. Income tests are multiples of the previous year's per-capita GNI, not fixed won amounts.
- Statutory government fees: KRW 200,000 for a change of status to F-5 and KRW 35,000 for card reissue (Enforcement Rules Article 72, in force 15 Sep 2026, checked 25 Sep 2026).
- The MOJ revised its guidance on 18 Sep 2026 on how the F-5 stay period is counted and how F-5-10 work periods are read. This page does not describe those rules, so confirm them before filing.
1. What F-5 Permanent Residency Is
F-5 (permanent residence, yeongju) is the Korean residence status without limits on activities or on the length of stay. Article 10-3(1) of the Immigration Act says a foreigner with permanent resident status is not restricted in the scope of activities or the period of stay. The MOJ manual records the same in its F-5 entry: no upper limit on the stay period, and no need for permission for activities outside the status or for a change or addition of workplace.
F-5 is a residence status, not Korean nationality. Naturalisation is a separate procedure under the Nationality Act. The manual sets out F-5 as a change-of-status permit filed with the competent immigration office, and the person who receives it is issued a permanent resident card (yeongjuljeung) that is valid for 10 years (Immigration Act Article 33(3)). A child born in Korea to an F-5 parent is handled through a grant-of-status application, which the manual says must be filed within 90 days of birth.
How the F-5 categories are numbered
There are two layers. Annex 1-3 of the Enforcement Decree lists 19 categories of people who qualify for permanent residence. The MOJ Foreigner Stay Manual then divides those categories into working sub-codes, F-5-1 to F-5-29, and one Annex item can cover several sub-codes. Item 2, for example, covers spouses and minor children of Korean nationals and of F-5 holders, and item 14 covers tourism-leisure and public-benefit investors and their families. The manual marks F-5-2 and F-5-3, F-5-6, F-5-7, F-5-14 and F-5-27 as governed by separate guidelines.
Separately, the manual carries a Top-Tier guideline (effective 25 June 2026) with its own codes, F-5-T and F-5-T1. These are outside the F-5-1 to F-5-29 list, and section 6 summarises them.
How to use this page
This page is the map: it shows which category fits a given situation and what each category is tested on. For the step-by-step process of the general route, read our F-5 permanent residency requirements guide (Korean readers can use the Korean F-5 guide). Document lists are in F-5 common documents, and two popular routes have their own guides: F-5-16 points-based permanent residence and F-5-5 high-value investor permanent residence.
Reference dates: Immigration Act in force from 23 Jan 2026; Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules in force from 15 Sep 2026 (law.go.kr, checked 25 Sep 2026); Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Foreigner Stay Manual, September 2026 edition. Sources: Immigration Act Art. 10-3, 33; Enforcement Decree Annex 1-3; MOJ Stay Manual, F-5 entry and permit-type table.
2. Which F-5 Type Fits Your Situation
Find your situation in the first column, then read the category section named in the last column. The statutory stay period is shown as it appears in the Decree Annex or the manual; how that period is counted is a separate question (see section 10).
| If you are... | Look at | Basic threshold | Section |
|---|---|---|---|
| An adult on D-7 to E-7 status, or on F-2 | F-5-1 | 5 years or more in those statuses (Annex item 1) | 3 |
| On F-2-7 (points-based residence) | F-5-16 | 3 years or more on F-2-7 | 3 |
| A doctorate holder employed by a Korean company | F-5-9 or F-5-15 | Overseas doctorate (F-5-9) or Korean doctorate (F-5-15), employed at filing | 3 |
| A degree or engineer-certificate holder employed in Korea | F-5-10 | 3 years or more in Korea (Annex item 8) | 3 |
| A foreign spouse of a Korean national on F-6 | F-5-2 | F-6 stay of 2 years or more | 4 |
| A minor foreign child of a Korean national on F-2 | F-5-3 | F-2 stay of 2 years or more | 4 |
| The spouse or minor child of an F-5 holder | F-5-4 (F-5-18 for an F-5-16 holder's family) | 2 years or more on F-2; the F-5 family member must have held F-5 for 2 years or more | 4 |
| A child born in Korea to a parent with F-5 | F-5-20 | Apply before the child's first birthday | 4 |
| A foreign investor with US$500,000 and 5 Korean employees | F-5-5 | Foreign Investment Promotion Act investment (Annex item 3) | 5 |
| An F-2 investor (tourism-leisure, public-benefit or retirement investment) | F-5-17, F-5-21, F-5-23 | Investment maintained for 5 years or more | 5 |
| A D-8 technology start-up founder | F-5-24 | D-8-4 stay of 3 years or more | 5 |
| An F-4 holder or other overseas Korean | F-5-6, F-5-7 | F-4 stay of 2 years or more; separate MOJ guideline | 6 |
| Aged 60 or over with a pension from abroad | F-5-13 | Pension of 2 times per-capita GNI or more | 6 |
Sources: Decree Annex 1-3 and the MOJ Stay Manual F-5 permit-type table and type-specific sections (details in the following sections).
