South Korea Introduces Elite Visa Program to Attract Top Global Talent | Be Korea-savvy

South Korea Introduces Elite Visa Program to Attract Top Global Talent


Dubbed the “Top-Tier Visa,” the program targets professionals in key high-tech sectors, including semiconductors, biotechnology, robotics, and defense. (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)

Dubbed the “Top-Tier Visa,” the program targets professionals in key high-tech sectors, including semiconductors, biotechnology, robotics, and defense. (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)

SEOUL, March 5 (Korea Bizwire) — In a strategic move to attract top foreign talent in advanced industries, South Korea has introduced a new visa program aimed at highly skilled professionals.

The government announced the initiative on Wednesday following the 30th Foreign Policy Committee meeting, presided over by Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok.

Dubbed the “Top-Tier Visa,” the program targets professionals in key high-tech sectors, including semiconductors, biotechnology, robotics, and defense.

Eligible applicants must meet stringent criteria, such as holding a master’s or doctoral degree from a top 100 global university, having at least eight years of experience—including three years at a Fortune 500 company—or earning an annual salary at least three times the nation’s per capita Gross National Income (approximately 140 million KRW or $105,000).

Applicants must also secure employment at a South Korean advanced technology firm.

The visa offers significant benefits, granting successful candidates and their families an F-2 residency visa with unrestricted employment rights. Additionally, it permits the sponsorship of parents and domestic staff.

The initiative is further bolstered by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy’s K-Tech Pass program, which provides up to a 50% reduction in income tax for up to 10 years.

Recognizing the need to ease the transition for top graduates, South Korea will also issue D-10 job-seeker visas to master’s and doctoral graduates from top 100 universities, allowing them two years to explore employment opportunities in the country.

In a parallel effort, the government is launching the “Youth Dream Visa,” aimed at young professionals from UN member states that participated in the Korean War, as well as key economic partner nations. This program provides internship and work opportunities for foreign youth aspiring to build careers in South Korea.

Additionally, the government is implementing a regional visa pilot program, enabling provincial governments to recommend foreign applicants based on local labor demands. The Ministry of Justice will then assess and issue visas accordingly.

To ensure a more structured and responsive immigration policy, South Korea is also introducing a “Visa and Residency Policy Proposal System,” allowing economic and industrial sectors to formally submit visa-related needs.

With an aging population driving demand for caregiving professionals, the government is developing a specialized program to recruit and train foreign caregivers.

This includes selecting skilled overseas workers for training in South Korea and partnering with regional universities to establish foreign caregiver training institutions.

Furthermore, efforts to enhance social integration for immigrants are being reinforced. The government plans to consolidate residency qualification visas (H-2 and F-4) for ethnic Koreans and establish a legal framework for a dedicated Immigrant Support Center.

“These policies are no longer optional but essential for revitalizing our economy and society,” Acting President Choi emphasized.

With these sweeping reforms, South Korea aims to position itself as a global hub for innovation while addressing critical labor shortages in high-tech and caregiving sectors.

M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)

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