1 Methods, preparation documents, precautions, etc. for overseas Koreans to obtain F4 visas
2. Submission document
(Common document)
① documents proving Korean proficiency
② Certificate of overseas criminal history
③ documents certifying that one is a Korean citizen of foreign nationality
(Certificate, registered copy, family register, resident registration card, birth certificate, etc. of family relation records by persons subject to the following)
(Additional documents)
Additional documents of the country announced by the Minister of Justice regarding the application for visa issuance: Currently 21 countries
China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Mongolia, Thailand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Peru
① A person who has stayed in Korea for more than six months as a culture and arts (D-1) and reporting (D-5) or trade management (D-9), professor (E-1) or specific activity (E-7)
: Check the target status with the immigration information system
② A degree holder of a domestic or foreign specialized bachelor's degree (a graduate of two years or more) and a scholarship student invited by the government, such as the International Education Promotion Agency, etc
※ Holders of foreign professional scholarship are limited to those who possess Level 3 or higher of the Korean Language Proficiency Test (TOPIK) or who have completed Level 4 or higher of the social integration program
Certificate of enrollment or graduation
The government-invited scholarship student is a vindicator of the fact
A holder of a foreign specialized academic history shall provide evidence, such as Korean proficiency, etc
③ holders of permanent residency in OECD countries
: A document confirming that he/she is a permanent resident prepared by the relevant agency of each country
④ Representatives of corporate enterprises, registered executives, and management staff
: There are no restrictions on representatives and registered executives of corporate enterprises, and management employees are eligible for overseas Koreans within the scope of two persons per company
※ The qualification of overseas Koreans for representatives, executives, or employees of corporate enterprises shall be limited to enterprises that have passed at least one year since the incorporation of the corporation at the time of application, and the qualification of overseas Koreans may be granted only if the executives, excluding the representatives, have served for at least six months and the employees for at least one year
• In the case of corporate representative and registered officer
Public documents corresponding to the certified copy of the corporate register, certificate of employment, and pledge of non-employment for the restricted occupation of overseas Koreans (F-4)
• In the case of employees belonging to a corporate enterprise
A copy of the corporate representative's domestic residence report card or a copy of overseas Koreans (F-4) visa issuance, a copy of the corporate register of the affiliated company, a certificate of employment, a certificate of identity of the corporate representative, and a pledge of non-employment for jobs restricted from overseas Koreans (F-4)
※ If the corporate representative has not been issued an overseas Korean visa, a visa for an affiliated employee can be issued only when applying for an overseas Korean (F-4) visa with the corporate representative
⑤ Private enterprises with sales of US$100,000 or more as of the previous year (self-sales representative)
: Certificate corresponding to business license, such as evidence of sales performance, business type, etc
⑥ Multinational employees, media executives and reporters, lawyers, accountants, doctors, government-accredited first-class and second-class artists (equivalent to university professors), industrial technical research and development researchers, intermediate or higher agricultural engineers, and advanced engineers in the field of ship or civil aviation
: Certificate of employment and a copy of business registration certificate of affiliated organization, etc. other relevant certificates for each occupation
For agricultural engineers, professional technical certificates of intermediate level or higher, and related technical certificates for advanced engineers in the field of ship or civil aviation
⑦ Representative and deputy representative of a Korean-American organization or cultural and artistic organization (association) recognized by the country of residence
10 employees or members of the group
※ Korean-American organizations include local Korean-Chinese entrepreneur associations, the World Korean Trade Association, the Yanbian Korean Autonomous State Artists Association, the Yanbian Korean-Chinese Traditional Cuisine Association, and the Beijing Goryeo Culture and Economic Research Association
Up to two employees per group designated by the Ministry of Justice as a support center for Korean residents can be employed
※ The "employee", such as a Korean-American organization, shall be limited to those who have served for at least one year (excluding domestic Korean-American support organizations)
The maximum number of volunteers belonging to an organization designated by the Ministry of Justice as a support center for Korean residents can be up to four per organization per year
Only those who are confirmed for more than 200 hours of service hours over 6 months with a certificate of issuance performance of the Korea Central Volunteer Center (up to 6 hours of service hours per day are recognized)
• Certificate of registration and employment of affiliated organizations
<In the case of employees or members of overseas compatriot organizations>
