1. Overview
F-5-12 Permanent Residency covers persons of special merit to Korea, one of the F-5 permanent residency categories. This page summarizes eligibility and required documents.
2. Eligibility Requirements
- Recognized by the Minister of Justice as having rendered special merit to Korea
- Examples: recipients of decorations for contributions to national independence or development and their spouses and children; certain lineal descendants meeting education or work-experience conditions
- Livelihood (income) requirement is exempt
- Good conduct (no disqualifying criminal or immigration violation record)
3. Required Documents
Specific documents per case will be advised in consultation.
4. Procedure
- Consultation and eligibility assessment
- Case-specific document preparation guidance
- Gather category-specific evidence (see Required Documents)
- Submit the application to the competent Immigration Office
- Review (processing time varies by office and filing date; confirm individually)
- Notification of the result
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How long does the process take?
A. Processing time varies depending on the competent Immigration Office.
Q. What are the benefits of using an administrative agent?
A. Vision Administrative Agent provides case-by-case review, document preparation, and immigration accompaniment in 4 languages.
Q. Which languages are supported for consultation?
A. Consultation is available in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese via KakaoTalk · WeChat · LINE · WhatsApp.
Q. What if my application is denied?
A. Depending on the denial reason, additional documents, appeals, re-applications, or judicial review are possible options. Strategy varies by case — we recommend consultation first.