F2R Regional Specialized Visa is divided into two categories: Regional Outstanding Talent (Type 1) and Overseas Korean Family (Type 2)
Regional Outstanding Talent requires a recommendation from the local government official in the target area and should meet the condition of residing in a population-decreasing area and engaging in employment or entrepreneurship for more than 5 years.
Today, we will go through the details of each category, starting with Regional Outstanding Talent, under the F2R visa.
Target Areas for F2R Visa Regional Outstanding Talent
F2R Visa Eligibility for Regional Outstanding Talent
◆ Foreigners with legal residence who have received a recommendation from the local government, excluding those subject to residence status change restrictions (See below for details)
- For details on F-2-R quota and recommendation letter issuance, please contact the local government. 【 Residence status change restrictions 】
- Those who have received an extension of stay for departure or a grace period for departure
- Nationals of countries with a high incidence of illegal stay who hold short-term stay status
- Those whose regional specialized visa (F-2-R, F-1-R) residence status has been canceled within the past 5 years due to a violation of permit conditions
Eligibility Requirements for F2R Visa Regional Outstanding Talent
◆ Must meet both the Ministry of Justice requirements and additional requirements for each regional government ◆
1. Ministry of Justice Requirements
a. Education/Income (Either one of the two requirements is sufficient)
1) Education
▶ Graduates with a domestic bachelor's degree or higher*
* Must provide proof of expected graduation within 6 months of the application date (a document from a trusted individual such as the university president or department head)
2) Income
▶ Income subject: Income of the applicant (individual)
▶ Income amount criteria: 70% or more of the national gross income (GNI) per capita as of the application date
* If the GNI for the previous year is not announced as of the application date, the criteria of the year before the previous year will be applied
▶ Criteria for recognizing the applicant's earned income: Annual income for the previous year as of the application date
* If official proof of income, such as a certificate of income amount, has not been issued by the tax authority as of the application date, the income for the year before the previous year will be used as the basis
▶ Recognized income: The following types of income are aggregated
- Interest income, dividend income, business income, labor income, pension income, other income
- Each income type is recognized only if income tax has been paid
- In cases where the income is tax-exempt, the relevant supporting documents will be reviewed to determine whether it is eligible
b. Residence
▶ Actual residence in the regional government area designated by the Ministry of Justice as of the application date
▶ Affirmation of residing continuously in a population-decreasing area designated for 5 years or more (Affirmation form, separate format)
- For the first two years as of the permit date, you must reside in the area (basic regional government) specified in the regional government's recommendation letter,
After two years have passed, you can move your residence to another population-decreasing area within the same metropolitan city or province as long as it is designated by the regional government.
c. Employment/Entrepreneurship (Either one of the two requirements is sufficient)
1) Employment
▶ Employed in the industry designated by the Ministry of Justice upon the regional government's request as of the application date or confirmation of employment*
* Must start work within 3 months of the application date, and the employment contract must be for a duration of at least 1 year
▶ Place of employment must be located within the jurisdiction of the regional government eligible for regional specialized visa issuance*
- The place of residence and the place of employment must be in the same area (basic regional government) ▶ Affirmation of continuous employment in the designated industry in a population-decreasing area designated for 5 years or more (Affirmation form, separate format) - For the first two years as of the permit date, you must engage in employment activities in the area (basic regional government) specified in the regional government's recommendation letter, and you cannot change your occupation. - After two years have passed, you can engage in employment activities in another industry designated by the regional government within the same metropolitan city or province, but you can only work in the industry initially permitted. - 'Continuously employed' means maintaining employment for at least 3/4 (9 months based on 1 year) of the permit period. 2) Entrepreneurship ▶ Start a business in the industry designated by the Ministry of Justice upon the regional government's request as of the application date
▶ Investment amount in the business must be KRW 200 million or more
▶ The business established must be located within the jurisdiction of the regional government eligible for regional specialized visa issuance* - The place of residence and the place of business must be in the same area (basic regional government) ▶ Affirmation of continuous business activities in the designated industry in a population-decreasing area designated for 5 years or more (Affirmation form, separate format) - For the first two years as of the permit date, you must engage in business activities in the area (basic regional government) specified in the regional government's recommendation letter, and you can change your business type to another industry permitted by the same regional government. - After two years have passed, you can engage in business activities in another industry permitted by the regional government within the same metropolitan city or province, and you can change your business type.
- 'Continuously conducting business' means maintaining business activities for at least 3/4 (9 months based on 1 year) of the permit period. 3) Change from Employment to Entrepreneurship vice and versa ▶ Changing from employment to entrepreneurship is generally allowed - For the first two years as of the permit date, you can change from employment to entrepreneurship in the area (basic regional government) specified in the regional government's recommendation letter, and you can only engage in the initially permitted industry. - After two years have passed, you can change from employment to entrepreneurship within the same metropolitan city or province as long as it is designated by the regional government, but you can only work in the industry initially permitted. d. Moral Character Assessment ▶ Must not be subject to the following disqualifications ① Those who have been convicted of certain violent crimes stipulated in Article 2 of the Special Act on the Punishment of Specific Violent Crimes in Korea or crimes related to threats, extortion, fraud, voice phishing, drugs, or sexual violence, regardless of whether the crimes were committed in Korea or abroad ② Where the sentence is sentenced to imprisonment or higher (including probation) domestically or abroad, and not more than five years have passed since the execution of the sentence was terminated or the date on which it was decided not to be executed ③ Those who have been fined a total of KRW 3 million or more within 3 years as of the application date
④ Those who have been fined a total of KRW 5 million or more for violations of the Immigration Control Act within 3 years as of the application date
⑤ Those subject to entry bans under Article 11, Paragraph 1 of the Immigration Control Act
e. Basic Competencies (Either one of the two requirements is sufficient)
▶ Completion of the social integration program of level 3 or higher
▶ Obtaining TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) Level 3 or higher
2. Additional Requirements by Each Regional Government
a. Additional Requirements by Each Regional Government (Confirmation required through the local government)
b. Recommendation Letter from the Local Government Official
▶ Items to be verified
- (Recommender) Whether the local government operates the regional specialized visa pilot program
- (Recommendee) Whether the recommended individuals match the list of recommenders notified by the local government
- (Residence) Whether the area designated for regional specialized visa program is the same as the place of actual residence
- (Employment) Whether the local government's designated area and industry criteria match those of the Ministry of Justice
- (Validity Period) Whether the recommendation letter has expired more than 3 months from the date of issuance
Documents to be Submitted when Changing to F2R Visa (Regional Outstanding Talent)
1. Application form, passport, photo
2. Alien registration card
3. Educational proof documents: Academic transcripts, degree certificates, graduation certificates, proof of expected graduation, etc.
4. Income proof documents: Publicly issued documents such as income amount certificates issued by tax authorities
5. Proof of residence: Documents such as real estate lease contracts, real estate registration certificates, etc.
6.Economic activity proof documents
-(Entrepreneurs) Proof of investment capital, business registration certificate, corporate registration details, etc.
-(Employees) Employment contract, employment verification letter, business registration certificate, corporate registration details, etc.
7. Criminal record certificate from abroad
8. Proof of basic competencies
- Certificate of completion of the social integration program
- TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) certificate
9. Family relationship proof documents
10. Affirmation form
11. Recommendation letter from the local government
12. Recommendation letter from the school principal
コメント