South Korea · Talent schemes
South Korea Top-Tier · science
First stay: 5 yrs
Top-Tier Visa, science and technology track (F-2)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Top-Tier · science is a talent schemes route for South Korea. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $60
- First stay
- 5 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government fees$60
- $60Visa application fee for a single-entry visa for a stay of 91 days or longer; the amount differs for some passport countries and multiple-entry visas cost more.
Permanent residenceAfter 3 years of residence
The residence period needed for permanent residence (F-5) is shortened from the usual 5 years to 3 years for Top-Tier visa holders; the science and technology track opened on 1 June 2026.
CitizenshipGeneral rule: 5 years of residence
General naturalization needs 5 consecutive years of domicile in Korea and qualification for permanent residence, plus good conduct, self-support and basic knowledge of Korea.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a sponsor in South Korea
What you'll need
Who can apply7
- The Minister of Science and ICT recommends the applicant; the host institution in Korea (a university, government-funded research institute or corporate research lab) applies for the recommendation.
- The applicant meets at least one criterion: an internationally recognised science and technology prize such as the Nobel Prize or Fields Medal, or a recommendation from a laureate.
- Or is on the Highly Cited Researchers list (top 1% by citations), or is the author of a paper selected by an international journal such as Science or Nature, for example as the best research of the year.
- Or holds a triadic patent (registered at the US, Japanese and European patent offices) or an international-standard patent, or earned technology royalties of KRW 1 billion (≈ $750,000) or more in the last 3 years.
- Or has at least 5 years of work in the field as a principal investigator or assistant professor or above at a research institute of a world top-100 university, at senior researcher level or above at a research lab of a global top-500 company or at a national or public research institute, or as an equivalent core researcher.
- University rank is taken from the QS, Times or US News rankings of the last 5 years, and company rank from the Fortune, Forbes or Time lists of the last 3 years.
- A researcher with high potential who does not meet these criteria can be assessed by a joint review committee of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Science and ICT.
What you must show and pay1
- A fee of $60 · Visa application fee for a single-entry visa for a stay of 91 days or longer; the amount differs for some passport countries and multiple-entry visas cost more.
Steps1
- Visa issuance and stay permission are handled through a one-stop online service.
After you arrive3
- The researcher and family receive F-2 resident status, which allows free employment.
- The period of residence needed for permanent residence (F-5) is shortened from the usual 5 years to 3 years.
- An immigration priority card is issued.
What happens at day 183
How South Korea decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 5 years at first
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a continuous residence in KoreaA person with no domicile who has a residence in Korea for 183 days or more is a resident
- Foreign-source income
Remittance basis (5 years)
A foreign resident whose total period of domicile or residence in Korea is five years or less in the ten years before the end of the tax period is taxed on foreign-source income only to the extent it is paid in Korea or remitted to Korea.
- Special regime
Remittance basis for foreign-source income of foreigners with 5 years or less of residence · Tax relief
All tax rules for South Korea Tax records checked
Full official text
F-2 resident status for top science and technology professors and researchers recommended by the Minister of Science and ICT, open since 1 June 2026. The host institution in Korea (a university, government-funded research institute or corporate lab) applies for the recommendation. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $60 · Visa application fee for a single-entry visa for a stay of 91 days or longer; the amount differs for some passport countries and multiple-entry visas cost more. 3
Requirements
- The Minister of Science and ICT recommends the applicant; the host institution in Korea (a university, government-funded research institute or corporate research lab) applies for the recommendation. 1
- The applicant meets at least one criterion: an internationally recognised science and technology prize such as the Nobel Prize or Fields Medal, or a recommendation from a laureate. 1
- Or is on the Highly Cited Researchers list (top 1% by citations), or is the author of a paper selected by an international journal such as Science or Nature, for example as the best research of the year. 1
- Or holds a triadic patent (registered at the US, Japanese and European patent offices) or an international-standard patent, or earned technology royalties of KRW 1 billion (≈ $750,000) or more in the last 3 years. 1
- Or has at least 5 years of work in the field as a principal investigator or assistant professor or above at a research institute of a world top-100 university, at senior researcher level or above at a research lab of a global top-500 company or at a national or public research institute, or as an equivalent core researcher. 1
- University rank is taken from the QS, Times or US News rankings of the last 5 years, and company rank from the Fortune, Forbes or Time lists of the last 3 years. 5
- A researcher with high potential who does not meet these criteria can be assessed by a joint review committee of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Science and ICT. 5
- Visa issuance and stay permission are handled through a one-stop online service. 1
- The researcher and family receive F-2 resident status, which allows free employment. 5
- The period of residence needed for permanent residence (F-5) is shortened from the usual 5 years to 3 years. 5
- An immigration priority card is issued. 5
Stay
- F-2 resident status; permanent residence can be applied for after 3 years.
- First stay: up to 60 months, decided case by case.
Work
F-2 resident status with free employment.
Family
The researcher's family receives F-2 resident status with free employment; the release does not list which family members. Your spouse or partner may work in South Korea without a separate permit.
