South Korea · Investing
South Korea F-5 investor · ₩3bn
Investment needed: ₩3B+ ≈ $2.3M
High-Amount Public-Interest Investment Immigration (F-5)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
F-5 investor · ₩3bn is an investing route for South Korea. Applicants need an investment of ₩3B+ ≈ $2.3M. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Money needed
- ₩3B+ ≈ $2.3M
Cost, time and long term
Invested and held₩3B+ ≈ $2.3M
- KRW 3,000,000,000 (≈ $2,250,000)High-amount standard: investment held for 5 years or more; F-5 is cancelled if the money is returned earlier.
Permanent residenceTime here counts
F-5 is granted on deposit but is cancelled if the investment is returned before 5 years have passed.
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.
What you'll need
What you must show1
- The investor places at least KRW 3 billion (≈ $2,250,000) in the scheme.
After you arrive2
- The investor, spouse and unmarried children can receive F-5 on condition that the investment is held for 5 years.
- Returning the investment before 5 years cancels F-5 status.
What happens at day 183
How South Korea decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- 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
Investors who place at least KRW 3 billion (≈ $2,250,000) in a public-interest project can receive permanent residence (F-5) directly, on condition that the investment is held for 5 years. 1 2
What you must show
- An investment of at least KRW 3,000,000,000 (≈ $2,250,000) · High-amount standard: investment held for 5 years or more; F-5 is cancelled if the money is returned earlier. 1
Requirements
- The investor places at least KRW 3 billion (≈ $2,250,000) in the scheme. 1
- The investor, spouse and unmarried children can receive F-5 on condition that the investment is held for 5 years. 1
- Returning the investment before 5 years cancels F-5 status. 1
Stay
- Permanent residence (F-5) while the investment is held for 5 years or more.
Work
Permanent residents have unrestricted economic activity.
Family
Spouse and unmarried children receive F-5 on the same terms. Your spouse or partner may work in South Korea without a separate permit.
Official sources
- Public-interest project investment immigration scheme (F-2 to F-5) · 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
- Nationality Act (Articles 5 and 6, English translation) · Korea Legislation Research Institute (Ministry of Government Legislation) · checked 2026-10-11
F-5 investor · ₩3bn and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-5 investor · ₩3bn | Needs an investment of ₩3B+ ≈ $2.3M | – | Yes |
| F-2 investor · ₩1.5bn | Needs an investment of ₩1.5B+ ≈ $1.1M | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Jeju property investor | Needs an investment of ₩1B+ ≈ $750k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| D-8-1 Business Investment | Needs an investment of ₩100M+ ≈ $75k | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
| LTR · Wealthy Global Citizen Thailand | Needs an investment of $500k+ | 5 yr, renewable | Yes |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the F-5 investor · ₩3bn?
An investment of at least KRW 3,000,000,000 (≈ $2,250,000). High-amount standard: investment held for 5 years or more; F-5 is cancelled if the money is returned earlier.
How long can I stay on the F-5 investor · ₩3bn?
Permanent residence (F-5) while the investment is held for 5 years or more.
Can I work on the F-5 investor · ₩3bn?
Yes. Permanent residents have unrestricted economic activity.
Can I bring my family on the F-5 investor · ₩3bn?
Spouse and unmarried children receive F-5 on the same terms.
Does the F-5 investor · ₩3bn lead to permanent residence in South Korea?
Time on the F-5 investor · ₩3bn (≈ $2,250,000) counts toward permanent residence in South Korea. The general rule for citizenship is 5 years of residence.
Is there a tax break for F-5 investor · ₩3bn 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
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≈ 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 2026-10-11 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.
- Public-interest project investment immigration scheme (F-2 to F-5) · 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
- 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.