South Korea Investor Visa Eyes Another Record Year as Chinese Demand Accelerates
China’s investment migration market is once more booming. South Korea is one of the primary beneficiaries.
South Korea is a peaceful, safe, advanced, and high-income jurisdiction.
The country is atypical among Asian peers for its willingness to grant citizenship to foreigners. The South Korean Investor Visa allows foreigners to obtain permanent residency in the country either immediately (if the higher minimum investment option is chosen) or within five years. Permanent residents of South Korea are eligible to apply for citizenship, for which they qualify if they speak Korean.
Program Type | Golden Visa Program |
Time to citizenship | 5 to 6 years |
Time to permanent residency | 5 years |
Minimum investment | KRW 300m (about US$250,000) |
Physical presence requirement | Visit South Korea at least once a year |
Application processing time | 20 days |
Citizenship grants visa-free travel to | 190 destinations, including Schengen countries and the US |
Contribution types available | Fund investment, designated development projects |
General program requirements
South Korea’s Investor Visa program allows for two principal classes of investment:
1. Principal Guaranteed and Interest-Free Investment
An investment in a public fund administered by the Korea Development Bank. The principal is returned after five years and no interest is paid in the interim.
2. Risk-based Investment
An investment in designated development projects in less-developed regions of the country. These projects can include infrastructure developments, hospitality ventures, and other projects considered of particular interest to economic development. These investments carry risk but also the potential for returns.
Minimum investment amounts
Investors aged 55 and over must deposit no less than KRW 300 million (about US$250,000) to qualify for temporary residency (F-2);
Investors younger than 55 years old must deposit KRW 500 million (about US$420,000) to qualify for temporary residency (F-2);
Investors of any age can obtain immediate permanent residency (F-5) by depositing KRW 1.5 billion (about US$1.25m).
Program benefits
Requirements to qualify for citizenship
Those who invest KRW 30 million or KRW 50 million in South Korea under the investor visa program will receive a temporary residence permit valid for up to three years. The residence permit is renewable, as long as the investment is maintained.
After five years of continued residency, the investor is eligible for permanent residency. Those who invested KRW 1.5 billion receive immediate permanent residency.
Permanent residents of South Korea are eligible to apply for citizenship. Naturalization is subject to mastery of Korean language.
See more statistics on this program, and dozens of others, in the IMI Data Center.
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China’s investment migration market is once more booming. South Korea is one of the primary beneficiaries.
The program’s applicant nationality profile is decidedly Western: Among the top 10 source countries are the US, Germany, France, and the UK.
If you’re an investment migration practitioner who doesn’t know much about the South Korean investor visa, you’re not alone.
This article was contributed by EB-5 Daily The EB-5 Program is a popular way for high-net-worth foreign nationals to obtain
The Report of the Visa Office for fiscal year 2017 is out, and it reveals some remarkable shifts taking place in
Programs that offer citizenship within months in exchange for investments or donations, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Programs that offer citizenship in exchange for investments following a 1-2 year period, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Bulgaria Investor Program (discontinued)
Malta MEIN
Programs that offer residence permits within months in exchange for passive investments, with limited physical presence requirements.
Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity
Anguilla Permanent Residency Program
Australia BIIP Investor Streams
Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence
Barbados SERP Program
Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate (EIC) Program
Brazil Investor Visa (VIPER)
Cambodia My 2nd Home
Cayman Islands Investor Visa
Colombia Investor Visas M and R
Costa Rica Investor Visa
Curaçao Investor Permit Program
Cyprus Golden Visa
Georgia Investor Visas
Greece Golden Visa
Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency
Ireland Immigrant Investor Program (discontinued)
Italy Investor Visa
Latvia Investor Visa
Luxembourg Investor Visa
Malaysia M2H Visa
Malta Permanent Residence Program
Mauritius Permanent Residency Program
Monaco Carte de Séjour
Netherlands Investor Visa
New Zealand Investor Visa
Nicaragua Investor Permanent Residency Program
Panama Qualified Investor Visa
Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit
Portugal Golden Visa
Russia Investor Visa
South Korea Investor Visa
Spain Golden Visa
Taiwan Golden Visa (APRC Plum Blossom Card)
Thailand Elite Residence Program
UAE Golden Visa
UK Investor Visa (discontinued)
United States EB-5
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who can demonstrate income or personal wealth above a certain level, usually requiring that the holder not take up employment locally.
Argentina Rentista and Pensionado Residency
Austria Independent Means Visa
Barbados Welcome Stamp
Gibraltar Category 2 HNWI Residence
Greece FIP Visa
Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS)
Ireland Independent Means (Stamp 0)
Italy Elective Residency Visa
Jersey High Value Residency
Mexico Legal Residency Visa
Nicaragua Pensionado and Rentista Visas
Panama Rentista Retirado Visa
Paraguay Permanent Residency Program
Portugal D7 Visa
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
Uruguay Independent Means Visa
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who physically relocate to start and/or run a business. Startup and entrepreneur visas fall under this category.
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