Korea F Visa Requirements: F-2, F-4, F-5 and F-6 Explained

What the F visa category covers

Korea’s F visa is the family and residence visa category. Unlike work visas that are tied to a specific employer, F visas generally allow you to stay, live and work freely in Korea.

The main F statuses are:

• F-2 — points-based long-term residence
• F-4 — overseas Korean
• F-5 — permanent residence (영주권)
• F-6 — marriage visa (spouse of a Korean national)

Each F status has different requirements, and the Korea Immigration Service publishes the current scoring tables and criteria on immigration.go.kr and Hikorea (hikorea.go.kr).

F-2 points-based residence

F-2 is granted to foreigners who score at least 80 points on Korea’s points system for long-term residence. The maximum possible score is 170 points.

The scoring categories include:

• Age — up to 25 points
• Education — up to 25 points
• Basic residency requirements (including Korean language ability) — up to 20 points
• Income — up to 60 points
• Additional points — up to 40 points
• Deductions — up to 70 points can be subtracted

Applicants typically apply through the Hikorea portal. The application is assessed against the official scoring table in force on the application date, and the points threshold (80) and the max (170) come from the Immigration Service’s published criteria.

F-4 overseas Korean

F-4 is for overseas Koreans — people of Korean nationality who hold foreign citizenship, their children and other eligible descendants.

Under the current unified F-4 rules (effective 2020), eligibility no longer depends on your nationality history or age. Key points:

• No income requirement — you do not need to show a certain income level.
• No age restriction — the previous 25–54 age range no longer applies.
• You can live and work in Korea and change to other statuses when you meet their requirements.

The scope of eligible people is set out in the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans (재외동포법), and the practical rules are published by the Immigration Service.

F-5 permanent residence

F-5 is Korea’s permanent residence status. The general route requires:

• 5 years or more on qualifying statuses (D-7 to D-10, E-1 to E-7, F-2), with continuous residence.
• F-2 points-based applicants can apply for F-5 after 3 years on F-2.
• An income requirement roughly equal to 2 times the per-capita GNI — for the 2025 standard, about KRW 52.41 million per year.
• A minimum Korean language level (e.g. TOPIK level 4 or a KIIP completion requirement) is also part of the criteria.

F-5 also requires a clean criminal record. The exact conditions and income figure change each year, so check the Immigration Service’s notice for the year you apply.

F-6 marriage visa

F-6 is issued to the foreign spouse of a Korean national (and to foreign parents of a Korean child in some cases).

Requirements are assessed against the official F-6 criteria and include:

• A valid marriage to a Korean national.
• The Korean spouse must meet a minimum income requirement and a housing requirement set by the authorities.
• Supporting documents such as marriage certificate, family relation certificates, and proof of income.

Because the exact income threshold is reviewed per application, applicants should confirm the current F-6 checklist on immigration.go.kr or at the nearest immigration office. Immigrant spouses are also offered the Korean Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP).

How to check your eligibility

Immigration rules and the F-2 points table are updated regularly. To avoid relying on outdated information:

1. Check the official Korea Immigration Service (immigration.go.kr) notices and the Hikorea Visa Navigator (hikorea.go.kr).
2. Run the scoring against the current points table in force on your application date.
3. Confirm the F-5 income figure for the year you apply — it is updated annually.
4. For F-6, verify the spouse income and housing requirements with the immigration office handling your application.

This guide summarizes the published criteria as of August 2026. The specific numbers (80/170 points, 52.41 million KRW) are taken from the Immigration Service’s official notices.