The F-2-R (지역특화형 비자 / Regional Specialization Visa) is one of the most accessible paths to long-term residency in Korea — but with a significant catch: you must live and work in a designated population-declining region, not Seoul or the major metros. For international students who graduated from a Korean university, it’s arguably easier to obtain than F-2-7. For everyone else, it requires planning.
📑 In this guide
F-2-R gives you 5-year long-term residency without needing 80 points like F-2-7 — but in exchange, you must live and work in one of 107 designated population-declining regions (not Seoul, not Gyeonggi, not Incheon) for the full 5 years. If you graduated from a Korean university, the income requirement is waived entirely.
1. What F-2-R Is — and Why It Exists
Korea has a severe population decline problem in its rural and secondary cities. The government created F-2-R to incentivize foreign talent to settle in these areas rather than concentrating in Seoul. In return for committing to 5 years in a designated region, you receive long-term F-2 residency without needing the complex F-2-7 point system.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa type | F-2 (Residence) — subcategory R (Regional Specialization) |
| Stay period | Up to 5 years per issuance |
| Work rights | Full work rights — any employer in the designated region, any occupation (with exceptions) |
| Geographic restriction | Must reside AND work in designated population-declining region. Cannot freely move to Seoul or Gyeonggi. |
| Family | Spouse and children can accompany on F-3 (dependent) visa |
| Path to PR | After 5 years maintaining F-2-R conditions → eligible for F-5 permanent residency |
| Introduction year | 2023 (pilot program) → expanded and formalized through 2025-2026 |
2. The Two Eligibility Paths
- Graduated from a Korean university with at least an Associate Degree (전문학사 이상)
- Income requirement waived — no minimum salary needed
- D-2 students approaching graduation are prime candidates
- Must still meet TOPIK and residency requirements
- Must still get local government recommendation
- Did not graduate from a Korean university
- Must demonstrate annual income ≥ 70% of GNI
- Based on 2025 GNI (KRW 52,416,000): requires ≈ KRW 36,700,000/year
- Income can be demonstrated via employment contract if no past Korea income history
- Must meet TOPIK and residency requirements
3. Full Requirements
Universal requirements (both paths)
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Geographic location | Must be living and employed in one of the 107 designated population-declining regions. Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon (수도권) are excluded. |
| Employer location | Your employer must be registered and operating within the designated region. Remote work for a Seoul company while living in a designated region does not qualify. |
| Local government recommendation | Mandatory. You must receive a recommendation letter from the local city or county government (시청/군청) of the designated region. Each local government has its own quota — check availability before planning your application. |
| Korean language | TOPIK Level 4 or higher (or KIIP Stage 4+). Level 3 was previously accepted but the requirement was raised. See Section 5. |
| Legal status | Must be legally residing in Korea at time of application. Certain visa types are excluded — see below. |
| Character requirements | No convictions for violent crimes, no convictions with imprisonment sentence (domestic or foreign within 5 years), not subject to visa restriction orders |
Visa types excluded from F-2-R eligibility
Holders of the following visas cannot apply for F-2-R, even if they meet all other conditions:
Also excluded: D-10 holders whose immediately prior visa was one of the above types.
4. The 107 Target Regions
The 107 designated population-declining regions (인구감소지역) are spread across Korea’s non-metropolitan areas. They are officially designated by the Ministry of the Interior based on population trend data and are reviewed periodically.
| Region type | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Excluded entirely | Seoul (서울), Gyeonggi Province (경기도), Incheon (인천) — the capital metro area |
| Included regions | Counties and cities in Gangwon, North/South Chungcheong, North/South Gyeongsang, North/South Jeolla, Jeju, and parts of Busan, Daegu, Ulsan — specifically the districts designated as population-declining areas |
| How to check your specific area | Contact the local city or county office (시청/군청) directly, or check the official list at the Ministry of the Interior (행정안전부) website |
| Important note | Not all areas outside Seoul qualify — only officially designated areas. A company in Busan’s Haeundae district may not qualify, while Busan’s outer districts might. Verify with the local government. |
5. Korean Language Requirements
| Certification | Required level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TOPIK | Level 4 or higher | Previously Level 3 — requirement raised from 2025. TOPIK scores expire after 2 years; ensure your score is current at the time of application. |
| KIIP (사회통합프로그램) | Stage 4 or higher | KIIP Stage 5 completion gives bonus and waives the F-5 immigration interview. If you’re planning F-2-R → F-5, KIIP Stage 5 is strongly recommended over TOPIK. |