3. Residence and Employment-Based Types
These types are open to people who have lived and worked in Korea in a long-term status. Most of them are tested on income or net assets against the previous year's per-capita gross national income (GNI) published by the Bank of Korea, and on basic integration.
| Code | Who it covers | Core tests in the manual |
|---|---|---|
| F-5-1 General permanent resident | An adult (Civil Act) who has stayed 5 years or more in a status from D-7 to E-7, or in F-2 (Annex item 1). | Income at least 2 times GNI, or net assets at least 1.5 times the average. Extra tests by status: D-8 holders face an average annual sales test, D-9 holders an export or sales test, D-10 holders need a bachelor's degree and a qualifying employment contract, and E-7 holders need a bachelor's degree. Basic integration applies. |
| F-5-9 High-tech doctorate | A person with an overseas doctorate in a high-tech field who is employed by a Korean company (Annex item 7(a)). | At least one year of continuous full-time work in a field related to the degree. Income at least 1 times GNI, or net assets at least the average. Basic integration exempt. |
| F-5-15 General doctorate | A person who completed a regular doctoral course at a Korean graduate school and is employed by a Korean company (Annex item 7(b)). | At least one year of continuous full-time work; the field need not match the degree, but entertainment-service work does not qualify. Income at least 1 times GNI, or net assets at least the average. Basic integration exempt. |
| F-5-10 Degree or certificate holder | A holder of a qualifying degree or a professional-engineer-level certificate who has stayed 3 years or more in Korea and is employed by a Korean company at or above the wage the MOJ sets (Annex item 8). | Qualifying degrees: a bachelor's or higher in a high-tech field; a Korean bachelor's in science or engineering; a Korean master's or higher; or a professional engineer certificate from the Human Resources Development Service of Korea, or a recognised equivalent. Income at least 1 times GNI, counting only the applicant's own income. Basic integration applies. The MOJ revised the reading of the work period for this type on 18 Sep 2026 (see section 10). |
| F-5-16 Points-based permanent resident | A person who has stayed 3 years or more on F-2-7 (Annex item 13). | Income at least 2 times GNI, or net assets at least 1.5 times the average. No entertainment-service work from three years before filing until the decision. Basic integration applies. |
| F-5-26 R&D staff of a foreign-invested company | A holder of D-8 (sub-type "a") who has stayed 3 years or more as essential specialist staff at a qualifying R&D facility (Annex item 17). | Bachelor's degree or higher. Income at least 2 times GNI, or net assets at least 1.5 times the average. Basic integration exempt. |
Reference dates: Immigration Act in force from 23 Jan 2026; Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules in force from 15 Sep 2026 (law.go.kr, checked 25 Sep 2026); Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Foreigner Stay Manual, September 2026 edition. Sources: Decree Annex 1-3 items 1, 7, 8, 13, 17; MOJ Stay Manual, sections on F-5-1, F-5-9/F-5-15, F-5-10, F-5-16 and F-5-26 and the annual-income table.
4. Family-Based Types
Family types depend on the status of the family member who anchors the case: a Korean national or an F-5 holder. Marriage must generally be a genuine legal marriage that continues until the decision; divorce and de facto marriage are not accepted for the F-5 holder's spouse types.
