Non-professional Employment (E-9) Visa — eligible sectors, period of stay, and procedures for changing workplaces and extending stay

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
• Copy of employment permit and Standard Employment Contract (표준근로계약서)
• Workplace Status Survey Form (사업장실태조사서)
• Additional documents by sector
• Criminal record certificate issued by the competent authority of the country of nationality
• Health Status Confirmation Form (건강상태 확인서) completed by the applicant

The employer applies in person at the Immigration Office with jurisdiction over the workplace address, etc., or through the Visa Portal (비자포털). For construction, the application must be submitted to the authority with jurisdiction over 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 applications are not permitted. Additional documents vary by sector.

Permission to change place of work

• Application form (신청서)
• Passport and foreigner registration card
• Documents proving your place of residence
• Copy of employment permit
• Copy of Standard Employment Contract
• Documents proving information about the workplace, such as a business registration certificate
• For construction, a list of foreign workers at the construction site

You must apply to the Employment Center to change workplaces within 1 month after your employment contract ends, and obtain permission to change your place of work from the Immigration Office with jurisdiction over your area, etc., within 3 months from the date of your application. The fee is 120,000 won.

Permission to extend period of stay

• Application form
• Passport and foreigner registration card
• Copy of employment permit
• Copy of Standard Employment Contract
• Copy of business registration certificate
• Documents proving your place of residence
• For an additional extension through re-employment, Employment Period Extension Confirmation for Persons Whose Employment Period Has Expired

The fee is 60,000 won. An Employment Period Extension Confirmation for Persons Whose Employment Period Has Expired (취업기간 만료자 취업활동기간 연장확인서) issued by the Ministry of Employment and Labor is required when applying for an additional extension of up to 1 year and 10 months through re-employment.

Foreigner registration

• Application form
• Original passport
• One standard-size photograph
• Copy of business registration certificate
• Narcotics test confirmation
• Documents proving your place of residence
• Copy of employment permit and Standard Employment Contract (if the circumstances meet the specified conditions for changing workplaces)
• Medical certificate and narcotics test confirmation, submitted in a sealed envelope

The fee is 35,000 won. The narcotics test confirmation must be issued by a medical institution designated by the Ministry of Justice (법무부) and must have been issued within 3 months before the registration application. Submit the medical certificate and narcotics test confirmation in an unopened envelope.

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 with an E-9 visa?

The permitted sectors are manufacturing, construction, agriculture and livestock, fisheries, services, forestry, and mining. Some sectors are subject to additional restrictions based on workplace size, location, job duties, and other factors, so you must check the requirements for each sector.

Q. What is the maximum period of stay?

The period of stay granted at one time is up to 3 years. The maximum permitted employment period under the Employment Permit System (고용허가제) is 4 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 the initial employment permit was issued. You may apply to change workplaces if a reason specified in the manual applies, such as business suspension or closure. Approval of a workplace change is within the authority of the Minister of Justice (법무부장관).

Q. By when must I apply to change workplaces?

You must apply to the Employment Center (고용센터) to change workplaces within 1 month after your employment contract with your employer ends. Within 3 months from the date of your application, you must obtain permission to change your place of work from the Immigration Office with jurisdiction over your area, etc.

Q. Is there a limit on the number of times I can change workplaces?

As a general rule, you may change workplaces up to 3 times during the employment period within 3 years of your entry into Korea. During the period of stay extended through the re-employment process, you may change workplaces up to 2 times. Changes made for reasons not attributable to the foreign worker, such as business suspension or closure, are not counted toward these limits.

Q. Can I continue working while my workplace is being changed?

Even if the Employment Center has approved your workplace change, you must obtain permission to change your place of work from the Immigration Office with jurisdiction over your area, etc., before starting work at the new workplace.

Q. What is the special provision for re-entry to work?

For a worker who meets the requirements specified in the manual, the employer may apply for an employment permit for after the worker re-enters Korea before the worker departs. If recognized as eligible, the worker may re-enter Korea after 1 month has passed from the date of departure and work at the previous workplace. The worker is exempt from the Korean language proficiency test and from pre- and post-entry employment training.