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South Korea Immigrant Investment
South Korea Immigrant Investment
South Korea's Immigrant Investor Scheme allows applicants to obtain F-2 long-term residency status through one of two official investment routes. This program covers the principal applicant and eligible family members, with the pathway to transition to F-5 Permanent Residency after five years of maintaining the investment. Once F-5 status is granted, the initial deposit or real estate can be fully withdrawn or liquidated without affecting the applicant's residency status.
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Option A: Public Business Investment Immigration Fund
An unconditional deposit into a government-backed public fund. The standard threshold is 1.5 billion KRW (approximately 1.1 million USD), while a High-Net-Worth fast-track option is available at 3 billion KRW (approximately 2.2 million USD).
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Option B: Tourism and Leisure Facility Investment Immigration System
A minimum purchase of 1 billion KRW (approximately 730,000 USD) in government-approved tourism, leisure, and resort facilities within designated investment zones (such as Jeju Island).
Time to residency
2-3months
Visa-free travel
Korea Passport Mobility 189 countries and regions
(via passportranking.com)
Passport rank
Country Passport Rank: 20th globally
(via passportranking.com)
Residency requirement
Enter South Korea at least once per year during the initial 5-year period
Taxation
Standard progressive tax rates apply
Established time
Program launched in 2013
Application Requirements
Initial Application Requirements:
The principal applicant must be at least 19 years old, meet the funding requirements for either Option A (Fund) or Option B (Real Estate), and hold no criminal record.
Requirements to Convert F-2 Visa to F-5 (Permanent Residency):
Hold F-2 status for at least 5 years. Visit Korea at least once per year during the F-2 period. Maintain a clean criminal record (in Korea and home country). No language proficiency test is required for this transition.
Requirements to Maintain F-5 Visa Status:
Enter Korea at least once every 2 years (no minimum stay required).
General Naturalization (Citizenship) Requirements:
Legally reside in Korea for at least 5 years cumulatively (starting from the F-2 visa period). Pass a basic Korean language and culture test administered by immigration authorities. Maintain a strict record of no criminal or immigration violations in Korea.
Tourism and Leisure Facility Investment Immigration System
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Approved Tourism & Leisure Facilities (Applicable to Option B)
The following real estate options fall under the government-approved investment zones, meeting the official criteria for the Tourism and Leisure Facility Investment Immigration System.
Kylin Resort Villa
As a government-designated eligible investment property in Jeju, Kylin Resort offers the following features based on the developer's specifications:
1.Ecological Environment: Situated near Jeju Island's water protection zones, the developer states the property is surrounded by extensive preserved ecological forests.
2.Recreational Privileges: Property owners are offered exclusive access and VIP privileges to the adjacent 18-hole championship golf course.
3.Collaborative Design: The architectural space was jointly developed by international design teams to maximize residential functionality.
Jeju Shinhwa World Resorts
Recognized as a major integrated resort backed by the Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC) initiatives, this complex offers:
1.Proximity to International Education Hub: Strategically located just 5 minutes from Jeju Global Education City (hosting institutions like NLCS, BHA, SJA, and KIS). It serves as a major residential complex for this academic zone.
2.Integrated Resort Scale: Developed with a total investment of 20 billion KRW (approximately 14.8 million USD), the project features international hotels (including Marriott), a convention center, and theme parks.
3.Comprehensive Amenities: Residents hold access to integrated clubhouse facilities, including fitness centers, swimming pools, and traditional wellness amenities.
4.Investment Utility: Given its proximity to the education hub, it presents strong fundamental positioning for long-term leasing demand from international families and educators.
Program Benefits
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Capital Security & Flexibility: After holding the F-2 visa for five years, applicants can transition to permanent residency (F-5). At that point, the investment funds can be fully withdrawn, or the real estate liquidated, without impacting permanent residency status.
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Government-Backed Safety: The fund investment route involves direct deposit into official government accounts, with an official investment certificate issued to guarantee capital security and transparency.
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Streamlined Process: The documentation requirement is highly straightforward, necessitating only 4 basic documents for a single applicant, and 6 documents for a family application (including a spouse and unmarried dependent children). Consequently, the initial residency approval process is highly efficient, typically taking 1 to 2 months.
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Alternative Exit Options: Investors may choose to withdraw funds or sell the property before the five-year mark, though this will result in the forfeiture of the associated residency status.