Points-Based Long-Term Residence
Calculate your F-2-7 score in 60 seconds and see exactly what to do to reach the 80-point threshold. Written for foreigners in Korea, not lawyers.
At a glance
- F-2-7 needs 80 points. Reach that and you get sponsor-free work permission and a residence visa renewed every 1-3 years.
- Four scored categories: age, education, Korean language, and income. Bonuses for KIIP completion, Korean degrees, and volunteer service. Deductions for immigration fines or criminal record.
- Most foreigners are short on Korean and income, in that order. Getting TOPIK 4 alone can move you from 65 to 80.
- You apply at your local immigration office. No embassy step needed if you're already in Korea on a qualifying visa (E-1 through E-7, D-7, D-8, D-9, D-10).
- F-2-7 is the usual stepping stone to F-5 permanent residence. Most people stay on F-2 for 2-3 years before applying for F-5.
Agerequired
Korea rewards 20s and early 30s. Points taper after 35.
Highest degreerequired
STEM (science/engineering) or dual-major degrees earn slightly more points than other fields.
Korean languagerequired
TOPIK and KIIP (사회통합프로그램) levels are scored identically. Take the higher of the two.
Annual income (year-end tax filing)required
Only income reported on your 종합소득세 or 연말정산 counts. Salary in your contract is not the same as filed income. Use what you actually filed last year.
Where was your degree earned?
Korean and "excellent overseas" universities (Times/QS top 200 or similar) get a small extra credit on top of your degree level. Skip if neither applies.
Additional bonuses (check all that apply)
These stack on top of the categories above.
Deductions (only if any apply)
Most users skip this section entirely.
Who F-2-7 actually fits
F-2-7 (officially 거주(점수제 우수인력)) is the visa for foreigners who've been in Korea on a work visa for a few years and want out of the sponsor-tied lifecycle. On E-7 you're bound to one employer. Lose the job and you have a 30 to 90 day countdown. F-2-7 removes that. You work where you want, freelance, or run your own business. Nobody sponsors you.
The catch is the 80-point bar. The scoring rewards being young, educated, Korean-speaking, and earning a reportable salary. If three of those four are clearly true for you, F-2-7 is realistic. If only one is, you're not there yet.
How the points actually add up
Use the calculator above for the exact total. The general shape:
Age maxes out at 25 points and you get those in your late 20s. Education tops at 25 for a STEM Ph.D., but most people end up with 15-20 for a bachelor's. Korean tops at 20 for TOPIK 5 or higher (or KIIP Level 5), and this is the easiest category to move with active effort. Income tops at 60 but only kicks in seriously at ₩40M+ annual filed income. Most teachers and entry-level employees sit at 10-30 here.
Bonuses add on top: Korean degree gets +5 to +10, an excellent overseas degree gets +15 to +30, completing KIIP Level 5 is +10 (separate from the Korean score), 3+ years of volunteer work is +7.
Deductions hurt when they apply. A single immigration fine of ₩3M or more wipes 30 points. Multiple violations can stack to -40 or worse. If you have a fine on your record, resolve and document it before applying. Don't assume immigration won't see it.
Eligibility outside the points
Points alone aren't enough. You also need:
- A qualifying current visa: E-1 through E-7, D-7, D-8, D-9, or D-10. Most ChatDa users come through E-7.
- At least 3 years of continuous Korean residence on the qualifying visa(s). Short trips abroad are fine. Long absences may reset the clock.
- Clean record. No convictions, no overstays, no immigration violations in the last 5 years (or already resolved with documentation in hand).
- Proof of income from last year's 종합소득세 or 연말정산. Salary in your contract doesn't count, only what you actually filed.
- No outstanding tax. Bring 납세증명서 (national) and 지방세 납세증명서 (local).
How the application actually moves
You apply at your local 출입국·외국인청 (Immigration Office), in person. HiKorea online intake handles the form but most offices still want originals dropped off in person for the financial proofs.
- Gather documents. Application form, passport + ARC, color photo, your current visa's end-of-year tax filing, 납세증명서, 지방세 납세증명서, TOPIK or KIIP certificate, degree + transcript (apostilled if overseas), career certificates from your Korean employers, bank balance certificate, residence certificate (주민등록등본 or 외국인등록사실증명).
- Print the self-scored points sheet. The official form is on hikorea.go.kr. Fill in your score with line-by-line evidence for each item. Bring matching documents for every point you claim.
- Book an immigration office slot. Most offices are by appointment via HiKorea's 사전예약 system. Slots fill 2-4 weeks ahead. Don't leave it to the day before your visa expires.
- Submit + fee. Application fee is ₩100,000 (subject to change). The officer may ask for additional docs or a follow-up interview.
- Wait. Standard processing is 2-4 weeks, sometimes longer at Seoul-area offices. Your current visa stays valid during review even if it expires.
- Pick up your new ARC. F-2-7 ARC reflects the new status. Initial stay is typically 1-3 years depending on your point total.
What changes after F-2-7
F-2-7 changes how you live in Korea on the practical side:
- You can work anywhere. No employer sponsorship. Freelance, register a business (개인사업자), or join a small startup that couldn't have sponsored E-7. All fine.
- Your spouse and minor kids can join on F-3 with simpler paperwork than they'd get under E-7. Spouse can apply for a separate work permit.
- Banking gets easier. Some banks that won't do jeonse loans for E-7 holders will consider F-2.
- Visa renewal stops being a yearly emergency. F-2 renews every 1-3 years and it's basically rubber-stamp unless you triggered something new (criminal record, long absences).
The next step is F-5 (permanent residence). Common path: F-2-7 for 2-3 years, then F-5. F-5 needs the points, TOPIK Level 3+ minimum, no annual income drop below the floor in the past 3 years, and a clean record through your F-2 years. Most people who get F-2-7 reach F-5 in 2-4 years if they hold the line on the points.
Frequently asked
I'm at 75 points. Should I apply and hope for the best?
No. Below 80, the application gets denied at document review. It doesn't even reach an officer's judgment. Better to spend 6-12 months closing the gap (one TOPIK level, a year of volunteer service, or more reported income) and apply once. A denial doesn't ban you from re-applying, but it does add a friction point on your record.
Does my Korean partner's income count toward my income points?
No. Only your own filed income on your year-end tax return. If you're on F-6 (marriage visa), F-2-7 isn't the right track anyway. F-6 already gives you sponsor-free work and a faster F-5 path. F-2-7 is for E-series and D-series holders.
I have TOPIK 4 but my listening is honestly weaker than the score suggests. Should I list it?
Yes, list it. The immigration officer takes the certificate at face value. They don't test you in person. The 15-point value of TOPIK 4 is non-negotiable on paper. The risk shows up later if you go for F-5, which has an interview component for borderline cases.
I got a ₩500K immigration fine 3 years ago for late ARC renewal. Disqualified?
No, but you take a -10 hit and the application gets extra scrutiny. Bring the 납부증명서 showing you paid it. If the fine was the only issue and you're close to 5 years past it, most officers are pragmatic about a one-time mistake.
Can I include freelance income I received into my home-country account?
Only if you filed it as Korean taxable income in your 종합소득세 last May. If it went into a foreign account and never touched your Korean tax return, it doesn't count for points. (It may still trigger separate tax questions, but that's a different issue.)
How long is F-2-7 valid after approval?
80-99 points gets you a 1-year initial stay. 100-129 gets 1-3 years. 130+ or very high income gets 3-5 years. Renewals are straightforward as long as your underlying points haven't collapsed (still employed at qualifying income, etc.).