F-5 Permanent Residence | Permanent Residency in Korea
F-5 is Korea’s permanent-residence status. There is no single universal F-5 test. Eligibility depends on the applicant’s residence history, current status, family relationship, professional background, investment, Overseas Korean status or designated talent route.
Request a Consultation →Core permanent-residence review
Exact standards and exemptions differ by category.
Good conduct
Criminal, immigration and other compliance history can be material.
Ability to maintain livelihood
Income and/or assets are assessed according to the applicable F-5 category.
Basic integration
Korean-language and social-integration requirements differ by route.
Major F-5 categories
The following is a classification guide. Detailed requirements must be checked individually.
General permanent resident
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Spouse of Korean national
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Minor child of Korean national
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Family of permanent resident
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
High-value investor
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Overseas Korean long-term resident
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Advanced-industry Ph.D.
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Degree/technical professional
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Extraordinary ability
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Special contributor
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Korean doctorate holder
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Points-based permanent resident
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Tourism/recreation investor
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Public-interest investor
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Retirement investor
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Technology start-up investor
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Conditional high-value investor
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
R&D personnel of foreign-invested company
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Recognized refugee long-term resident
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Special contributor
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Regional-specialization Overseas Korean
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Top-Tier talent
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
Outstanding science/technology talent
A separate permanent-residence route with category-specific residence, family, professional, investment or policy requirements.
F-5 is not Korean citizenship
Permanent residence and nationality are legally different.
Stable permanent residence
F-5 is not administered like an ordinary short-term extension-based status.
Residence card management
Permanent residents still have residence-card and reporting obligations.
Re-entry and long absences
International travel and extended absence should be managed under the rules applicable to permanent residents.
T-ONE Practice Notes & Case Studies
F-6 to F-5-2 Permanent Residence
Marriage-migrant to permanent-resident practice case.
View original Korean article →E-7 to F-5-15 after Korean doctorate
Practice case involving a doctorate holder employed in Korea.
View original Korean article →F-4 to F-5-6 Overseas Korean route
A 2026 practice article on Overseas Korean permanent residence.
View original Korean article →Frequently Asked Questions
Does five years in Korea automatically qualify me?
No. The applicant must meet the requirements of a specific F-5 category.
Does every F-5 require twice GNI?
No. Livelihood standards and exemptions vary by category.
Is F-5 citizenship?
No. Permanent residence and Korean nationality are separate statuses.
Plan the F5 case before filing.
Eligibility, evidence and filing routes depend on the applicant’s actual circumstances. T-ONE reviews the complete case and prepares a consistent application.
Consult T-ONE →