Requirements and Required Documentsfor Changing from F-3-18(Dependent) to F-2-99(Other Long-term Residency)Visa

< Eligibility for F-2-99 Visa >

- Culture and Arts (D-1), Reporting (D-5), Religion (D-6), Resident (D-7), Trade Management (D-9), Arts & Entertainment (E-6-1, E-6-3), Teaching (E-1), Painting Instruction (E-2), Research (E-3), Technical Instruction (E-4), Professional Occupation (E-5), Specific Activities (E-7), Corporate Investment (D-8), Visiting & Living (F-1), Accompanying (F-3-18)

※ Corporate Investment (D-8) is limited to those with an investment amount of 100 million KRW or more at the time of application.

※ Visiting/Cohabiting (F-1) Limited to Taiwanese ethnic Chinese born in Korea who are not registered in their home country's family register

※ Limited to spouses of accompanying (F-3-18) or other long-term (F-2-99) residents

※ Restrictions on changing status of stay for holders of short-term visas, Other (G-1), or Tourist-Employment (H-1) visas, illegal immigrants, and those currently under an extension of stay or deferment of departure date for the purpose of leaving the country

< F-2-99 Visa Application Requirements >

Review Criteria for Extension of Period and Change of Status for Accompanying Family Members (F-3-18)

- In order for the spouse (F-3-18) of a holder of Other Long-term (F-2-99) status to be granted Other Long-term (F-2-99) status, the spouse themselves must meet the requirements for a change of status.

However, in the case of the livelihood maintenance ability requirement, the assessment shall be based on the livelihood maintenance ability requirement of the primary qualified person in accordance with the 'Guidelines for Examining Livelihood Maintenance Ability Requirements'.

1. Requirements for period of stay in Korea

- Must have continuously resided in the Republic of Korea for at least 5 years with a status of residence eligible for the above change of status

2. Place of Stay Requirements

- When comprehensively assessing factors such as area, number of rooms, and number of cohabiting family members, a place of residence suitable for normal long-term residence according to social norms must have been secured.

3. Requirements for Good Conduct

① If there is a history of being sentenced to imprisonment or a heavier penalty (including suspended sentences) within 5 years from the date of application (including cases of punishment by a foreign government)

② Among persons who have violated the Immigration Control Act three or more times within three years from the date of application, if the total amount of notice of disposition is 5 million won or more

③ In cases where a fine of 3 million won or more has been imposed for violating Korean laws (including the Immigration Control Act) within 3 years from the date of application

④ If false documents were submitted at the time of application or within the last 3 years from the date of application

⑤ Cases constituting grounds for entry ban

⑥ Cases where the head of a regional immigration office recognizes that there is a risk of harming the national security, maintenance of order, public welfare, or other interests of the Republic of Korea, such as cases where a crime has been committed.

⑦ A person who has been sentenced in a foreign country for specific violent crimes prescribed in Article 2 of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Specific Violent Crimes, or crimes related to intimidation, extortion, fraud, voice phishing, narcotics, or sexual violence, or who has been sentenced in a foreign country to imprisonment or a heavier penalty for other crimes and for whom five years have not elapsed since the date the execution of the sentence was completed or the date on which it was decided not to execute the sentence.

⑧ In cases where taxes, etc. stipulated in the "Integrated Guidelines for the Management of Residence of Foreigners with Tax Delinquency, etc." are overdue as of the application date

4. Ability to Support Oneself Requirement (The principal eligible person holding an F-2-99 visa must satisfy all of the following requirements)  

① Asset Requirements

- The applicant must own assets of 20 million won or more.

  Asset Type: All assets listed below will be aggregated for review.

- Financial assets convertible into cash, such as deposits, installment savings, and securities

※ Only financial assets such as deposits, savings accounts, and securities held continuously for at least 6 months as of the application date are recognized. Term insurance is not recognized as it cannot be converted into cash (refund-guaranteed insurance is recognized).

- Amount allocated by the asset owner for the ownership or lease of real estate

※ Only assets continuously held for at least 6 months as of the application date are recognized, and calculation is based on net assets excluding loan amounts.

② Annual income requirements

- Annual income of 40 million won or more based on the previous year

※ The combined income of a spouse is not recognized, and the review is based solely on the applicant's own annual income.

※ The review is based on the Certificate of Income issued by the tax office; if the Certificate of Income for the previous year cannot be issued, the Certificate of Income for the year before last will be used as the basis.

③ Sustaining economic activity

- As of the application date, must be continuing to engage in livelihood activities (employment or business operation, etc.) permitted under the status of residence at the time of application.

Assessment of livelihood ability requirements

① Regarding asset and annual income requirements, if the requirements for maintaining (extending) the applicant's existing status of residence are stricter than the requirements for changing status under these guidelines, the stricter standard shall apply.

