The E-7 visa is Korea’s primary work visa for foreign professionals in specialized occupations. It covers the broadest range of professional roles — from engineers and researchers to chefs, athletes, and financial analysts — and is the visa most working expats in professional roles either hold or are targeting. This guide explains eligibility, the application process, and how to switch from another visa type.
1. What the E-7 Visa Is
The E-7 (Specially Designated Activities) visa authorizes foreign nationals to work in Korea in specific occupational categories designated by the Ministry of Justice. Unlike some work visas that are employer-specific in a narrow sense, E-7 ties the authorization to both the employer and the occupation category.
Key characteristics:
- Employer-sponsored: your employer applies on your behalf; you cannot self-petition
- Occupation-specific: you must work in the role for which the visa is issued
- Initial duration: typically 1–3 years, renewable
- Pathway to permanent residency: E-7 holders can accumulate points toward F-2-7 (points-based long-term residency) and eventually F-5 (permanent residency)
2. E-7 Occupational Categories
The Ministry of Justice maintains a list of over 80 qualifying occupations across multiple categories. Major groups include:
| Category Code | Occupational Group | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| E-7-1 | Professional/Technical | Software engineers, semiconductor engineers, AI/ML researchers, mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, architects, biotechnology researchers |
| E-7-2 | Arts and Culture | Musicians, artists, designers, film/broadcast professionals |
| E-7-3 | Research | University researchers, corporate R&D staff (overlaps with E-3 in some cases) |
| E-7-4 | Specialized Services | International finance specialists, management consultants, certified public accountants, lawyers with foreign law qualifications |
| E-7-5 to E-7-99 | Special Occupation Categories | Hotel management, cooking (Korean cuisine specialists), sports coaches, ship officers, aviation crew, international trade specialists |
The full occupation list (직종 코드 목록) is available from the Ministry of Justice (hikorea.go.kr) and is updated periodically. Not all occupations are equally accessible — some have quota restrictions or additional requirements.
3. Basic Eligibility Requirements
Standard requirements for most E-7 categories:
- Educational qualification: Bachelor’s degree or higher in a field related to the occupation (for most E-7-1 professional/technical roles)
- Experience: Some categories require 1+ years of relevant professional experience in addition to the degree
- Korean employer: A Korean employer (company, institution, or organization) must agree to sponsor the visa and meet their own qualification criteria (not all employers are approved to sponsor E-7 workers)
- Salary requirement: The offered salary must meet or exceed the GNI per capita threshold (국민 1인당 GNI 기준) — approximately ₩40,000,000–50,000,000 annually in recent years. This prevents employers from using E-7 for low-wage roles.
- Point score system: E-7-1 uses a points-based assessment (점수제) for some occupation types — see below
Source: Ministry of Justice (법무부), Foreigner Stay Guide, 2026
4. The Points System (점수제) for E-7-1
For the most common E-7 category (E-7-1, professional/technical), a points-based scoring system determines eligibility:
| Factor | Points Available |
|---|---|
| Educational background (학력) | Up to 30 points (PhD: 30, Master’s: 25, Bachelor’s: 20) |
| Korean language proficiency (TOPIK) | Up to 20 points (TOPIK 6: 20, TOPIK 5: 15, TOPIK 4: 10, TOPIK 3: 5) |
| Annual salary level | Up to 20 points (higher salary = more points) |
| Work experience in Korea | Up to 15 points |
| Age | Up to 15 points (younger applicants score higher) |
| Bonus factors | Additional points for specific qualifications, top-tier company employment, government-designated strategic industry |
Passing score: Generally 60+ points out of 120 to qualify for the standard E-7-1 application. Occupation-specific thresholds may vary.
