Yes. If you hold Corporate Investment (D-8) item (a) status, have stayed and worked in Korea continuously for 3 years or more as essential personnel at an R&D facility in which a foreign-invested company has invested, hold a bachelor's degree or higher from Korea or abroad, and meet either the income or the asset threshold, you can apply for R&D Personnel of a Foreign-Invested Company permanent residency (F-5-26). Gaps that arise while changing workplaces are treated as continuous work if they total 90 days or less.
This guide is for research leads and engineers dispatched to the Korean R&D centers of foreign companies, and for the HR staff who manage them. We go through the requirements one by one for the route from D-8 to permanent residency for research staff, rather than investors themselves.
Key Summary
- Applies to: people who have stayed continuously for 3 years or more on D-8 item (a) status as essential personnel at an R&D facility of a foreign-invested company
- Education: a bachelor's degree or higher from Korea or abroad
- Work: 3 years or more of continuous work as essential personnel at the R&D facility (continuity is recognized if total days of interruption while changing workplaces are 90 or fewer)
- Financial self-sufficiency: either income of at least 2 times the previous year's gross national income (GNI) per capita, or assets of at least 1.5 times the previous year's average net assets
- Exempt from the basic knowledge requirement (such as completing the social integration program)
- Category-specific documents: copy of the R&D facility designation (official letter from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy), dispatch order or employment certificate, income amount certificate, etc.
1. Who is eligible for F-5-26?
It covers people recognized by the Minister of Justice who hold Corporate Investment (D-8) item (a) status and have stayed in Korea continuously for 3 years or more as essential personnel at an R&D facility of a foreign-invested company. In the permanent residency list it is summarized as "a person who has worked for 3 years or more as essential personnel at an R&D facility invested in by a foreigner".
Among the D-8 subtypes, investment in a corporation (D-8-1) covers essential personnel who will work in management or in production and technology at a Korean corporation that is a foreign-invested company, and people hired in Korea are excluded. Whether your own status falls under D-8 item (a) needs to be confirmed with immigration case by case.
2. How is 3 years of continuous work assessed?
It is checked in two ways. You must have stayed continuously for 3 years or more on D-8 item (a) status, and you must also have worked continuously for 3 years or more as essential personnel at the R&D facility.
Even if work was briefly interrupted while changing workplaces, continuity is recognized and the time is added to the work period as long as the total days of interruption over the 3 years are 90 or fewer. For example, if you moved twice to other R&D facilities in the same group and all gaps added together stay within 90 days, continuity can be considered maintained. If the gaps add up to more than 90 days, it is difficult to treat the work as continuous for 3 years.
3. What are the income and asset requirements?
Meeting either of the following is enough:
| Standard | Detail |
|---|---|
| Income | At least 2 times the previous year's GNI per capita |
| Assets | At least 1.5 times the previous year's average net assets |
If you rely on income, first check whether the amount shown on the income amount certificate reaches the threshold. If part of your salary is paid abroad, how it is recognized as income needs to be confirmed with immigration case by case. The reference amounts change every year, so confirm the figures at the time of application with the local immigration office.
F-5-26 is also exempt from the basic knowledge requirement, so completing the social integration program is not separately required. The good conduct requirement, including compliance with Korean law, is reviewed as a common requirement for permanent residency.
4. Which documents are submitted?
- Common documents: integrated application form, passport, alien registration card, proof of residence, overseas criminal record certificate (unless exempt from submission), personal surety letter (unless exempt)
- Copy of the R&D facility designation (official letter from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy)
- Dispatch order or employment certificate
- Income amount certificate and other proof of income or assets
- Degree evidence showing a bachelor's degree or higher (as guided by the local office)
The R&D facility designation is an official letter from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, so it is advisable to arrange in advance with HR or the R&D center's administration to obtain a copy.
5. Common problems
- Not checking whether the R&D center you work at is a designated R&D facility
- Not checking whether your current status falls under D-8 item (a)
- Counting the work as continuous even though gaps between workplaces exceeded 90 days in total
- Income on the income amount certificate falls short, but the asset standard was not considered
- A degree below bachelor level, or no degree evidence prepared
6. How A-One Certified Administrative Agent can help
We calculate the gap days in your stay and work history to check continuity, review whether the income or asset threshold is met, and organize the company-side documents (R&D facility designation, dispatch order). The immigration office decides each case, so no result can be promised, and we do not handle litigation or court representation (outside the scope of an administrative scrivener).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a researcher who is not an investor move from D-8 to permanent residency?
If you have stayed and worked continuously for 3 years or more on D-8 item (a) status as essential personnel at an R&D facility of a foreign-invested company, you can apply for F-5-26.
I had a gap while changing companies. Is that a problem?
If the total days of interruption while changing workplaces over the 3 years are 90 or fewer, continuity is recognized and the time is added to the work period.
What is the income threshold?
Either income of at least 2 times the previous year's GNI per capita, or assets of at least 1.5 times the previous year's average net assets.
Do I need a Korean language test or the social integration program?
F-5-26 is exempt from the basic knowledge requirement. The good conduct requirement is still reviewed in common.
Which documents must I get from the company?
A copy of the R&D facility designation (official letter from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy) and a dispatch order or employment certificate.
Related Guides
- F-5 Permanent Residency Guide
- D-8 to F-5 permanent residency: requirements and procedure
- D-8 essential personnel: executives, senior managers and specialists
Consultation
에이원 행정사사무소 (A-One Certified Administrative Agent) is an administrative office that supports document preparation and filing with the authorities. Fees vary by case and are explained during a consultation. Phone 02-309-3107 · Contact: https://investkorea.co.kr/en/contact