| Code | Who it covers | Core tests in the manual |
|---|---|---|
| F-5-2 Spouse of a Korean national | A foreign spouse in a normal legal marriage with a Korean national who has stayed 2 years or more on F-6. The manual also covers an F-6 parent raising a child born to a marriage with a Korean, and an F-6 holder whose marriage ended through the Korean spouse's death, disappearance or fault. | Household income at least 1 times GNI, or household net assets at least the median. Basic integration applies. The MOJ may relax or waive tests by notice. |
| F-5-3 Minor child of a Korean national | A minor foreign child of a Korean national who has stayed 2 years or more on F-2. | The livelihood test does not apply. Basic integration applies, with exemptions or relief by age and schooling. |
| F-5-4 Family of an F-5 holder | The spouse or minor child of an F-5 holder (points-based and investment-type families follow their own codes) who has stayed 2 years or more on F-2. The F-5 spouse or parent must have held F-5 for at least 2 years before you file. | Income at least 1 times GNI, or net assets at least the average. Basic integration applies. |
| F-5-18 Family of an F-5-16 holder | The spouse or minor child of a points-based permanent resident (F-5-16), on an F-2 family status for 2 years or more, with the F-5-16 holder having held it for at least 2 years. | Income at least 1 times GNI, or net assets at least the average. Basic integration applies. |
| F-5-19 and F-5-22 Family of investors | The spouse or unmarried child of an F-5-17 holder (F-5-19), or of an F-5-21 or F-5-23 holder (F-5-22). | The livelihood test does not apply; basic integration is exempt. In a joint application, the family member cannot be approved unless the investor is approved. |
| F-5-20 Child of a permanent resident born in Korea | A child born in Korea whose parent held F-5 at the time of birth; the parents must be legally married and the child their biological child. | File before the child's first birthday. The manual notes that filing later than 90 days after birth can lead to a fine. The livelihood test does not apply; basic integration is exempt. |
Reference dates: Immigration Act in force from 23 Jan 2026; Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules in force from 15 Sep 2026 (law.go.kr, checked 25 Sep 2026); Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Foreigner Stay Manual, September 2026 edition. Sources: Decree Annex 1-3 items 2 and 14; MOJ Stay Manual, sections on F-5-2/F-5-3, F-5-4, F-5-18, F-5-19/F-5-22 and F-5-20.
5. Investment-Based Types
Investors receive the most relief. Decree Article 12-2(2) lets the Minister of Justice relax or waive the livelihood and basic-integration tests for Annex items 3, 9, 10 and 14 to 16 (investors, people with exceptional ability and people of special merit), and the manual waives the livelihood test and basic integration for each type below.
| Code | Who it covers | Core tests in the manual |
|---|---|---|
| F-5-5 High-value investor | A foreign investor who has invested US$500,000 under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act and employs 5 or more Korean nationals (Annex item 3). The investor personally, not an executive or employee, must hold the investment. | Investment maintained; 5 or more Koreans employed full time for at least 6 months at filing. A co-investor must have personally invested US$500,000 or more. Livelihood test and overseas criminal-record check waived; basic integration exempt. |
| F-5-17 Tourism-leisure investor | A person on the F-2 tourism-leisure investment status who has kept the investment for 5 years or more (Annex item 14). | Focus is on the years the investment has been maintained, not on years of stay. Livelihood test and basic integration exempt. |
| F-5-21 Public-benefit investor | A person on the F-2 public-benefit investment status who has kept the investment for 5 years or more (Annex item 14). | The investment standard amount must not have been withdrawn during the 5 years. Livelihood test and basic integration exempt. |
| F-5-23 Public-benefit retirement investor | A retirement-immigration investor who has kept the investment for 5 years or more (Annex item 14). | Domestic assets of KRW 300 million or more in addition to the investment, held by the applicant or spouse (foreign assets excluded, per the manual). Livelihood test and basic integration exempt. |
| F-5-24 Technology start-up investor | A D-8-4 technology start-up founder who has stayed on D-8-4 for 3 years or more (Annex item 15). | Raised KRW 300 million or more from investors (or equivalent capital; investment plus capital can be added together), and has employed 2 or more Koreans full time for at least 6 months. Livelihood test and basic integration exempt. |
| F-5-25 Conditional high-value investor | A person who deposited KRW 3 billion or more in the Korea Development Bank public-benefit investment immigration fund designated by the MOJ (Annex item 16). | A pledge to keep the investment for 5 years. Withdrawing any part of the deposit within 5 years leads to cancellation of the status. Livelihood test and basic integration exempt. |
Reference dates: Immigration Act in force from 23 Jan 2026; Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules in force from 15 Sep 2026 (law.go.kr, checked 25 Sep 2026); Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Foreigner Stay Manual, September 2026 edition. Sources: Decree Art. 12-2(2), Annex 1-3 items 3 and 14 to 16; Immigration Act Art. 89-2(1)(4); MOJ Stay Manual, sections on F-5-5, F-5-17/F-5-19, F-5-21 to F-5-23, F-5-24 and F-5-25. The investment threshold for F-2 public-benefit investment is set separately by MOJ notice and is not covered here.
