High-Value Investor Permanent Residence (F-5-5) Requirements — Investment of USD 500,000 and Employment of 5 Korean Nationals

Procedure

1. 1. Calculate the investment amount in US dollars

   The requirement is USD 500,000, not an amount in won. The won equivalent changes with the exchange rate, so first calculate whether the amount falls short at the exchange rate at the time of investment. Whether existing corporate investment (D-8) funds and additional investment can be added together is reviewed on the basis of the foreign investment report records.

2. 2. Check the employment of 5 Korean nationals

   The employees must be nationals of the Republic of Korea, and actual employment must be verified through the list of persons enrolled in the 4 major social insurance schemes, employment contracts and payroll records. Short-term part-time workers, day laborers and employment that exists only on the list without actual work are unlikely to be recognized. Whether the employment has continued for a certain period is also reviewed.

3. 3. Organize the flow of investment funds and the substance of the business

   Use the overseas remittance records, the foreign investment report and the certificate of registration of a foreign-invested enterprise to link where the investment funds came from and where they were used. Also prepare materials showing that the company is actually operating, such as photographs of the business premises and sales and transaction records.

4. 4. Apply for permission to change status of stay to permanent residence

   Apply for permission to change status of stay to permanent residence (F-5) at the immigration office having jurisdiction over your place of stay. The good conduct requirement is not subject to relaxation or waiver, so check in advance that there are no violations of laws and regulations or tax arrears during your stay.

Required documents

• Integrated application form, passport, residence card, photograph
• Foreign investment report, certificate of registration of a foreign-invested enterprise
• Records of overseas remittance and inflow of the investment funds
• Business registration certificate, certificate of registered matters of the corporation
• List of persons enrolled in the 4 major social insurance schemes, employment contracts, payroll records
• Business operation materials (lease contract, sales and transaction records, etc.)

Fees

Agency fees for an F-5-5 change to permanent residence application generally run in the industry from several hundred thousand won to the 1,000,000 won range, and vary with the work of organizing the flow of investment funds and the volume of employment evidence. Immigration fees are charged separately. We will advise after a consultation, based on the investment and employment situation.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Immigration Act, Article 10-3
• Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Article 12-2
• Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, attached Table 1-3, item 3

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-03

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• People hired in a hurry just before the application may be checked more closely as to whether the employment is real. Keep employment stable well in advance.

Frequently asked questions