Non-professional Employment (E-9) Visa — Eligible Sectors, Period of Stay, and Procedures for Changing or Extending the Period of Stay
Based on Ministry of Justice manual (2026-09-18) · Translated from the Korean original.
E-9 is a status of stay for foreign workers who intend to work in Korea on the condition that they are employed by an employer who has received an employment permit. Those who meet the employment requirements specified in the manual may work in permitted sectors such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture and livestock, and fishing.
At a glance
Who it is for
- The applicant must meet the requirements for employment in Korea under the Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers.
- The applicant must be a national of a country selected for the Employment Permit System: Thailand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, Timor-Leste, Laos, or Tajikistan.
- Permitted sectors are manufacturing (E-9-1), construction (E-9-2), agriculture and livestock (E-9-3), fishing (E-9-4), services (E-9-5), forestry (E-9-9), and mining (E-9-10).
- As a general rule, manufacturing workplaces with fewer than 300 regular employees or capital of KRW 8 billion or less are eligible. Certain small and medium-sized enterprises, mid-sized companies in root industries, and companies returning to Korea may also be recognized as eligible upon submission of a separate confirmation document.
- Some industries in forestry, mining, and services must meet workplace, job-duty, location, or size requirements specified in the manual.
- Those seeking to work in professional occupations requiring specific qualifications or experience are not eligible for E-9.
What you can do
- You may work in Korea in accordance with the Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers (외국인근로자의 고용 등에 관한 법률).
- You must work on the condition that you are employed by an employer who has received an employment permit and, as a general rule, must continue working at the workplace for which the initial employment permit was issued.
- Activities outside the scope of your status of stay are restricted.
- You may apply to change to another workplace if a reason specified in the manual applies, such as the suspension or closure of your workplace.
Period of stay
A period of stay of up to three years may be granted at a time. The maximum period of employment permitted under the Employment Permit System is four years and 10 months.
Applications & documents
Application for a Certificate of Visa Issuance and Visa Issuance
- Application for a Certificate of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정신청서)
- Passport and one standard-size photograph
- Copy of business registration certificate
- Employment Permit (고용허가서) and copy of the Standard Labor Contract (표준근로계약서)
- Workplace Status Survey Form (사업장실태조사서)
- Additional documents by sector
- Criminal Record Certificate (범죄경력증명서) issued by the competent authority of the applicant's country of nationality
- Health Status Declaration (건강상태 확인서) completed by the applicant
The employer applies in person at the Immigration Office, etc. with jurisdiction over the workplace address, or through the Visa Portal (비자포털). For construction work, the application must be submitted to the competent authority for the location of the construction site. E-9 visas are issued only on the basis of a Certificate of Visa Issuance. Visa applications may be submitted only as group applications through a sending agency; individual issuance is not permitted. Additional documents vary by sector.
Permission to Change Place of Work
- Application Form (신청서)
- Passport and Alien Registration Card
- Documents proving place of residence
- Copy of the Employment Permit
- Copy of the Standard Labor Contract
- Documents proving workplace-related information, such as a business registration certificate
- For construction work, Foreign Workforce Status Form for Construction Sites (건설현장 외국인력 현황표)
You must apply to the Employment Center to change workplaces within one month after your employment contract ends, and obtain permission to change your place of work from the competent Immigration Office, etc. within three months from the date of application. The fee is KRW 120,000.
Permission to Extend Period of Stay
- Application Form
- Passport and Alien Registration Card
- Copy of the Employment Permit
- Copy of the Standard Labor Contract
- Copy of business registration certificate
- Documents proving place of residence
- For an additional extension through re-employment, Confirmation of Extension of the Employment Activity Period for Workers Whose Employment Period Has Expired (취업기간 만료자 취업활동기간 연장확인서)
The fee is KRW 60,000. An employment confirmation issued by the Ministry of Employment and Labor (고용노동부) is required when applying for an additional extension of up to one year and 10 months through re-employment.
Alien Registration
- Application Form
- Original passport
- One standard-size photograph
- Copy of business registration certificate
- Narcotics Test Confirmation (마약검사확인서)
- Documents proving place of residence
- Copy of the Employment Permit and Standard Labor Contract (if the case falls under a specified workplace-change situation)
- Health Examination Certificate (건강진단서) and Narcotics Test Confirmation submitted in a sealed envelope
The fee is KRW 35,000. The narcotics test confirmation must be issued by a medical institution designated by the Ministry of Justice and must have been issued within three months before the registration application. The health examination certificate and narcotics test confirmation must be submitted in an unopened envelope.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can I apply for an E-9 visa on my own?
E-9 visas are issued only on the basis of a Certificate of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서) issued by an Immigration Office (출입국·외국인청), etc. Visa applications may be submitted only as group applications through a sending agency; individual applications by foreign nationals are not permitted.
Q. What sectors can I work in under E-9?
The permitted sectors are manufacturing, construction, agriculture and livestock, fishing, services, forestry, and mining. Some sectors are subject to additional restrictions based on workplace size, location, job duties, and other factors, so you should check the requirements for each sector.
Q. What is the maximum period of stay?
A period of stay of up to three years may be granted at a time. The maximum period of employment permitted under the Employment Permit System (고용허가제) is four years and 10 months.
Q. Can I change workplaces whenever I want?
As a general rule, you must continue working at the workplace for which you first received an employment permit. You may apply to change workplaces if a reason specified in the manual applies, such as the suspension or closure of the business. Approval of a workplace change is within the authority of the Minister of Justice.
Q. By when must I apply to change workplaces?
You must apply to the Employment Center (고용센터) to change workplaces within one month after your employment contract with your employer ends. You must obtain permission to change your place of work from the competent Immigration Office, etc. within three months from the date of your application.
Q. Is there a limit on the number of times I can change workplaces?
As a general rule, you may change workplaces up to three times during the employment period within three years from your date of entry. You may change workplaces up to twice during a period of stay extended through the re-employment procedure. Changes made for reasons not attributable to the foreign worker, such as the suspension or closure of a business, are not counted toward the limit.
Q. Can I continue working while changing workplaces?
Even if the Employment Center has approved your workplace change, you must obtain permission to change your place of work from the competent Immigration Office, etc. before starting work at the new workplace.
Q. What is the special provision for employment after re-entry?
An employee who meets the requirements specified in the manual may have their employer apply for an employment permit for after re-entry before they depart Korea. If recognized as eligible, the employee may re-enter Korea after one month has passed from the date of departure and work at their former workplace. They are exempt from the Korean language proficiency test and from employment training before and after entry.
Watch out for
- When applying for a visa, the criminal record certificate must have been issued within three months before the date of the visa application. The applicant must complete the health status declaration themselves.
- A workplace change must be based on a specified reason, and the deadlines for applying for the change and obtaining permission to change the place of work must each be met.
- As a general rule, the period of stay granted will not exceed the validity period of the passport.
- Some service-sector industries, forestry, and mining are subject to restrictions based on workplace location, size, job duties, and other factors.
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.