F-4 Visa Korea | Overseas Korean Visa
Are looking to live and work in South Korea on the basis of your Korean heritage? The legal experts at Pureum Law Office are here to explain the F-4 Korean visa (or “Overseas Korean Visa”), which is designed for former Korean nationals and their descendants. It is typically a multiple-entry visa (valid up to 5 years) with a 2-year period of stay per entry. However, in some cases, only one year is granted when a Korean-language certificate is not submitted. After entering the country on an F-4 visa, you must register for a Resident Card (ARC) within 90 days.
Korean F-4 visa quick facts
- Who is eligible for an F-4 visa?: Former Korean nationals and their children or grandchildren who hold foreign nationality.
- Validity and period of stay: Usually 5-year multiple entry; 2-year stay per entry (or 1 year if you don’t provide language proof).
- Employment: Allowed to work freely in the country, but not in “simple labor” jobs or jobs contrary to public morals. Many offices require a signing of a ‘Pledge of Non-Employment’ in F-4 restricted occupations.
- Resident card: Upon arrival in the country, you must apply for your Resident Card within 90 days.
Who qualifies for the F-4 visa?
Those typically eligible for the F4 visa include:
- Former Korean nationals who have acquired another nation’s citizenship; and
- Descendants (e.g. children and grandchildren) of overseas Koreans who previously held Korean nationality, if lineage is officially documented.
South Korea’s official Visa Portal also lists internal sub-categories for the F-4 visa. While you do not need to pick a sub-category for yourself, as immigration officers will automatically classify you into a category according to your supporting documents, it can still be helpful for assessing your eligibility for the visa and gauging what type of documents you should prepare.
Sub-categories of the F-4 visa:
- F-4-11 (overseas Korean)
- F-4-12 (descendant)
- F-4-13 (former D/E holders)
- F-4-14 (university graduates)
- F-4-15 (OECD PR)
- F-4-16 (corporate executive)
- F-4-17 (entrepreneur)
- F-4-18 (multinational)
- F-4-19 (overseas Korean organization representative)
- F-4-20 (government employee)
- F-4-21 (teacher)
- F-4-25 (aged 60+)
Who is not eligible?
- Korean men who renounced or naturalized after May 1, 2018 without completing military service generally cannot obtain the F-4 visa until the year they turn 41.
- Applicants with recent immigration fines or serious criminal records may be ineligible (thresholds and look-back periods apply).
F-4 Visa Benefits & Limits
Benefits
- F-4 visa holders can live and work in Korea with broad flexibility benefits, with one of these benefits being the exemption of employer sponsorship.
- F-4 visas generally have a long validity with multi-entry allowances for up to 5 years.
- The F-4 visa is relatively simple to renew.
Limits
- There are limitations on doing some “simple labor” jobs such as manual labor or low-skilled roles.
- For highly professional roles, such as those requiring certain licenses, additional Korean licenses or nationalities may be required as stipulated by the law.
Required documents for the F4 Visa
- Proof of loss/renunciation of Korean nationality.
- Foreign citizenship proof (e.g. naturalization certificate, foreign passport).
- Criminal record from your home country and from countries where you resided within the past 5 years, usually apostilled or consular-legalized (age-based exemptions exist).
- Korean-language certificate (e.g., TOPIK 1 or Sejong Level 1B) is often optional, but can determine whether your sojourn period is 2 years vs 1 year.
- Applicants may be required to have a TB test, depending on your country of residence.
*Always check your specific embassy/consulate list; requirements and formats can differ.
F-4 visa FAQs
- Do I need to be proficient in Korean?
Not always. Some consulates/embassies accept F-4 without proof of Korean language, but this may limit sojourn in the country to 1 year instead of 2. Some exemptions for Korean language requirements exist for certain applicants, such as young children or those over the age of 60, etc. - Can I do any job on an F-4?
You can work a wide range of jobs and have less work restrictions compared to other visa types. However, certain jobs such as simple labor or jobs against public morals are restricted. Many immigration officers will ask you to sign a restricted-work pledge when applying for the visa. Certain professions also have separate licensing laws and requirements. - How long is the visa valid?
Commonly, the F-4 is a 5-year multiple-entry visa, with 2 years of stay per entry, however this can be reduced to 1-year in cases where Korean language certificates are not submitted. Renewals and exact periods can vary by post and your documents. - I’m a male who renounced Korean nationality after 2018 without serving. Can I apply?
In most cases, you must wait until the year you turn 41 to apply for an F-4 visa. There are additional documentation rules for those who served or were exempt.
Pro F4 visa tips from Puruem Law Office
- Match your proof to your category
For former nationals, recent proof of loss of Korean Nationality plus foreign naturalization proof are key. For descendants, prepare both ancestor documents and your birth records showing the lineage.
- Plan ahead for police background checks
Apostille/consular legalization can take weeks and consulates/embassies may require official police checks for any country of residence within the past 1 to 5 years. Therefore, you should take into consideration the time that it will take to get these documents ready before applying for this visa.
- Proof of Korean language ability is helpful
Even when optional, submitting Korean language proficiency certificates such as TOPIK 1 or Sejong 1B often unlock the full 2-year stay per entry, thus it is highly recommended.
- Book an immigration appointment ASAP
Slots for appointments at the immigration center fill quickly and missing the 90-day window for the Resident Card can trigger penalties.
Final Thoughts on the Korean F-4 Visa
Every consulate applies the same law but may vary on checklists and formats. Pureum Law Office specializes in helping clients determine the best strategy for obtaining their desired visas and prepare strong applications tailored to their unique case. If you share your country of residence and family documents, we can map the exact F-4 sub-route and prepare a filing-ready document pack. Get in touch with our immigration experts today. Let us help.
