F-5 Language & Culture Requirement

Person who falls under any of the following is recognized as having basic requirements

(a) Person who completed level 5 of the Social Integration Program

(b) Those who scored 60 points or more (out of 100) on the comprehensive evaluation for permanent residence or naturalization

(c) Obtained Korean Language Proficiency Test Level 4 or higher (only applicable to those who applied until 2019.3.31.)

※ However, among F-5-1 applicants, those completing a residency course at a domestic hospital under Professional Occupation (E-5) status are considered to have basic proficiency when they have obtained Korean Language Proficiency Test Level 5 or above.

Review target

○ General Permanent Resident (F-5-1) and Spouse of General Permanent Resident (F-5-4)

○ Scored permanent resident (F-5-16) and spouse of scored permanent resident (F-5-18)

○ Bachelor’s, Master’s and Certificate holders (F-5-10)

Exemptions or Mitigations

exemption

○ Large Investor (F-5-5)

○ Overseas Chinese born in Korea (F-5-8)

○ Doctorate in Advanced Fields (F-5-9)

○ Capability holder in specific fields (F-5-11)

○ Special Merit (F-5-12)

○ Pension beneficiaries (F-5-13)

○ Doctor of general field (F-5-15)

○ Tourism/Leisure Facility Investor (F-5-17)

○ Spouse or unmarried child of a tourism/leisure facility investor (F-5-19)

○ Children born in Korea of permanent residents (F-5-20)

○ Public-benefit Business General Investor (F-5-21)

○ Spouse or unmarried child of a public-benefit business investor (F-5-22)

○ Public-benefit Business Retirement Immigrant Investor (F-5-23)

○ Technology Startup Investor (F-5-24)

○ Conditional Major Investor (F-5-25)

○ R & D personnel of foreign-invested companies (F-5-26)

○ Among those who applied for a permanent residence status that is not exempt, anyone who falls under one of the following as of the application date

① A foreign national under 15 years of age who is a minor under the Civil Act

② A minor under the Civil Act aged 15 or over who is enrolled in a regular educational institution (public or private schools, foreign schools, alternative schools, etc.)

③ Those who meet the requirements for an exempt permanent residence status (e.g., a person who meets the F-5-9 requirements but applied for F-5-1)

④ Those who completed a regular doctoral course at a domestic graduate school and obtained a doctorate

Notes

○ Only those who applied for permanent residence by March 31, 2019 are recognized as having the basic proficiency with Korean Language Proficiency Test Level 4 or higher.

- However, among F-5-1 applicants, those completing a residency course at a domestic hospital under Professional Occupation (E-5) status must have obtained Korean Language Proficiency Test Level 5 or higher.