How the points work
The score has three parts. Basic points (up to 130) come from age, education, Korean ability and income. Bonus points add up to 40 more. Deductions take off up to 70 for fines. You need 80 points in total.
Age (up to 25)
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 18–24 | 23 |
| 25–29 | 25 |
| 30–34 | 23 |
| 35–39 | 20 |
| 40–44 | 12 |
| 45–50 | 8 |
| 51 and over | 3 |
Your age on the day you apply, from the date of birth in your passport.
Education (up to 25)
| Degree | Science/engineering or 2+ degrees | Other fields |
|---|---|---|
| Doctorate | 25 | 20 |
| Master’s | 20 | 17 |
| Bachelor’s | 17 | 15 |
| Associate | 15 | 10 |
Only degrees you have been awarded count — finishing coursework without the degree does not.
Korean ability (up to 20)
| TOPIK | or KIIP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Level 5–6 | Stage 5 | 20 |
| Level 4 | Stage 4 | 15 |
| Level 3 | Stage 3 | 10 |
| Level 2 | Stage 2 | 5 |
| Level 1 | Stage 1 | 3 |
Use either your TOPIK level or your KIIP stage — whichever is higher.
Annual income (up to 60)
| Annual income | Points |
|---|---|
| ₩100 million or more | 60 |
| ₩90 million – under ₩100 million | 58 |
| ₩80 million – under ₩90 million | 56 |
| ₩70 million – under ₩80 million | 53 |
| ₩60 million – under ₩70 million | 50 |
| ₩50 million – under ₩60 million | 45 |
| ₩40 million – under ₩50 million | 40 |
| ₩30 million – under ₩40 million | 30 |
| Minimum wage up to ₩30 million | 10 |
| Below the minimum wage, or no income | 0 |
Income means your taxable income for the most recent year on your income certificate (소득금액증명) from the tax office — not the salary in your contract.
Bonus points (up to 40 in total)
| Bonus | Points |
|---|---|
| Degree from a top-ranked university: doctorate / master’s / bachelor’s | 30 / 20 / 15 |
| Degree from a Korean university: doctorate / master’s / bachelor’s | 10 / 7 / 5 |
| Recommendation from a central government ministry | 20 |
| Outstanding talent from a Korean War allied country | 20 |
| Completed KIIP stage 5 | 10 |
| Registered volunteering: 3+ years / 2–3 years / 1–2 years | 7 / 5 / 1 |
- Top-ranked university means one in the Times Higher Education top 200 or the QS World University Rankings top 500.
- Volunteering counts only if registered (for example through the 1365 volunteer portal), with at least 6 sessions and 50 hours a year.
- KIIP stage 5 counts twice: 20 points for Korean ability and a separate 10-point bonus.
- If you could claim more than one degree bonus, this calculator counts only the highest one. Published guides differ on whether they add up, so we show the lower, safer number.
Deductions (up to −70)
| Reason | Points |
|---|---|
| Immigration Act fine ₩500,000 – under ₩1 million | −10 |
| Immigration Act fine ₩1 million – under ₩3 million | −20 |
| Immigration Act fine ₩3 million or more, or a departure or deportation order | −30 |
| Criminal fine under ₩2 million | −20 |
| Criminal fine ₩2 million – under ₩3 million | −30 |
| Criminal fine ₩3 million or more (or heavier), final more than 3 years ago | −40 |
Immigration fines count if they were within 3 years of your application; departure and deportation orders within 5 years.
Points are not the only condition
Reaching 80 points lets you apply — it does not guarantee the visa. You must also be in one of the eligible groups, for example:
- Professionals on a visa from E-1 to E-7-1 or D-5 to D-9 who have stayed lawfully for 3 years or more in a row. The 3 years are not needed if your annual income is ₩40 million or more.
- People who earned a Korean master’s or doctorate within the last 5 years and have a job in those visa categories.
- Employees of listed companies in professional jobs, and workers in designated high-tech fields with high income.
Your application is refused whatever the score if, for example, you received a prison sentence (including a suspended one) in the last 5 years, a criminal fine of ₩3 million or more in the last 3 years, or submitted false documents. The exact groups, documents and exceptions are set by the immigration office — check with 1345 before applying.
Applying
Book a visit to your immigration office through Hi Korea, or apply online where it is offered. Bring your passport, residence card, the application form, and proof for every point you claim — such as degree certificates, TOPIK or KIIP results and your income certificate. Fees and the full document list can change; confirm them first.
I’d like to apply for a change to the F-2-7 points-based residence visa.
거주 F-2-7 점수제로 체류자격 변경을 신청하고 싶어요.
The points table follows the Ministry of Justice notice on the F-2 resident points system (latest amendment October 24, 2025), which we compared with several published copies of the table. Last checked October 13, 2026. This is a self-check, not legal advice — the immigration office makes the decision. Immigration Contact Center: 1345 (multilingual).