When a new worker considers moving to South Korea and eventually settling there permanently, the journey usually begins with an E-9 visa, known as the Non-Professional Employment Visa.
When a new worker considers moving to South Korea and eventually settling there permanently, the journey usually begins with an E-9 visa, known as the Non-Professional Employment Visa. If you are still in your home country, you generally cannot travel directly to South Korea on a skilled-worker or residence visa. Instead, the official route is through the Employment Permit System (EPS).
For example, suppose a young man named Ahmed lives in Pakistan and wants to move to South Korea. His first step is to pass the basic Korean language examination (EPS-TOPIK) and the skills test with good scores in his home country. Once he passes these stages, his name is entered into the official Korean job roster, from which Korean factories and farms select workers.
After receiving a job contract, Ahmed is granted an E-9 visa, allowing him to travel to South Korea and begin working in a manufacturing factory or the agricultural sector. Initially, the E-9 visa allows him to stay for three years. With the employer's consent, this period can be extended by one year and ten months, giving Ahmed a total of four years and ten months to work legally in South Korea. The most important aspect of this first stage is that, alongside working hard, the employee must improve his Korean language skills and avoid any legal violations to prepare himself for the next stage.
After working legally in South Korea for four consecutive years, a worker may become eligible to convert an E-9 visa into an E-7-4 visa, known as the Skilled Worker Visa. This visa operates through a points-based system. For example, when Ahmed completes four years at his factory, only a few months may remain on his E-9 visa. Normally, workers have to return to their home countries when their permitted stay expires. However, if Ahmed has passed the Korean Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) or the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), achieving Level 3 or 4, earns an annual salary of approximately 26 million to 30 million won or more, and receives a recommendation letter from his factory owner confirming satisfaction with his performance, he may accumulate the required points.
The points system considers factors such as age, salary, education and additional points for loyalty to the same employer. Once Ahmed submits his application and immigration authorities approve his E-7-4 visa, the risk of having to return to his home country when his E-9 visa expires is significantly reduced. His visa can be renewed from within South Korea every one or two years. One of the biggest advantages is that he can also bring his wife and children to South Korea on F-3 dependent visas so that they can live with him.
After obtaining an E-7-4 visa, the next major step is securing an F-2 visa, known as a Long-Term Residence Visa. This status provides workers with greater freedom from the strict restrictions associated with working for a particular factory or employer. Under the traditional rules, a worker can generally apply for an F-2 visa, usually under the F-2-99 category, after spending approximately five years on an E-7-4 visa. However, the South Korean government is also working on reducing this period.
For example, Ahmed is now living in South Korea with his family and has spent the past five years working as a skilled employee on an E-7-4 visa. During this period, he has completed Level 4 or 5 of the Korean language integration programme (KIIP). He has also accumulated savings and assets, such as bank deposits or funds for a Jeonse housing deposit. His annual household income also meets the required national income standards. When Ahmed submits his application along with evidence of his financial standing, Korean language proficiency and tax payments, he may qualify for an F-2 visa. At this stage, Ahmed is no longer legally tied to sponsorship by a particular factory. He can explore better-paying employment opportunities in the job market, while his spouse may also become eligible to work legally in South Korea, subject to the applicable visa conditions.
The final stage of this journey is obtaining an F-5 visa, known as Permanent Residency (PR). Once granted, it gives the holder permanent resident status in South Korea. After obtaining an F-2 visa, a worker may generally become eligible for an F-5 visa after spending another two to three years in the country. This means that, after approximately 10 to 12 years of continuous, lawful and successful residence in South Korea, a worker may qualify for permanent residency. For example, Ahmed is now well integrated into Korean society and its system. He has completed Level 5 of the Korean Social Integration Program and passed its Comprehensive Evaluation Test to demonstrate his understanding of Korean culture, history and laws.
He must also have a clean criminal record.
In addition, his combined annual income with his family must meet the required financial threshold, which may be twice South Korea's per capita Gross National Income (GNI), depending on the applicable immigration category. Once immigration authorities verify that Ahmed meets all the requirements, he may be granted an F-5 visa. With this permanent resident status, Ahmed no longer faces the risk of deportation simply because he leaves or changes his job. He does not need to repeatedly visit immigration offices for routine visa extensions and gains broader access to local banking services and social benefits. If he wishes, he may also apply for South Korean citizenship and a Korean passport in the future, provided he meets the relevant naturalisation requirements.
South Korea has an established legal framework that allows foreign nationals to change their visa status and eventually settle in the country permanently. The ultimate goal of this process is to obtain an F-5 Permanent Residency Visa. Generally, there are two major pathways (tracks) through which foreigners can progress towards permanent residency by changing their visa status.
The complete roadmap is outlined below.
This pathway is designed for people who travel to South Korea on a student visa (D-2) or a language-training visa (D-4). Stage 1: Graduation and Job Search (D-10 Visa) After completing their studies, applicants can change their visa status to a D-10 Job-Seeking Visa, which allows them to search for employment related to their academic qualifications and professional field in South Korea.
Stage 2: Professional Employment Visa (E-7 Visa)
Once an applicant secures a full-time job with a Korean company, their visa status can be changed to an E-7 Specialised Occupation Visa.
Stage 3: Residence Visa (F-2-7 Visa)
While working on an E-7 visa, applicants may become eligible for an F-2-7 Residence Visa by accumulating at least 80 points out of 130 under the points-based system.
The points are awarded based on factors such as:
This visa provides greater freedom to work for different companies without being restricted to a single employer.
Stage 4: Permanent Residency (F-5 Visa)
After completing five years of continuous legal residence in South Korea, or three years on an F-2 visa where the relevant category permits, and fulfilling the required financial and language conditions, applicants may qualify for an F-5 Permanent Residency Visa.
This pathway is intended for Pakistanis and other foreign nationals who travel to South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) on an E-9 visa.
Stage 1: Skilled Worker Visa (E-7-4 Visa)
If you have worked legally in South Korea on an E-9 visa for at least four to five years within the previous ten years, you may be eligible to change your visa status to an E-7-4 Skilled Worker Visa through a points-based system.
The main requirements include:
Stage 2: Long-Term Residence (F-2 Visa)
After obtaining an E-7-4 visa, working regularly for several years and increasing your income, you may become eligible for residence status through the points-based F-2-7 category or the regional F-2-R visa program.
Stage 3: Permanent Residency (F-5 Visa)
After completing the required period of legal residence, generally five years under the applicable category, and meeting the income requirement linked to South Korea's Gross National Income (GNI), applicants may qualify for permanent residency.
To progress from a work visa to permanent residency (F-5) in South Korea, workers should pay particular attention to three essential factors.
Completing the South Korean government's Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) or passing the TOPIK examination can provide valuable points under the relevant immigration categories.
For F-5 applications, completing Level 5 of KIIP is generally a key requirement, although the exact conditions depend on the specific residency category.
Your annual taxable income should generally be equal to or higher than South Korea's per capita Gross National Income (GNI). Some immigration categories may require income equivalent to twice the GNI.
You must maintain a completely clean criminal record in both South Korea and your home country.
Even a single day of overstaying your visa or engaging in illegal employment can seriously damage your permanent residency application and potentially prevent you from qualifying for several years.
