F-2-REmployment

Region-Specific

Overview
SummaryPromote settlement of foreigners staying in Korea in population-decreasing regions to actively respond to regional extinction problem Promote visa policy enabling foreigners and residents to participate in sustainable development of local communities Induce foreign settlement suitable for region-specific specialized industries, universities, employment status, etc., of population-decreasing regions to realize virtuous cycle structure of local government living population expansion, economic activity promotion, population inflow, etc.
Additional Details
Employment Permitted
Dependents Allowed
Eligibility Requirements
  • Must simultaneously meet local government individual requirements and requirements such as education/income, residence, Korean language ability, legal compliance designated by Ministry of Justice
  • A. Education/Income (sufficient to meet only one of two requirements)

    1) Education

    Domestic associate degree or higher degree holders; 2-year junior college or higher graduates or expected graduates

    Need to prove expected graduation within 6 months from application date (submit document in university president or department head's name); submit degree and other documents at initial stay period extension

    2) Income

    (Income subject) Recognize only applicant's (own) income

    (Income amount criteria) 70% or more of previous year's per capita gross national income (GNI) as of application date

  • B. Residence

    (Principle) Continue residing within recommended region

    (Exception) For local governments permitted by Ministry of Justice as recognized as needing to set residence or employment/startup regions differently, can apply below types (however, must reside in population-decreasing region within 3 years)

    Type A: Reside in recommended region and can work in same metropolitan region

    Type B: Reside with family in recommended region and can work in metropolitan region

    Type C: Reside in metropolitan region and work in recommended region

    Type D: Reside in metropolitan region and start business in recommended region

    (Local governments permitting types A, B, C, D) Jeonbuk, Gyeongbuk, Busan

    (Local governments permitting types A, B) Daegu, Gyeongnam

  • C. Employment/Startup (sufficient to meet only one of two requirements)

    (Industry) Employed (employment confirmed) or started business in industry designated by Ministry of Justice upon local government request as of application date

    (Region) Workplace and started business located within recommended region

    Residence and workplace location must be in same region (basic local government)

    (Employment contract) Salary on contract must be 70% or more of previous year's per capita gross national income (GNI)

    (Startup) Investment amount 200 million won or more

    (Period) Must be employed/started business in recommended region for first 2 years from permission date; can be employed/started business in business region within relevant metropolitan local government (region-specific visa business region within same metropolitan local government) after 2 years

  • D. Basic qualities (sufficient to meet only one)

    Complete Social Integration Program level 3 or higher or assigned level 4 or higher in pre-evaluation

    Obtain Korean Language Proficiency Test (TOPIK) level 3 or higher

Required Documents
  • Integrated application form, passport, photo
  • Alien registration card
  • Education documents (academic certificate, degree, graduation certificate, expected graduation certificate, etc.)
  • Income documents: Income amount certificate and other public documents issued by tax office
  • Residence documents (real estate lease contract, real estate register, etc.)
  • Economic activity documents: (Employees) Employment contract, certificate of employment, business registration, corporate register, etc.; (Startup founders) Investment amount documents, business registration, corporate register, etc.)
  • Overseas criminal record certificate (apply permanent residence guideline criminal record certificate regulations)
  • Basic qualities requirement documents: Social Integration Program level 3 or higher completion certificate or pre-evaluation level 4 or higher assignment confirmation; Korean Language Proficiency Test (TOPIK) level 3 or higher score sheet
  • Local government head recommendation (within 3 months from issue date)
  • School president recommendation
For more details, please visit the HiKorea website or contact the Korea Immigration Contact Center (1345).
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Visa Information