One of the wealthiest countries in the world, South Korea has attracted more than one million of expats who mostly live in Seoul. If you intend to become one of them, our company formation advisors in Korea present, in this article, a few key aspects related to obtaining a residence permit in Korea. We also have a team of immigration lawyers in South Korea who will help you apply for such a permit.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Temporary residence permit types |
– temporary and long-term residence visas, – work permits, – business visas, – investor visas, – family reunion visas |
|
Time needed to obtain the temporary residence permit (approx.) |
The minimum period is 20 days, however, it can take up to a few months to be issued a residence card. |
|
Temporary residence permit validity |
The minimum validity of a Korean residence permit is one year. |
| Documents for obtaining temporary residence |
– valid passport, – application form, – passport photo, – other documents in accordance with the reason for immigration |
| Mandatory registrations with state authorities (i.e. with the population/municipality register) |
Local immigration office |
| Dependents can join the temporary permit holder (Yes/No) |
No, a temporary residence permit is issued to the applicant only. |
| Temporary or permanent residency for investment purposes |
F2 visa |
| Type of investment available for residency purposes |
Business creation |
| Minimum investment amount |
KRW 500 million (approx. USD 370,000) |
| Minimum temporary residence before applying for permanent residence | 5 years |
| Residency for individuals married to a citizen of the country |
2 years of living in South Korea and having a good knowledge of the language |
| Documents for obtaining permanent residence |
– alien residence card, – valid passport, – proof of income earned in South Korea, – clean criminal record, – other documents based on the reason for immigration |
| Naturalization requirements |
Living in South Korea as a permanent resident |
| Citizenship after permanent residence |
5 years of living in the country based on a permanent residence permit. |
| Dual citizenship permitted (Yes/No) | No, South Korea does not allow dual citizenship. |
| Entry visa requirement (YES/NO) | Entry visas are required for people staying in Korea for more than 3 months. |
|
Residency based on work visa (YES/NO) |
Yes |
|
Types of work visas |
– E-1 professor visa, – E-2 for foreign language instructors, – E-3 for research activities, – E-4 for technological guidance, – E-5 for special professions, – E-6 for cultural and artistic activities, – E-7 for specially designed activities |
| Requirements for obtaining residency through family reunion | Being married to a Korean citizen, being a child of a Korean resident |
| Residence through real estate purchase (YES/NO) |
No |
| Temporary residence permit renewal requirements |
The renewal application can be filed 4 months before expiry. |
| Requirements for residency by employment |
Having an employment contract |
| Access to a digital nomad visa (YES/NO) |
Yes, starting with January 2024 |
| Other means to obtain residency in Korea (if any) |
– studentship, – as a job seeker |
| Rights associated with becoming a Korean resident |
– indefinite stay in the country, – no job restrictions, – possibility to create a business, – exit and enter South Korea without a visa |
| When to apply for a resident card after entering Korea |
The application for a resident permit must be filed no later than 3 months after entering the country. |
| Timeframe to have a Korean residence card issued (approx.) |
It can take between 20 days and 3 months, depending on the reason for immigration. |
| Quickest way to secure a residence permit |
Marriage to a South Korean national, however, the residence permit has a 2-year validity in this case. |
| Support in applying for residence permit (YES/NO) |
Yes |
| Other services available | We also offer residence permit renewal and citizenship application services. |
You can rely on our attorneys if you want to immigrate to South Korea. We are a group of lawyers committed to providing immigration support. No matter what kind of residency permit you want to apply for, you can rely on us. Please feel free to get in touch with us and ask any questions you may have about your moving alternatives.
Table of Contents
Ways to obtain residency in Korea
People who want to immigrate to Korea have several types of residence permits they can apply for. Here is how you can relocate here:
- through the work visa;
- through the student visa;
- through the investment visa;
- through the family reunification visa.
Additionally, if you are interested in company formation in Korea, you can set up a business without choosing the investment pathway which implies a much important amount of money.
How to obtain residency in Korea based on employment
You will need both a work and residence permit in order to relocate to South Korea for employment. Your job position and intended length of stay in Korea will determine the kind of work visa and permission you will be issued. With the following visas, you can work for more than 90 days:
- the E-1 professor visa;
- the E-2 visa for teacher of foreign languages;
- the E-3 student visa;
- the E-4 visa issued for technological guidance;
- the E-5 visa for special professional staff;
- the E-6 visa for artistic and cultural activities;
- the E-7 visa for specific tasks;
- the D-5 for long-term stay;
- the D-8-4 visa also known as the Startup Visa for Technology and Business;
- the D-10-2 business start-up visa;
- the D-8-1 investment visa.
Please mind that for obtaining permanent residency in Korea you will need to apply for other types of visas. Our immigration lawyers in Korea can advise on the appropriate visas you can choose based on your knowledge and qualifications.
