How Long to Get an F-5 Visa? 4 Permanent Residency Pathways for International Students.

Science & Engineering Master's · PhD (K-STAR participating university)

K-STAR Residency (F-2-7S)

3 Years of Stay

About 3 years

Professional Job Secured Around Graduation

Points-Based Residency (F-2-7) Direct route (Master's degree or higher) or Specific Activity (E-7-1)

F-2-7 status — 3 years of stay

About 3~4 years

Still Job Hunting

Job-Seeking (D-10)

E-7 Full-Time Employment — 3 years of work

About 4 years

Wants to Settle in a Population-Declining Region

Region-Specific Residency (F-2-R)

F-2 status — 5 years of stay

About 5 years

Path ① If You Hold a Science & Engineering Master's · PhD Degree, K-STAR Visa Track

K-STAR is a program involving 32 universities selected by the Ministry of Justice, where university presidents recommend talented Science & Engineering Master's·PhD international students with outstanding research capabilities. Regardless of employment status, it first grants a Residency (F-2-7S) visa, allowing a stay of up to 5 years with no income requirement.

F-2-7S status allows you to stay 3 years, and once you meet research-performance-based point requirements, you apply for Permanent Residency (F-5). Among the four paths, this is the fastest way to reach permanent residency.

Path ② Your Job Is Already Secured, the Goal Is F-2-7

If you have a Master's degree or higher, you can switch directly to Points-Based Residency right at graduation (F-2-7) status. This applies if you earned a regular Master's degree in Korea, and your combined time on Student·Job-Seeking visas totals 3 years or more, with a professional job already secured. The points-system requires 80 points or more, and having a Korean Master's degree adds bonus points.

If you only have a Bachelor's degree, you first work on a Specific Activity visa (E-7-1). E-7-1 holders must normally switch to F-2-7 only after working 3 years, but if your annual income reaches 40 million won or more, that 3-year requirement is waived. In other words, once your income qualifies, an earlier switch becomes possible — as early as around year 1 of your stay. If your income falls short of this, you can instead stay on E-7 status and, after completing 3 years, follow Path ③ by applying directly for Permanent Residency (F-5).

F-2-7 status has a major advantage: it isn't tied to a specific employer, so switching jobs freely is possible. F-2-7 status for 3 years leads you to apply for Permanent Residency (F-5).

Path ③ If You Haven't Found a Job Yet, D-10 to E-7 Transition

If your job isn't secured by graduation, you can switch to a Job-Seeking (D-10) visa and continue your job search for about 1 year. With permission, you can also build experience through internships or part-time work.

After that, on an E-7 visa, working a regular·full-time job for 3 years continuously, you apply for Permanent Residency (F-5). If you're on a fixed-term contract or have long gaps in employment, there's a risk the 3-year requirement won't be recognized, so plan job changes carefully to avoid creating gaps.

 Path ④ If You Want to Settle in the Regions, Region-Specific F-2-R

Region-Specific Residency (F-2-R) is a path that starts right after graduation with a residency visa recommended by a metropolitan/provincial governor. The basic requirements are income at or above the living wage and TOPIK 3 or higher.

In return, you're required to live in a population-declining region for 5 years. F-2 status for 5 years of stay leads to applying for Permanent Residency (F-5). It's the longest path, but a stable option if you plan to settle in the region.