gobordaGlobal mobility intelligence
Work & skilled workersAnnouncementMedium impactVerified

South Korea expands Top-Tier visa to more advanced technology fields

🇰🇷 South KoreaWork Permits1 recorded versionLast change 28 Jul 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 90%

Current rules

From 1 June 2026, South Korea expanded the Top-Tier visa to include outstanding professors and researchers in science and technology. For this new science-and-technology route, applicants must satisfy at least one recognised excellence criterion and receive a recommendation from the Minister of Science and ICT. Examples of qualifying achievements include: internationally recognised scientific awards, including awards such as the Nobel Prize or Fields Medal; being listed among highly cited researchers or having recognised papers in major international journals; holding qualifying international patents or demonstrating significant technology-licensing income; or having substantial research experience in leading universities, global companies or major research institutions. A significant difference is that the science-and-technology route does not impose the same Korean-language requirement that applied to the original corporate Top-Tier route.

Overview

South Korea has expanded its Top-Tier (F-2-T) visa beyond highly skilled employees of companies in designated high-tech industries to also cover outstanding professors and researchers in science and technology. The expansion was announced by the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Science and ICT on 31 May 2026 and took effect on 1 June 2026. Importantly, this is broader than simply adding more technology sectors. The original Top-Tier visa covered elite foreign talent working for companies in eight high-tech industries. The June 2026 reform also created a route for exceptional science and technology professors and researchers, including those working at universities, national/public research institutes and comparable institutions. The eight high-tech industries covered by the corporate route are: Semiconductors AI Secondary batteries Future mobility Biotechnology Robotics Displays Defense

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Foreign professors in science and technology
  • Foreign researchers and scientists
  • Researchers at Korean universities
  • Researchers at national and public research institutes
  • Highly skilled foreign employees in the eight designated high-tech industries
  • Foreign technology specialists recruited through the K-Tech Pass programme
  • Eligible spouses and children of Top-Tier visa holders

What changed in the latest version

Before

The Top-Tier visa started in April 2025. It was for exceptional foreign professionals. They had to work for Korean companies in selected advanced industries. The first four industries were: * semiconductors; * displays; * secondary batteries; and * biotechnology. Later, robotics and defence were added to the programme. After that, AI and future mobility were also added. So, the original programme mostly focused on top foreign employees joining Korean high-tech companies.

After

From 1 June 2026, South Korea expanded the Top-Tier visa. It now includes outstanding professors and researchers in science and technology. For this new science-and-technology route, applicants must meet at least one recognised standard of excellence. They must also get a recommendation from the Minister of Science and ICT. Examples of achievements that qualify include: * getting internationally recognised scientific awards, such as the Nobel Prize or Fields Medal; * being listed among highly cited researchers, or having recognised papers in major international journals; * holding qualifying international patents, or showing significant income from licensing technology; or * having much research experience in leading universities, global companies, or major research institutions. A big difference is that the science-and-technology route does not have the same Korean-language rule. This rule applied to the first company Top-Tier route.

This policy change is important because it creates new ways for highly skilled professionals in key advanced technology sectors to live and work in South Korea. For people in these expanded fields, it gives a chance for faster permanent residency. This offers more stability and long-term possibilities. For South Korea, it helps get and keep top global talent. This supports innovation and economic growth in key industries.

Explained simply

Imagine you're a super-smart tech expert. South Korea has a special visa, called the Top-Tier visa, for people like you who work in really important advanced technology areas. Before, this visa was open to certain fields, and getting permanent residency (which means you can live there long-term without needing to renew your visa all the time) took a while. Now, the Ministry of Justice has said, "Hey, we want even more brilliant minds!" So, they've *added more types of advanced technology jobs* to this special Top-Tier visa list. Not only that, but if you qualify for this visa in these new (or even the old) fields, they're making it *quicker for you to get permanent residency*. It's like they've fast-tracked your journey to a more stable future in Korea if you're one of these in-demand tech specialists.

Version history

  1. v1Effective 1 Jun 2026AnnouncementMedium impact
    South Korea expands Top-Tier visa to more advanced technology fields

    South Korea's Ministry of Justice announced that it will expand the Top-Tier visa programme. This expansion covers more advanced technology fields. Specialists who qualify can get permanent residence faster.

Other routes in this country

1 / 4