Here is our infographic on this subject:
How to move to Korea based on family reunification
One of the best ways to immigrate to South Korea is through a long-term family visit visa, under you may reunite with your family. You can be eligible for it if:
- you are a South Korean citizen’s spouse;
- you are a temporary or permanent resident of South Korea’s spouse or child who must be aged below 20.
After arriving in Korea, you need to register your stay and apply for an Alien Registration Card (ARC) at the closest immigration office as soon as you arrive in South Korea.
We are also at your disposal with business registration services in Korea if you plan to launch your own enterprise.
Who can obtain the permanent residency in Korea?
According to the Immigration Bureau, there are several categories of people who can obtain a permanent resident permit in Korea in 2025, as presented below.
Adults who have lived in the country with an F-2 status for more than five years, and meet the following criteria:
- they are financially able to sustain themselves and their families;
- they can prove they have good behavior and respect the local traditions of Korea.
Individuals who have invested in excess of USD 500,000 in the country and have lived in this jurisdiction with a D-8 status for at least three years, while generating employment opportunities for local citizens. Our Korean company formation consultants can offer more information related to this matter. We can also help investors who want to open a company in Korea.
A D-8 visa is given to essential professional specialists working in the management, business administration, production, or technology of a foreign-invested company or to someone who finds a start-up company with intellectual property rights from its proprietary technology and has been certified as a venture business.
Those who have made an investment of at least USD 500,000 and have resided in Korea for 3 years or more on a business investment (D-8) visa, as well as executives who have been sent from a foreign company that has made an investment of at least USD 500,000 in Korea, will be granted a long-term residence (F-2) visa following the submission of all required paperwork.
Entrepreneurs who invested in excess of USD 5,000,000 in the country and who are considered appropriate for permanent residency by the Justice Minister or persons who contributed with special achievements to the country and whose achievements are recognized by the Justice Minister.
Our immigration lawyers in Korea can offer information on the different types of residence permits. If you keep a physical address, you can become a citizen based on your South Korean residency in 2025. The country is quite welcoming to foreign citizens coming here for work or business purposes which is why there are several programs designated for them. If you are interested in permanent residence or citizenship, contact us.
We also have a video on this topic:
Steps to apply for permanent residency in Korea
After obtaining one of the F-type long-term residency visas, you are eligible to apply for permanent residence in South Korea. The F-2-7 and F-2-99 are the most widely used ones. Once you possess one of the visas, you need to apply for the F-5 visa, which allows you to live in South Korea permanently.
For this purpose, you need to meet one of the following conditions:
- you invest at least KRW 600 million (about $500,000) in a Korean company and create 5 full-time jobs or more;
- you marry an F-5 visa holder or a citizen of Korea;
- you complete your studies in South Korea and after getting your PhD, you get a job in the high-tech industry;
- you employ at least 2 Korean citizens for a minimum period of 6 months, make KRW 300 million (approx.. $256,100), and keep your business for at least 3 years under a D-8-4 start-up visa;
- you have exceptional aptitudes in Science, Education, Culture, Arts, Sports, or Management that have been acknowledged by the Ministry of Justice;
- you are financially self-sufficient and have had an F-2 visa for at least 5 years.
If you have had permanent residency status in South Korea for more than 5 years, you will become eligible for citizenship by naturalization. For this purpose:
- according to the Ministry of Justice, you have good conduct;
- you are able to sustain yourself financially.
- you are familiar with Korean language, culture, and customs.
You can also rely on our accountants in Korea if you need assistance in taxation matters.
Documents required for the permanent residence permit in Korea in 2025
When it comes to immigration to Korea and obtaining a permanent residence permit in 2025, the following documents are required:
- an application form;
- an alien registration card;
- a valid passport;
- a passport photo;
- other documents: our Korean company registration consultants can provide more details on what these other documents consist of.
Applying for a permanent residence permit with the purpose of immigration to South Korea can be effectuated when the applicant is in or outside Korea. However, the process of obtaining this permit could be easier if the application is done before leaving Korea. We can also put you in contact with our South Korean accountants if you want to open a company after moving to this country and want to know the taxes it must pay.
Immigration data for South Korea
According to recent government data, the number of immigrants in South Korea reached more than 1.56 million in 2024, which is one of the largest numbers until now. A similar record refers to the fact that 1.01 million of them were international workers. The information refers to naturalized citizens and foreign nationals living in Korea. Specifically, there were 1.51 million foreign citizens and 51,000 naturalized persons in the country at the level of 2024.
The statistics office also indicates that the number of people aged 15 and older staying in Korea for more than 3 months was approximately 1.561 million in May, compared to the 1.48 million registered in 2023. Out of these, the majority (493,000 inhabitants) were Koreans with Chinese nationality.
If you require further details about obtaining a residence permit in Korea, or for assistance in starting a business in Korea, please get in touch with us. We can also help you get in touch with lawyers in other countries if you need legal services for immigration.