Visa Description
- To actively address the issue of regional depopulation, Korea is promoting the settlement of foreign nationals in designated population decline areas.
- This visa policy aims to encourage both foreigners and local residents to contribute to the sustainable development of local communities.
- By guiding the settlement of foreign nationals in alignment with regional specialized industries, universities, and employment opportunities, the policy seeks to expand the living population, stimulate economic activity, and create a virtuous cycle of population influx in local governments.
Visa Candidate
Applicants must meet both the Ministry of Justice's requirements and additional local government requirements, which include academic qualifications/income, residence, Korean language proficiency, and legal compliance.
A. Academic Qualifications/Income (One of the following conditions must be met)
1) Academic Qualifications
- Applicants must have obtained at least an associate degree from a domestic educational institution (a two-year college or higher) or be expected to graduate.
- If applying as a prospective graduate, applicants must submit proof of graduation within six months (a document issued by the university president or department head).
- Upon the first extension of stay, additional proof of degree completion must be submitted.
2) Income
- Only the applicant’s personal income is recognized.
- The applicant's income must be at least 70% of the previous year's Gross National Income (GNI) per capita at the time of application.
B. Residence
- General Rule
- Applicants must continuously reside in the designated population decline area.
Exceptions
If necessary, applicants may reside in a different area than their workplace or business location under certain conditions approved by the Ministry of Justice.
The following types of residence arrangements are allowed:
- Type A: Reside in the designated area and work in the same metropolitan region.
- Type B: Live with family in the designated area and work in the metropolitan region.
- Type C: Live in the metropolitan region and work in the designated area.
- Type D: Live in the metropolitan region and start a business in the designated area.
Eligible regions for each type:
- Type A, B, C, D allowed: Jeonbuk, Gyeongbuk, Busan
- Type A, B allowed: Daegu, Gyeongnam
C. Employment/Entrepreneurship (One of the following conditions must be met)
- Employment
- Applicants must secure employment in an industry designated by the Ministry of Justice based on requests from local governments.
- The employer or business must be located within the designated area.
- The workplace and residence must be in the same administrative district (municipality).
- The employment contract must ensure a salary of at least 70% of the previous year's GNI per capita.
- Entrepreneurship
- A minimum investment of 200 million KRW is required.
- The business must be established within the designated area.
- For the first two years, the applicant must operate the business in the designated area. After two years, the business can be relocated within the same metropolitan region (in an area designated as a regional-specialized visa business zone).
D. Basic Competency Requirements (One of the following conditions must be met)
- Completion of at least Level 3 in the Social Integration Program (KIIP) or placement at Level 4 or higher in the pre-evaluation.
- Attainment of at least Level 3 in the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK).
Visa Requirements
- Application form, passport, one standard-sized photograph, and fee.
- A letter of assignment or employment or a letter of cooperation from the foreign minister of the foreign country.
- In the case of accompanying family members of members of diplomatic missions or consular organizations of foreign governments, proof of family relationship such as a family relationship certificate or birth certificate issued by the home country.
- For activities outside the status of residence
- Passport, unification application
- Fee ($120 for unauthorized activities): Accompanying family members of U.S. diplomatic missions in Korea are exempt from fees based on reciprocity.
- Employment recommendation letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Diplomatic Attaché) (required)
- Documents required for activities outside the status of residence for each status of residence (qualifications, etc.)
