Residence
거주 (F-2) — Long-term residence status (거주) – an umbrella status with many sub-codes
At a glance
F-2 (Residence) is not a single visa but an umbrella status for foreigners who are settling in Korea long-term for a defined reason.
F-2 (Residence) status allows up to a 5-year maximum period of stay per grant, and it is renewable.
Generally yes – a key benefit of F-2 residence is broad, largely free employment.
No single fixed requirement across all F-2 sub-codes. Family-based and refugee routes have no Korean-language test requirement.
Fee: 130,000 KRW for change of status (체류자격변경허가); 60,000 KRW for each period-of-stay extension (체류기간연장허가). Standard immigration fee schedule – confirm the current amount on HiKorea. · Time: (unverified) No single official published figure for F-2 overall; it varies by sub-code…
Where this fits in your journey
Before arrival
Get admitted, prepare documents, apply.
During study
ARC, extensions, permits while in Korea.
After graduation
Job-seeking and work visas.
Settlement
Long-term residence and PR.
Who can apply
- ✓F-2 (Residence) is not a single visa but an umbrella status for foreigners who are settling in Korea long-term for a defined reason.
- ✓Eligibility depends on which sub-code applies.
- ✓The main groups defined in the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act (Attachment Table 1-2, item 24): (1) family of a Korean citizen or of an F-5 permanent resident – a minor foreign child of a Korean national, and the spouse and minor children of an F-5 holder; (2) a person born from a marriage (including de-facto marriage) with a Korean national, as recognized by the Minister of Justice; (3) a recognized refugee (난민인정자); (4) certain foreign investors under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act; (5) people who have already lived legally in Korea for a long period on other long-term statuses and meet set conditions (the ‘other long-term residence’ / F-2-99 route); (6) skilled workers moving up from non-professional work statuses (E-9 non-professional, E-10 seafarer, H-2 working-visit); (7) excellent talent under the points system and the newer Top-Tier / regional-settlement tracks.
- ✓Exact requirements for each group are set by the competent immigration office and Ministry of Justice notices.
Documents you'll need
- Varies by sub-code. Common items for a change of status or extension: passport
- application form for grant/change/extension of status
- alien registration card (if already registered)
- document proving the qualifying relationship or condition for the relevant sub-code (e.g., family relation certificate for family-based, refugee recognition decision for refugees, investment/business documents for investors, income certificate (소득금액증명) and degree/Korean-language certificates for the points route)
- proof of address/residence
- fee. Always confirm the exact list in the HiKorea Foreigner Residence Guide Manual (외국인체류 안내매뉴얼) or Enforcement Rule Attachment 5-2 for the specific sub-code.
How to apply
- Overseas embassy visa (사증) AND domestic change-of-status (체류자격 변경); a Certificate of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서) available for certain invited categories.
- Most F-2 statuses (e.g. spouse of national) are frequently obtained via domestic change-of-status after entry.
- F-2 is usually obtained inside Korea by changing status (체류자격변경허가) from another status such as an E-series work visa, D-2 study, or F-6 marriage, or by extending an existing F-2.
- Some family cases can be issued as a visa at an overseas Korean mission.
- Applications are handled at the competent immigration office; book a visit through HiKorea online reservation.
- The office decides the applicable sub-code and the period of stay.
Stay & extension
F-2 (Residence) status allows up to a 5-year maximum period of stay per grant, and it is renewable. In practice the office often issues a shorter initial period (commonly 1-3 years) depending on the sub-code.
Renew before expiry via period-of-stay extension (체류기간연장허가). You must keep meeting the conditions of your specific sub-code (for example, maintaining the qualifying family relationship, refugee status, investment, income, or employment).
After holding F-2 residence for the required qualifying period (generally about 3-5 years depending on the route) many F-2 holders can apply for F-5 permanent residence.
Working on this visa
Generally yes – a key benefit of F-2 residence is broad, largely free employment. Most F-2 holders can work and change jobs without a separate employer-tied work permit, unlike E-series work visas.
Some sub-codes (for example certain investment or specific-condition routes) can carry activity limits, so confirm the terms attached to your own sub-code.
Requirements in detail
No single fixed requirement across all F-2 sub-codes. Family-based and refugee routes have no Korean-language test requirement.
The points-based route (F-2-7) and some talent tracks award points for Korean ability (TOPIK / KIIP levels) but do not set a hard minimum. Korean ability also matters later for F-5 permanent residence.
No single fixed cap across F-2 sub-codes. Some sub-codes require sponsor/household financial capacity (e.g. spouse-of-national tracks reference an income guideline tied to a share of GNI); parent/dependent tracks require proof the supporter can sustain the applicant.
Specific KRW figures vary by sub-code (not uniformly published).
Sub-types
F-2-1spouse of a national (국민의 배우자)F-2-2minor foreign child of a national (국민의 미성년 외국인 자녀)F-2-3spouse and minor children of a permanent-residence status holder (영주(F-5) 자격 소지자의 배우자 및 미성년 자녀)F-2-8real-estate investment immigrant (부동산 투자이민자)F-2-99others (기타). NOTE: F-2-7 points-based excellent talent (점수제 우수인재), F-2-R regional (지역특화형), and F-2-T (unverified) are separately administered tracks.F-2-7Has its own full guideRead the F-2-7 guide →
F-2-RHas its own full guideRead the F-2-R guide →
F-2-THas its own full guideRead the F-2-T guide →Residence (거주, F-2) sub-codes under Immigration Control Act Enforcement Decree Attachment 1 (출입국관리법 시행령 별표1):
F-2 is largely a family-based residence status itself (spouse/children of nationals or permanent residents). Accompanying dependents typically qualify on their own F-2 sub-code (e.g. F-2-2, F-2-3).
Applicable. F-2 residents completing foreigner registration (외국인등록) can issue the mobile Alien Registration Card (모바일 외국인등록증) (from 2025-01-10) with the same legal effect as the physical card.
2025–2026 policy updates
- The F-2 residence category kept expanding through new talent-focused sub-codes in 2025-2026, though these have their own separate guides: (1) F-2 ‘Top-Tier’ advanced-industry top talent standard – Ministry of Justice Notice No. 2025-86 (promulgated 2025-03-31, effective 2025-04-06).
- (2) The F-2-7 points-system table was refreshed by MOJ Notice No. 2025-408, effective 2025-10-24 (pass mark 80 points).
- (3) ‘K-STAR’ visa track for STEM master’s/doctoral graduates of 32 designated universities (including KAIST, GIST, UNIST, DGIST, SNU, Korea University, Yonsei) – designated by MOJ around 2025-12-05, letting qualified graduates get an F-2 residence status on a university president’s recommendation without a job offer and apply for F-5 after 3 years, with rollout reported for 2026 (news-sourced – re-verify official effective date).
- (4) The regional-settlement F-2-R track continued under the 2025 regional-specialized visa (지역특화형 비자) plan.
- F-2-7, F-2-R, and F-2-T are documented in their own guides.
Common mistakes
Treating F-2 as one uniform visa – requirements, stay period and work rights depend on the specific sub-code; confusing family-of-citizen residence with the F-6 marriage-immigrant visa (a Korean spouse is usually F-6, while F-2 family covers children of citizens and family of F-5 holders); assuming every F-2 gives unlimited work rights (a few sub-codes carry conditions); missing the extension deadline; assuming F-5 permanent residence is automatic (it needs a separate application and its own qualifying period and criteria).
Where this leads
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