The F-2-7 Residence Visa Points System: How Scoring Works and How to Apply (2026)

If you have built employment experience in Korea and want a more stable residence base, F-2-7 is an important settlement step. In actual GEA consultations, we do not begin by adding points. We begin by mapping the route from your current status to F-2-7 and attaching the required evidence to each milestone. When your status, income year, Korean-language and integration records, and filing date appear on one plan, the next actions become clear.

Where F-2-7 fits in the settlement ladder

Why it is often considered after D-10 and E-7

D-10 (구직, Job Seeker) is the job-search stage, while E-7 (특정활동, Specially Designated Activities) is the stage for building experience and income in a permitted occupation. F-2-7 (점수제 우수인재 거주, points-based residence for qualified talent) connects the education, career, income, and Korean-language foundation you have built to a residence status. Review the sequence in the D-10 to E-7 transition guide. At GEA, we place your graduation date, D-10 expiration, E-7 duties, and annual income evidence on one timeline.

First confirm whether your current status is eligible

The starting point is the exact subcode of your current status of stay. Your Korean residence history, present activity, employment status, and official income evidence are reviewed together to design the F-2-7 route. HiKorea and the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 provide the current standard; GEA organizes a visa-employment-income-education checklist so you can compare the core records efficiently during consultation.

How the points structure is evaluated

Education·income·age

The assessment structure includes document-based categories such as education, annual income, and age. Degrees and transcripts support education, while withholding certificates and 소득금액증명 (Certificate of Income Amount) show recognized income. In practice, the key is not only the salary written in a contract but the amount recorded in official evidence for the correct income year. We place the issue date of each certificate beside the estimated points to calculate a workable filing window.

Korean language·social integration·employment continuity

TOPIK, the Korea Immigration and Integration Program, and continuous Korean employment and residence show your settlement capacity. The 2026 categories are applied using the latest notices from the Korea Immigration Service and guidance from 1345. In consultation, GEA reviews your existing TOPIK and integration certificates and employment period, then ranks the items to strengthen before the next filing date.

F-2-7 and F-2-R are different systems

Nationwide points versus a regional program

F-2-7 is a nationwide residence route centered on personal factors such as education, income, age, and Korean ability. F-2-R is a regional route centered on residence and employment in a designated area and local-government recommendation. GEA compares the two systems using your current employer, actual work location, and intended place of residence.

Choose based on your real living plan

If you plan to continue a professional career and income on a nationwide basis, the F-2-7 preparation plan becomes the main track. If you plan to work and build your life in an eligible region, add an F-2-R timeline for comparison. A practical settlement route connects employment, housing, family plans, and later F-5 preparation.

Application strategy depends on evidence, not only points

Reference dates and document content must match

In actual case reviews, the common issue is often inconsistent reference dates rather than the arithmetic itself. Income certificates, employment records, contracts, degrees and transcripts, and Korean-language or integration certificates should align in name, dates, and duties. If you have just changed jobs or the prior year's income is not yet fully reflected in official data, GEA rearranges the filing plan around the date when the evidence set becomes complete.

Preparation order

1. Record the exact subcode and expiration date of your current status.
2. Divide the 2026 schedule into base points, bonus points, and items to manage.
3. Match every category to official evidence and its available issue date.
4. Align the income year and employment status with the planned filing date.
5. Schedule preparation, document issuance, and filing around your stay expiration.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Where should I begin calculating my score?

Start with your current status, education, latest official income evidence, age, TOPIK or integration record, and employment period. GEA applies these records to the current structure and separates items ready for use from items to strengthen before the next milestone.

Q. What should I build during the D-10 and E-7 stages?

During D-10, build a clear connection between your major and the target E-7 role. During E-7, accumulate employment, income, tax, and Korean-language records by year. Use consistent file names by year and document type so the same evidence can move directly into F-2-7 preparation.

Q. How do I continue from F-2-7 toward F-5?

Keep the income, employment, tax, and Korean-language records used for F-2-7 as a year-by-year settlement history. See the wider sequence in the post-graduation settlement roadmap. GEA settlement consultation reviews your current status and scoring records, organizes the execution order, and connects you with a cooperating certified administrative agent office when procedural review is needed.

Final review date: 2026-07-18 · Writing standard: 2026 · Official confirmation: HiKorea / Immigration Contact Center 1345