Hello, foreign job seekers and international students in Korea who are smartly designing your own career roadmap! This is Vijob. 👋
In the previous article, we introduced the general structure of the F-2-7 (points-based residence visa), and many of you eagerly awaited the next part, saying, “I’m curious about the exact numbers to see if I can exceed 80 points with my conditions!”
For all of you who waited, we have gathered the scoring details down to decimal points based on the Immigration Office guidelines to prepare a detailed scoring guide where you can truly calculate your own score. Let’s open a notepad right now and build up your personal score! 🚀
📊 [Basic Items] Solidly Filling the Basic Score (Up to 90 points)
This is the basic score that forms the backbone of the F-2-7 visa. Check how many points you can secure now across four categories: age, education, Korean language, and income!
1. Age (Up to 25 points)
Age is calculated based on the application date, and ages 25–29 are the golden zone with the highest points.
Ages 25–29 (25 points)
Ages 18–24, 30–34 (23 points)
Ages 35–39 (20 points)
Ages 40–44 (12 points)
Ages 45–50 (8 points)
Ages 51 and above (3 points)
(※ Standard: Date of birth on passport)
2. Education (Up to 25 points)
STEM majors or those holding two or more degrees receive preferential treatment.
Doctorate: STEM or two or more degrees (25 points) / Non-STEM (20 points)
Master’s degree: STEM or two or more degrees (20 points) / Non-STEM (17 points)
Bachelor’s degree: STEM or two or more degrees (17 points) / Non-STEM (15 points)
Associate degree: STEM (15 points) / Non-STEM (10 points)
(※ Completion does not count; graduation certificate must be issued by the institution. If holding two or more degrees regardless of field, the bonus point range applies.)
3. Basic Competency - Korean Language Ability (Up to 20 points)
This is the best weapon to increase your score in a short time. (Based on TOPIK or KIIP)
Advanced: TOPIK Level 5 or higher / Social Integration Program Level 5 (20 points)
Intermediate: TOPIK Level 4 / Social Integration Program Level 4 (15 points)
Intermediate: TOPIK Level 3 / Social Integration Program Level 3 (10 points)
Beginner: TOPIK Level 2 / Social Integration Program Level 2 (5 points)
Beginner: TOPIK Level 1 / Social Integration Program Level 1 (3 points)
4. Annual Income (Up to 60 points)
There is a significant point difference depending on the annual income amount. The income certificate issued by the tax office is used as the standard.
Minimum wage or more ~ less than 30 million KRW (10 points)
💡 If your contracted annual salary is 30 million KRW or more, or if you earn more and want to check the exact marks (ranges from 30 million to over 100 million KRW) and detailed scores by income, please check the attached official PDF file for the exact score that matches your salary!
🚀 [Bonus Points Items] Cheat Keys to Overturn a Tight Cutoff (Up to 40 Points Allowed)
If you’re barely making the 80-point cutoff with just the basic score, you must absolutely gather all the official bonus points from immigration!
Completion of Social Integration Program (KIIP) Level 5: Completing the basic course or higher can earn you an additional 10 points, making it the most reliable insurance.
💡 Besides this, there are various bonus point categories such as Outstanding Talent from Korean War Participating Countries (up to 40 points), Recommendations from Central Administrative Agencies, Bonus Points for Degrees from Prestigious Universities and Domestic Universities, Domestic Volunteer Activities, and more. If you want to know more precisely which bonus point combinations apply to you, download the PDF file and carefully match your situation!
⚠️ [Deduction Items] Risk Management That Collapses If You Let Your Guard Down (Up to -80 Points)
No matter how well you accumulate points, if you have a history of violating domestic laws, points will be sharply deducted, so you must defend against this.
Violation of Immigration Control Act (based on warnings within the last 3 years and deportation orders within the last 5 years, etc.)
Criminal record (based on fines within the last 3 years)
💡 Deductions range from a minimum of -10 points to a maximum of -80 points, with detailed scores varying depending on the amount of violation or severity of punishment. Especially, if you have received a fine of 3 million KRW or more within 3 years, it becomes a disqualification reason that makes application itself impossible beyond just a deduction. Therefore, you must check the detailed deduction criteria in the PDF file in advance and manage your risks carefully.
💡 Vijob’s Sweet Tips for You
The F-2-7 visa is like a comprehensive art. If there are items that are difficult to change immediately, such as education or income, focusing on 'Korean language ability' and 'Social Integration Program (KIIP) Level 5' that you can work on and acquire now is the most practical and wise strategy. Especially, completing KIIP Level 5 can be a cheat key that earns you both the basic competency score (20 points) and bonus points (10 points) simultaneously.
We have seen many job seekers panic after confirming employment and hastily calculating scores, discovering minor deduction factors or just missing the 80 points. Even if you are currently a student or job seeker, we recommend a long-term build-up by regularly monitoring your score status based on the official guidelines and filling in the missing 1–2 points.
💬 If you have any confusion about your own visa score calculation results or preparation process, feel free to share in the comments! Vijob will think it over with you! 👇👇