Indian Students Can Get Permanent Residency In South Korea Without Job Offer; All About K-STAR Visa Track

Beyond the K-dramas, movies, and music that make us want to break into a dance, we often miss out on the fact that South Korea is also a major hub for technology and innovation. And now, the country is opening its doors wider to global talent with the launch of the K-STAR Visa program in 2025. Designed for bright minds in science and technology, this new visa offers a simpler and faster route to study, work, and eventually gain residency in the country. Scroll on to know more about it.

South Korea Rolls Out K-STAR Visa Program

According to The Financial Express, South Korea has made it simpler for foreign students skilled in science and technology to get permanent residency in the country. They have rolled out the ‘K-STAR Visa Track’ that offers permanent residency to top foreign students without job offers.

As per South Korea’s Ministry of Justice, they hope to attract over 400 outstanding foreign talents annually and support their long-term settlement in Korea. They enable presidents of select universities to nominate outstanding foreign students for this program.

With this initiative, foreign students in South Korea can obtain residency status (F-2) immediately upon graduation without employment requirements, with the K-STAR Visa program. Furthermore, they will be able to apply for permanent residency (F-5) after 3 years. That’s not all, if they showcase outstanding research achievements, they will be able to apply for special naturalisation regardless of their length of stay.

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All You Need To Know About This Visa

As per experts, the K-STAR Visa Track is an expanded and reorganised version of South Korea’s existing ‘Science and Technology Talent Permanent Residency/Naturalization Fast-Track Program’. The older program granted benefits only to international students graduating from five major Institutes of Science and Technology in the country.

With this new visa, South Korea aims to welcome highly skilled individuals who can stay and settle in the country long-term. According to reports, around 20 more universities will be added, allowing their international students to apply for residency (F-2) without needing a job.

Through this visa reform, the number of outstanding foreign talents eligible for residency status (F-2) is expected to expand to around 400 per year, which had been limited to about 100 people annually earlier. It will allow foreign talents with master’s and doctoral degrees to continue their research activities more stably in Korea.

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As per reports, applications for the K-STAR Visa program from universities will be accepted through October. The final list of selected universities will be announced in December after review by a private evaluation panel.

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