F-5-9 Advanced Technology PhD
Permanent residency for doctoral degree holders in advanced technology fields
Overview
F-5-9 is a permanent residency status available to foreigners who have obtained a doctoral degree in advanced technology fields (IT, bio, nano, etc.) in Korea or abroad and are currently working in related fields in Korea. As a special pathway to attract top talent, residence period requirements are more relaxed than for general permanent residency.
Target Applicants
- PhD holders in IT, bio, nano, and other advanced technology fields
- Foreigners working at research institutions or companies in Korea in related fields
- Foreigners who obtained a doctoral degree in advanced fields from a Korean university
Eligibility
- 1Doctoral degree in an advanced technology field
- 2Currently working in a related field in Korea (research, education, industry)
- 3Meet income requirements
- 4No criminal record
Required Documents
- Permanent residency application form
- Passport and alien registration card
- Doctoral degree certificate
- Employment certificate (research institution/company)
- Income certificate
- Tax payment certificate
- Criminal background check
Process
Processing Time: Approximately 2-4 months
1
Eligibility Check
Verify advanced field doctoral degree and current field of work
2
Document Preparation
Prepare degree, employment, and income documents
3
PR Application
Apply for F-5-9 at the immigration office
4
Review & Issuance
Permanent residency issued after review
Important Notes
- •Whether a field qualifies as 'advanced technology' must be confirmed by relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Science and ICT.
- •Residence period requirements are more relaxed than for general permanent residency (F-5-1).