South Korea Public Business Investor (F-5)

1. Renewrenewable
2. Permanent residencypossible
3. Citizenshipafter 5 years

• Permanent residency
• Citizenship 5 years
• Dual citizenship not allowed
• Language required for citizenship KIIP level 5

Country

South Korea

Program

South Korea Public Business Investor (F-5)

Local name

공익사업 고액투자이민

Type

Golden visa

Status

Active

Renewable

Yes

Immediate permanent residence for a foreigner who deposits at least KRW 3 billion in the Ministry of Justice public-business scheme and keeps it for five years. The investor, spouse and unmarried children receive F-5 on that condition. If the money is returned before five years, the permanent residence is cancelled.

Tax regime

Remittance

Regime name

Foreign resident, first five years

Regime duration

5 years

Foreign income taxed

Yes

Capital gains taxed

Yes

Method

in country

Apply from abroad

No

The immigration page sets high-amount investment at KRW 3 billion or more, against KRW 1.5 billion for the F-2 route. The 29 June 2023 Ministry press release raised this threshold from KRW 1.5 billion and describes it as permanent residence granted at once, conditional on maintaining the investment for five years. After five years the principal of the guaranteed deposit is repaid and the status continues. USD figures use KRW 1,342.80 per USD on 9 October 2026. The page's benefit wording for this tier is a deposit. The profit-and-loss project is described as part of the same scheme. It is listed as an alternative at the same minimum because the page does not say the higher threshold is fund-only. The change-of-status fee for F-5 is KRW 200,000, about USD 149. Spouse and unmarried children are included. General naturalization still needs five continuous years of address in Korea. This status is already permanent residence, so that five-year address period is the citizenship clock, not a further wait for F-5.

• Workcation Visa (F-1-D)digital nomad visa

1. Oct 10, 2026

   Added

   added the high-amount public-business route at KRW 3 billion, with permanent residence granted at the deposit and cancelled if the money is returned before five years (immigration.go.kr).