South Korea · Permanent Residence
South Korea F-5 Permanent Residence for Founders
Permanent residence in Korea, the F-5 status, carries an unlimited period of stay. Founders can reach it after three years on the D-8-4 visa, and investors after five years in the public business investment scheme.
- Startup route
- Technology Startup Visa (D-8-4)
- Minimum capital
- None for D-8-4; KRW 100 million for a D-8 investor
- Permanent residence
- 3 years on D-8-4 with KRW 300 million and 2 hires
- Citizenship
- 5 years' residence while holding F-5 status
F-5 permanent residence for D-8-4 founders
HiKorea's startup immigration guide sets out a direct route from the technology startup visa to permanent residence. A founder who has held D-8-4 status for three years on the date of application may apply for F-5 if the company has attracted at least KRW 300 million in investment from domestic or foreign investors, or holds equivalent capital, and has employed at least two Korean nationals continuously for six months or more. The route rewards founders whose companies have raised money and hired locally, rather than those who have simply stayed. Permanent residents have an unlimited period of stay, but must register as a foreigner or file a domestic residency report within 90 days of arrival.
- Time on D-8-4
- 3 years as of the application date
- Capital
- KRW 300 million from investors, or equivalent capital
- Jobs
- At least 2 Korean nationals employed for 6+ months
- Period of stay
- Unlimited once F-5 is granted
- Registration
- Within 90 days of arrival
Requirements
- Hold D-8-4 status for at least three years by the date of the F-5 application.
- Show at least KRW 300 million invested by domestic or foreign investors, or equivalent capital.
- Employ at least two Korean nationals continuously for six months or more.
- Apply while the D-8-4 status is still valid.
How to apply
- Track investment receipts and payroll records from the first year on D-8-4.
- Confirm the three-year mark and that both Korean employees have six months of continuous service.
- Apply to change status to F-5 at the immigration office or through HiKorea e-Application.
- Register as a foreigner, or file a domestic residency report, within 90 days of arrival.
F-5 through the Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business
Investors who enter Korea through the public business investment scheme first hold Resident (F-2) status, which allows free economic activity. The Korea Immigration Service states that holders can apply to change to Permanent Resident (F-5) status after maintaining the investment for at least five years. The qualifying investment is KRW 500 million, or KRW 300 million for retiree investors over 55 who also hold KRW 300 million in assets, placed either in a principal-protected public fund operated by the Korea Development Bank or in a risk-based development project in a designated region. The page does not set out separate F-5 rules for family members, who hold F-2 status during the investment period.
- Qualifying period
- 5 years of maintained investment
- Status before F-5
- Resident (F-2)
- Investment
- KRW 500 million, or KRW 300 million for retirees over 55
- Family
- Hold F-2 during the investment; F-5 rules not published
- Exclusions
- Criminal record, tax delinquency, over 4 immigration violations
Requirements
- Hold Resident (F-2) status obtained through the public business investment scheme.
- Maintain the qualifying investment for at least five years.
- Have no criminal record and no unpaid taxes; overdue taxes must be cleared first.
- Have no more than four Immigration Act violations.
How to apply
- Keep investment certificates from the fund or project operator for the full five years.
- Apply to change from F-2 to F-5 once the five-year mark is reached.
- Confirm family members' options with the Korea Immigration Service before applying.
What F-5 status changes for a founder
Permanent residence matters in Korea for more than the right to stay. F-5 holders have an unlimited period of stay, and holding a status that allows permanent residence is one of the conditions for general naturalization under the Nationality Act. A founder who plans to naturalize therefore has to secure F-5 first, whether through the D-8-4 route, the public business investment scheme or another category. The Korea Visa Portal also lists a Big Investor category, F-5-5, and a special talent category, F-5-11; their current thresholds should be confirmed with the Korea Immigration Service.
The D-8-4 route is short but demanding. Three years is a brief qualifying period by international standards, yet the KRW 300 million and two-employee conditions require a company that has attracted outside capital or built equivalent capital and hired Korean staff for at least six months. Founders who expect to fall short can stay on D-8-4 while the company grows, as long as they continue to meet its conditions. Immigration offices update their status manuals as guidelines change, so the 1345 contact center is the point of reference for current requirements.
Questions and answers
Does the KRW 300 million for the D-8-4 to F-5 route have to come from investors?
HiKorea's guide states that the condition can be met with investment of at least KRW 300 million attracted from domestic or foreign investors, or with equivalent capital. In both cases the company must also have employed at least two Korean nationals continuously for six months or more, and the founder must have held D-8-4 status for three years.
Do F-5 permanent residents need to renew their status?
HiKorea describes the period of stay for permanent residents as unlimited, so there is no fixed status renewal like those on D-8 visas. Permanent residents must still register as a foreigner, or file a domestic residency report, within 90 days of arrival, and must keep their registration details up to date.
Is there an F-5 category for large investors?
Yes. The Korea Visa Portal lists a Big Investor category, F-5-5, under its investment visas. Its investment and employment thresholds are set in the Korea Immigration Service's status manuals, which are updated as guidelines change, so investors should confirm the current conditions with the service before planning around this route.
How long does the public business investment route take to reach F-5?
The Korea Immigration Service states that investors who hold F-2 status under the scheme can apply to change to F-5 after maintaining the investment for at least five years. Withdrawing the investment early would interrupt that period, and the principal-protected fund option returns only the principal after five years.
Official sources
- About Technology-based Start-Up Immigrationwww.hikorea.go.kr
- Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business (IISPB)www.immigration.go.kr
- Visa by Categorieswww.visa.go.kr
- Naturalizationwww.hikorea.go.kr
Reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current requirements with the official authority or a licensed adviser before applying.
Your path in South Korea.
Startup visa
D-8-4 via OASIS points or awards, or D-8-4(S) via an MSS recommendation
02Temporary residence
D-8-4 or D-8 investor status, with family on F-3 dependent visas
03Permanent residence
F-5 after 3 years on D-8-4 with KRW 300 million raised and 2 Koreans hired
04Citizenship
Naturalize after 5 years with F-5; renounce or pledge within 1 year