Korea F-5 Permanent Residence Checklist
How long you must stay and how much you must earn for permanent residence depends on the visa you hold now. Pick your route and the checklist switches to that route's rules (stay, income, basic knowledge, conduct). It's a readiness check, not a decision — income rules are multiples of GNI that change yearly, so check the Bank of Korea figure when you apply.
F-5 permanent residence — core checklist
Pick your route, tick the requirements, then press check.
What this tool does
Permanent residence (F-5) lets you live in Korea with no limit on your period of stay. Article 10-3 of the Immigration Act asks, as a rule, for three things: good conduct, the ability to support yourself from your own or your household's income and assets, and basic knowledge of the Korean language and society (some investors and people of special merit get these relaxed or waived). On top of that, the required years of stay and income multiple depend on the visa you hold now. Points-based residence (F-2-7) needs 3 years and 2× per-capita gross national income (GNI), marriage migrants (F-6) 2 years and 1× GNI, and 5 years on work or residence visas 2× GNI. This tool lets you pick one of the four main routes and check its requirements one by one. GNI is published by the Bank of Korea every year, so no won amounts are shown — check the Bank of Korea figure when you apply.
Who uses this
- Estimating when you can apply for F-5-16 as your F-2-7 years add up
- Preparing F-5 documents in your second year on a marriage visa (F-6)
- Checking F-5-1 and the route via F-2-7 separately after 5 years on an E-7 work visa
- Working out when you can apply for F-5-18 after your spouse gets F-5-16
- Finding the requirement that blocks you before calling 1345
How to use (4 steps)
- 1Choose the route that matches your current status — the checklist text switches to that route's rules.
- 2Enter how many years you have stayed continuously on that status (6 months = 0.5).
- 3Check the route condition, income, basic knowledge and conduct items yourself.
- 4Review what's missing and how many years you still need, then confirm your case with 1345 or your immigration office.
Thresholds by route
F-2-7 → F-5-16: 3+ years · income 2× GNI (or 1.5× average household net worth) F-6 → F-5-2: 2+ years · income 1× GNI, family combined (or median household net worth) D-7–E-7 / F-2 → F-5-1: 5+ years · income 2× GNI, 1× for E-5 residents (or 1.5× average household net worth) F-2-71 → F-5-18: 2 years after the spouse got F-5-16 · income 1× GNI (or average household net worth) Basic knowledge (as a rule): KIIP level 5 or a comprehensive test score of 60+ — under-15s and others are exempt GNI = the previous year's per-capita gross national income published by the Bank of Korea. If that figure isn't out yet, the year before is used.
Typical scenarios
2.5 years on F-2-7
You're half a year short. Use that time to check whether last year's income tops 2× GNI and whether you've finished KIIP level 5 — even after 3 years, either one can block the application.
Year 2 on F-6, dual income
For F-5-2 you add the income of a spouse who has lived with you for 1+ year and compare it with 1× GNI. You also submit proof the marriage continues, such as 3+ photos of the two of you and your Korean spouse's marriage certificate.
Engineer in year 5 on E-7
F-5-1 (5 years, 2× GNI) is open, and so is switching to F-2-7 first and aiming for F-5-16 three years later — but switching to F-2-7 has its own points requirement. Both need 2× GNI, so the deciding factors are years of stay and basic knowledge.
F-5 permanent residence — route & requirement checklist
Find your route
- 3+ years of continuous stay on points-based residence (F-2-7) → F-5-16 (the Minister of Justice must recognize the need to stay).
- 2+ years of continuous stay as a marriage migrant (F-6) → F-5-2. Covers an ongoing marriage, raising a child with a Korean spouse, or a marriage that ended through no fault of yours (e.g. the spouse's death).
- Adults with 5+ years of continuous stay on D-7 to E-7 or F-2 → F-5-1. E-7 holders need a bachelor's degree or higher; D-8 and D-9 need sales or export records; D-10 needs a bachelor's degree and an employment contract.
- Spouse or minor child (F-2-71) of an F-5-16 holder → F-5-18. The spouse must have received F-5-16 at least 2 years before your application date.
- Other F-5 routes exist (investment, PhD, overseas Koreans on F-4, etc.) — check HiKorea, the Ministry of Justice immigration portal.
Livelihood requirement (income or assets)
- Income is measured for January–December of the year before you apply, and only income on which income tax was paid counts.
- F-5-16 and F-5-1: at least 2× the previous year's per-capita gross national income (GNI), or assets of at least 1.5× the average household net worth. E-5 medical residents applying for F-5-1 need 1× GNI.
