South Korea•Asia1–2 weeks
$45 USD
Varies by filing options
2 years
Renewable
Renewal
Renewable
Family
Dependents allowed
PR Pathway
Yes
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote not required
Long-term work and residency permit for ethnic Koreans holding foreign citizenship, renewable for 2-year periods with unrestricted employment rights.
The F-4 Overseas Korean Visa is a residency status for ethnic Koreans holding foreign citizenship seeking to work and live in Korea. Applicants must prove Korean heritage or prior citizenship. The visa grants broad professional and work rights, including access to most economic activities, though simple manual labor and certain regulated professions are restricted.
Grants up to 2 years per stay (renewable; valid 5 years for multiple entry). Consulate application fee is US$45. The visa offers a direct pathway to permanent residency (F-5); dependents may reside but work authorization varies.
This visa is ideal for diaspora members and ethnic Koreans living abroad who seek to reconnect with their homeland professionally and maintain extended ties to Korea.
| Initial grant | 2 years |
Visas you can typically switch to from this status.
South KoreaMust be a former Korean national who has acquired foreign citizenship.
Must be a descendant (child or grandchild) of a person who previously held Korean nationality.
Must have a clean criminal record (overseas criminal record certificate required).
Must complete the 5-hour Early Settlement Program.
Must demonstrate Korean language proficiency (often required for longer stay durations).
Men who renounced Korean nationality after May 1, 2018, without completing military service, are generally restricted until the year they turn 41.
Must not engage in simple manual labor or activities contrary to public morals.
Visa application form and passport-sized photo
Valid passport
Proof of loss/renunciation of Korean nationality (e.g., Basic Certificate)
Proof of foreign citizenship (e.g., naturalization certificate)
Apostilled/authenticated overseas criminal record certificate
Proof of Korean heritage (e.g., family relationship records, birth certificate)
Proof of Korean language proficiency (if applicable)
Tuberculosis test result (if required by the consulate)
| Visa Application e-Form (Form No. 17) | Fill online |
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