Korea’s Public Investment Immigration Scheme: Investment Thresholds, Family and Permanent Residence

Korea’s public investment immigration scheme links a continuing investment to residence status. This guide covers the interest-free public fund operated by the Korea Development Bank under the Ministry of Justice’s framework. The ordinary investment threshold is KRW1.5 billion; the high-value threshold is KRW3 billion. Both involve maintaining the investment for at least 5 years.[1]

The main difference is when permanent residence can be sought. The ordinary route begins with residence and can lead to permanent residence later. The high-value route allows an earlier permanent-residence application, while retaining the investment obligation. The family’s decision is therefore about the timing of status as well as the amount of capital committed.

Identify the qualifying investment

The public fund supports low-interest lending to businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises. The Ministry describes this type as principal-guaranteed and interest-free, with the Korean-won principal returned after 5 years. An ordinary bank time deposit does not substitute for the designated qualifying investment.[1]

The wider public investment scheme also includes designated development investments that may make a profit or loss. Other Korean property and business-investment routes have separate conditions. The amounts and capital treatment discussed here should not be extended to those products.[1]

The current KRW1.5 billion and KRW3 billion thresholds were introduced on 29 June 2023, when the previous retirement-investor category was abolished. Some English-language government material still shows earlier amounts. This guide follows the current Korean-language scheme description and the formal change announcement.[1][2]

Understand the two residence pathways

The Ministry’s description covers the investor, spouse and eligible unmarried children. Approval is still required; depositing the funds does not itself issue a residence status. For the high-value route, the Ministry expressly states that taking the investment back before the end of 5 years results in cancellation of F-5 status.[1]

The additional KRW1.5 billion consequently changes the timing of the residence pathway, rather than shortening the capital commitment. A family should consider whether that extra capital is also needed for business operations, debt repayment or education, and how those needs would be funded during the investment period.

Assess each family member separately

The current Korean description refers to spouses and unmarried children and states that the relevant F-2 status permits unrestricted economic activity. A spouse’s employment rights follow from the status granted to that spouse. The principal applicant’s investment alone does not authorise the spouse to start work, and regulated occupations may have additional professional requirements.[1]

The public overview does not provide a complete age test for every adult unmarried child. Adult children, unusual dependency situations and changes in family relationships require confirmation under the applicable rules. Being unmarried should not be treated as sufficient on its own.

It helps to separate eligibility from relocation timing. Family members may apply together but begin living in Korea at different times. Residence permissions, identity documents and reporting obligations still need to be handled for each individual.

Budget for the period of restricted access

The investment principal is different from application, translation, professional and living costs. With no interest payable under the fund arrangement, the family also gives up other uses of the money for 5 years. Where the original capital is held in another currency, conversion into won and later conversion out of won affect the eventual result.

The principal arrangement is denominated in Korean won. It is not a promise to return the same number of US dollars or another foreign currency. Exchange-rate scenarios can help a household assess its future liquidity, provided they are identified as planning assumptions rather than programme guarantees.

Keeping a separate reserve for changing business or family needs can reduce the risk of having to withdraw qualifying capital early. The capacity to meet the threshold is different from the capacity to leave that amount untouched throughout the period.

Follow investment and residence obligations together

After approval, two processes continue. One is maintaining an eligible investment and the evidence needed for subsequent residence procedures. The other is managing each person’s status: permit validity, foreigner registration, address and passport changes, and any re-entry arrangements relevant to a lengthy absence.[1][3]

Actual residence may also bring healthcare, pension and tax obligations, depending on the individual’s employment and circumstances. These should enter the relocation budget alongside ordinary household costs. Completing the investment does not settle those separate questions.

Coordinate permanent residence and repayment

For the ordinary route, the Ministry describes a change to F-5 after the investment has been maintained for at least 5 years and the requirements are met. Repayment under the scheme afterwards does not itself remove the permanent-residence status already obtained. Reaching the anniversary still requires the relevant status application and assessment; it is not an automatic grant of permanent residence.[1]

As the investment period approaches its end, the family should coordinate the status decision and fund-repayment process before allocating the capital elsewhere. A high-value investor also needs to establish that the 5-year condition has been fulfilled and continue the ordinary documentation and other obligations attached to permanent residence.

The choice between the two routes turns on the practical value of earlier permanent residence to the household. That value should be weighed against the additional capital that must remain committed for the same minimum period.

Official sources

1. Korea Immigration Service — 공익사업 투자이민제
2. Ministry of Justice — 2023投资移民制度调整公告
3. Korea Immigration Service — Visa Navigator

General policy information; individual circumstances and the competent authority’s requirements govern each application.