📋 Fact-checked: 체류민원 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 (March 2026, p.364–370) — Ministry of Justice, Korea
The F-2-7 (점수제 우수인재 / Points-Based Skilled Talent) visa is Korea’s long-term residency visa for professional foreign workers. If you’re on an E-7 and thinking about staying in Korea long-term, F-2-7 is your next major milestone. It gives you significantly broader rights than your work visa, and it’s the established stepping stone toward permanent residency (F-5).
This guide explains the F-2-7 point system in full, who qualifies, and how to build your score strategically.
💡 Why F-2-7 matters — the key differences from E-7
On an E-7, you can only work at your sponsoring employer in your designated occupation. On F-2-7, you can work anywhere, in any field, for any employer — without sponsorship. You also have broader business rights, can operate a sole proprietorship, and are no longer dependent on an employer for your legal status. F-2-7 is a major shift in your position in Korea.
1. What F-2-7 Actually Gets You
| Right / Benefit | E-7 (current) | F-2-7 (target) |
|---|
| Work authorization | Only at sponsoring employer, designated occupation | ✅ Any employer, any field (with some restrictions) |
| Business / self-employment | ❌ Generally not permitted | ✅ Permitted (excluding restricted industries) |
| Employer dependency | Status tied to employer — lose job = immigration risk | ✅ Status independent of employer |
| Stay period | 1–3 years per issuance (tied to contract) | Up to 3 years per issuance, renewable |
| Path to F-5 | Indirect (accumulate points separately) | Direct — F-2-7 time counts toward F-5 eligibility |
| Family work rights | Spouse on F-3 cannot work without separate permit | Spouse may receive F-2-71 with work rights if income threshold met |
2. The 5 Eligibility Categories
📋 Source: 체류민원 자격별 안내 매뉴얼, March 2026, p.364–365
Category 1
Listed Company Employee (상장법인 종사자)
Employed at a KOSPI or KOSDAQ listed company in a management, professional, or specialist role. No minimum years required — applies from the start of employment at the listed company.
Category 2
Promising Industry (유망산업분야)
Working in IT, biotech, nanotechnology, new materials, energy, or other advanced industries designated by MOTIE. Income must be 1.5× per-capita GNI or above (≥ KRW 74,925,000 based on 2025 GNI).
Category 3 — Most Common
Professional Visa Holder (전문직 종사자)
Holding E-1 through E-7-1, D-5 through D-9 visa for 3+ continuous years in Korea. This is the primary route for most E-7 professionals. The 3-year requirement is waived if annual income ≥ KRW 40,000,000.
Category 4
Korean University Graduate (유학인재)
Obtained a master’s degree or higher from a Korean university and employed in a professional visa category (E-1 to E-7-1) within 5 years of graduation. Strong pathway for international graduates.
Category 5 — F-2-7S
Latent Talent (잠재적 우수인재)
Master’s or PhD from a designated STEM research university (KAIST, POSTECH, GIST, UNIST, and 22 government research institutes). No job offer required. University president’s recommendation needed.
Note
E-7-2, E-7-3, E-7-4 Excluded
Semi-professional (E-7-2), general skilled (E-7-3), and K-Point skilled workers (E-7-4) cannot apply for F-2-7 through the professional track. E-7-4 holders should pursue F-2 or F-5 via alternative routes.
📌 The 3-year waiver — most important exception
For Category 3 (professional visa holder), the 3-year continuous residence requirement is waived if your annual income from the most recent tax year is KRW 40,000,000 or above. This means E-7 professionals earning KRW 40M+ can apply for F-2-7 without waiting 3 years. This is the most significant shortcut in the system.
3. The Full Point Scoring System
📋 Source: 체류민원 자격별 안내 매뉴얼, March 2026, p.367–369
📊 The requirement: 80+ points out of 170 maximum
The four scoring categories total a maximum of 170 points. You need at least 80 to qualify. Points from bonuses and deductions are applied on top of the base score. A deduction can push you below 80 even if your base score qualifies.
① Age (나이) — Maximum 25 points
25–29 years old — peak age bracket
25 pts
② Education (학력) — Maximum 25 points
PhD — non-STEM / Master’s — STEM (2+ degrees)
20 pts
Master’s — STEM / Master’s — non-STEM (2+ degrees)
20 pts
Master’s — non-STEM / Bachelor’s — STEM (2+ degrees)
17 pts
Bachelor’s — STEM / Bachelor’s — non-STEM (2+ degrees)
17 pts
Bachelor’s — non-STEM
15 pts
Associate degree — STEM
15 pts
Associate degree — non-STEM
10 pts
Note: “2+ degrees” means holding 2 or more degrees at that level, regardless of field. Coursework completed without a degree does not count.
