What's are the requirements including documents to change your visa from F2 to F5?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently on an F-2 visa in Korea and am considering changing to an F-5 (permanent residency) visa. Could anyone share the exact requirements and documents I need to prepare for the change?

Also, I heard that PhD holders might be exempt from the TOPIK requirement when applying for F-5. Is that true? If so, are there specific conditions (e.g., Korean university degree, field of study, income level, etc.)?

I’d really appreciate any recent experiences or official guidance. Thank you in advance!