Region-Specific Visas — Eligibility, Requirements, and Stay Procedures for F-2-R, E-7-4R, and F-4-R
Based on Ministry of Justice manual (2026-09-18) · Translated from the Korean original.
Region-specific visas are a system that provides special provisions for changes of status of stay and extensions of the period of stay, among other matters, so that foreign nationals recommended by local governments can settle in population-decline areas and other designated areas. The categories include Regional Talent (F-2-R), Region-Specific Skilled Worker (E-7-4R), and Region-Specific Overseas Korean (F-4-R), with residence and employment conditions varying by category.
At a glance
Who it is for
- Regional Talent (F-2-R): A person legally staying in Korea who is not subject to the exclusions in the manual and meets the requirements for a recommendation letter and education or income, among others.
- Regional Talent (F-2-R): The applicant must hold at least an associate degree from a Korean institution, or the applicant’s annual income must be at least equal to the living wage set by the metropolitan or provincial local government issuing the recommendation letter.
- Regional Talent (F-2-R): A person who intends to reside, work, or operate a business in the recommended area for at least five years and also meets requirements concerning basic competency, good conduct, and other matters.
- Region-Specific Skilled Worker (E-7-4R): A person who falls within the categories specified in the manual, such as a registered foreign national who has stayed for at least two years under E-9, E-10, or H-2 during the past ten years, and who meets the recommendation, points, residence, and employment requirements.
- Region-Specific Skilled Worker (E-7-4R): The applicant must score at least 200 out of 300 points on the points table, including at least 50 points each for average income and Korean-language proficiency.
- Region-Specific Overseas Korean (F-4-R): An overseas Korean of foreign nationality who has resided in the relevant area for at least two years before the business area was selected, or an overseas Korean who intends to move to the business area with their family and meets the specified requirements.
- Region-Specific Overseas Korean (F-4-R): Applicants transferring residence from within Korea or from overseas are subject to requirements including being under 60 years of age and accompanying family members. Transfers from overseas are limited to nationals of the countries designated in the manual.
What you can do
- As a general rule, F-2-R holders reside and work or operate a business in the recommended area. Depending on the eligible local government and category, exceptions may allow them to work or reside elsewhere within the same metropolitan or provincial area.
- For the first two years after approval, F-2-R holders must actually reside and work or operate a business in the area specified by the manual. Separate requirements or procedures may apply to changing employers or switching between employment and business operation.
- F-2-R holders may engage in employment activities at additional workplaces within the recommended area. Their principal activity must remain at the approved workplace or business location.
- E-7-4R holders must reside in the recommended area and work at a workplace located there. They must meet requirements concerning their employment contract, wages, and other matters.
- F-4-R employment activities are unrestricted except for activities that violate good morals or social order. The area in which employment activities may be carried out is limited to the jurisdiction of the metropolitan or provincial local government that includes the recommended area.
- The spouse accompanying an F-2-R or E-7-4R holder may work for an employer in the recommended area, subject to the separate requirements for permission to engage in activities outside the scope of their status of stay.
Period of stay
The excerpt does not specify the maximum period of stay for a single grant of any of the principal statuses. F-2-R regional requirements apply during the first two years after approval, and accompanying family members are granted a period of stay that expires on the same date as that of the principal status holder.
Applications & documents
Change of Status of Stay to Regional Talent (F-2-R)
- Integrated Application Form (통합신청서), passport, and photo
- Alien Registration Card
- Documents proving education or income
- Documents proving place of residence and employment or business operation
- Documents proving basic competency
- Overseas criminal record certificate
- Recommendation letter from the head of the metropolitan or provincial local government
- Documents verifying that the employing company meets the requirements (if applicable)
- Documents proving individual local-government requirements (if applicable)
The recommendation letter must be issued before the application for permission to stay and is valid for three months from the date of issue. Apply to the competent Immigration Office.
Extension of Period of Stay for Regional Talent (F-2-R)
- Integrated Application Form, passport, and photo
- Alien Registration Card
- Documents proving education (if applicable)
- Documents proving income
- Documents proving place of residence
- Documents proving employment or business activities
- Documents verifying that the employing company meets the requirements (if applicable)
- Recommendation letter from the head of the metropolitan or provincial local government (if the workplace has changed)
When considering an extension, the authorities review requirements concerning income, residence, employment or business operation, good conduct, and other matters.
Change of Status of Stay to Region-Specific Skilled Worker (E-7-4R)
- Integrated Application Form, copy of passport, photo, and Alien Registration Card
- Points-Based Self-Assessment Form (점수제 자체 심사표) and Personal Information Statement (신상 기술서)
- Standard Employment Contract for Region-Specific Skilled Workers (지역특화 숙련기능인력 표준근로계약서)
- Documents proving average income for the most recent two years
- Documents proving Korean-language proficiency
- Letter of Guarantee (신원보증서) and documents proving place of residence
- Recommendation letter from the employing company and recommendation letter from the head of the metropolitan or provincial local government
- Business registration certificate or agricultural business registration for the workplace
- Tax payment certificate, local tax payment certificate, and documents verifying the number of employees at the workplace
The recommendation letter must be issued before applying and is valid for three months from the date of issue. The manual also specifies the application day according to the last digit of the applicant’s year of birth.
