South Korea · Work
South Korea K-STAR to F-2
First stay: 5 yrs
K-STAR Visa Track to Resident status (F-2)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
K-STAR to F-2 is a work route for South Korea. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- First stay
- 5 yrs
Time and long term
Permanent residenceTime here counts
Participants receive F-2 on graduation and reach permanent residence at least 3 years sooner than the standard path.
CitizenshipConditions
Special naturalization can be requested regardless of length of stay when outstanding research results are shown.
Where to applyInside the country
Open to students at participating Korean universities, who receive F-2 on graduation after the university recommends them.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs earlier residence or an existing status in South Korea
- Needs a job offer from an employer in South Korea
- Work isn't allowed on this route
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The applicant is an outstanding science or technology international student recommended by a participating K-STAR university.
- The track began with five science institutes (KAIST, DGIST, UNIST, GIST, UST) and was extended to general universities.
- The March 2026 strategy lists 32 participating universities.
Steps1
- Recommended graduates can apply for F-2 resident status with no employment requirement.
After you arrive2
- The time needed to reach permanent residence (F-5) is shortened by at least 3 years.
- Proof of outstanding research allows a special naturalisation application regardless of length of stay.
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
Fast track for outstanding science and technology international students recommended by participating universities: F-2 resident status on graduation with no employment requirement, and a shorter path to permanent residence. 1 2 3
Requirements
- The applicant is an outstanding science or technology international student recommended by a participating K-STAR university. 1
- The track began with five science institutes (KAIST, DGIST, UNIST, GIST, UST) and was extended to general universities. 1
- The March 2026 strategy lists 32 participating universities. 2
- Recommended graduates can apply for F-2 resident status with no employment requirement. 1 2
- The time needed to reach permanent residence (F-5) is shortened by at least 3 years. 2
- Proof of outstanding research allows a special naturalisation application regardless of length of stay. 2
Stay
- F-2 resident status is granted on graduation; permanent residence (F-5) comes at least 3 years sooner than the standard path.
- First stay: up to 60 months, decided case by case.
Nationality
International students at participating Korean universities.
Work
Resident (F-2) status; no employment is required to apply after graduation.
Official sources
- K-STAR Visa Track established for outstanding science and technology talent · Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2025-09-23
- 2030 Immigration Policy Future Strategy (March 2026) · Ministry of Justice (Korea) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-03
- Visa Navigator: Customized Stay Guide for Foreign Residents · Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-12
K-STAR to F-2 and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-STAR to F-2 | – | 5 yr | No |
| Job Seeker (D-10) | – | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Special Occupation (E-7) | Needs income from ₩25.9M a year ≈ $19k | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Top-Tier · industry job | Needs income from ₩149.9M a year ≈ $112k | 5 yr | – |
| LTR · Highly Skilled Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the K-STAR to F-2?
F-2 resident status is granted on graduation; permanent residence (F-5) comes at least 3 years sooner than the standard path.
Can I work on the K-STAR to F-2?
No. Resident (F-2) status; no employment is required to apply after graduation.
Does the K-STAR to F-2 lead to permanent residence in South Korea?
Time on the K-STAR to F-2 counts toward permanent residence in South Korea.
Is there a tax break for K-STAR to F-2 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
Work 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 2026-10-10 against 3 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.
- K-STAR Visa Track established for outstanding science and technology talent · Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea · checked 2026-10-10
- 2030 Immigration Policy Future Strategy (March 2026) · Ministry of Justice (Korea) · checked 2026-10-10
- Visa Navigator: Customized Stay Guide for Foreign Residents · Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-12
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.