What can and can't I do with an F-2 (Residence) visa?

With an F-2 (Residence) visa, what you can do depends on your detailed status. So first check your detailed code (F-2-○).

What you can do by detailed status

• F-2 received through a family relationship, such as spouse of a Korean national: In general, there are almost no limits on work. But you need to check the exact scope for your detailed code.
• Other long-term resident (F-2-99): You can work only within the range of jobs allowed by law. This covers work under Short-term Employment (C-4), Professor (E-1) through Crew Employment (E-10), and Working Visit (H-2)¹.
• If you keep doing work in the same field as your status right before F-2, you can also do other work without separate permission². For example, a person who was E-2 (Foreign Language Instructor) and keeps teaching conversation¹.
• If you are not working in your previous field and want to do other work, you must first get Permission for Activities Not Covered by Status of Sojourn (체류자격외 활동허가)².
• If your previous status was Accompanying Family, or F-1 (Visiting and Residing) or F-3 (Dependent Family), you must get permission first before working¹².
• Family of a points-based talented person (F-2-7): If the main holder meets the annual income requirement, family members can get Resident Family (F-2-71) and then work¹. If the income requirement is not met, family members can stay only with F-1 (Visiting and Residing), and in that case they cannot work or do for-profit activities¹.

⚠️ What you must not do

• Working without permission when permission is required: You may be punished for violating Article 20 of the Immigration Act (출입국관리법)².
• Starting to work right after applying for permission: The application may be rejected if requirements are not met, so start only after permission is granted².
• Work outside the allowed range: In general, working in a type of job that your detailed status does not allow is a violation.

Permission cannot be guaranteed. Be sure to check the exact scope for your detailed status at HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or 1345. If you already worked without permission, get a consultation through the K-VISA AI Administrative Agent service (비자서비스).