—
③ Korean Language Ability (기본소양) — Maximum 20 points
TOPIK 5–6 or KIIP Level 5 / 종합평가 pass
20 pts
TOPIK 4 or KIIP Level 4 / 중간평가 pass
15 pts
TOPIK 3 or KIIP Level 3
10 pts
TOPIK 2 or KIIP Level 2
5 pts
TOPIK 1 or KIIP Level 1
3 pts
No Korean qualification
0 pts
④ Annual Income (연간 소득) — Maximum 60 points
KRW 100,000,000 (1억원) or above
60 pts
KRW 90,000,000 – 99,999,999
58 pts
KRW 80,000,000 – 89,999,999
56 pts
KRW 70,000,000 – 79,999,999
53 pts
KRW 60,000,000 – 69,999,999
50 pts
KRW 50,000,000 – 59,999,999
45 pts
KRW 40,000,000 – 49,999,999
40 pts
KRW 30,000,000 – 39,999,999
30 pts
Minimum wage – KRW 29,999,999
10 pts
Below minimum wage or unemployed
0 pts
Income is verified by 소득금액증명서 issued by the National Tax Service — not your employment contract salary. If you haven’t filed Korean taxes or have deductible expenses, your taxable income may differ from your contract salary.
—
4. Bonus Points and Deductions
📋 Source: 체류민원 자격별 안내 매뉴얼, March 2026, p.369
Bonus points (가점) — Maximum 40 points
Korean War allied nation national + government ministry recommendation (참전국 우수인재+추천)
+40 pts
Korean War allied nation national only
+20 pts
Central government ministry recommendation
+20 pts
KIIP Level 5 completion (사회통합프로그램 5단계 이수)
+10 pts
Top global university graduate — overseas (THE top 200 / QS top 500)
+PhD 30 / Master’s 10 / Bachelor’s 7
Korean university graduate
+PhD 20 / Master’s 15 / Bachelor’s 5
Domestic volunteer service — 3+ years continuous, 50+ hours/year, via 1365 or VMS portal
+7 pts
Domestic volunteer service — 2–3 years
+5 pts
Domestic volunteer service — 1–2 years
+1 pt
Only the highest applicable bonus is counted per category — you cannot stack multiple university degree bonuses. Korean university + overseas top university: take the higher value only.
—
Deductions (감점) — Maximum -70 points
Forced deportation (강제퇴거) within 5 years
-30 pts
Departure order (출국명령) within 5 years
-20 pts
Immigration violation fine KRW 3M or above within 3 years
-10 pts
Criminal fine KRW 3M or above within 3 years
-40 pts
Criminal fine KRW 2M–3M within 3 years
-30 pts
Criminal fine KRW 1M–2M within 3 years
-20 pts
⚠️ A criminal fine of KRW 3M+ within 3 years is also a disqualification ground regardless of total score.
—
5. Required Documents
📋 Source: 체류민원 자격별 안내 매뉴얼, March 2026, p.370
| Document | Notes |
|---|
| Application form (통합신청서, 별지 34호) | Download from HiKorea — use the current version |
| Passport + ARC + photo + fee | Standard identification documents |
| Residence proof (체류지 입증서류) | Lease contract, utility bill, or equivalent |
| Employment contract (고용계약서) | Current employer |
| Overseas criminal record (해외범죄경력증명서) | Required if you lived abroad for 6+ months continuously. Exempt if you’ve been continuously in Korea without extended overseas stays. |
| F-2-7 points self-assessment form (점수표) | Official form from immigration — fill in your claimed points per category |
| Supporting documents for each claimed point | Degree certificates, TOPIK score, 소득금액증명서 (from NTS), employer certificates, university ranking proof, volunteer records, etc. |
| Tuberculosis test certificate | Required for nationals of high-risk TB countries — check the current list at hikorea.go.kr |
📌 The income document is critical — and often misunderstood
The score uses your 소득금액증명서 (income amount certificate) from the National Tax Service — not your employment contract salary figure. This document shows your taxable income after deductions. If you have significant tax deductions (dependents, medical, education), your taxable income may be considerably lower than your gross salary. Check your 소득금액증명서 before calculating your income score.
6. How to Build Your Score Strategically
Most professional foreigners on E-7 can realistically hit 80 points. Here’s how the math typically works:
| Typical profile | Score breakdown | Total |
|---|
| Age 30, Bachelor’s (non-STEM), KRW 45M income, TOPIK 3 |
Age: 23 + Education: 15 + Korean: 10 + Income: 40 |
88 pts ✅ |
| Age 35, Master’s (non-STEM), KRW 50M income, TOPIK 2 |
Age: 20 + Education: 17 + Korean: 5 + Income: 45 |
87 pts ✅ |
| Age 42, Bachelor’s (non-STEM), KRW 40M income, no TOPIK |
Age: 12 + Education: 15 + Korean: 0 + Income: 40 |
67 pts ❌ — needs KIIP or higher income |
| Age 42, Bachelor’s (non-STEM), KRW 40M income, TOPIK 3 |
Age: 12 + Education: 15 + Korean: 10 + Income: 40 |
77 pts — add volunteer bonus: 82 pts ✅ |
The 3 highest-ROI score improvements
✅ 1. Earn TOPIK 3 or higher — up to 10 points, permanent
Korean language scores don’t expire on F-2-7 the way they do on some visa types (TOPIK scores themselves expire after 2 years, but if you renew them they still count). TOPIK 3 gives you 10 points at moderate study effort. TOPIK 4 gives 15 — meaningful for borderline applicants.
