Professor (E-1) Visa — Eligibility, Period of Stay, and Documents for Application, Change, and Extension

Application for a Confirmation of Visa Issuance — Professors at institutions of higher education, etc.

• Application for Confirmation of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정신청서)
• Passport and one standard-format photograph
• Certificate of work experience and degree certificate
• Employment contract or confirmation of anticipated appointment
• Documents relating to the establishment of the inviting school (a copy of the business registration certificate or a full certificate of registered corporate matters)

Full-time professors and others who meet the qualification criteria for associate professor or higher may be exempt from submitting a certificate of work experience and a degree certificate. For exchange professors, visiting professors, and others, an official appointment or invitation letter issued in the name of the university may be submitted in place of documents such as an employment contract.

Change of status of stay — Change from Student (D-2) or Job Seeker (D-10) to Professor (E-1)

• Application form (신청서)
• Passport and Foreigner Registration Card
• Employment contract
• Degree certificate or certificate of work experience
• Documents relating to the establishment of the employer, etc. (business registration certificate, corporate registry extract, etc.)

You must be staying legally in Korea on D-2 or D-10, meet the eligibility requirements for Professor (E-1), and have an employment contract with the head of the institution concerned. Full-time professors and others who meet the qualification criteria for associate professor or higher may be exempt from submitting a degree certificate or certificate of work experience. The fee for permission to change status of stay is KRW 100,000.

Permission to extend the period of stay

• Application form
• Passport
• One standard-format photograph
• Original and copy of employment contract
• Proof of place of residence
• Materials required for review, if applicable

Materials identified as necessary for review include a faculty utilization plan, student enrollment information, and a wage and salary income withholding ledger. The fee for permission to extend the period of stay is KRW 60,000.

Foreigner registration

• Application form
• Original passport
• One standard-format photograph
• Business registration certificate under the Value-Added Tax Act (부가가치세법)
• Proof of place of residence

The fee for issuing a Foreigner Registration Card is KRW 35,000.

Report of change or addition of workplace

• Report of Change or Addition of Workplace (근무처변경·추가 신고서)
• Passport and Foreigner Registration Card
• Business registration certificate
• Consent letter from the head of the original workplace
• Employment contract

You must file a report with the competent Immigration Office (출입국·외국인관서) within 15 days from the date the reason for the report arises. If you worked until the end of the contract period or a mutually agreed date, you may omit the consent letter from the head of your original workplace.

Q. What work may I do under the Professor (E-1) status of stay?

They may provide education or research guidance at an institution of higher education or an equivalent institution. Check whether separate permission is required for activities that differ from the original purpose of stay.

Q. What is the maximum period of stay I can receive at one time?

The maximum period of stay granted at one time is five years. However, as a general rule, the period of stay granted must not exceed the validity period of the passport.

Q. Can I change from Student (D-2) or Job Seeker (D-10) to E-1?

It may be possible. You must be staying legally in Korea, meet the eligibility requirements for Professor (E-1), and have an employment contract with the head of the institution where you intend to work.

Q. Can exchange professors apply for a Confirmation of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서) for E-1?

Exchange professors dispatched to a university in Korea under an inter-university exchange agreement are eligible. For exchange professors dispatched or appointed under an agreement, an official appointment or invitation letter issued in the name of the university may be submitted in place of documents such as an employment contract.

Q. Do E-1 professors have to report an additional workplace when teaching at another university?

A university professor who gives a temporary lecture, teaches a class, or conducts research related to their field of specialization at another university does not need to report the addition of a workplace. For other changes or additions to a workplace, check whether reporting is required and what conditions apply.

Q. Can I teach a foreign language to colleagues while staying in Korea on E-1?

A foreign national who is staying legally and has completed foreigner registration does not need separate permission to engage in activities outside their status of stay in order to provide language instruction to colleagues at their affiliated workplace. This exception does not apply if language instruction becomes their main activity or falls outside the permitted criteria.

Q. Can I apply for an E-1 visa as an electronic visa?

The manual includes E-1 professionals among those eligible for electronic visa issuance. However, a Confirmation of Visa Issuance is not itself a visa. After it is issued, it can be printed from the Korea Visa Portal.

Q. Do I need the Confirmation of Visa Issuance when entering Korea?

As a general rule, foreign nationals holding the confirmation must present it to an immigration officer during immigration inspection. The confirmation may be printed only once, and cannot be printed after entering Korea with an electronic visa.

Q. How much are the fees for changing or extending my status of stay?

The fee for permission to change status of stay is KRW 100,000, and the fee for permission to extend the period of stay is KRW 60,000. For electronic visas, the applicable fee is displayed on the application screen according to the status and visa type, and a separate electronic payment service fee is charged.