Ministry of Justice Announces 'New Immigration Policy'
Introduction of Top-Tier Visa and Youth Dream Visa
Aiming to Attract 100,000 Talented Individuals Within 5 Years
The government has decided to significantly expand visa opportunities for young overseas talents by introducing the ‘Top Tier Visa’ and the ‘Youth Dream Visa.’ This initiative aims to secure more than 100,000 additional professional and skilled foreign workers, who form the foundation of industrial competitiveness, within the next five years to address population decline and regional extinction.
On the 26th, the Ministry of Justice announced the ‘New Immigration and Entry Policy’ containing these details. First, the ‘Top Tier Visa’ will be newly established for young talents in advanced fields to diversify the talent attraction track. This visa targets foreigners who have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher in science and engineering from globally top-ranked universities and is issued to those possessing core technologies in AI or advanced fields or those employed at universities, companies, or research institutes. Additionally, the Youth Dream Visa will be introduced to lower visa barriers for youths from Korea’s UN Korean War participating countries and major economic cooperation countries. If spouses of professionals meet certain requirements such as Korean language proficiency, they will be allowed to work in non-professional fields including domestic work and childcare, thereby supporting stable family-based residency.
The Ministry of Justice’s introduction of new visa systems aims to proactively attract overseas talents in AI, robotics, quantum technology, and aerospace fields while responding to low birth rates, aging population, and regional extinction crises.
Furthermore, a ‘Public-Private Joint Deliberation Body’ will be established to derive visa system improvement plans proposed by foreign workers and key economic stakeholders. Through systematizing the process for metropolitan local governments to propose visa and residency policies, a ‘Metropolitan-type Visa’ tailored to regional demands and characteristics will be implemented. The Ministry of Justice also announced plans to promote ▲social integration education for foreigners expected to stay long-term ▲mid- to long-term review of establishing a foreigner ‘Social Integration Fund’ ▲enhancement of the prior announcement system for visa issuance scale ▲strengthening visa screening at overseas diplomatic missions.
Park Seong-jae, Minister of Justice, stated, “Immigration policy must comprehensively consider not only securing overseas talents but also the overall economy, culture, social integration, and public consensus,” adding, “We must create a structure where immigrants can become self-reliant members of the community and contribute to Korean society.”
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