Specific Activities (E-7) Visa — Eligible Occupations, Qualification Requirements, Period of Stay, and Application Documents
Based on Ministry of Justice manual (2026-09-18) · Translated from the Korean original.
Specific Activities (E-7) is a status of stay for foreign nationals who intend to enter into a contract with a public or private institution in Korea and work in an occupation designated by the Ministry of Justice. Eligible occupations are divided into categories such as professional workers, semi-professional workers, general skilled workers, and skilled workers. Applicants must meet the requirements for their occupation and pass an assessment of the employing company.
At a glance
Who it is for
- You must intend to enter into a contract with a public or private institution in Korea or another eligible organization and engage in activities designated by the Ministry of Justice.
- E-7-1 covers 67 occupations for professional workers, such as managers and professionals. E-7-2 covers 10 occupations for semi-professional workers in office and service fields.
- E-7-3 covers 14 occupations for general skilled workers. E-7-4 covers three occupations for skilled workers subject to a points-based system.
- You must meet one of the general qualification requirements listed in the manual: a master’s degree or higher in a related field; a bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least one year of experience in that field; or at least five years of work experience in a related field.
- People with work experience at one of the world’s 500 largest companies, some graduates of Korean universities, and high-income professionals may qualify under separate requirements or special provisions specified in the manual.
- The manual also lists E-7-S (high-income earners and advanced industries), E-7-Y (domestically developed talent), and E-7-T (top talent in advanced industries) as separate codes.
What you can do
- You may engage in the activities specified for your approved occupation and employment contract. An E-7 status does not, by itself, authorize you to work in every occupation.
- There are 94 eligible Specific Activities occupations according to the manual. Check the qualification and company requirements for the relevant occupation.
- If you take short-term employment for up to 90 days in an occupation eligible for E-7, you may be eligible for a Short-Term Employment (C-4-5) visa.
- Depending on the occupation, changing or adding a workplace requires either prior permission or a post-change report. If a post-change report is required, you must report within 15 days of the reason for the change or addition.
- You do not need separate permission for activities outside your status of stay to attend a regular educational institution, provided doing so does not interfere with the original purpose of your stay.
Period of stay
The maximum period of stay granted at one time is three years. Up to five years may be granted to outstanding talent recommended by the relevant government ministry, people working in E-7 occupations in a Regional Specialized Development Zone or an Advanced Medical Complex, and researchers at medical research and development institutions in a Free Economic Zone.
Applications & documents
Application for a Certificate of Visa Issuance
- Application for a Certificate of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정신청서), copy of passport, and photograph
- Documents related to the establishment of the public or private institution
- Copy of the employment contract
- Certificate of National Tax Payment and Certificate of Local Tax Payment
- Documents substantiating the need for employment, such as a letter explaining the reason for the invitation and a plan for employing the foreign national
- Required employment recommendation letter for the relevant occupation
- Documents substantiating qualification requirements, such as a degree certificate, certificate of work experience, résumé, and valid license
- Letter of guarantee, if required for the relevant occupation
Apply to the Immigration Office (출입국·외국인청) or other immigration authority responsible for the area where the inviting company is located. Some outstanding talent may apply online. Recommendation letters and documents may vary by occupation.
Permission to Change Status of Stay
- Integrated Application Form (통합신청서), passport, Residence Card, and photograph
- Employment contract
- Documents related to the establishment of the employing company
- Documents substantiating qualification requirements, such as a certificate of work experience and degree certificate
- Employment recommendation letter or documents substantiating the need for employment
- Certificate of National Tax Payment and Certificate of Local Tax Payment
The documents and assessment criteria used for an application for a Certificate of Visa Issuance also apply. Changes are restricted for short-term stays (B or C series), technical training (D-3), seasonal work (E-8), non-professional employment (E-9), maritime crew employment (E-10), and other (G-1).
Permission to Extend Period of Stay
- Application form, passport, and Residence Card
- Employment contract
- Certificate of Income Amount or Wage and Salary Income Tax Withholding Ledger
- Copy of the business registration certificate or certified copy of the corporate register
- Documents substantiating place of residence
- Employer’s payment record, Certificate of National Tax Payment, and Certificate of Local Tax Payment
- Letter of guarantee, if required for the relevant occupation
The manual lists documents substantiating personal income as required. In principle, the period of stay is granted only within the validity period of the passport.
