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Introduction
The Republic of Korea has announced the creation of its new K-Star visa designed to attract elite foreign talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professions. The visa will provide a simplified entry to the country and a pathway from temporary stay to permanent residence, and eventually citizenship.
Impact
Medium
What has changed?
The new K-Star visa is aimed at the international elite in STEM professions, with a particular focus on advanced fields such as Artificial intelligence, biotechnology and engineering. It has an annual target of 400 top tier international STEM professionals and will collaborate with leading Korean universities.
The program will benefit foreign researchers, technologists and scholars, particularly those affiliated with Korean universities and research institutes. Under the K-Star pathway, international graduates holding a masters or doctoral degree trained in Suth Korea will also be eligible for the K-Star visa. Selected university presidents will be able to recommend outstanding foreign students who will be permitted to switch status to an F-2 residence visa upon graduation, even without employment.
The F-2 resident visa has an expedited 3 year route to permanent residency. International graduate holders of the K-Star visa will be eligible under this route rather than the typical 6 year path to permanent residency. The list of the 20 participating universities is to be announced in December.
What to expect /impact?
By offering a pathway to long term residency and favourable immigration terms, South Korea hopes to retain talent on a long term basis and avoid the departure of the trained elite.
What you need to do
For further information on immigration matters for South Korea, please contact the Sterling Lexicon immigration team at [email protected]