Change of Status of Stay to Region-Specific Overseas Korean (F-4-R)
- Recommendation letter from the local government
- Passport and copy, Unified Application Form for Overseas Korean (F-4) (재외동포(F-4) 통합신청서), and photo
- Documents proving place of stay
- Documents proving overseas Korean status
- Overseas criminal record certificate
- Occupation and Annual Income Declaration (직업 및 연간 소득금액 신고서) (check occupation only)
- Documents proving school attendance or planned enrollment for school-age children, or a medical certificate (if applicable)
- Medical examination certificate (for those transferring residence from overseas)
A fee is required, but the excerpt does not specify the amount. The requirements for submitting or being exempt from submitting an overseas criminal record certificate follow the Guidelines for Processing Overseas Korean Affairs (외국국적동포 업무처리 지침).
Extension of Period of Stay for Region-Specific Overseas Korean (F-4-R)
- Passport and copy
- Domestic Residence Report Card
- Integrated Application Form and documents proving place of stay
- Documents proving school attendance or planned enrollment for school-age children, or a medical certificate (if applicable)
- Occupation and Annual Income Declaration (check occupation only)
- If the accompanying family members have changed, a Confirmation of Accompanying Family Details (동반가족 사항 확인서) and documents proving family relationships and transfer of residence
A fee is required, but the excerpt does not specify the amount.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What types of region-specific visas are available?
The main categories are Regional Talent (F-2-R), Region-Specific Skilled Worker (E-7-4R), and Region-Specific Overseas Korean (F-4-R). Depending on the category, accompanying family members may be eligible for F-3-1R, F-3-3R, F-3-2R, and other statuses.
Q. What do I need to apply for F-2-R?
A recommendation letter from the head of a metropolitan or provincial local government is required. You must also meet requirements such as holding at least an associate degree from a Korean institution or having annual income at least equal to the living wage set by the metropolitan or provincial local government, and intending to reside, work, or start a business in the recommended area for at least five years.
Q. What Korean-language level is required for F-2-R?
The excerpt’s table of basic requirements and list of required documents specify Level 3 of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (사회통합프로그램) or TOPIK Level 3. However, the detailed basic competency section specifies Level 4 of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program or TOPIK Level 4, so the information is inconsistent. Before applying, confirm which standard applies with the competent Immigration Office (출입국·외국인관서).
Q. Can I move to another area with F-2-R?
As a general rule, F-2-R holders must reside in the recommended area. The guide states that, after two years from the initial approval, they may move to another population-decline area within the same metropolitan or provincial local government area.
Q. What score requirements must I meet for E-7-4R?
You must score at least 200 out of a total of 300 points. You must score at least 50 points each for average income and Korean-language proficiency. Your recommendation letter, residence and employment requirements, and whether you fall under any exclusion criteria are also reviewed.
Q. Can the spouse of an F-2-R or E-7-4R holder also work?
A spouse may work after obtaining permission for activities outside the scope of their status of stay. They must actually reside in the same place as the principal status holder and work for an employer within the recommended area.
Q. Can an F-4-R holder work in another metropolitan or provincial area?
The manual limits employment activities to the jurisdiction of the metropolitan or provincial local government that includes the recommended area. Working in another metropolitan or provincial local government area may result in disadvantages, such as being treated as having violated employment activity restrictions or being denied an extension of the period of stay.
Q. Can I change from F-4-R to Regional Korean Permanent Resident (F-5-6R)?
As a general rule, after changing to F-4-R, you must continue to reside in the recommended area and maintain your status for at least four years. The two-year period applies to people who obtained F-4-R under the existing-resident requirement. You must also meet requirements concerning conduct, ability to support yourself, and basic competency.
Watch out for
- The excerpt gives different basic competency standards for F-2-R in the table of basic requirements and the detailed section. Confirm the applicable standard with the competent Immigration Office before applying.
- The F-2-R recommendation letter is valid for three months from the date of issue and may be used for only one application.
- F-2-R and E-7-4R have restrictions on where holders may reside and work. In particular, check the regional conditions that apply during the first two years of F-2-R.
- F-4-R employment activities are limited to the jurisdiction of the metropolitan or provincial local government that includes the recommended area.
Source
Compiled by AI from the Ministry of Justice "Visa Issuance Guide Manual" and "Residence Guide Manual" (HiKorea notice, in Korean). hikorea.go.kr
This is general guidance; the immigration office makes the final decision. Before applying, check the latest rules on HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.