Fine print
The joint release of 1 June 2026 does not state a processing time, a Korean-language rule or the status of parents and domestic helpers for this track.
Official sources
- Top-Tier visa extension to science and technology professors/researchers · Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-06-30
- 2030 Immigration Policy Future Strategy (March 2026) · Ministry of Justice (Korea) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-03
- Visa application fees for each visa type · Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) · checked 2026-10-11
- Visa Navigator: Customized Stay Guide for Foreign Residents · Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-12
- Press release: Top-Tier visa extended to science and technology professors and researchers (1 June 2026) · Ministry of Justice, Korea Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-06-01
- Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Article 23: employment by status of stay (in force 1 June 2025) · Ministry of Government Legislation (National Law Information Center) · checked 2026-10-12
- Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Annex 1-2: long-term stay statuses (amended 27 May 2025) · National Law Information Center, Korea (law.go.kr) · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2025-05-27
- Nationality Act (Articles 5 and 6, English translation) · Korea Legislation Research Institute (Ministry of Government Legislation) · checked 2026-10-11
Top-Tier · science and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top-Tier · science | – | 5 yr | – |
| J-Find Japan | – | 2 yr | – |
| Golden Visa · Talent Indonesia | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Blue Residence United Arab Emirates | – | 10 yr, renewable | – |
| ONE Pass Singapore | Needs income of SGD 30k+ a month ≈ $23k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Top-Tier · science?
A fee of $60. Visa application fee for a single-entry visa for a stay of 91 days or longer; the amount differs for some passport countries and multiple-entry visas cost more.
How long can I stay on the Top-Tier · science?
F-2 resident status; permanent residence can be applied for after 3 years.
Can I work on the Top-Tier · science?
F-2 resident status with free employment.
Can I bring my family on the Top-Tier · science?
The researcher's family receives F-2 resident status with free employment; the release does not list which family members.
Does the Top-Tier · science lead to permanent residence in South Korea?
Time on the Top-Tier · science counts toward permanent residence in South Korea, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence. The general rule for citizenship is 5 years of residence.
Is there a tax break for Top-Tier · science holders in South Korea?
Korea: remittance basis for foreign-source income of foreigners with 5 years or less of residence: A foreign resident whose total period of domicile or residence in Korea is five years or less in the ten years before the end of the tax period is taxed on foreign-source income only to the extent it is paid in Korea or remitted to Korea. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Korea: remittance basis for foreign-source income of foreigners with 5 years or less of residence
Tax relief
Details
- On: Foreign-source income that is paid in Korea or remitted to Korea
- Who: Foreign national (not a Korean citizen) who is a Korean tax resident
A foreign resident whose total period of domicile or residence in Korea is five years or less in the ten years before the end of the tax period is taxed on foreign-source income only to the extent it is paid in Korea or remitted to Korea.
Taxed on
Foreign-source income that is paid in Korea or remitted to Korea; Korean-source income and all other income is taxed in full under the progressive income tax.
Who it applies to
- Foreign national (not a Korean citizen) who is a Korean tax resident.
- Sum of periods with a domicile or residence in Korea over the 10 years before the end of the taxable period is 5 years or less.
- Resident means having a domicile in Korea or a residence of 183 days or more.
Exclusions
- After more than five years of domicile or residence within the ten-year look-back, foreign-source income is taxed on a worldwide basis as for Korean residents.
- Income not paid or remitted into Korea stays outside the Korean base for qualifying foreigners.
Days in the country
- At least 183 days in continuous residence in Korea · A person with no domicile who has a residence in Korea for 183 days or more is a resident
Tax residence
The five-year test is counted over the ten years before the end of the relevant taxable period; non-residents are taxed only on Korean-source income (article 3(2)).
Visas
Applies by tax residence status and nationality, not by visa category.
Other taxes
Local income tax, VAT and social insurance apply separately; see “Optional flat tax rate for foreign employees” and “Korea progressive comprehensive income tax rates” for employment tax rates.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in South Korea
Special talent visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 8 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Top-Tier visa extension to science and technology professors/researchers · Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea · checked 2026-10-12
- 2030 Immigration Policy Future Strategy (March 2026) · Ministry of Justice (Korea) · checked 2026-10-10
- Visa application fees for each visa type · Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) · checked 2026-10-11
- Visa Navigator: Customized Stay Guide for Foreign Residents · Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-12
- Press release: Top-Tier visa extended to science and technology professors and researchers (1 June 2026) · Ministry of Justice, Korea Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-12
- Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Article 23: employment by status of stay (in force 1 June 2025) · Ministry of Government Legislation (National Law Information Center) · checked 2026-10-12
- Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Annex 1-2: long-term stay statuses (amended 27 May 2025) · National Law Information Center, Korea (law.go.kr) · checked 2026-10-12
- Nationality Act (Articles 5 and 6, English translation) · Korea Legislation Research Institute (Ministry of Government Legislation) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.