What happens to my F-5 permanent residence if I stay overseas for more than 2 years?

If you do not return within 2 years from the day you left Korea, you lose your permanent resident status (F-5). If you got a re-entry permit in advance, you must return before that permit period ends.

If you enter Korea after losing your status, your F-5 is cancelled at the airport. Instead, you are given a visa-free entry (B-1), a tourist transit (B-2), or a short-term visit (C-3, 90 days) status, depending on your nationality.

⚠️ You may be able to restore it if you had an unavoidable reason

In the cases below, you can apply at the immigration office that covers where you live. Submit proof and ask to change back to your original permanent resident status.

• You were late because of a sudden illness or accident, and you entered Korea within 6 months after the period ended
• Your flight or ship was cancelled or delayed, and you entered Korea within 10 days after the period ended

If you do not have one of these reasons, it is hard to restore your permanent resident status. In that case, you need a reason such as protecting your rights needed to live in Korea or a humanitarian reason to change to another status. The review decides whether it is approved.

💡 If you plan to stay abroad for more than 2 years

Get a re-entry permit from the immigration office before you leave. The fee is 30,000 KRW for single entry and 50,000 KRW for multiple entry.

If 2 years have already passed, the result depends greatly on your personal situation. Try the K-VISA AI administrative agent consultation (Visa Service in the app). For exact details, check again at HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or 1345.