Source: Ministry of Justice (법무부), Foreigner Stay Guide, 2026
5. Application Process
If Applying from Outside Korea (Consulate Route)
- Employer in Korea prepares and submits a pre-authorization request to the local immigration office (출입국 외국인청)
- If pre-authorized, employer sends you the approval letter (사증발급인정서)
- You apply at the Korean consulate/embassy in your home country with the approval letter and required documents
- Visa processing: 1–4 weeks depending on the consulate and season
If Changing Status Within Korea (체류자격 변경)
- Must already be in Korea on a qualifying status (not a tourist visa in most cases)
- Employer prepares supporting documents
- Submit application at your local immigration office (출입국 외국인청) or via Hikorea online portal (hikorea.go.kr)
- Processing time: 2–6 weeks (varies significantly by office and period)
- Common qualifying statuses to change from: D-10 (job seeker), D-2 (student completing studies), other E-series, F-series
Source: Korea Immigration Service (출입국외국인정책본부), hikorea.go.kr, 2026
Required Documents (Standard)
- Application form (available at immigration offices and hikorea.go.kr)
- Passport (and copy)
- ARC (if changing status within Korea)
- Employment contract (근로계약서) or letter of appointment from Korean employer
- Employer’s business registration certificate (사업자등록증)
- Degree certificate (apostilled and translated into Korean if not in English)
- Academic transcripts
- Career certificate / work experience documentation
- TOPIK certificate (if applicable for points)
- Passport photo
- Application fee: approximately ₩130,000
6. Renewal and Long-Term Path
E-7 renewal is employer-tied — if you change jobs, you must apply for a new E-7 authorization for the new employer, not just renew the existing one. Process:
- Submit renewal application at least 2 months before expiry
- New employer must sponsor and meet sponsorship criteria
- For the same employer: renewal is generally straightforward with continued employment and compliance
Path to Long-Term Residency
- F-2-7 (Points-Based Residency): After holding E-7 for a qualifying period, you can apply for F-2-7 if you meet the points threshold (~80 points). F-2-7 allows job changes without a new visa.
- F-5 (Permanent Residency): After 5 years of continuous residence with qualifying status (including E-7 periods), you can apply for F-5. F-5 has no employer sponsorship requirement and is open-ended.
7. Common Rejection Reasons
- Salary below the GNI per capita threshold
- Educational degree not recognized or not in a relevant field
- Employer not registered or not approved to sponsor E-7 workers
- Application submitted while on an ineligible status (e.g., tourist visa)
- Points score below minimum threshold
- Incomplete or unauthenticated documents (degree apostille missing, translation not certified)
- Criminal record or immigration violation history
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I freelance or do part-time work on an E-7 visa?
A: No — E-7 authorizes work only for the specific employer and occupation stated on the visa. Unauthorized work (freelance, side employment) violates E-7 conditions and can result in deportation and entry ban. If you want to change employers or add work, apply for a visa change or additional work authorization.
Q: My employer is a startup with under 10 employees. Can they sponsor an E-7?
A: Yes, but the employer must be a legally registered Korean company with active business registration. Very new companies (less than 1 year old) or those with no history of hiring foreign workers may face additional scrutiny. The employer must also meet financial stability criteria.
Q: I don’t speak Korean. Does that disqualify me from E-7?
A: Korean language proficiency is a points factor but not a mandatory requirement for E-7-1. A zero score on Korean language is possible and the application can still qualify if other factors (degree, salary, experience) generate enough points. That said, a higher TOPIK score significantly boosts the application’s strength.
Q: I’m currently on a D-2 student visa about to graduate. Can I get E-7?
A: D-2 holders can change status to E-7 within Korea without departing, provided they have a job offer from a qualifying Korean employer and meet the other requirements. This is one of the more common transition paths for international graduates from Korean universities.
Key Resources
- Hikorea (하이코리아): hikorea.go.kr — official immigration portal, application forms, occupation list
- Immigration contact center: 1345 (English available 24 hours)
- E-7 occupation codes and requirements: Immigration Law Notice (법무부 고시) — updated annually on hikorea.go.kr
- Points calculator: hikorea.go.kr → 점수제 비자 계산기