If you’ve been living and working in South Korea for quite some time, and may have considered that you want to stay longer or permanently, you might want to apply for an F-2-7 visa. In this article, Ziptoss has given answers to some frequently asked questions in terms of applying for an F-2-7 visa in South Korea.
Korean Resident Visa Requirements
The F-2-7 visa is a point-based long-term resident visa valid for 5 years. Applicants must have lived in Korea for at least 3 years before applying for this visa and must obtain sufficient scores through the requirements based on annual income, age, educational background, Korean language proficiency, etc.
What do you need?
- Have an eligible visa status
Eligible visas: E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6, E-7, D-5, D-6,-D-7, D-8, D-9, and D-10 visas.
- E-6-2 and E-7-4 visas are excluded.
- D-2 and D-10 visa holders need to have a Master’s degree in South Korea.
Why should I apply for an F-2-7 visa?
- You can be eligible to apply for an F-5-16 visa(permanent residency visa) 3 years after having an F-2-7 visa.
- You no longer need any sponsorship. You can freely apply as a TV entertainer, have tutoring and receive the tuition fee, or even open your own business or company.
- Your spouse can also get a F-2-7 visa if you can meet the required income.
Is it easy to find a job with an F-2-7 visa in South Korea?
- Yes. It is much easier to get a secure job when you’re holding an F-2-7 visa. However some companies prefer to hire F-2 visa holders even if they need to pay more, because the process for your employer will be more difficult if you have an F-2-7 visa.
Is it easier to apply if I have more than enough points?
- Your application depends on the immigration officers, the points they see are different from the applicants. Also, Not all applicants with sufficient points are approved because of some reasons(such as documents not prepared correctly).
I have an original diploma on hand, do I need it?
- Yes, but you’ll need to have your original diploma translated into English and/or Korean. After having it translated, you’ll need to have it notarized.