What is the South Korea E-7 Visa?
The E-7 visa (특정활동, "Specially Designated Activities") is South Korea's employer-sponsored professional work visa, administered by the Ministry of Justice through the Korea Immigration Service and the HiKorea portal. It covers a closed list of about 87 designated occupations — if your job title and duties do not map to an approved code, there is no E-7 sponsorship path.
It has four subcategories: E-7-1 (professional personnel — managers and specialists), E-7-2 (semi-professional), E-7-3 (skilled trades), and E-7-4 (points-based). For most skilled professionals — degree-holders in IT, engineering and business — the E-7-1 is the relevant route, with a 2026 minimum of ~KRW 31.12 million/year.
The employer must show why the role cannot be filled by a Korean, and your qualifications must match the occupation precisely. A very high salary (3× per-capita GNI) waives the education and experience requirements. The E-7 leads to the points-based F-2-7 residence visa and eventually F-5 permanent residence.
Note: Information on this page is for guidance only and does not constitute immigration advice. Requirements change — verify current figures at the official government source before applying.
Do you qualify?
You must meet three requirements for the E-7-1. The defining test is the match between your qualifications and one of the designated occupations — mismatches are the most common refusal reason.
A job offer from a Korean employer for a role that maps to one of the ~87 occupations designated by the Ministry of Justice. Your academic major and career experience must match that occupation, and the employer must be eligible to sponsor (meeting local employment ratio and other requirements).
For E-7-1, generally, a bachelor's degree in the relevant field plus 1 year of experience, or an associate degree plus 2 years, or at least 5 years of relevant experience — directly related to the occupation. A very high salary (3× per-capita GNI, ~KRW 149.8 million) waives the education and experience requirements entirely.
Your contract salary must meet the E-7-1 minimum (~KRW 31.12 million/year in 2026) and be consistent with the industry wage standard. Immigration assesses the contract figure — offering only the bare minimum is generally not advisable.
The 2026 salary requirements
E-7 thresholds are set by subcategory and adjusted annually for inflation and minimum-wage changes. The 2026 E-7-1 minimum is ~KRW 31.12 million/year (about 80% of per-capita GNI), effective 1 February 2026. Immigration checks the employment contract, not offer letters or pay stubs.
High-salary waivers: at 3× per-capita GNI (~KRW 149.8 million) the education and experience requirements are waived, along with ministry recommendation letters for most occupations; at 1.5× GNI (~KRW 74.9 million) plus a recommendation letter, education and experience can also be waived. SME/startup relaxations: vetted high-tech SMEs and venture firms may sponsor at ~70% of GNI, and the local-employment-ratio rule is relaxed for roles like IT developers. Tax note: Korea's income tax is progressive (6–45%) plus local tax; a flat-tax option for foreign workers can help higher earners — consult a Korean tax advisor.
What you need to apply
The employer drives the application through the HiKorea portal or an immigration agent. If applying from abroad, the employer first obtains a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance, which you take to a Korean embassy.
If you do not have any of the documents below, read the FAQs section for further guidance.
Application timeline
The E-7 is employer-driven and typically takes 2–8 weeks, with E-7-1 professional cases usually faster (2–6 weeks). This assumes your qualifications already match a designated occupation.
Most common delay: occupation mismatch — a job whose duties don't clearly map to a designated E-7 occupation, or a degree/experience profile that doesn't match. A strong Statement of Reason and precise alignment between your qualifications and the occupation code are essential.
The employer files at the local Immigration Office via HiKorea, including your contract, the Statement of Reason, business documents, and evidence that the role maps to a designated occupation.
Handled by: your employer
Korea Immigration reviews whether your qualifications match the occupation, the salary meets the threshold and industry standards, and the employer is eligible. E-7-1 professional cases are decided faster.
Handled by: the Korea Immigration Service
For applicants abroad, immigration issues a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance. Take it to the Korean embassy or consulate for the visa stamp (a few business days).
Handled by: you
Enter Korea, then register for an Alien Registration Card at the local immigration office within 90 days of arrival — your residence ID — and begin work.
Handled by: you
Frequently asked questions
Yes, but with a catch: the E-7 is tied to your sponsoring employer, and you must get prior notification and approval from the Immigration Office before changing jobs. The new employer must also meet all E-7 requirements. This employer tie is the E-7's main limitation — which is why many holders aim to move to the F-2-7 points-based residence visa, which is not tied to any employer.
Yes. Your spouse and minor children can join on F-3 dependent visas. Spouses of E-7 holders can work in professional occupations (with permission for activities outside their status), and from 22 April 2026, these procedures will be simplified with comprehensive permission and online applications. Children can attend Korean schools, and the family can access national health insurance.
The E-7 covers a closed list of roughly 87 occupations (some compilations count up to 94) across management, IT and software, engineering, science, design, business and specialised services. Your job title and duties must map to one of these codes, and your degree major must relate to it. If your role is not on the list, there is no E-7 path — check the current Ministry of Justice list before applying.
A high salary simplifies everything. At 3× per-capita GNI (~KRW 149.8 million/year), education and experience requirements are waived, and ministry recommendation letters are waived for most occupations. At 1.5× GNI (~KRW 74.9 million) plus a recommendation letter, education and experience can also be waived. For senior, well-paid professionals the E-7 becomes considerably easier.
The E-7 is a stepping stone. After more than 1 year in Korea and 80+ points on the F-2-7 scale (age, education, income, Korean language and more), you can move to the F-2-7 residence visa — not tied to an employer — and from there to F-5 permanent residence. Korean language ability significantly boosts your points.
Not mandatory for the E-7 itself, but highly recommended. Korean language ability is a major factor in the F-2-7 points system for long-term residence and materially improves daily life and career progression. Most workplaces outside multinationals and parts of IT operate in Korean.
You cannot apply for the E-7 without a job offer from a Korean employer whose role matches a designated occupation. Every job listed on Workbeyond is from employers who sponsor international talent to work in South Korea. Use the filters to narrow by profession, city and seniority level to find roles that match your criteria.
Find sponsored jobs in South Korea
Every job listed on Workbeyond is from an employer who sponsors international workers. The E-7 only works when your degree and experience map to a designated occupation, so finding a role that matches your profile is the first step. Use the filters to narrow by profession, city and seniority level.
Planning a move? See the South Korea destination guide.