South KoreaStay, Settle or Change Status
Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.
Accumulated residence as a Resident (F-2) leads to Permanent Resident (F-5) status.
Type 1 Resident Status Holders Obtaining Permanent Residency Resident Permanent Resident F-2 F-5
For Long-term Resident (F-2-99), the applicant must have stayed in Korea continuously for more than 5 years with an eligible status of stay and meet requirements such as good conduct, ability to maintain a livelihood and basic knowledge. The official source does not state when the period begins.
- A person who has continuously stayed in Korea for more than 5 years with an eligible status of stay and meets all the requirements such as good conduct, ability to maintain a livelihood and basic knowledge
For F-2-99, residence counts only under eligible statuses: D-1, D-5, D-6, D-7, D-8 (only where the investment at application exceeds the 100 million won standard amount under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act), D-9, E-1 to E-5, E-6-1 and E-6-3, E-7, and F-1 (only Taiwanese Chinese born in Korea not registered in their home family register). For the F-2-7 professional category, residence as D-2/D-10 is not included, while residence as E-1 to E-7 or D-5 to D-9 is included.
- Eligible status of stay: Culture and Arts (D-1), News Coverage (D-5), Religion (D-6), Intra-Company Transferee (D-7), Foreign Investor (D-8)*, International Trade (D-9), Professor (E-1), Foreign Language Instructor (E-2), Researcher (E-3), Technical Instructor (E-4), Professional (E-5), Arts/Entertainment (E-6-1, 3), Foreign National with Special Ability (E-7), Family Visitor (F-1)**
* Foreign Investor (D-8) status holders are limited to persons whose investment amount at the time of application exceeds the standard investment amount (100 million won) under the current Foreign Investment Promotion Act ** Limited to Taiwanese Chinese born in Korea who are not registered in the family register of their home country
If your inquiry is to change visa status to F-2-7 visa for professionals, the residence period with D-2/D-10 visa will not be included. The residence period with E-1~E-7 or D-5~D-9 visa will be included.
Continuity is required: the F-2-7 Professionals category requires more than 3 consecutive years of stay with D-5 to D-9 or E-1 to E-7-1 status. The source does not say which absences break continuity.
Those who have stayed for more than 3 consecutive years with News Coverage (D-5) Professionals to International Trade (D-9), Professor (E-1) to Professional (E-7-1) status
For the long-term-resident F-2 route (after more than 5 years on E-1 to E-7), all relevant requirements such as good conduct and ability to maintain a livelihood must be met; the basic-knowledge requirement is met with KIIP level 4 or a pre-assessment score of 81+. F-2 holders cannot extend their stay by e-application (online extension excludes F-2). The official source does not state card validity, retention or loss rules.
(F-2, Long-term Resident) Those who have stayed in Korea for more than 5 years with E-1 to E-7 status and meet all the relevant requirements such as good conduct and ability to maintain a livelihood
Basic quality requirements are met when completing the Social Integration Program (KIIP, Korea Immigration and Integration Program) level 4 or higher or when obtaining at least 81 points in pre-assessment
Registered foreign residents: Eligible for all visa holders, except for D-3, D-8, E-7, F-2, F-6, G-1, F-1
These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.
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Not legal advice. No eligibility verdict or ranking. Check the linked sources before applying.