6. Talent, Merit, Compatriot and Top-Tier Types
| Code | Who it covers | Core tests in the manual |
|---|---|---|
| F-5-11 Exceptional ability | A person with outstanding ability in science, business, education, culture, the arts or sport whom the MOJ recognises (Annex item 9). | A points test with at least one "essential" item. An essential score of 30 or more needs a total of 50 or more; an essential score of 20 to 29 needs a total of 100 or more; an essential score of 10 to 19 needs a total of 100 or more plus one year in Korea after alien registration. Livelihood test waived. |
| F-5-12 Special merit | A person the MOJ recognises as having rendered special service to Korea (Annex item 10). The manual lists holders of decorations for national independence or national development, their spouses and children, and certain descendants. | Livelihood test waived; overseas criminal-record check may be skipped. |
| F-5-13 Pension recipient | A person aged 60 or over who receives a pension from abroad above the amount the MOJ sets (Annex item 11). | A foreign pension received in the past year of at least 2 times the previous year's per-capita GNI. Basic integration exempt. |
| F-5-6, F-5-7 Overseas Koreans | F-5-6: an F-4 holder who has stayed 2 years or more and whom the MOJ recognises as needing to remain (Annex item 4). F-5-7: an overseas Korean national who meets the Nationality Act acquisition requirements (Annex item 5). | The manual points to a separate guideline for overseas Koreans. Its detailed tests are not described on this page. See our F-4 overseas Korean page. |
| F-5-8 Korean-born overseas Chinese | Overseas Chinese residents born in Korea who held the former F-2 status under the Decree as it stood before 18 April 2002 (Annex item 6). | Reduced livelihood test: with two or fewer family members living together, 70 per cent of the previous year's per-capita GNI; with three or more, 1 times GNI. Basic integration exempt. |
| F-5-14, F-5-27 H-2 workers and refugees | F-5-14: an H-2 (Working Visit) holder who is working in Korea and whom the MOJ recognises, considering length of service and labour-shortage factors (Annex item 12). F-5-27: a refugee with F-2 status of 2 years or more (Annex item 18). | Both are governed by separate guidelines according to the manual, and are not detailed here. |
| F-5-28, F-5-29 Special contributor and family | F-5-28: a Special Contributor on F-2 (F-2-16 in the manual) who has stayed 2 years or more (Annex item 19). F-5-29: the spouse or minor child of an F-5-28 holder, with the F-5-28 holder having held F-5 for at least 2 years. | Income at least 1 times GNI, or household net assets at least the average. The manual states the basic-integration requirement for F-5-28. Its 1 Sep 2026 revision updated these two types. |
Top-Tier F-5-T and F-5-T1 (separate guideline)
The manual includes the MOJ Top-Tier visa and stay-management guideline, effective 25 June 2026. Under it, a Top-Tier F-2-T holder in a high-technology or science and technology field can move to F-5-T after 3 years on F-2-T, with annual earned income of at least 3 times per-capita GNI and completion of KIIP stage 3 or above. The accompanying spouse and minor children of a Top-Tier holder can apply for F-5-T1 after 3 years on the accompanying F-2-T1 status, or after 2 years on F-2-T1 if they entered after the principal had obtained F-5-T. This page gives only that outline. The eligibility of a Top-Tier applicant depends on the recommending ministry's process, which we have not summarised here.
Reference dates: Immigration Act in force from 23 Jan 2026; Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules in force from 15 Sep 2026 (law.go.kr, checked 25 Sep 2026); Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Foreigner Stay Manual, September 2026 edition. Sources: Decree Annex 1-3 items 4 to 6, 9 to 12, 18 and 19; MOJ Stay Manual, sections on F-5-8, F-5-11, F-5-12, F-5-13, F-5-28/F-5-29 and the Top-Tier guideline (June 2026).
7. Requirements That Apply to Every Type
Article 10-3(2) of the Immigration Act requires a person who wants F-5 to fit a category in the Decree and to meet all three of these tests. The Minister of Justice may relax or waive the second and third for the groups in Decree Article 12-2(2).
