The newly launched "top-tier" visa seeks to attract outstanding foreign professionals in advanced industries. (iclickart) *This photo is protected under copyright law and unauthorized reproduction and redistribution are strictly prohibited.

By Koh Hyunjeong

The new "top-tier" visa seeks to attract outstanding foreign professionals in advanced industries such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and bio.

A government committee on policy toward foreign nationals on March 5 announced this in its meeting at Government Complex-Seoul chaired by Acting President Choi Sang Mok, who is also deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance. Members discussed a plan on policy toward expats including streamlining the visa system to stimulate economic growth and regional synergy.

To debut this month, the new visa will allow holders and their spouses and minor children to obtain the long-term expat visa F-2, which allows them to work freely and apply for permanent residency after three years.

Applicants for the visa must hold a master's degree or doctorate from a university ranked among the world's top 100, have at least eight years of work experience including a minimum of three at a top 500 company and be employed at a domestic high-tech company with a salary three times per capita gross national income.

To help such talent better settle in Korea, they can look for jobs for up to two years on the D-10 (jobseeker) visa even without a job in the country.

In addition, the new "youth's dream" visa offers cultural experiences and internship opportunities to youth from allies like United Nations member states that participated in the Korean War and major economic partners.

Launched last year, the caregiver visa (E-7-2) will see the addition of a pilot training program and assignment from next year.

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