As part of our APAC regional immigration insights, this article outlines the visa and residency options available for foreign nationals seeking to live and work in South Korea. These are categorised under three main groups, work-based visas, family ties, and high-net-worth investor programmes.
1. Work Visas for employees and professionals
Under this category, there are visas for intra-company transferee, investors, skilled professionals and top tier talent. The procedure to obtain a or work visa is to present an employment contract and transfer proof to the Ministry of Justice. Once approved, they will receive a Certificate of Visa Issuance (CVI) and may then apply for an entry visa.
Exceptions: Certain individuals may enter Korea without obtaining a visa first, provided that employment or company establishment begins within 30 days of entry. However, starting employment before receiving an Alien Registration Number (ARN) is not recommended. The ARN is also required for essential activities such as opening a bank account or setting up mobile services.
| Type of Visa | Applicable For | Period Granted | Processing Time | Criteria |
| Intra-company Transferee (D-7) | For employees transferred from an overseas headquarters or branch to a Korean subsidiary or liaison office. | 1 year, renewable for 1 to 3 years. | Certificate: 4–5 weeks
Visa: 1 -2 weeks |
At least 1 year of employment with overseas branch.
No fixed minimum salary requirement but should meet the minimum wage law and according to local market rate of the same role. |
| Investor (D-8) | For foreign investors establishing or investing in a Korean company, or for foreign-invested companies inviting professionals to Korea.
|
1–3 years initially, extendable up to 3 more years | Certificate: 5–6 weeks
Visa: 1 -2 weeks |
Proof of eligible investment of at least KRW 100 million.
No minimum salary but providing compensation package will help strengthen application. |
| Skilled Professional (E-7) | For Korean companies & institutions hiring foreign specialists in government-designated fields such as IT, engineering, and services. | 1–3 years, renewable | Certificate: 4–5 weeks
Visa: 1 -2 weeks |
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
Salary should be on par or beyond Korea’s per capita Gross National Income (GNI) |
| Top Tier Talent Visa | For highly skilled professionals in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, biotechnology, defence, and robotics. | 1 year under Top-Tier visa; convertible to F-2 thereafter | Generally, takes 4 to 6 weeks for most cases. | Earns at least three times the national per-capita GNI, holds a master’s degree from a Top 100 global university, demonstrates Korean proficiency (via KIIP or language test), and has ministry endorsements. |
2. Family-based residency for individuals with Korean ancestry or family ties
This category applies to individuals with Korean ancestry or family ties to Korean citizens or permanent residents. Applicants must present supporting documents and proof of relationship to the Ministry of Justice.
| Type of visa | Applicable For | Period granted | Processing time |
| People of Korean Descent
(F-4) |
For individuals with Korean ancestry or former Korean nationals. | 5 years | Generally, takes 10 business days to 4 weeks |
| Family Residence (F-6-1/ F-6-2) | For spouses or children of Korean citizens or permanent residents. | Unlimited | Generally, 3 to 6 months. |
3. Investor and high-net-worth programmes for eligible investors
South Korea offers investment-based immigration options to attract high-net-worth individuals and investors seeking long-term stay or permanent residency.
| Programme | Requirement | Details |
| Public Interest Fund Investment Immigration
|
Invest KRW 1.5 billion in government-designated public interest projects to obtain F-2 residency for investor and family.
Maintaining investment for 5 years, of at least 3 billion won, may qualify for F-5 permanent residency. |
Interest-free investments where the funds can be transferred from overseas to local bank and managed by Industrial Banks for loans to small to medium sized companies.
Under this programme, there is also profit and loss investments relating to regional development and government designated projects. |
| Real Estate Investment Immigration
|
Invest in approved real estate projects to obtain F-2 residency for investor and family. Maintaining investment for 5 years may qualify for F-5 permanent residency.
Maintenance of investment for 5 years may qualify for F-5 permanent residency. |
After obtaining permanent residency, investors may proceed to recover their funds, but they must ensure to be physically present in Korea for the process, and it will take about 1 month. |
Other General Requirements
Employers must be legally registered in Korea and compliant with tax and social insurance obligations. Applicants must generally be 18 years or older, hold a clean criminal record, and pass a health check if they originate from a country designated as high-risk for tuberculosis.
Considerations about Third-Party Contractors
Korea’s work visa framework is employer centric; each visa is tied to the sponsoring company. Foreign employees cannot work for another company or location not specified in their visa approval. Dispatching or subcontracting foreign workers to third-party sites is highly restricted to prevent illegal labour brokerage or unlicensed subcontracting.
Note on recognition of Foreign Qualifications
The recognition of foreign degrees and skills depends on the type of visa and profession:
- For general employment visas (e.g., E-7), overseas degrees must be notarized and apostilled, and employers must justify their relevance to the job.
- Korea does not operate a formal equivalency authority; instead, immigration officers assess qualifications case by case.
- In regulated professions such as medicine, law, and accounting, foreign credentials are not sufficient, applicants must pass Korean licensing exams.
- Technical or vocational qualifications may be recognized if tied to employer needs.
- Completion of the Korean Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) or proficiency tests can strengthen applications, though additional evaluation is typically required for full recognition.
Shortage Occupation Privileges
There is no official Shortage occupation list unlike other Immigration programmes. However, there are special routes and incentives offered in sectors that are facing labour shortage.
- E-9 Visa– To facilitate work in agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing and construction, through entering bilateral agreements with other countries.
- E-7 Visa– Catered for caregivers, cooks, welders and advanced industry engineers. Under this visa, there is flexibility exercise, and less stringent requirements on education and experience history, as long as salary threshold is met.
- E-10 Visa– Catered for crew members working on ship vessels in the fishing industry
- E7-4R Visa- Enables certain long-term residents on lower-tier visas to transition into skilled work roles in regions with population decline or critical labour shortages.
Summary
South Korea offers a range of long-term stay options for foreign nationals, spanning employment, family, and investment categories. Work-based routes cater to transferees, investors, and skilled professionals, while family-tie visas support Korean descendants and spouses. High-net-worth individuals may qualify through investment or real estate programmes leading to permanent residency. Applicants should note strict employer sponsorship rules, verification of foreign qualifications, and compliance with Korea’s immigration and employment laws.
For more information or assistance regarding the above programmes or other global immigration matters, please do not hesitate to contact or Rachel.Ang@magrath.sg or hazimah@magrath.sg.