F-2 residence visa: extension and family rules depend on the sub-type

This guide is for foreigners who hold, or plan to apply for, the residence status F-2 (거주) in Korea. F-2 is a long-term status for people on the way to permanent residence, but each sub-type has its own entry test, work rules and family rules. Figures follow the Ministry of Justice (법무부) stay manual updated in October 2026.

What F-2 covers

The Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act (출입국관리법 시행령), Appendix 1-2, lists who can hold F-2. Its stated purpose is a long stay by people preparing for permanent residence (영주, F-5). One grant of stay can last up to 5 years. You apply for extensions and changes at the immigration office (출입국·외국인관서) for your address. HiKorea (하이코리아), the Ministry's immigration portal, takes online applications and visit bookings.

Work rights differ by sub-type. An F-2-99 holder can work without extra permission only while continuing the field of the status held just before F-2. Other work needs a permit for activities outside your status (체류자격외 활동허가). F-2-7 and F-2-71 holders may not work in gambling businesses, entertainment bars or businesses that harm public morals.

Main sub-types

The skilled production worker status (F-2-6, 숙련생산기능) was abolished on October 1, 2019. Its holders were moved to F-2-99 and follow the F-2-99 extension rules. The current points route for skilled workers is E-7-4.

The F-2-7 points system

F-2-7 is open to set groups: manager or professional staff of companies listed on KOSPI or KOSDAQ; workers in designated high-tech fields who earn at least 1.5 times per-capita GNI; professionals with 3 years in a row on E-1 to E-7-1 (except E-6-2) or D-5 to D-9, with no waiting period if income is ₩40 million or more; and holders of a Korean master's degree or higher who start a qualifying job within 5 years of graduating. Graduates of designated science and technology schools can get F-2-7S with a president's recommendation, even without enough points.

You need 80 points. At most 170 count: 130 for common items and 40 for bonus items.

KIIP is the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (사회통합프로그램). Income is read from your latest income certificate (소득금액증명) from the tax office; income below minimum wage scores 0. Bonus points: Korean War participant-country talent 20, a central government agency's recommendation 20, KIIP level 5 completed 10, a degree from a top-ranked university (QS top 500 or Times Higher Education top 200) 30, 20 or 15, a Korean degree 10, 7 or 5, and volunteering 1 to 7. A foreign degree earns the same base points as a Korean one. There is no bonus for tax records, licences or living outside Seoul.

F-2-99 for long-term residents

F-2-99 (기타 장기체류자) is for people who have stayed 5 years or more in a row on eligible statuses, such as E-1 to E-5, E-7 and D-7 to D-9. Time on short-term visas, G-1 or H-1 does not count. To switch you need:

• assets of ₩20 million or more in your own name, held for 6 months or more;
• your own income of ₩40 million or more last year (a spouse's income is not added);
• to keep doing the work or business your current status allows;
• basic Korean: KIIP level 4, a pre-test score of 81 or more, or a Korean school or university diploma;
• a proper home (not a goshiwon or motel), good conduct and no unpaid taxes.

People who switched before July 7, 2025 are judged at extension by the older income test: 12 times the monthly minimum wage, or per-capita GNI if family members live with them.

Extending your stay

Apply before your current stay period ends (Immigration Act, Article 25). Check HiKorea or call 1345 for your case. The fee is ₩60,000; a change of status costs ₩100,000. Bring the application (Form No. 34, 별지 제34호서식), passport, residence card (외국인등록증), fee and the papers for your sub-type: family documents for F-2-2 and F-2-3, or income, asset and work papers for F-2-7 and F-2-99.

What can shorten or block an extension:

• Unpaid taxes or health insurance premiums. Until you pay, an extension is limited in principle to 6 months or less.
• Law violations. Since July 2022, F-2 applicants with recent violations (within 10 years for a change of status, 5 years for an extension) must complete law-abiding citizen education (준법시민교육). One violation with a penalty of ₩1 million or less can be exempt.
• F-2-7 points. 130 points or more (or 50 or more income points) gives 5 years; 120~129 (45 or more) gives 3 years; 110~119 (40 or more) gives 2 years; 80~109 gives 1 year. If you are unemployed or earn below minimum wage, you get two 6-month extensions, then job-seeker status (D-10) for up to 1 year.

Family members

Which status a family member gets depends on your sub-type:

• F-2-7: a spouse and minor children get F-2-71 if your annual income is at least the latest per-capita gross national income (GNI) published by the Bank of Korea (한국은행). For 2025 it is ₩52,570,000 (June 9, 2026 release; the March first estimate was ₩52,416,000). Below that, the family can stay as dependants but cannot work.
• F-2-99: a spouse joins as a dependant (F-3-18), and your income is checked.
• F-5 permanent residents: a spouse and minor children can get F-2-3. Spouse documents include an invitation, a statement on how the marriage came about, marriage certificates from both countries, proof of income, a guarantee, a credit report, and criminal record and health certificates for both spouses.

A minor child is someone under 19 (Civil Act, Article 4). At 19 a child no longer counts as a minor child, so plan the next status before the following extension.

Checklist

• Note when your stay period ends and apply before that date.
• Pay any unpaid taxes or health insurance premiums first.
• Check whether your job needs a separate work permit.
• For family, check the latest GNI figure and your office's document list.
• Call 1345, the Immigration Contact Center (외국인종합안내센터), with questions about your case.