Korea Immigration Investment Visa (Public-Benefit Project Investment)
Direct answer: Korea's public-benefit investment immigration works in two steps. F-2 (residence) is granted after a foreigner completes an investment of KRW 1.5 billion or more in a target designated by the Minister of Justice (general investment immigration; KRW 3 billion or more for the high-value tier, deposit type only). F-5 (permanent residence) can follow once the investment has been maintained in F-2 status for 5 years or more.
D-8 is different: the D-8 corporate investment visa is for investing in and running a Korean company. See Korea D-8 Investment Visa: 4 Types Explained.
Book your immigration office visit through HiKorea Reservation. Rules change, so confirm the current requirements with the immigration office before you invest.
F-2 vs F-5: Types and Investment Amounts
| Item | F-2 (residence) | F-5 (permanent residence) |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Foreigner, or officer or shareholder of a corporation, who invested in a target designated by the Minister of Justice; spouse and unmarried children | F-5-21 general investor; F-5-23 retirement-immigration investor; F-5-22 spouse or unmarried child |
| Investment | KRW 1.5 billion or more (general); KRW 3 billion or more (high-value, deposit type only) | Investment kept in place for 5 years or more in F-2 status without withdrawing the reference amount |
| Extra test | Own overseas capital sent in your own name; no disqualifying criminal, immigration or false-document record | F-5-23: domestic assets of KRW 300 million or more, other than the investment, held by you or your spouse (overseas assets excluded) |
Two investment types: a deposit type, where the foreigner deposits the reference amount or more in a public fund run by the Korea Development Bank under the Ministry of Justice (the bank lends the deposits to small and medium enterprises at low interest); and a profit-and-loss type, where the foreigner invests the reference amount or more in a regional development project designated and announced by the Minister of Justice (for example a tourism-centered enterprise city). Investment in tourism and leisure facility investment-immigration targets can be added to the public-benefit amount; in that combination the Korea Development Bank deposit must be at least KRW 5 million.
Investment in real-estate immigration targets is a separate scheme and is not covered here.
F-2 Change of Status: Documents
Alex Lee ( administrative )
MIckey Lee ( administrative )
Jungeun Kim ( administrative )
Lucas Baek ( Team member )
James Kim ( Team member )
Genli Li ( Team member )
F-5 Permanent Residence: Documents
Qualifications for Korea Immigration Investment Visa
F-2 applicants must not fall under the disqualifications in the manual:
- a prison or suspended sentence under Korean law in the last 5 years, or a fine of KRW 3 million or more paid in the last 3 years
- deportation order and departure less than 7 years ago, or departure order and departure less than 5 years ago
- a fine for violating the Immigration Act, or a false document submitted, within 3 years before the application, or an entry-ban ground
- a foreign conviction for certain serious crimes (specific violent crimes, threats, extortion, fraud, voice phishing, drugs, sexual offences), or another foreign prison sentence ended less than 5 years ago
The investment must be your own overseas capital, sent and received in your own name. Income lawfully earned in Korea or the proceeds of selling assets in Korea may be accepted as an exception, but income and assets formed while staying illegally are never accepted.
Benefits of Korea Immigration Investment Visa
1. The spouse and unmarried children of an F-2 public-benefit investor can also apply for F-2.
2. After 5 years of maintained investment the investor can apply for F-5.
3. A person who does not want to reside in Korea but wants to visit freely can be issued a multiple-entry C-3 visa valid for 3 years.
Korea Immigration Investment Visa Procedure
Processing Time
The manual does not state a fixed processing time. It depends on each case and on the immigration office, so ask the office handling your application.
Extension, FAQ and Source
To extend F-2 status you must keep the investment without eroding the reference amount, and file before the stay period expires with the immigration office for your address, with proof that the investment is maintained (a confirmation with the seal of the investing institution issued within 5 days). Officers or shareholders of an investee corporation also submit proof that they still hold that position, plus proof of residence.