- F-5-2: combined income of you and the family you support (spouse or lineal relatives living with you for 1+ year) of at least 1× GNI, or household net worth at or above the median — income and assets can't be added together.
- F-5-18: income of at least 1× GNI, or assets at or above the average household net worth.
- Under the manual's general rule, even when family income is combined your own income or assets must be at least 50% of the threshold (exceptions such as raising minor children) — ask 1345 whether this also applies to F-5-2. If you have unpaid taxes, health insurance or fines, the requirement is not met; if a family member does, their income is left out of the total.
Basic knowledge, conduct & documents
- Basic knowledge: completion of the Korea Immigration & Integration Program (KIIP) level 5, or 60+ out of 100 on the permanent-residence/naturalization comprehensive test. Applicants under 15, among others, are exempt.
- Examples of conduct disqualifiers: less than 5 years since a prison sentence ended, less than 3 years since paying a fine, 3+ Immigration Act violations in the last 5 years (excluding administrative fines).
- Criminal record certificates: from your country of nationality plus any third country where you lived 1+ consecutive year in the last 5 years, issued within 6 months, apostilled or consular-certified, with translation. Exempt: 10+ years of continuous legal stay in Korea, under 14, among others.
- Common documents: integrated application form, passport, residence card, proof of address, criminal record certificate, letter of guarantee, tax payment and income certificates, proof of basic knowledge, F-5 applicant information form (some are waived for exempt applicants).
Counting your stay & after approval
- Split the time before your application date into years (365 days each, counting back). If each trip abroad lasted up to 90 days and each year's trips total up to 180 days, it counts as continuous stay. Extensions for departure and departure-deadline grace periods count as time abroad.
- Leaving Korea for good, or switching to a status that doesn't count, breaks continuity.
- If you moved from E-7-S2 to F-2-7, have stayed 3+ years, are currently employed and meet the E-7-S2 points bar (60+), the F-5-16 income bar drops from 2× to 1× GNI. Those who moved from E-7-S1 need 3× GNI.
- Permanent residents lose F-5 if they don't return within 2 years of leaving (without a re-entry permit) or within the re-entry permit period (with one).
Frequently asked questions
Do I automatically get F-5 after 3 years on F-2-7?
No. Three years of continuous stay only makes you eligible to apply. On top of the Minister's recognition, your income (2× GNI or assets), basic knowledge and conduct are all reviewed.
When can a marriage migrant (F-6) apply for F-5?
After 2+ years of continuous stay on F-6 you can apply for F-5-2. Your household income must be at least 1× GNI or household net worth at or above the median, plus the basic knowledge and conduct requirements.
What is the GNI amount?
It's the previous year's per-capita gross national income published by the Bank of Korea every year. It changes yearly, so this page doesn't show a figure. If the previous year's value isn't published when you apply, the year before is used.
Can a TOPIK score replace the basic knowledge requirement?
The current standard is KIIP level 5 or 60+ on the permanent-residence/naturalization comprehensive test. TOPIK level 4 was accepted only for applications filed by 31 March 2019.
Does my spouse get F-5 too?
The spouse of an F-5-16 holder applies for F-5-18. Two years must pass after the spouse received F-5-16, and you must stay married and on F-2-71 during that time.
Do frequent trips abroad break my stay?
Trips of up to 90 days each and 180 days in total per year still count as continuous stay. Leaving for good or switching to a status that doesn't count breaks it.
Cautions
- •This is a requirements checklist, not legal advice — approval depends on the Minister's recognition and case review.
- •The income threshold is a multiple of GNI and changes every year. Recheck it for the year before you apply.
- •Some investors and people of special merit get requirements relaxed or waived; this tool doesn't assess that. If it may apply to you, ask first.
- •Other F-5 routes such as investment, PhD or overseas Koreans are not covered here.
- •Confirm your own case with the Immigration Contact Center (1345) or your local immigration office.
Legal basis & standards
- §Immigration Act Art. 10-3 (permanent residence) — in force 2026-01-23
- §Immigration Act Enforcement Decree Art. 12-2 & Annex 1-3 (F-5 eligibility) — in force 2026-09-15
- §Immigration Act Enforcement Rule Art. 18-4 (conduct, livelihood, basic knowledge) — in force 2026-09-15
- §HiKorea stay-permit manual by status, 2026-09-18 edition (notices)
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Last reviewed: 2026-09-30