Alien Registration
- Application form, original passport, and photograph
- Business registration certificate
- Documents substantiating place of residence
- Medical examination certificate, if employed as a teacher at a foreign school or similar institution
The fee for issuing a Residence Card is listed as KRW 35,000.
Change or Addition of Workplace
- Integrated Application Form (통합신청서), passport, and Residence Card
- Employment contract
- Employment recommendation letter or documents substantiating the need for employment
- Business registration certificate
- Consent from the head of the original workplace, if required
- For applicants who require prior permission, documents verifying that the new employing company meets the requirements
Depending on the occupation, this is handled through prior permission or a post-change report. According to the manual, there is no fee for a post-change report, which must be filed within 15 days of the reason for the change or addition.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What kind of work can I do on an E-7 visa?
This is a status of stay for people who enter into a contract with a public or private institution in Korea or another eligible organization and work in an occupation designated by the Ministry of Justice. They must meet the requirements for an eligible occupation and the requirements specific to that occupation.
Q. What education or work experience do I need?
In general, you must meet one of the following requirements: a master’s degree or higher in a related field; a bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least one year of experience in that field; or at least five years of work experience in a related field. Separate requirements may apply to specific occupations, and special provisions may apply to outstanding talent.
Q. How long can I stay on an E-7 visa?
The maximum period granted at one time is three years. Some outstanding talent and people working in certain regions or institutions specified in the manual may be granted up to five years. The period actually granted also takes into account factors such as passport validity.
Q. What are the income requirements for 2026?
The 2026 amounts stated in the manual are at least KRW 31.12 million per year for E-7-1, KRW 25.89 million per year for E-7-2 and E-7-3, and KRW 26 million per year for E-7-4. Separate standards apply to some occupations. Check the amount announced as of the date of application.
Q. Can I be exempt from the work experience requirement if I graduate in Korea?
Graduates of Korean junior colleges may be exempt from the one-year experience requirement if they take a job in an eligible occupation related to their major. Graduates of Korean universities with a bachelor’s degree or higher may qualify for a special exemption from the experience requirement, regardless of their major, when taking a job in an eligible occupation. Each special provision has additional conditions, including requirements concerning the scope of eligible universities and the need for the hire.
Q. Can I move to another company while staying in Korea?
Whether it is allowed and what procedure applies depend on the occupation. Some occupations require prior permission, while others are subject to a post-change report. If a post-change report is required, you must report within 15 days of the change or addition.
Q. Does the foreign national apply for an E-7 visa directly?
In principle, the company identifies the foreign workers it needs, verifies their qualifications, hires them, and then applies for visa issuance or a change of status of stay. An application for a Certificate of Visa Issuance must be submitted to the Immigration Office responsible for the area where the inviting company is located. Some outstanding talent may apply online.
Q. Do I need income documents when applying to extend my stay on an E-7 visa?
Yes. The manual lists either a Certificate of Income Amount issued by a tax office or a Wage and Salary Income Tax Withholding Ledger issued by the company as a required document when applying to extend the period of stay.
Q. Is the company also assessed when it hires a foreign national?
Yes. The company is assessed on matters such as whether it is operating normally, whether it meets the requirements for the relevant occupation, whether it has unpaid taxes, and whether it is using foreign workers at low wages. Where the employment protection standards for Korean nationals apply, the company’s workforce size and the proportion of foreign workers are also checked.
Watch out for
- Where the employment protection standards for Korean nationals apply, inviting foreign nationals is generally restricted for companies with fewer than five Korean employees that primarily serve the domestic market. In principle, foreign workers may be employed only up to 20% of the number of Korean employees.
- Permission may be restricted if the employing company has unpaid national or local taxes, or fails to meet the requirements for the occupation, the permitted number of hires, or the wage requirements.
- The employment contract must specify wages and working hours. Wages are assessed not only against the annual salary but also against the minimum wage requirements for hourly and monthly pay.
- The procedure for changing or adding a workplace differs by occupation. If you were dismissed or left your job early for reasons attributable to you and cannot obtain the original employer’s consent, you may not be eligible to use the post-change reporting procedure.
Source
Compiled by AI from the Ministry of Justice "Visa Issuance Guide Manual" and "Residence Guide Manual" (HiKorea notice, in Korean). hikorea.go.kr
This is general guidance; the immigration office makes the final decision. Before applying, check the latest rules on HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.