Conduct (law-abiding record)
Enforcement Rules Article 18-4(1)(1) lists who does not meet the conduct test. You fall outside it if any of these applies:
- You received a prison or confinement sentence and less than 5 years have passed since it was served or waived.
- You received a suspended prison or confinement sentence and less than 5 years have passed since the judgment became final.
- You were fined and less than 3 years have passed since you paid the fine.
- Less than 5 years have passed since you violated Article 7(1) or (4) or Article 12(1) or (2) of the Immigration Act (entry-related provisions).
- You violated the Immigration Act three or more times in the last five years (administrative fines are excluded from the count).
- You left after a deportation order less than 7 years ago, or after a departure order less than 5 years ago.
Article 18-4(2) lets the Minister still grant permission after weighing your social and economic ties, contribution to Korean society and the harm caused by any violation. The manual adds further disqualifiers, and it also screens criminal records abroad. People who have a Korean-law violation in the last 10 years but who still meet the conduct test may be asked to complete a 3-hour law-abiding citizen education course, with exceptions for a single minor violation.
Two further points from the manual apply to every type: an applicant may not be a Korean national holding dual nationality, and may not have worked in or run an entertainment-service business (including similar trades) during the qualifying stay period, up to the decision.
Livelihood (income or assets)
- Income and assets cannot be added together; you meet the test through one or the other. The applicant's own income or assets must be at least 50 per cent of the standard, except for applicants who raise minor children and for minor applicants.
- Income is measured for the calendar year before the filing year (or the year before that, if tax certificates for the latest year are not yet issued). It is compared with the Bank of Korea's per-capita GNI for the previous year.
- Assets are net assets (debts deducted) held continuously for 6 months or more before filing, compared with the average net assets from Statistics Korea's household finance survey.
- Only income on which income tax was paid counts. Unpaid tax, health insurance or fines can lead the office to treat the applicant as having a negative effect on public finances.
| Income or asset standard | Types |
|---|---|
| 2 times GNI, or 1.5 times the average net assets | F-5-1, F-5-16, F-5-26 |
| 1 times GNI, or the average net assets (F-5-10: income only) | F-5-4, F-5-9, F-5-10, F-5-15, F-5-18 |
| 1 times GNI, or household net assets (F-5-2: median; F-5-28 and F-5-29: household average) | F-5-2, F-5-28, F-5-29 |
| Foreign pension of 2 times GNI or more | F-5-13 |
| 70 per cent of GNI (2 or fewer family members living together) or 1 times GNI (3 or more) | F-5-8 |
| Livelihood test not applied | F-5-3, F-5-5, F-5-11, F-5-12, F-5-17, F-5-19, F-5-20, F-5-21, F-5-22, F-5-23, F-5-24, F-5-25 |
GNI figures are published each year, so this page quotes multiples, not won amounts. Look up the figure that applies on your filing date.
Basic integration (language and society)
You meet the test by completing the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (the manual specifies stage 5) or by scoring 60 out of 100 or more on the comprehensive test for permanent residence or naturalisation (Enforcement Rules Article 18-4(1)(3); manual). A TOPIK level 4 result counted only for applications filed until 31 March 2019. The test is assessed for F-5-1, F-5-2, F-5-3, F-5-4, F-5-10, F-5-16, F-5-18 and F-5-28. It is exempt for F-5-5, F-5-8, F-5-9, F-5-11, F-5-12, F-5-13, F-5-15, F-5-17 and F-5-19 to F-5-26. The manual also exempts applicants under 15, minors aged 15 and over who are enrolled in a regular school, applicants who completed a regular Korean doctoral course and applicants who qualify for an exempt type.
Reference dates: Immigration Act in force from 23 Jan 2026; Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules in force from 15 Sep 2026 (law.go.kr, checked 25 Sep 2026); Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Foreigner Stay Manual, September 2026 edition. Sources: Immigration Act Art. 10-3(2)-(3); Decree Art. 12-2; Enforcement Rules Art. 18-4; MOJ Stay Manual, F-5 conduct, livelihood and basic-integration sections. Whether a relaxation applies to a specific applicant is decided by the MOJ.
8. Documents, Procedure and Government Fees
Common documents
The manual lists these documents as required for every F-5 application. Some are waived for certain types.