※ (Example) In the case of changing status from Professional (E-7-1) to Other Long-term (F-2-99)

- In the case where the annual income required for an extension of stay under the "Guidelines for the Management of Stay for Specific Activities (E-7)" is 50 million KRW, which is the previous year's per capita GNI, and the annual income required for a change of status to Other Long-term (F-2-99) is 40 million KRW

- As the income requirements for the extension of the Specific Activities (E-7) period are stricter, the annual income requirements of the "Guidelines for the Management of Stay for Specific Activities (E-7)" apply.

② (Exemption from Review) Exemption from the review of the ability to maintain a livelihood in the following cases

Taiwanese Chinese born in Korea

- Persons with a religious (D-6) visa who have resided in Korea for more than 10 years and have received a recommendation from the head of a central administrative agency or a local government.

③ When an accompanying family member (spouse, F-3-18) of a holder of other long-term (F-2-99) status applies for a change of status, the eligibility of the principal holder for the ability to support themselves is reviewed.

※ Income cannot be combined even if a spouse or immediate family member shares the same household.

5. Basic Competency Requirements (Satisfy at least one of the following individual requirements)

① Completion of Level 4 or higher of the Social Integration Program organized by the Ministry of Justice

② Obtain a score of 81 or higher on the preliminary assessment for the Social Integration Program administered by the Ministry of Justice

③ Graduation from elementary, middle, and high school under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

④ Graduation from any one of the following: a university (industrial university, college of education, junior college, broadcasting or telecommunications university, cyber university, technical university) or graduate school (general graduate school, professional graduate school, specialized graduate school) under the Higher Education Act, or a vocational college under the Worker Vocational Competency Development Act.

⑤ Passing the middle or high school entrance qualification examination or the high school graduation equivalency examination prescribed in the Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

※ (Exemption from Screening) Exemption from the basic competency requirements screening in the following cases

- Persons confirmed to have previously submitted documents proving Korean language proficiency (provided they have proven Korean language proficiency equivalent to completing Level 4 or higher of the Social Integration Program)

- Taiwanese ethnic Chinese born in Korea or former South Korean citizens

< Basic Documents for F-2-99 Visa Application >

① Passport, Alien Registration Card, 1 standard-sized photograph, Integrated Application Form

② Statement of reasons for application for change or extension of residence status for long-term stay

③ Documents proving ability to support oneself

(Assets) Certificate of deposit balance, real estate lease agreement, certified copy of real estate register, etc.

(Income) Income verification documents issued by the tax office, such as a Certificate of Income Amount

(Other) Documents proving pension receipt, relevant supporting documents in case of non-taxable income

※ If you are unable to submit a Certificate of Income at the time of application, please submit all of the following documents.

Withholding tax receipt for earned income

- Proof of account in which the relevant income was deposited

- Pledge of Business Owner (Employer) and Business Owner (Employer) and Applicant

④ Documents proving continuation of economic activity

- (Employees) Employment contract, certificate of employment, business registration certificate, etc.

- (Business) Certificate of Incorporation, Investment Enterprise Registration Certificate, etc.

⑤ Documents proving basic competency requirements

- Documents proving Korean educational background: Graduation certificate from a Korean educational institution or GED certificate

- Supporting documents related to the Ministry of Justice Social Integration Program (Stage 5)

▸ Certificate of Completion for Social Integration Program (Korean Immigration Naturalization Eligibility Process)

▸ Social Integration Program Completion Certificate (Korea Immigration Permanent Residency Qualification Course)

▸ Certificate of Passing the Korean Immigration and Naturalization Eligibility Test (KINAT)

▸ Certificate of Passing the Korean Immigration Permanent Residency Qualification Examination (KIPRAT)

- Supporting documents related to the Ministry of Justice Social Integration Program (Level 4 and qualifications equivalent to Level 4)

▸ Social Integration Program Education Confirmation (Completion of Level 4 or higher education must be verified)

▸ Social Integration Program Korean Language and Culture Test (KLCT) Certificate of Pass

▸ Social Integration Program Pre-assessment Score Sheet (Applicable only to scores of 81 or higher)

⑥ Documents proving place of residence

- Lease agreement, etc.

※ If the lease is not in the applicant's name, additional submission of a Confirmation of Accommodation Provision and a copy of the accommodation provider's ID is required.

⑦ Original Overseas Criminal Record Certificate (issued within 6 months)

- Official verification required (Apostille or consular authentication required)

- Attach the translated version, translator's confirmation, and a copy of the translator's ID.

⑧ Tuberculosis diagnosis certificate (if applicable, valid for 3 months)

- Issued by public health centers and Ministry of Justice-designated hospitals

⑨ Foreigner Employment Report