✅ 2. Do 50+ hours of registered volunteer work — up to 7 points
1365 volunteer portal (1365.go.kr) is the official registration system. You need minimum 6 sessions per year, 50+ hours total per year, over at least 2 years for 5 points or 3+ years for 7 points. This is genuinely obtainable if you plan ahead early — it cannot be rushed.
✅ 3. Check your income against the 3-year waiver threshold
If your taxable income (not gross salary) exceeds KRW 40M, you qualify for the 3-year waiver under Category 3. This means you can apply after 1–2 years in Korea rather than waiting 3 years — especially valuable if you’re in your 30s and every year you age costs points.
7. What Happens to Your Family
| Family member | F-2-7 holder’s income | Status granted | Work rights |
|---|
| Spouse |
≥ GNI per capita (KRW 49.95M for E-7 holders) |
F-2-71 (long-term residency family) |
✅ Full work authorization |
| Spouse |
Below GNI per capita |
F-1 (Visit/Stay) |
❌ No work rights (with limited exceptions for E-2, E-7 teaching roles) |
| Minor children (under 18) |
Any income level |
F-2-71 |
N/A (minors) |
| Children born in Korea to F-2-7S holder |
Regardless of income |
F-2-71 for 5 years from parent’s first status change |
N/A |
8. F-2-7 → F-5: The Long-Term Roadmap
E-7 Work Visa (years 1–3+)
Build Korean work history. Earn TOPIK 3+ (10 pts for F-2-7). Accumulate volunteer hours (1365 portal). Ensure your taxable income is documented correctly. If income ≥ KRW 40M, you can skip the 3-year wait for F-2-7.
F-2-7 Long-Term Residency
Apply once you meet the 80-point threshold and eligibility category. Valid up to 3 years per issuance. Work for any employer in any field. F-2-7 time counts toward F-5 eligibility.
F-5 Permanent Residency (영주권)
Requires: 5 years legal residence in Korea (including time on E-7 + F-2-7), TOPIK 3+ or KIIP Level 5 (which also waives the F-5 immigration interview), annual income ≥ GNI, and passing the 종합평가 if no KIIP Level 5. F-5 is essentially lifelong status.
Naturalization (귀화) — Optional
After F-5, you may apply for Korean citizenship (귀화) if you choose. Not required — F-5 is a full long-term status without citizenship. Naturalization requires renouncing your original citizenship (Korea does not generally allow dual nationality for naturalized citizens).
9. Common Questions
Q: I’m on E-7-4 (K-Point). Can I apply for F-2-7?
Not through the standard professional track. E-7-2, E-7-3, and E-7-4 are explicitly excluded from the professional visa holder category. However, you may be able to apply for F-2 through other routes (e.g., if you’ve been in Korea for 5+ years continuously). Consult with a licensed immigration specialist (행정사) for your specific situation.
Q: Can I apply while still outside the 3-year residency requirement?
Yes — if your taxable income is KRW 40M or above, the 3-year requirement is waived entirely. You can apply from the beginning of your employment if you meet the income threshold and score 80+ points.
Q: Does the 3-year period need to be continuous?
Yes — 3 continuous years on a qualifying professional visa. Short overseas trips of under 90 days typically don’t break continuity, but extended stays abroad (90+ days in one trip) may reset the clock. Confirm with your immigration office if you have significant overseas travel history.
Q: I have a master’s from a Korean university. Does that help?
Yes — significantly. A Korean master’s degree gives you: (1) a bonus of +15 points in the bonus category, (2) access to Category 4 eligibility (Korean university graduate track) if you’re employed in a professional visa category within 5 years of graduation, and (3) potentially a stronger base education score (17 points for master’s non-STEM, or 20 for master’s STEM).
Q: What if I don’t have TOPIK at all?
You can still qualify — but it’s harder. With 0 Korean language points, you need 80+ from the other three categories. That typically requires a combination of higher income (45+ points), younger age (20+ points), and higher education (15+ points). Earning even TOPIK 1 (3 points) or TOPIK 2 (5 points) adds meaningful flexibility.
✅ F-2-7 checklist — before you apply
- ☐ Confirm which of the 5 eligibility categories applies to you
- ☐ Check your 소득금액증명서 (NTS income certificate) — not your contract salary
- ☐ Calculate your estimated score using the tables above
- ☐ Check bonus and deduction items
- ☐ Prepare your 점수표 (self-assessment form) from HiKorea
- ☐ Gather supporting documents for each claimed category
- ☐ Check overseas criminal record requirement (if you lived abroad 6+ months)
- ☐ Book an appointment at your local immigration office
Related: E-7 Visa Complete Guide →
Related: TOPIK vs KIIP: Which Helps Your Visa More? →
Related: Complete Guide: Working in Korea as a Foreigner →
Disclaimer: All point scores, eligibility categories, and requirements are based on the 체류민원 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 (March 2026, p.364–370). F-2-7 requirements, category definitions, and income thresholds are updated periodically by the Ministry of Justice. Always verify current requirements at
hikorea.go.kr or with a licensed immigration specialist (행정사) before applying. This guide does not constitute legal advice.