- Integrated application form, passport and alien registration card (or one passport-type photo taken within the past 6 months if you have no card).
- Proof of address that is valid on the filing date, such as a lease or a certified copy of the real-estate register.
- Overseas criminal-record certificate from your country of nationality, and from any third country where you lived for one year or more within the last five years. It must be issued within 6 months before filing, with the original and a notarised translation, and carry an apostille or consular confirmation. Certain types and cases are exempt.
- A personal guarantor's statement (waived for some types, such as the tourism-leisure and public-benefit investment types).
- Livelihood documents: proof that national and local taxes are fully paid, and an income certificate from the tax office (or asset documents if you rely on net assets).
- Basic-integration proof: a pass certificate for the permanent-residence or naturalisation comprehensive test, or a KIIP completion certificate.
- The applicant background-information form, completed by you. A false answer found after approval can lead to cancellation under Article 89-2(1)(1) of the Immigration Act.
Each type adds its own documents. F-5-1 applicants on D-8 or D-9 add sales or export evidence, F-5-5 applicants add the foreign-invested company registration and evidence of the Korean employees, F-5-25 applicants add the Korea Development Bank deposit confirmation and the investment-maintenance pledge, and family types add family-relationship documents. The full list is on the F-5 common documents page.
Procedure
- Identify the type. Match your status, family tie or investment to the tables above.
- Check the three tests. Confirm conduct, livelihood and basic integration, and any relaxation or exemption for your type.
- Prepare documents. Start with the overseas criminal-record certificate, because issuing and authenticating it abroad can take time.
- File. Apply for a change of status to F-5 at the competent immigration office and pay the fee.
- Review. The office reviews documents and requirements, and a person who is due to be approved but has a Korean-law violation in the last 10 years may have to complete the citizen education course first.
- Permit and card. After approval, the permanent resident card is issued.
This page does not quote a processing time. Ask the office that handles your case.
Government fees (statutory)
| Item | Statutory amount | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Change of status to F-5 (permanent residence) | KRW 200,000 | Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Act, Art. 72, item 5 (the general change-of-status fee is KRW 100,000). Rules in force 15 Sep 2026; checked on law.go.kr on 25 Sep 2026. |
| Reissue of the permanent resident card | KRW 35,000 | Enforcement Rules, Art. 72, item 10-2. Rules in force 15 Sep 2026; checked on law.go.kr on 25 Sep 2026. |
These are the fees set by law, not what any adviser charges. The manual notes that the card issuance fee is added if you have no alien registration card; we could not confirm a separate statutory amount for that first issuance, so this page does not quote one.
VISAS KOREA (Vision Administrative Office) is an administrative agent office, not a law firm. If you would like us to look at which type fits your case, you can start with the free consultation form or call +82-2-363-2251 (Mon to Fri, 09:30 to 17:30 KST). This page is general procedural information, not legal advice, and approval is decided by the immigration authorities.
Reference dates: Immigration Act in force from 23 Jan 2026; Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules in force from 15 Sep 2026 (law.go.kr, checked 25 Sep 2026); Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Foreigner Stay Manual, September 2026 edition. Sources: Enforcement Rules Art. 72; MOJ Stay Manual F-5 common documents, overseas criminal-record certificate standards and citizen education sections.
9. After Approval: Card, Re-entry and Cancellation
- Card renewal. The permanent resident card is valid for 10 years, and you must obtain a reissued card before it expires (Immigration Act Article 33(3) and (4)). File the application with your passport, proof of address, the original card and one photo before the expiry date (Enforcement Decree Article 42-2). Failing to reissue can lead to an administrative fine of up to KRW 2,000,000 (Article 100(1)(4)).
- Change of address. Report a new address within 15 days of moving in (Article 36(1)).
- Re-entry. An F-5 holder who re-enters within 2 years of leaving is exempt from a re-entry permit (Enforcement Rules Article 44-2(1)(1)). To stay abroad longer, the manual requires an extension from a Korean overseas mission before the 2 years end (the manual gives a permitted period of up to 3 months). If you do not re-enter within the exemption period or the permitted period, the manual states that the status is lost.
- Cancellation. Article 89-2(1) allows cancellation only on the listed grounds: false or improper acquisition (mandatory), a sentence of 2 years or more for crimes under the laws listed in Enforcement Rules Article 76-2, a combined sentence of 3 years or more within the last 5 years, breach of a condition (such as withdrawing an F-5-25 deposit within 5 years), or acting against the national interest. If a status is cancelled, the person may apply for a general status when a continued stay is necessary and its requirements are met (Article 89-2(2)).
