South Korea South Korea F-4 Overseas Korean Visa — Residency Program
🏠 OVERVIEW
Country
🇰🇷 South Korea
Program
South Korea F-4 Overseas Korean Visa
Local Name
Jaeoe Dongpo
Type
Ancestry
Status
Active
Initial Duration
60 months
Renewable
Yes
(60 mo)
5-year visa for former Korean nationals and their descendants, with unrestricted work rights in most sectors.
📋 ELIGIBILITY
Criminal Record Check
Required
Health Check
Not required
Health Insurance
Not required
💼 WORK RIGHTS
Employment
Allowed
Self-Employment
Allowed
Own Business
Allowed
Work Permit Included
Yes
👨👩👧 FAMILY & DEPENDENTS
Dependents Allowed
No
Spouse Included
No
Parents Allowed
No
💰 TAX DETAILS
Tax Regime
Worldwide
Regime Name
Korea progressive tax (6-45%)
Foreign Income Taxed
Yes
Capital Gains Taxed
Yes
🏆 PATH FORWARD
Permanent Residency
Yes
Years to PR
2 years
Dual Citizenship
Not allowed
Citizenship
Yes
Years to Citizenship
5 years
Language Required
B1
🌍 BENEFITS & MOBILITY
Bank Account
Can open
Property Purchase
Allowed
Public Healthcare
Access granted
📝 HOW TO APPLY
Method
embassy
Processing Time
7–30 days
Apply from Abroad
Yes
🌳 ANCESTRY REQUIREMENTS
Generational Limit
Unlimited
Ancestor Must Have Been Citizen
Yes
📝 NOTES
For former Korean nationals and descendants. 4th generation+ eligible under amended Overseas Koreans Act. 5-year visa with 2-year stays per entry. Korean language certificate (TOPIK 1 or Sejong 1B) recommended for 2-year vs 1-year sojourn. Overseas criminal record required.
📋 ALSO IN SOUTH KOREA
South Korea also offers a digital nomad visa for remote workers:
- Workcation Visa (F-1-D) (digital nomad visa)