POSTERN

South Korea

F-2-7 Points-Based Residence visa. South Korea has no retirement visa and little for an ordinary family; this points system is the main option, and it weighs Korean-language ability heavily.

Free, with the law behind every answer

F-2-7 Points-Based Residence visa

A renewable residence visa with free choice of employment or self-employment; spouse and minor children accompany on F-3 dependant status.

Who qualifies

  • At least 80 of 100 points across age, education, Korean-language ability (TOPIK or KIIP level), income, and bonus factors, minus any deductions; income is the largest single category, with roughly KRW 100,000,000 a year (about $73,000) scoring the maximum points.
    HiKorea — points-based visa information

You keep your U.S. citizenship.

1

Does it fit your family?

One question, from the program’s own rules.

Steady monthly income, from any source?

Not legal advice.

2

What it takes.

Income
At least $6,083 a month, steady and documented.
Time
Weeks to a few months once the points calculation and supporting documents are ready.
Cost
About $100 in government fees (KRW 100,000 status-change fee plus KRW 35,000 for the residence card); agent fees vary widely by how much help is needed assembling proof.
The hard part
Reaching 80 points without strong Korean-language ability, since language is one of the most heavily weighted categories.

Dollar figures are converted from the local currency at the rate the program’s research used; the official figure is in the local currency.

3

Citizens by 2033.

If your first permit is issued in 2027 and you keep living there, this is the road.

  1. 2027
    First residence permit

    1 year, renewable for 1 year at a time.

  2. 2028
    Renew the permit

    Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.

  3. 2029
    Renew the permit

    Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.

  4. 2030
    Permanent residence

    Five years in Korea on a work status from D-7 to E-7 or on F-2 residence; basic Korean and knowledge of Korean society, shown by completing the KIIP integration programme or scoring 60 or more on the comprehensive assessment; household income at least the previous year’s GNI per head. F-2 points-visa holders can apply after 3 years.

  5. 2032
    Apply for citizenship

    With a language test and a civics test.

  6. 2033
    Citizenship
Language
Korean language ability and understanding of Korean customs, shown by completing KIIP or passing the naturalisation test, then an interview.
Civics
The naturalisation comprehensive test (or KIIP level 5 completion) covers Korean society, history and the constitution.
Time away
Five consecutive years of domicile in Korea, and holding permanent residence (F-5) when you apply.
Two passports
Usually not: new citizens are asked to give up their other citizenship.
  • Permanent residence after three years instead of five; the period of each grant (one to five years) depends on your points score.
  • How long the decision takes isn’t published; we allow a year.
  • This country asks new citizens to give up their other citizenship.
The law behind these dates
4

Living there.

Time you must spend there
The program sets no minimum number of days. Renewal still expects it to be your home.
Tax
183 or more days a year, or establishing a domicile, makes you a Korean tax resident on worldwide income.

We never file a tax return. We tell you what applies and brief the professional who does.

5

Start today.

  1. Check eligibility on Korea’s HiKorea immigration portal.Open hikorea.go.kr ↗
  2. Gather these documents.
    • Proof of steady income: at least $6,083 a month
    • Request your FBI Identity History Summary
    • Health cover for the move
6

Postern can’t run this for you yet.

The official application forms, submission and recovery specification are not complete. Postern cannot run this application yet.

Options open to you today →
7
ISSUED TO

YOUR FAMILY

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