General permanent residence visa at a glance
| Official name | General permanent residence (F-5-1) |
|---|---|
| Legal route | Adults who have stayed continuously for 5 years or more under a status from intra-company transfer (D-7) to specially designated activities (E-7), or under residence (F-2) |
| Key factors | The type of visa status and the record of continuous stay |
| Common review areas | Good conduct, ability to earn a living, and basic knowledge such as Korean language ability and understanding of Korean society and culture |
| Relation to nationality | Permanent residence and acquiring Korean nationality are separate |
| How K-Biz Visa covers it | Explained as part of our F-5 permanent residence consultations |
Common points of confusion
- Length of stay and status
- The length of stay alone does not decide the route. We look at which visa status you held, how long you stayed continuously, and the common review areas together.
- Other permanent residence routes
- Permanent residence is divided into several legal routes. The marriage migrant, high-amount investor, overseas Korean, and degree and qualification routes each set their own requirements.
- Permanent residence and nationality
- Permanent residence (F-5) is a visa status. Acquiring Korean nationality is a separate system, and we treat it as a different procedure.
Before the consultation
In your first enquiry, tell us your visa statuses so far and your stay history. We first decide which route to look at.
What to tell us first
- Your current visa status and when you obtained it
- Your stay history so far and time spent outside Korea
- Your job and income
- Your Korean language study history
Documents we ask for later
- Records proving your stay history
- Income and employment documents
- Documents on basic knowledge
- Copies of your passport and ID
We ask only for the sensitive documents the review needs, and keep and delete them under our privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
The length of stay is one element of the legal route. We look at which visa status you stayed under continuously, together with the common review areas such as good conduct, ability to earn a living and basic knowledge.
Statuses from intra-company transfer (D-7) to specially designated activities (E-7), and residence (F-2), fall within the legal route. We explain in consultation whether your case qualifies.
The marriage migrant, high-amount investor, overseas Korean, and degree and qualification routes each have their own legal requirements. We start by deciding which route fits your situation.
No. Permanent residence (F-5) is a visa status, and acquiring Korean nationality is a separate system.
Related agencies and laws
The procedures and criteria on this page follow the guidance of the agencies and the laws below. How they apply is checked case by case.
Agencies
- Ministry of Justice immigration offices
- Korea Visa Portal
Laws
- Immigration Act
- Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act
Send an enquiryTell us your current visa status and stay history, and we will reply setting out which permanent residence route to look at.