6. F-2-R vs F-2-7: Which Is Better for You?
7. How to Apply
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1
Confirm your target region qualifies and has available quota
Contact the city or county office (시청/군청) where you plan to live and work. Ask: (1) Is this area a designated F-2-R target region? (2) Is there quota remaining for this year? (3) What additional requirements does the local government have beyond the national standard? Do this before making any relocation or employment decisions.
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2
Secure employment in the target region
Your employer must be registered in the designated region. Get a formal employment contract — for Path B applicants without Korean income history, this contract serves as proof of anticipated income. The employment contract is a required document for the local government recommendation.
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3
Apply for the local government recommendation (시장/군수 추천서)
This is the most important step. Visit the city or county office and submit your application for the recommendation letter. Each local government has its own additional requirements, processing times, and quota limits. Check the local government’s website or call the immigration/foreigners affairs desk directly.
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4
Prepare full document package
Standard documents: visa application form (통합신청서), passport + ARC, one photo, fee, local government recommendation letter, employment contract, degree certificate (apostilled if overseas), TOPIK/KIIP score certificate, health insurance proof, and any local government-specific additional documents.
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5
Submit application at the local immigration office
Submit at the immigration office covering your target region — not Seoul Immigration if you’re applying from a regional city. Processing time is typically 2–4 weeks. Use HiKorea to book an appointment in advance.
8. After Getting F-2-R: What You Must Maintain
| Requirement | Consequence of violation |
|---|---|
| Must reside in the designated region | Moving to Seoul or another non-designated area = visa revocation |
| Must remain employed in the designated region | Quitting without finding new employment in the same region triggers a grace period — do not let employment lapse |
| Job changes | Can change employers — but new employer must be in the same designated region. For the first 2 years, must also remain in the same industry. After 2 years: can change industry within the same region. |
| Entrepreneurship change | After 2 years, can switch from employment to entrepreneurship within the same metropolitan city/province — but must stay in the originally permitted industry. |
9. Path to F-5 Permanent Residency
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Residency period | 5 years of continuous legal residence in Korea (F-2-R period counts in full) |
| Income at time of F-5 application | Annual income ≥ 1× per-capita GNI (KRW 52,416,000 based on 2025 GNI) |
| Korean language | TOPIK 3 minimum for F-5 application — but KIIP Level 5 waives the F-5 immigration interview entirely |
| 5-year maintenance requirement | Must have maintained the F-2-R regional residency and employment conditions throughout the full 5 years. Any violation during this period affects F-5 eligibility. |
| Geographic restriction for F-5 | F-5 permanent residency has NO geographic restriction — once you have F-5, you can live anywhere in Korea including Seoul. |
The F-2-R → F-5 pathway is the main long-term attraction of this visa: commit 5 years to a regional city, and you get permanent residency with no location restrictions afterward.
10. Common Questions
- 5-year long-term residency without the F-2-7 point system
- Must live AND work in one of 107 designated population-declining regions
- Korean university graduates: income requirement waived
- Others: need ≈ KRW 36.7M/year (70% of 2025 GNI)
- TOPIK Level 4 (or KIIP Stage 4) required
- Local government recommendation is mandatory — check quota first
- After 5 years: eligible for F-5 with no location restriction
- Job change: same region mandatory, same industry for first 2 years
Related: F-2-7 Long-Term Residency: The Point System Route →
Related: TOPIK vs KIIP: The Fastest Path to Level 4 →
Related: E-7 Visa: The Professional Work Visa Alternative →