Certificate of registration of affiliated organizations, table of status of Korean-American organizations, recommendation letter of representative of Korean-American organizations, certificate of employment, pledge of non-employment for jobs restricted from overseas Koreans
<In the case of employees belonging to domestic compatriot support organizations>
A certificate of designation of a Korean resident support center, a business registration certificate or unique number certificate, a certificate of recommendation under the name of the representative, and a pledge of non-employment for jobs restricted from overseas Koreans
<In the case of volunteers belonging to domestic compatriot support organizations>
A certificate of designation of a Korean resident support center, a business registration certificate or unique number, a certificate of recommendation under the name of the representative, a certificate of issuance of the Korea Central Volunteer Center, and a pledge of non-employment for jobs restricted from overseas Koreans
⑧ Former and current National Assembly members, public officials who have served for more than five years, and employees of state-owned enterprises
: a certificate of employment
⑨ University professors (including adjunct professors and lecturers), middle and high school or elementary school teachers
: Certificate of employment, certificate of appointment by the government of the host country or certificate of instructor in high and secondary vocational schools, and certificate of teacher
⑩ A person who intends to run a private business in Korea • Documents proving that he/she has more than 300 million investors or more than 200 million investors with his/her assets
: For example, more than 200 million investors (when applying for qualification), including application for registration of an investment company, details of remittance and carry-in funds, certificate of exchange and statement of use, business lease contract, and deposit remittance details, etc
※ In the case of assets formed in Korea, no application for registration of investment company is required
• Allowance of stay within one year in case of initial qualification change
If the submitter of the National Employment Plan fails to fulfill the pledge within one year, the period of stay is allowed to be extended only when the existing investment amount (300 million) is met
• Check whether the business is operating normally, such as business license and tax payment data, when the period is extended
• Prior to the implementation of the guidelines, those who acquire overseas Korean qualifications will extend the period after checking whether the business is operating normally (investment amount is applied to the existing guidelines (100 million))
⑪ A person who is eligible for visiting employment and has continued to work at the same workplace of childcare assistants, agricultural and livestock industries, fisheries, root industries, and local material manufacturing industries for at least two years
A person who is eligible for visiting employment and has been working at the same place of business for at least four years regardless of region and type of business
A person who has worked for at least 180 days (6 months) among Koreans who have participated in seasonal work
※ The two-year working period is the period of continuous service in which the employment relationship lasts (however, the period of closure due to occupational injuries or diseases such as industrial accidents is recognized within one year)
• Certificate of employment relationship in the relevant industry for the last two years: (receipt of withholding earned income), copy of business registration certificate, root company confirmation letter
• Certificate of Education (only for childcare assistants)
⑫ Koreans of foreign nationality over 60 years old
: Pure tourism is excluded, and the target is confirmed with Korean resident verification documents
⑬ A person who has entered the country before diplomatic relations between Korea and China and is staying as a visiting employment qualification with a special residence permit and visa
• Check the immigration information system to see if it is eligible *Currently, new visa issuance and qualification change are suspended
⑭ Acquisition of a domestic accredited national technical certificate (above a technician)
※ Only those who acquired metal material Changho in 2013 are recognized
Among Koreans who have participated in seasonal work for more than 60 days, those who have obtained a national technical certificate ('22.1.3. Only those who have previously obtained it)
• Copy of Certificate (Original Presentation)
⑮ Any of the following persons who have completed at least four stages of social integration programs
A person who has completed at least four stages of social integration program
A person who has been assigned five levels in the pre-evaluation of the social integration program
A person who has not completed the social integration program but has applied for naturalization permission, passed the comprehensive evaluation for naturalization, and has been assigned five levels
• Check the Social Integration Information Network (Soci-Net) for the target status
• Notes
There is no separate validity period for completion of level 4 or higher, and the allocation of level 5 following the passing of the pre-evaluation and comprehensive evaluation for naturalization is valid for two years from the date of announcement of the evaluation results
A person who has been assigned five levels by passing the preliminary evaluation or the comprehensive evaluation for naturalization can apply for a change of qualification after one year from the date of alien registration. (However, there is no restriction period on application when issuing an overseas diplomatic visa.)
