🇳🇵 🇻🇳 Extension of the right to education and employment/settlement plan for “domestic growth-based foreign youth”

​The Ministry of Justice has opened the way for foreign youth who grew up in Korea to find employment and settle down in Korea without having to go on to college after graduating from high school, and has decided to extend the operation of the 'Measures to Grant Residence Qualifications to Guarantee the Right to Education for Children Residing Long-Term in Korea' for three years. ​

Policy Announcement:

On September 26, 2024, as a follow-up measure to the new immigration policy, the Ministry of Justice improved the system so that foreign youth who grew up in Korea can find employment and settle down after graduating from high school without going on to university. ​

Previous limitations:

Previously, foreign youth were required to have a bachelor's degree or at least 5 years of work experience to obtain employment qualifications such as the Special Activities (E-7) visa after becoming adults. This made it virtually impossible for foreign youth who grew up in Korea to find employment and settle down in the country if they did not go on to college. ​

Policy improvements:

Beginning April 1, 2025, the Department of Justice will implement the following improvements:​

• Qualifications:

  • You must be between 18 and 24 years of age at the time of application.​

  • You must have resided in the country for at least 7 years before turning 18.

  • You must graduate from an elementary, middle, or high school in Korea.

• Visa Options:

  • Individuals who meet the requirements may apply for a D-10 (Work and Training) visa or an E-7-Y (Specified Activities) visa.

• Alternative qualifications:

  • If you have not completed elementary, middle, and high school, you can receive the same benefits by completing Stage 5 of the Social Integration Program.​

• Local Settlement Support:

  • If you reside in an area designated as a population-declining area for more than four years on a D-10 or E-7-Y visa, you may be eligible to receive a Regional Excellence (F-2-R) visa for long-term residence in that area.​

Extension of the Right to Education Guarantee Measures:

The Ministry of Justice has decided to extend the 'Measures to Grant Residence Qualifications to Guarantee the Right to Education for Children Residing Long-Term in Korea', which was scheduled to end on March 31, 2025, for another three years until March 31, 2028. This measure aims to grant legal residency status to foreign children residing in Korea without legal residency status, thereby guaranteeing their right to education and supporting their integration into Korean society. ​

Key improvements:

• Family Stability:

  • When granting residency status to qualified children, G-1 visas are also granted to minor siblings to ensure a stable family life.​

• Strengthening parental responsibility:

  • Strengthen parents' responsibility for their children's education and upbringing by imposing conditions such as participation in social integration education.​

• Prevent abuse of the system:

  • Parents who do not actively participate in the upbringing and education of their children in Korea are excluded from the application process to prevent abuse of the system.​

These measures reflect the Ministry of Justice’s commitment to helping foreign youth growing up in the country integrate into society and pursue their dreams without unnecessary barriers.