South Korea — F-2-7 Points-Based Residency (Selective, No Direct Job Requirement)

Key requirements

This model assumes a competitive profile and stable documented earnings. The decisive factor is the official points table in force at application time, not one single salary number.

• Minimum income (model)~$2,800 / month (model)
• SavingsNot modeled as required
• Accepted income typesRemote salary, Freelance income, Passive income, Pension
• Remote work allowedNo
• Local employment allowedYes
• Health insuranceUsually required
• Criminal record checkUsually required
• Accommodation proofUsually required
• Bank accountUsually required
• Processing (rough)Varies by immigration office workload and document verification

Citizenship & nationality

F-2-7 is not an automatic entry visa for most first-time arrivals; it is typically a status-change or progression path for applicants already in eligible Korean stay categories who can pass a points threshold.

• •Applicants are scored on multiple factors (for example age, recognized education, income, language/integration indicators, and other criteria published in Korean immigration notices).
• •Income evidence is usually tied to official Korean tax documentation and can materially change points outcomes.
• •Meeting a headline score does not remove documentary scrutiny: prior status history, legal compliance, and local office interpretation still matter.
• •Work rights and future transitions can differ from E-category statuses; always validate permitted activities after approval.

Use HiKorea/Immigration Contact Center (1345) and current Ministry of Justice notices for the active points table and evidentiary rules at filing time.

Best for

• •People planning longer stays and clearer residency footprints

Long-term path

• Permanent residence: Yes
• Citizenship: Limited / case-by-case

F-2 resident status can support longer-term settlement planning and may improve future eligibility for F-5 permanent residence under separate criteria.

Practical difficulty

hard

Indicative only — depends on documents, timing, and policy updates.

Hard reflects selective eligibility, points math sensitivity, documentary burden, and local adjudication variability.