Country guide
How to Migrate to South Korea
Chances are you have followed South Korea for a while, and now you want to know if it wants you too. South Korea has moved from a closed labour market to one actively courting skilled migrants, pushed by one of the world's lowest birth rates and a fast-ageing population.
3 to 5 years
To permanent residence
Why South Korea?
- Main language
- Korean
- Avg. salary
- ₩40M to ₩70M/year
- PR timeline
- 3 to 5 years
- Currency
- South Korean Won (KRW)
- Korea pairs world-class infrastructure, near-universal fast internet, excellent affordable healthcare and low violent crime with a labour shortage the government is now scrambling to fill.
- Salaries have risen sharply in tech, engineering and shipbuilding, while the cost of living outside central Seoul stays reasonable.
- For software engineers, semiconductor and battery specialists, healthcare workers, researchers and skilled trades, demand is real and employer sponsorship is common.
- The trade-offs are a demanding language, long working hours in some sectors, and a bureaucracy that rewards documentation and patience.
- For many, the payoff is a stable, high-tech base in East Asia with a clear PR route.
Visa routes
E-7 (Foreign National of Special Ability)
- Best for
- Professionals, engineers, managers and specialists with a job offer
- Timeline
- 2 to 4 weeks after Confirmation of Visa Issuance
The core professional work visa, covering a list of designated occupations. Requires a relevant degree (or equivalent experience) and a sponsoring Korean employer. E-7-4 is the points-based subcategory that lets long-term E-9 workers upgrade to skilled status.
E-9 (Non-Professional Employment / EPS)
- Best for
- Manufacturing, agriculture, fishing and construction workers from EPS partner countries
- Timeline
- Varies by country quota and EPS-TOPIK schedule
Runs through the Employment Permit System with 18 partner countries (as of 2026). Requires passing the EPS-TOPIK Korean test and being selected from the roster. Good workers can later transition to the skilled E-7-4 route.
F-2-7 Points-based residence / Top-Tier visa
- Best for
- High earners and highly-skilled professionals wanting long-term residence
- Timeline
- 1 to 3 months
The F-2-7 points-based residence visa scores income, age, education and Korean ability. Since April 2025 the separate Top-Tier visa grants F-2 residence directly to elite talent (for example, an advanced degree from a top-ranked university, 8+ years' experience and a very high income). Grants freedom to change jobs and is a direct stepping stone to PR.
D-8 / D-9 Business & Investment
- Best for
- Founders, corporate investors and intra-company transferees
- Timeline
- 1 to 3 months
D-8 covers corporate investment and start-ups (the Oasis start-up track can lower capital thresholds via points); D-9 covers trade and independent business. Typically requires meaningful capital and a viable Korea-based business.
F-1-D Digital Nomad (Workation)
- Best for
- Remote employees and freelancers working for overseas firms
- Timeline
- 2 to 4 weeks
Piloted from 2024 and made permanent in June 2026. Requires at least one year with an overseas employer, annual income of one to two times Korea's per-capita GNI depending on age and region (per-capita GNI was about ₩52M for 2025), and private health insurance. Stay of up to three years.
Step by step
- 1
Secure a job offer with a sponsoring employer
Most Korean work visas are employer-sponsored. Target firms hiring internationally in tech, semiconductors, batteries, shipbuilding, research and English teaching via LinkedIn, JobKorea, Saramin and Wanted.
- 2
Employer files your Confirmation of Visa Issuance (CoVI)
Your employer applies to the Korea Immigration Service for the CoVI (사증발급인정서) on your behalf. This is the main gatekeeping step and typically takes two to four weeks.
- 3
Apply for the visa at a Korean embassy or online
With the CoVI number, submit your visa application (often via the Korea Visa Portal or your local Korean embassy/consulate) with your passport and supporting documents. Issuance usually follows within a week or two.
- 4
Enter Korea and complete arrival formalities
Fly in on your issued visa. You are admitted for the visa's status of stay; the physical Alien Registration Card is issued after you register in-country.
- 5
Register for your Alien Registration Card within 90 days
Apply for your ARC (외국인등록증) at your local immigration office within 90 days of arrival. It is your primary ID and unlocks banking, a phone contract and health insurance. See our South Korea arrival guide for the full first-week checklist.