Reference dates: Immigration Act in force from 23 Jan 2026; Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules in force from 15 Sep 2026 (law.go.kr, checked 25 Sep 2026); Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Foreigner Stay Manual, September 2026 edition. Sources: Immigration Act Art. 30, 33, 36, 89-2, 100; Enforcement Decree Art. 42-2; Enforcement Rules Art. 44-2, 76-2; MOJ Stay Manual, F-5 re-entry, loss and cancellation sections. The fine is a statutory ceiling, not a fixed amount.
10. Recent Changes and What This Page Does Not Cover
- 1 September 2026 manual revision: F-5-28 (Special Contributor) and F-5-29 (family) were updated.
- Rules revision: Enforcement Rules Article 18-4(1), which sets the F-5 requirement standards, was amended with effect from 15 September 2026. This page uses the current text.
- Top-Tier scheme: effective 25 June 2026 and only outlined here (section 6).
- Not covered in detail: the separate guidelines for F-5-6, F-5-7, F-5-14 and F-5-27, the MOJ notice on relaxing or waiving requirements, the MOJ notice setting the F-2 public-benefit investment amount, and processing times.
Requirements, fees and guidance change. Treat this page as a starting point and confirm your case with the immigration office or through a free consultation before you prepare documents.
11. Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How many types of F-5 permanent residency are there?
A. The Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act (Annex 1-3) lists 19 categories of people who qualify. The MOJ Foreigner Stay Manual (September 2026) divides them into sub-codes F-5-1 to F-5-29, and several sub-codes can sit under one Annex item. A newer Top-Tier scheme in the manual adds F-5-T and F-5-T1. Which sub-code applies depends on your current status, family ties or investment, so start with the category tables on this page.
Q. Can I apply for F-5 after five years in Korea?
A. Five years is the stay period for the general type (F-5-1): an adult holding a status from D-7 to E-7, or F-2, for at least five years (Decree Annex 1-3, item 1). You must also meet the conduct, livelihood (income or net assets) and basic-integration tests. Note that the MOJ revised its guidance on 18 September 2026 on how the F-5 stay period is counted, so confirm the current counting method with your immigration office before you rely on a date.
Q. Do I need to pass a Korean language test?
A. Basic integration is met by completing the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP; the manual specifies stage 5) or by scoring 60 out of 100 or more on the comprehensive test for permanent residence or naturalisation. A TOPIK level 4 result is accepted only for applications filed up to 31 March 2019, according to the manual, so it does not help a current application. Several types are exempt, and minors below 15 are exempt (see the requirements section).
Q. How much is the government fee for F-5?
A. Under Article 72 of the Enforcement Rules, a change-of-status permit costs KRW 100,000, but KRW 200,000 when the new status is F-5 permanent residence (item 5). Reissuing a permanent resident card costs KRW 35,000 (item 10-2). These are the statutory fees in the Rules in force from 15 September 2026, checked on 25 September 2026, and they can be amended.
Q. Does the F-5 status expire?
A. The status itself has no limit on activities or period of stay (Immigration Act Article 10-3(1)). The card is different: it is valid for 10 years, and you must obtain a reissued card before it expires (Article 33(3) and (4)). Failing to do so can lead to an administrative fine of up to KRW 2,000,000 under Article 100(1)(4).
Q. How long can I stay outside Korea without losing F-5?
A. An F-5 holder who re-enters within two years of leaving is exempt from a re-entry permit (Enforcement Rules Article 44-2(1)(1)). To stay abroad longer, the manual requires an extension from a Korean overseas mission before the two years end, and it states that the status is lost if you do not return within the exemption or permitted period. Plan long absences in advance and confirm the current rule with immigration.
Q. Can an F-5 status be cancelled?
A. Yes, but only on the grounds listed in Article 89-2(1) of the Immigration Act: acquiring the status by false or improper means (cancellation is mandatory), a sentence of two years or more for certain listed crimes, a combined sentence of three years or more within the last five years, breaching a condition such as an investment-maintenance condition, or acting against the national interest. A person whose F-5 is cancelled may apply for a general status if a continued stay is necessary and its requirements are met (Article 89-2(2)).
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