Permanent Residence
A visa that lets you reside in Korea permanently with no stay-period limit. It offers the broadest freedom to work, and greatly reduces hassles like stay extensions or re-entry permits. It is not granted from the start — it is closer to a "destination" of long-term settlement, applied for by long-term residents who have lived on another status and met the requirements.
Who it’s for
For long-term residents who have lived in Korea on another status for a period and meet the requirements.
What you can do
Almost no restrictions on economic activity such as work or business — activity is broad, close to that of Korean nationals.
Key points
- No stay-period limit, so the burden of extension applications drops sharply
- Among the fewest restrictions on work/activity
- Not granted from the start — usually built on a history of residing on another status
- Application requirements (residence period, income, conduct, etc.) are fairly strict (exact criteria vary by policy — verify officially)
- Even with permanent residence your nationality stays the same — it differs from naturalization, which grants Korean nationality (a common confusion)
Transition paths
From statuses like F-2 (residence), F-4 (overseas Korean), or F-6 (marriage migrant), meeting the requirements can lead to F-5 (permanent residence) — not guaranteed. After permanent residence, meeting separate requirements may also open the path to naturalization for Korean nationality.
Related visas
This is general information and has no legal force. Actual eligibility and requirements depend on your situation and policy — before applying, verify with official sources such as Hi Korea and a professional (e.g., a licensed administrative agent).
Last updated: 2026-06-09