⑯ a domestic high school graduate
a person who falls under any of the following
A person who has graduated from a high school (high technology school) under subparagraph 3 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
A person who has graduated from a school equivalent to a high school among special schools and various schools (alternative schools, foreigners' schools) referred to in subparagraphs 4 to 5 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Those who passed the high school graduation qualification examination
Foreign educational institutions accredited by the Ministry of Education, graduates of higher education courses at Jeju International School
A person who has graduated from a course designated as a facility for which the academic background of a middle school graduation is recognized under Article 31 of the Lifelong Education Act
• Certificate of graduation or passing of the GED
• Documents proving the completion of domestic academic qualification courses (Korean language, social studies, national history, history, etc.) or documents proving Korean proficiency of foreign schools, foreign educational institutions, and Jeju International School graduates
⑰ Korean children attending elementary, middle and high schools in Korea
A child of a compatriot whose father or mother has registered as a foreigner (reported to reside) and is staying in Korea, who falls under any of the following
㉠ A person who attends elementary, middle and high school (1) in Korea
㉡ Korean residents aged 6 to 18 who are inevitably unable to attend school due to long-term disease treatment or severe disability (2)
(1) Schools falling under any subparagraph of Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
(2) However, you can apply for a change of qualification after 6 months from the date of alien registration
• Evidence of enrollment issued by the principal, such as a certificate of enrollment
• A medical certificate issued by a hospital-level medical institution under Article 3 (2) 3 of the Medical Service Act
• (Special case related to COVID-19) You can apply for a change of qualification even if you are eligible for a short-term stay or 'extending the period of stay for departure' or 'deferral of departure deadline' related to COVID-19
※ However, the applicant's father or mother is eligible for a long-term stay only if the COVID-19-related "extension of the period of stay for departure" or "deferral of the date of departure" is granted
Considered to have met the requirements (foreign registration and residence report)
• (Exception of Parental Requirements) A person who has been attending an elementary, middle and high school in Korea for at least six months may apply for a change of qualification if he/she has a non-Korean parent or grandparent to raise the subject, even if his/her father/mother is not staying in Korea due to unavoidable reasons
• (Simplification of Korean identification documents) Exemption or simplification of submission of Korean identification documents differently depending on the status of residence of the subject person if the father or mother is registered as a foreigner (reported to reside) as of the date of application for change of qualifications
Exemption from the submission of public documents proving that one is a Korean citizen of foreign nationality
(Other) Submission of documents proving the family relationship with a Korean father or mother and the applicant only
Visiting employment (H-2), overseas Koreans (F-4)
• Notes
If the period of stay is extended, students must be enrolled in elementary, middle and high schools in Korea for at least one year (required evidence of their return to school), or they must be able to prove the difficulty of attending school due to long-term disease treatment or severe disability
⑱ Former Overseas Koreans (F-4) Qualification Holder (F-4-99)
A person who has stayed as an overseas Korean in the past but is not eligible for the detailed qualifications for ⑰ ①
※ Except for those who have stayed as overseas Koreans (F-4) in the past but have lost their qualifications due to illegal acts, etc. (forced eviction), etc
• Foreign nationality Koreans proof document
• Certificate of qualification of overseas Koreans (if necessary)
3. F-4 Management after granting visas to overseas Koreans
If you want to stay more than 91 days, you must report your residence within 90 days from the date of entry.
Submission document
application for consolidation
Passport and copy
a photograph for one's passport
Fee
Certificate of place of stay, etc
If you want to stay in Korea, you need to get permission to extend your stay.
In principle, the period of stay for overseas Koreans is less than three years, but children of Koreans attending elementary, middle and high schools in Korea are granted within two years to the end of March or September upon initial grant, and two years are granted for each extension of the stay.
If a person violates the law, the permission to extend his or her stay may be restricted.
4. Documents submitted when the period of stay is extended
application for consolidation
proof of place of stay
Fee
5. Who is restricted from F-4 visa status?
Cases falling under Article 5 (2) 1 and 2 of the Overseas Koreans Act
Men who leave or lose their Korean nationality and become foreigners are restricted from not fulfilling their military service obligations, and if the Minister of Justice recognizes it, foreign Koreans can be granted from January 1st of the year when they turn 41.
Where there is a risk of harming the interests of the Republic of Korea, such as security, maintenance of order, public welfare, diplomatic relations, etc. of the Republic of Korea
A person who has violated the following laws during his/her stay in Korea
A person sentenced for a crime falling under any of the specific violent crimes prescribed in Article 2 of the Act on Special Cases concerning the Punishment of Specific Violent Crimes
– A person sentenced to imprisonment or higher for a crime corresponding to a serious social crime (drug, voice phishing, and habitual drunk driving (more than three times)
– A person sentenced to imprisonment or higher for a crime other than the above within the last five years
– A person who has been sentenced to a fine of more than 7 million won in total for violating the law within the last three years
– A person who has been fined more than 7 million won for violating the Immigration Control Act within the last three years
If you have an overseas criminal history
Related Acts and subordinate statutes
Overseas Koreans Foundation Act
Enforcement Decree of the Overseas Koreans Foundation Act
Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans (abbreviated as Overseas Koreans Act)
Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans
Enforcement Rules of the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans
Inquire about F4 visa
If you wish to get a permanent resident F5 visa in Korea, please contact us
Korea Administrative Agency 010-3732-0033
107-1 Anjeong-ro, Anjeong-eup, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do
