Long-term residence in Korea: F-2, F-4, F-5, F-6 and naturalization

F-2: the resident visa

The F-2 gives more freedom than a work visa — including the right to change jobs more easily. Its main forms are:

• F-2-7 (points-based): for professionals and graduates who score at least 80 points on criteria such as age, education, Korean-language ability and income, with bonus points for Korean degrees, KIIP completion or volunteering.
• F-2-R (regional): for people who commit to live and work in a designated population-decline area, with a local government recommendation.
• K-STAR (F-2-7S): for STEM master’s and doctoral graduates of designated Korean universities, who receive residence directly; extended to 32 universities.
• F-2-T (top-tier): for highly qualified, high-earning professionals, since April 2025.

F-4: overseas Koreans

The F-4 is for former Korean nationals and their descendants. Since 12 February 2026, it is open to ethnic Koreans of every nationality and has replaced the former H-2 working-visit visa. Holders can work in most fields, with some restrictions on simple manual jobs, and stay for one to three years per grant.

F-6: marriage migrants

The F-6 is for spouses of Korean nationals (F-6-1), parents raising a child of a marriage with a Korean (F-6-2) and people whose marriage ended through no fault of their own (F-6-3). Couples must show they can communicate, and the Korean spouse must meet income and housing requirements.

F-5: permanent residence

Permanent residence has 27 sub-categories, but all share core requirements: a clean record, the ability to support yourself (income or assets) and basic knowledge of Korean society, shown by completing KIIP level 5 or passing the permanent-residence evaluation. The main routes are:

• five continuous years on a qualifying work or residence status;
• three years on F-2-7, on the top-tier visa or through K-STAR;
• spouses of Koreans, usually after two years on F-6;
• F-4 holders after two years;
• doctoral graduates employed in Korea, people of exceptional ability and certain investors.

KIIP: the programme that opens doors

The Korea Immigration and Integration Program runs from level 0 to level 5: four levels of Korean language and culture, then a final level on understanding Korean society. Completing level 5 satisfies the basic-knowledge requirement for permanent residence and exempts naturalization applicants from the written test, and KIIP levels earn points for F-2-7. Since 2025 most classes are fee-paying, except level 0.

Naturalization

General naturalization requires at least five consecutive years of residence in Korea and, since December 2018, holding permanent residence first, along with good conduct, financial stability and basic knowledge. Simplified routes exist for people with Korean parents and for spouses of Koreans (two years of residence while married). Korea generally expects new citizens to give up their previous nationality, with exceptions for some categories such as spouses of Koreans and people of outstanding talent.

Where it usually starts

Most long-term residents first came to Korea as visitors — to explore, interview or study. If your passport is visa-exempt, that first trip needs an approved K-ETA.