- 6
Build toward PR by accumulating qualifying residence
Stay compliant, keep your income and tax records clean, improve your Korean, and after several years on qualifying visas apply to switch to the F-2 residence visa and then the F-5 permanent residency.
What you need
Requirements
- A job offer from a Korean employer willing to sponsor your Confirmation of Visa Issuance (for E-7/E-9 routes)
- A relevant university degree or equivalent professional experience for skilled visas
- A valid passport, apostilled/notarised diplomas and a clean criminal background check
- For EPS/E-9 roles: a passing EPS-TOPIK Korean score and selection from the partner-country roster
- Proof of a minimum salary meeting the occupation's threshold (often tied to GNI for E-7)
- Proof of funds and private health insurance to support your initial move
Language and tests
There is no single immigration points test, but Korean ability shapes almost everything. Professional E-7 roles at global firms can be English-only, yet the EPS/E-9 route requires the EPS-TOPIK test, and points-based routes (E-7-4, F-2) award significant points for TOPIK levels. TOPIK ranges from level 1 to 6; reaching level 3 to 4 meaningfully boosts your points score, and is effectively expected for permanent residency and daily life outside international workplaces.
Jobs in demand
- Software Engineers
- Semiconductor Engineers
- Battery & Materials Engineers
- Shipbuilding & Welding Specialists
- Nurses & Care Workers
- AI & Data Scientists
- Machinery & Manufacturing Technicians
- English Teachers
What it costs
Korea is fairly cheap to enter. Government visa fees are modest and employers usually cover the Confirmation of Visa Issuance. Your real upfront cost is relocation and the deposit-heavy Korean rental system (jeonse or a large wolse key deposit).
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Single-entry work visa fee | Around US$60 (₩80,000) |
| Confirmation of Visa Issuance (employer files) | Usually employer-covered |
| Document apostille, translation and criminal check | ₩150,000 to ₩500,000 |
| Flight (one way) | ₩700,000 to ₩1,800,000 |
| Rental deposit (wolse monthly-rent model) | ₩5,000,000 to ₩20,000,000 |
| First month living costs (Seoul) | ₩1,500,000 to ₩2,500,000 |
Path to PR and citizenship
- The usual path is a work visa to the F-2 residence visa (often after around three years and enough points), then the F-5 permanent residency after roughly five years of continuous lawful residence, sometimes faster for high earners, advanced-degree holders or the Top-Tier track.
- F-5 removes employer sponsorship and lets you change jobs freely while keeping your passport.
- Naturalisation (citizenship) is possible after about five years of residence with sufficient Korean and an integration test.
- Korea generally requires renouncing your original nationality, though some categories (such as certain highly-skilled talents and marriage cases) may retain dual nationality.
FAQs
Can I move to South Korea without speaking Korean?
Yes, for many professional roles (especially in IT, semiconductors, research and English teaching), English-only positions exist and can sponsor an E-7 visa. However, EPS/E-9 jobs require the EPS-TOPIK test, and points-based routes and permanent residency reward or effectively require Korean, so learning it widens your options substantially.
How long does it take to get permanent residency in Korea?
Typically you move from a work visa to the F-2 residence visa after around three years, then qualify for F-5 permanent residency after roughly five years of continuous lawful residence. High earners, advanced-degree holders and Top-Tier visa holders can move faster.
Do I need a job offer to move to South Korea?
For most work visas, yes: the E-7 and E-9 routes are employer-sponsored, with your company filing the Confirmation of Visa Issuance. Exceptions include the D-8 start-up/investment visa, the F-1-D Digital Nomad visa for remote workers with overseas employers, and family or marriage visas.
Does South Korea allow dual citizenship?
Generally no: naturalising usually requires renouncing your original nationality. There are exceptions for certain highly-skilled talents, some marriage migrants and specific categories who may keep dual nationality, but most applicants should expect to give up their previous passport. Permanent residency (F-5), by contrast, lets you stay indefinitely while keeping your current citizenship.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and rules change often. Always confirm the current requirements on the official government website for your destination. How we research & source our guides.
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