🇰🇷 South Korea's real estate investment immigration program (tourism & leisure facility investment immigration)
Administered by the Korea Immigration Service under South Korea's Ministry of Justice, this real estate investment immigration program enables foreigners to obtain an F-2 residence visa by investing in tourism and leisure facilities in government-designated areas (Jeju Island; Songdo/Yeongjong/Cheongna in the Incheon Free Economic Zone; Pyeongchang Alpensia; Yeosu Gyeongdo; Busan Haeundae, etc.) to the required threshold. After maintaining the investment for a full 5 years, they may apply for F-5 permanent residence. Since May 2023, the minimum investment has doubled from KRW 500 million to KRW 1 billion (approximately US$746,000). Approval deadlines for most regions have been extended to April 30, 2026, while areas such as Busan Haeundae have been further extended for 3 years from May 19. Whether the program will continue after the April 30, 2026 expiration, no further announcement from the Ministry of Justice had been found as of the time of writing (data date); please refer to the latest official announcement and do not assume it will automatically continue. This is a neutral compilation of public information.
South Korea's real estate investment immigration program (tourism & leisure facility investment immigration) Key Requirements Overview
| Type | Real estate / tourism & leisure facility investment residence (may subsequently apply for permanent residence) |
|---|---|
| Minimum Investment Threshold | KRW 1 billion or more (approx. US$746,000; doubled from KRW 500 million since 2023-05) |
| Designated investment regions | Tourism and leisure facility areas announced by the Ministry of Justice, including Jeju Province, Incheon Free Economic Zone (Songdo/Yeongjong/Cheongna), Pyeongchang Alpensia, Yeosu Gyeongdo, Busan Haeundae, etc. |
| Residence status | F-2 (residence status) investment immigration; maintaining the investment for 5 years allows application for F-5 permanent residence |
| Program name change | The Ministry of Justice plans to rename the program as the "Tourism & Leisure Facilities Investment Immigration System" and raise the investment threshold to KRW 1 billion. |
| Approval deadlines (extension history) | Areas such as Jeju / Songdo / Yeongjong / Cheongna / Pyeongchang Alpensia / Yeosu Gyeongdo have been extended to 2026-04-30; areas such as Busan Haeundae have been further extended for 3 years from 2026-05-19 (per the 2023-12 announcement). |
| Current status after 2026-04-30 | As of the time of writing, no latest official announcement had been found on whether the program will be extended again after the 2026-04-30 expiration – before applying, be sure to directly confirm with the Korea Immigration Service under the Ministry of Justice or a designated investment institution whether it is currently accepting applications. |
South Korea's real estate investment immigration program (tourism & leisure facility investment immigration) Key considerations
- The KRW 1 billion threshold applies only to the "Tourism & Leisure Facilities" investment immigration (designated areas such as Jeju); South Korea also has a higher-amount "Public Enterprise Investment Immigration" (IISPB). The two programs differ in eligibility requirements and investment targets – do not confuse them.
- The investment must be maintained for a full 5 years to be eligible to apply for F-5 permanent residence; selling midway or not meeting the holding period may affect the continuation of your status.
- This program has undergone multiple expiration extensions (e.g., one at the end of 2023), and the threshold was already doubled in 2023-05 – South Korea's policy direction tends to gradually tighten rather than relax. Whether it continues after the 2026-04-30 expiration should be based on official announcements; do not assume automatic renewal.
South Korea's real estate investment immigration program (tourism & leisure facility investment immigration) Application Process
- Confirm whether the intended investment target is located in the designated tourism and leisure facility areas announced by the Ministry of Justice (Jeju / Songdo / Yeongjong / Cheongna / Pyeongchang Alpensia / Yeosu Gyeongdo / Busan Haeundae, etc.), and verify whether the current approval deadline for that region remains valid.
- Prepare documents such as proof of funding source and investment contract, and apply for investment review to the Korea Immigration Service under the Ministry of Justice or an authorized investment institution.
- After receiving approval, apply for an F-2 residence visa and continue to maintain the investment and residence conditions as required.
- After maintaining the investment for 5 years and meeting all maintenance requirements, you may apply to convert to F-5 permanent residence.
South Korea's real estate investment immigration program (tourism & leisure facility investment immigration) Frequently Asked Questions
As of 2026, is South Korea's real estate investment immigration still open to applications?
Approval deadlines for most designated regions (Jeju, Incheon Songdo/Yeongjong/Cheongna, Pyeongchang Alpensia, Yeosu Gyeongdo) have previously been announced as extended to April 30, 2026, while areas such as Busan Haeundae have been further extended for 3 years from May 19, 2026. However, as to whether new applications will continue to be accepted after 2026-04-30, no further announcement from the Ministry of Justice had been found as of the time of writing – before applying, please directly confirm the current acceptance status with the Korea Immigration Service under the Ministry of Justice or a designated investment institution; do not simply assume it is still accepting applications.
What is the minimum investment amount?
The current threshold is KRW 1 billion or more (approximately US$746,000), doubled from the original KRW 500 million starting May 2023; the investment must be made in eligible targets in the tourism and leisure facility areas designated by the Ministry of Justice.
How long after investing can one obtain permanent residence?
After obtaining the F-2 residence visa, you must continue to maintain the investment and residence conditions for 5 years before you may apply to convert to F-5 permanent residence; selling the investment midway or failing to maintain conditions may affect the continuation of your status – subject to official rules.
Which regions are eligible for investment applications?
Designated regions include Jeju Province, Songdo/Yeongjong/Cheongna in the Incheon Free Economic Zone, Pyeongchang Alpensia, Yeosu Gyeongdo, Busan Haeundae, etc.; approval deadlines and extension schedules may differ by region and should be verified individually.
How to verify if an investment immigration program is still valid and avoid misleading claims?
The conditions of investment immigration programs often change or may even be suspended. Recommendations: ① Check official announcements from the country's immigration or investment authority (official source links are provided at the bottom of this page). ② Verify the data date indicated on this page. ③ Before engaging a consultant, check whether they are registered with the relevant regulatory body (e.g., Australia's OMARA, Canada's CICC; for lawyers, check with the local bar association). ④ Be wary of exaggerated claims such as "guaranteed approval" or "exempt from review." This site provides a neutral compilation of public information, and all content is subject to the latest official announcements.
Official sources: South Korea's Ministry of Justice – Immigration & Foreign Policy Headquarters (Korea Immigration Service) · Data Date: 2026-08-17.This page is a neutral compilation of public data for reference only; it is not immigration/legal advice. Programs are subject to the latest official announcements.