F-2-7 Points-Based Long-Term Residency Korea: Complete Guide 2026

F-2-7 (Points-Based Long-Term Residency) is Korea's comprehensive points system for granting long-term residency to qualified foreign nationals. Score 80 points or above on the Ministry of Justice's scoring table and you qualify.

Unlike employment visas (E-series), F-2-7 is not tied to an employer or occupation. It gives you full freedom to work, change jobs, start a business, and build a stable life in Korea — without needing a sponsor.

Table of Contents

• 1. What Is F-2-7? — The Points-Based Residency System
• 2. Scoring Table — Standard Categories (Up to 130 Points)
• 3. Scoring Table — Bonus Points (Up to 40 Points)
• 4. Scoring Table — Deduction Items (Up to -70 Points)
• 5. Practical Strategies to Boost Your Score
• 6. Who Can Apply — and Who Cannot
• 7. Required Documents
• 8. Application Procedure
• 9. From F-2-7 to F-5 Permanent Residency
• 10. Frequently Asked Questions
• 11. Consultation

1. What Is F-2-7? — The Points-Based Residency System {#section-1}

F-2-7 is a sub-category of the F-2 (Residence) status under Korea's Immigration Act. The Ministry of Justice evaluates applicants against a published scoring table, and those reaching 80 points or above receive long-term residency authorization.

Core benefits of F-2-7:

• No employer or occupation restrictions — full employment freedom
• Can start and run a business
• No need to re-apply when changing jobs
• Stay period: 1 year initially, extendable up to 3 years per renewal
• Main pathway into F-5 permanent residency for long-term professionals

2. Scoring Table — Standard Categories (Up to 130 Points) {#section-2}

Age (Up to 25 Points)

Education (Up to 35 Points)

Korean Language Proficiency (Up to 20 Points)

TOPIK scores can be substituted with Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) completion points.

Income (Up to 60 Points)

Income is measured as a multiple of Korea's GNI (Gross National Income) per capita.

2026 reference GNI: approximately ₩43 million (adjusted annually).

3. Scoring Table — Bonus Points (Up to 40 Points) {#section-3}

Bonus points add on top of the standard categories:

4. Scoring Table — Deduction Items (Up to -70 Points) {#section-4}

Immigration violations or compliance failures reduce your score:

A clean compliance record is as important as a high positive score. Applicants with serious violations may be disqualified even if they would otherwise achieve 80 points.

5. Practical Strategies to Boost Your Score {#section-5}

Fastest Score Improvements

Korean language (TOPIK): Moving from Level 3 to Level 4 adds 4 points; Level 4 to 5 adds 4 more. TOPIK is the most accessible way to quickly improve your score with focused preparation.

Income: At 60 points maximum, income is the highest-weighted item. GNI 2× = 40 points; GNI 3× = 50 points. Salary negotiation, switching to a higher-paying role, or documenting all income sources (including freelance) can push your score significantly.

Korean professional certifications: Passing a state-administered exam like the National Real Estate Agent License, Professional Engineer certification, or IT certification adds 5–15 bonus points.

If You're Below 80 Points

Identify your lowest-scoring items and address them strategically. Common paths: study for TOPIK (6 months), negotiate a salary increase, or accumulate one more year of domestic work experience for the bonus. Check carefully for any deduction items before applying.

6. Who Can Apply — and Who Cannot {#section-6}

Who Can Apply

• Foreign nationals currently in Korea with valid legal status
• Applying within their current visa's validity period
• Score of 80+ on the F-2-7 points table

Who Cannot Apply

• Non-professional workers on E-9 or H-2 visas (separate upgrade pathways apply)
• Those with a history of illegal stay (heavy deductions make 80 pts very difficult)
• Short-term visitors (B-2 tourist, C-3 short visit) — cannot change to long-term status from these

7. Required Documents {#section-7}

Core Documents

Supporting Evidence by Category

8. Application Procedure {#section-8}

1. Calculate your score — use the official F-2-7 scoring table
2. Gather evidence — collect supporting documents for all claimed point categories
3. Apply online via Hi Korea (hikorea.go.kr) or visit your local immigration office
4. Review period — typically 2–4 weeks; document supplement requests are common
5. Decision — F-2-7 status granted; new alien registration card issued

9. From F-2-7 to F-5 Permanent Residency {#section-9}

After maintaining F-2-7 for 3+ years, you become eligible for F-5-16 (points-based permanent residency).

F-2-7 → F-5 is the primary route for long-term working professionals without Korean ancestry who want permanent residency.

10. Frequently Asked Questions {#section-10}

Q. Can I change from E-7 directly to F-2-7? A. Yes. If you score 80+ while on E-7 status, you can apply to change your status to F-2-7. Once on F-2-7, you're free from employer and occupation restrictions.

Q. My spouse has no income. Can they apply for F-2-7 separately? A. Yes, if they score 80+ on the other categories (age, education, Korean language, bonus points). The income category simply contributes zero if there's no income. Some shared household income may be considered, but confirm with the immigration office in advance.

Q. Can I hit 80 points without taking TOPIK? A. Yes, if your income and education scores are strong enough. A PhD + GNI 3× income alone yields 35 + 50 = 85 points without any Korean language score. That said, preparing for TOPIK is insurance — every point matters for edge cases.

Q. Do I need to re-score 80 points at every extension? A. Yes. The points are re-evaluated at each renewal. If your circumstances have changed (lower income, TOPIK expiry, etc.), recalculate before applying to confirm you still qualify.

Q. What's the difference between F-2-7 and F-4 (Overseas Korean)? A. F-4 requires Korean ancestry (parents or grandparents held Korean citizenship). F-2-7 is open to all nationalities based on points, regardless of ancestry. The activity scope is similar, but F-4 has a simpler path to permanent residency (F-4 → F-5-7, just 2 years of domestic residence).

11. Consultation {#section-11}

The most common pitfalls in F-2-7 applications are incorrect point calculations and missing income documentation. Deduction items that applicants overlook can push a borderline 83-point application below the threshold.

Vision Administrative Office provides F-2-7 score calculation, document preparation, and full application support.

Free consultation: 02-363-2251