F-2-7 Points-Based Residency Visa Guide Korea 2026

# F-2-7 Points-Based Residency Visa Guide Korea 2026

The F-2-7 Residency Visa is South Korea's points-based long-term stay visa administered by the Ministry of Justice. Unlike most work visas, it places no restrictions on employment, grants a 3-year stay, and opens a direct pathway to F-5 permanent residency. For skilled foreign professionals seeking stable, long-term life in Korea, F-2-7 is one of the most valuable visa categories available.

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1. F-2-7 Visa at a Glance

Item	Details
Visa category	F-2-7 (Residency — Points System)
Stay period	3 years (renewable)
Work restrictions	None (open employment)
Points threshold	80 points out of 170 (common 130 + bonus/deductions)
Path to F-5	Available after 3+ years on F-2-7

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2. Detailed Points Table (170 Points Total)

The common scoring categories total 130 points. Bonus points (up to +40) and deductions (up to −70) are applied on top.

(1) Age — up to 25 points

Age	Points
25–29	25
18–24 or 30–34	23
35–39	20
40–44	12
45–50	8
51 or older	3

(2) Education — up to 25 points

Degree	STEM / Double Major	Humanities / Arts / Other
PhD	25	20
Master's	20	17
Bachelor's	17	15
Associate's (vocational)	15	10

(3) Annual Income — up to 60 points

Annual Income (prior year, NTS certificate)	Points
100 million KRW or more	60
90 million KRW or more	58
80 million KRW or more	56
70 million KRW or more	53
60 million KRW or more	50
50 million KRW or more	45
40 million KRW or more	40
30 million KRW or more	30
Minimum wage or more	10
Below minimum wage	0

(4) Korean Language Proficiency — up to 20 points

Level	Points
TOPIK Level 5–6 / KIIP Stage 5	20
TOPIK Level 4 / KIIP Stage 4	15
TOPIK Level 3 / KIIP Stage 3	10
TOPIK Level 2 / KIIP Stage 2	5
TOPIK Level 1 / KIIP Stage 1	3

(5) Bonus Points — up to +40 points

Bonus Category	Points
Recommended by central government / outstanding talent from allied country	20
KIIP Stage 5 completion	10
PhD from top-ranked overseas university	30
PhD obtained in Korea	10
Master's from top-ranked overseas university	20
Master's obtained in Korea	7
Bachelor's from top-ranked overseas university	15
Bachelor's obtained in Korea	5
3+ years of volunteer service	7
2+ years of volunteer service	5
1+ years of volunteer service	1

(6) Deductions — up to −70 points

Violation	Deduction
Immigration Control Act violation / fine 3M KRW or more / forced departure	−30
Fine 1M–3M KRW	−20
Fine 500K–1M KRW	−10
Criminal conviction / fine 3M KRW or more	−40
Criminal conviction / fine 2M–3M KRW	−30
Criminal conviction / fine under 2M KRW	−20

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3. Basic Eligibility Requirements

All three of the following must be satisfied:

Legal stay: Currently residing in Korea under a valid visa status
Income: Annual income at or above the minimum wage (scores 10 points; higher income earns more points up to 60)
Minimum stay: At least 1 year of lawful residence in Korea

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4. Required Documents

Document	Notes
Application form for change of stay status (F-2-7)	Available at immigration offices or HiKorea
Valid passport	Preferably 6+ months remaining validity
Alien Registration Card (ARC)	Original required
Degree certificate (with apostille/notarization)	Foreign degrees must be apostilled or notarized
Income documents	Withholding tax receipts, tax payment certificate, etc.
TOPIK score report	Only if claiming Korean proficiency points
Social contribution evidence	Only if claiming bonus points
Passport-sized photo (1 copy)	3.5cm × 4.5cm

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5. How to Apply and Processing Timeline

Online via HiKorea

Apply at www.hikorea.go.kr:

Select "Change of Stay Status" and choose F-2-7.
Upload all required documents in PDF format.
Pay the application fee and submit.
Track the result online.

Processing Time

Standard: 4–8 weeks (longer if supplementary documents are requested)
Fee: Approximately KRW 100,000 (subject to change; verify before applying)

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6. The Path from F-2-7 to F-5 Permanent Residency

After residing in Korea on the F-2-7 visa for 3 or more consecutive years, you may apply to convert to F-5 (Permanent Residency), provided you:

Still meet the F-2-7 points threshold
Maintain annual income at or above the minimum wage threshold
Demonstrate domestic assets or tax payment history
Have no disqualifying grounds

> F-5 grants unrestricted employment rights, unlimited stay, and is the ultimate goal for most long-term foreign residents.

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7. Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can anyone apply for the F-2-7 points-based visa?
Any foreign national legally staying in Korea who has resided for at least 1 year may apply — provided they score 80 or more points out of 170 (common 130 + bonus/deductions).

Q. Is a TOPIK score mandatory for the F-2-7 application?
No. TOPIK is worth up to 20 points, but it is not a mandatory requirement. If you can reach 80 points through age, education, income, and bonus categories, you may apply without a TOPIK score.

Q. Can F-2-7 holders eventually obtain F-5 permanent residency?
Yes. After legally residing in Korea on the F-2-7 visa for 3 or more years and meeting the applicable requirements, you may apply to convert to F-5 (permanent residency).

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Free Consultation

Vision Administrative Scrivener Office — F-2-7 Points Visa Specialists

From calculating your score and preparing documents to managing the full application and F-5 conversion — our licensed scriveners handle everything.

Tel. 02-363-2251
E. [email protected]
Hours: Mon–Fri 09:30–17:30 KST / Closed on Saturdays and public holidays

Request Free Consultation →

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FAQ

Q. Can anyone apply for the F-2-7 points-based visa?

A. Any foreign national legally staying in Korea who has resided for at least 1 year and scores 80 or more points out of 170 (common 130 + bonus/deductions) may apply.

Q. Is a TOPIK score mandatory for the F-2-7 application?

A. No. TOPIK is worth up to 20 points, but it is not a mandatory requirement. If you can reach 80 points through age, education, income, and bonus categories, you may apply without a TOPIK score.

Q. Can F-2-7 holders eventually obtain F-5 permanent residency?

A. Yes. After legally residing in Korea on the F-2-7 visa for 3 or more years and meeting the applicable requirements, you may apply to convert to F-5 (permanent residency).

F-2-7 Points Table Guide →

F-2-7 Score 80pt Strategy →

F-5 Permanent Residency →