Eastern Asia · Immigration

South Korea

39 immigration routes

South Korea sits in Eastern Asia. Its immigration system runs 39 distinct routes — led by work, other & special and study, each set out in official law. All 39 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.

Immigration routes
39across 15 route categories, each set out in official law
Source-cited routes
39 of 39cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
Largest category
Work13 of the 39 routes — see them under Work below
Region
Eastern Asia
Capital
Seoul
Population
51,684,564
Official language
Korean
Currency
KRW
Time zone
UTC+09:00
Source-cited pathways

Immigration routes

All 39 routes, grouped by purpose — 39 of 39 cite an official government source directly.

Work

13 routes

Professional employment status for professors giving lectures at college level or higher.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Non-professional employment status for seafarers and similar maritime crew under a seafarer employment contract.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Professional employment status for researchers in natural science or high technology industry.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Non-professional seasonal work status for cultivation, crop harvesting or aquatic product processing.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Work and visit status for overseas Koreans aged 18 or older with one of seven listed nationalities who wish to visit or work in Korea in designated occupations.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Investment

2 routes

Investor status for essential professional workers of foreign-invested companies and founders of venture companies.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25
Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business (IISPB)

For a foreign national who invests at least KRW 1.5 billion in a public-interest fund designated by the Minister of Justice. Excludes people with criminal records, tax debts or more than four Immigration Act violations.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-08-03

Business & self-employment

1 route

Business/trade status for trade managers and persons dispatched for company establishment, trade, machinery installation or business management.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Talent & merit

1 route

Job seeker/start-up preparer status for job seeking, start-up preparation or high-tech internship.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-08-03

Study

3 routes

Student status for formal education at college level or higher, including degree, exchange, work-learning and visiting student cases.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Industrial trainee status for production workers from overseas corporations receiving relevant industrial training in Korea.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

General trainee status for language training and other training at university-affiliated or private institutions.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Family

3 routes

Family visitor status for visiting relatives, living together with family and similar purposes.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Digital nomad

1 route

Residence-based status

2 routes

Resident status for long-term residents, recognized refugees or qualifying investors whose livelihood is based in Korea.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Permanent resident status for persons staying in Korea for permanent residency who receive treatment similar to a Korean national.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Youth mobility

1 route

Working holiday status for nationals from countries that have a working holiday program with Korea.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Cultural, religious & volunteer

2 routes

Religious worker status for persons dispatched from foreign religious organisations to engage in religious activities in Korea.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Short stay & visit

3 routes

Nationals of countries that have signed a visa waiver agreement with Korea may enter under B-1 status.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Humanitarian protection

1 route

Ancestry & return

1 route

For a foreign national who is an overseas Korean within the meaning of subparagraph 2 of Article 2 of the Overseas Korean Act.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Transit

1 route

Other & special

4 routes

Diplomatic status for members of foreign diplomatic missions or consular offices and family members.

Official government source: immigration.go.kr · checked 2026-07-25

Official sources

  • National immigration authority · last checked 2026-07-11
  • National immigration authority · last checked 2026-07-21
  • National immigration authority · last checked 2026-07-11
  • 외교부Government
    National immigration authority · last checked 2026-07-11
  • 외교부Government
    National immigration authority · last checked 2026-07-11
  • eps.go.krGovernment
    National immigration authority · last checked 2026-07-17
  • National immigration authority · last checked 2026-07-17

Compiled by António Mira, founder · How we verify our data · Not legal advice — immigration rules and thresholds change; confirm with the official sources above before deciding.

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