On the 2nd, the Ministry of Justice said, "We will officially implement the regional customized stay visa pilot project called 'metropolitan visa' and the 'top-tier visa' system to enhance potential growth rates and secure regional competitiveness through the acquisition of excellent foreign talent." Kim Seok-woo, acting Minister of Justice, made this statement during a related briefing at the government complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi province.
The 'metropolitan visa' program, which starts today, includes the 'student visa (D-2)' that expands the permitted working hours for international students and allows internship activities during the semester, as well as the 'specific activity visa (E-7)' for those who can contribute to regional industrial development with relaxed educational and experience requirements for visa issuance. Kim Seok-woo noted, "We will work with local governments to ensure that the metropolitan visa can become a core pillar of regional-based immigration policy."
The student visa program includes participation from Seoul, Gangwon, Gwangju, Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, and Jeju. Seoul and Gangwon, Chungbuk, and Chungnam have decided to expand the permitted working hours for international students, while Busan, Incheon, Gangwon, and Jeonnam will allow internship activities during the semester.
Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, and Jeju will expand permitted working hours to secure human resources in key regional industries such as tourism, and Jeonnam will increase the employment scope based on the acquisition of certificates. Incheon has decided to extend the stay period limit for students from foreign universities with domestic campuses from 1 year to 2 years.
The specific activity visa program includes participation from Daegu, Gyeonggi, and Gyeongbuk. Gyeonggi province plans to relax educational requirements for those with excellent Korean language skills in engineering fields or data and network experts. Gyeongbuk will ease visa issuance educational requirements for science and engineering graduates from overseas specialized universities designated by the governor, and Gyeongnam will relax experience requirements for personnel working at overseas subsidiaries in the manufacturing sector.
The 'top-tier visa' system will also be officially implemented starting today. The top-tier visa is a system that grants 'highly skilled talent resident (F-2)' status to senior engineer-level personnel who can lead technological development in advanced industries and their families, supporting their settlement in Korea. With an F-2 visa, one can freely work and reside, and after 3 years, they can obtain permanent residency.
The target audience consists of foreigners who have obtained a master's or doctoral degree from universities ranked within the top 100 in the world and who have accumulated experience at global corporations or research institutions, earning approximately 3 times the GNI (gross national income) per person (approximately 149.86 million won).
Kim Seok-woo noted, "Starting with the top-tier visa that is being implemented today, we will continue to expand the demand-oriented visa system and lay the groundwork to contribute to the economy and regional development through the 'new immigration and emigration policy.'"