WORK E7 VISA E7Visa Requirement (2024) E7visa Job code & Requirements E7visa Employment Letter E7VISA Switching Jobs E7Visa Extension Requirement E7-4 Skilled Worker Visa E6 VISA E6Visa Entertainment, Art, Sports Fields E6visa Film Director and Actor, Staff E6 E-Sports E6Visa Model, Singer, Trainee D3Visa: Technical Training visa D10 Job Seeking visa D6 Religious Visa E7 VISA E7Visa Requirement (2024) E7visa Job code & Requirements E7visa Employment Letter E7VISA Switching Jobs E7Visa Extension Requirement E7-4 Skilled Worker Visa E7Visa Requirement (2024) E7visa Job code & Requirements E7visa Employment Letter E7VISA Switching Jobs E7Visa Extension Requirement E7-4 Skilled Worker Visa E6 VISA E6Visa Entertainment, Art, Sports Fields E6visa Film Director and Actor, Staff E6 E-Sports E6Visa Model, Singer, Trainee E6Visa Entertainment, Art, Sports Fields E6visa Film Director and Actor, Staff E6Visa Model, Singer, Trainee D3Visa: Technical Training visa D10 Job Seeking visa D6 Religious Visa INVESTMENT D8 Visa D8 Dispatch D8 Extension D7 Dispatch IISPB : Fund Invest IISRE : Real Estate Invest INCORPORATION (FDI) BRANCH LIASION OFFICE D8 Visa D8 Dispatch D8 Extension IISPB : Fund Invest IISRE : Real Estate Invest INCORPORATION (FDI) GREEN CARD F5 Requirements F5-1 Long-term Resident F5-2 Visa: Married Immigrants F5-5 High-value Investor F5-6 Overseas Koreans F4 to F5 visa Requirements F5-9: Overseas Ph.D. Holders F5-10 Bachelor & Master degree holders F5-11 Owner of Specific Abilities F5-12 Green Card : A Special Contributor F5-13 Pension Beneficiaries F5-15 Domestic Ph.D. holders F5-16 Green Card (change from F2-7 to F5 ) F5 Requirements F5-1 Long-term Resident F5-2 Visa: Married Immigrants F5-5 High-value Investor F5-6 Overseas Koreans F4 to F5 visa Requirements F5-9: Overseas Ph.D. Holders F5-10 Bachelor & Master degree holders F5-11 Owner of Specific Abilities F5-12 Green Card : A Special Contributor F5-13 Pension Beneficiaries F5-15 Domestic Ph.D. holders F5-16 Green Card (change from F2-7 to F5 ) RESIDENCY F2-99 Long-term Resident F2-7 Points Based F3 Visa: Family Invitation F1 Visa: Family Visitor F1-D Digital Nomad F1-22 Foreign Housekeeper Invitation Naturalization F6 Marriage immigrants F6 Visa After Divorce in Korea Naturalization as a Permanent Resident Simple Naturalization (Parents are Korean) Special Naturalization (Child of a Citizen) F2-99 Long-term Resident F2-7 Points Based F3 Visa: Family Invitation F1 Visa: Family Visitor F1-D Digital Nomad F1-22 Foreign Housekeeper Invitation Naturalization F6 Marriage immigrants F6 Visa After Divorce in Korea Naturalization as a Permanent Resident Simple Naturalization (Parents are Korean) Special Naturalization (Child of a Citizen) F6 Marriage immigrants F6 Visa After Divorce in Korea Naturalization as a Permanent Resident Simple Naturalization (Parents are Korean) Special Naturalization (Child of a Citizen) MARRIAGE F6 Basic Requirements F6-2 custody holder F6-3 lawsuit divorce F2-15 child rearing F6 Basic Requirements F6-2 custody holder F6-3 lawsuit divorce F2-15 child rearing CONTACT US Contact Us About Us Office Location Office Location 2022-12-23 BY Immikorea The E-7 Specific Activity Visa is the most commonly used work visa when hiring foreign professionals. However, just because a company decides to hire a foreign national does not mean that an E-7 visa will be issued automatically. When applying for an E-7 visa, three main factors must be considered together. ① Does the foreign national meet the educational and work experience requirements for the position? ② Does the company meet the requirements to hire this foreign national? ③ Do your actual job duties fall under an occupation permitted under the E-7 visa? Factors such as annual salary, the number of domestic employees, company revenue, business activities, and the necessity of hiring foreign workers may also be considered. Therefore, rather than deciding to hire first and then looking into the visa later, it is safest to assess the likelihood of obtaining an E-7 visa before making a hiring decision. The E-7 visa is an employment-based residency status that allows foreign nationals with specialized knowledge, skills, or expertise in specific fields designated by the Ministry of Justice to enter into an employment contract with a domestic company and work in Korea. However, in practice, there are many cases where the industry for which a company is hiring is not listed in the job category codes, or where applicants must select a similar job category to apply for an E-7 visa. If the wrong code is applied, not only will the application be denied, but if the same applicant is matched with the same company again for a reapplication, the likelihood of the visa being issued becomes very low. Therefore, it is crucial to select the correct code from the very beginning. This is a very important point. For the E-7 visa, what matters is not the job title used by the company, but the actual duties performed . For example, even if a company uses the title “Marketing Manager,” the specific E-7 occupation subject to review may vary depending on whether the actual duties involve overseas sales, product planning, or advertising and public relations. Therefore, the first step in applying for an E-7 visa is to accurately select the occupation code that corresponds to the actual work the foreign national will perform . education and career Have a master’s degree in a field that is relevant to the job you’re adopting Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to the position being introduced + 1+ years of experience in the field More than 5 years of work experience in a field related to the job to be introduced * Work experience is only recognized after obtaining a degree or certificate, but internship experience before graduation is recognized for those in high-tech fields (IT, bio, nano, etc.). Graduates of domestic universities have an advantage when applying for an E-7 visa change. If you have earned an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree or higher from a university in Korea, certain requirements—such as major and work experience—may be waived within a specified range. The primary career paths are as follows: D2 Student Visa → E7 Work Visa D2 Study Abroad → D10 Job Search/Internship → E7 Employment However, simply graduating from a domestic university does not automatically qualify a foreign national for an E-7 visa change for every company or every occupation. The actual duties the foreign national will perform must fall under an occupation permitted under the E-7 visa, and the employing company must also meet the requirements to hire that foreign national. Special Qualifications (education and experience waivers for employment necessity in immigration) One year or more of professional work experience at one of the world’s top 500 companies Graduated from world-class universities (planned) Bachelor’s degree holders (Universities within the top 500 QS world universities) Graduates of domestic colleges and universities – Exempt from the 1-year work experience requirement when working in an industry related to your major Bachelor’s degree from a domestic university (expected) – any major, no experience required Those who graduated with work-study-linked study (D-2-7) qualification are exempt from applying the national employment rate Outstanding talent in cutting-edge science and technology, recommended by KOTRA, Small and Medium Business Corporation High-tech intern D-10-3 visa holder who has interned for more than one year in the field of internship and whose wages are equal to or greater than the GNI of the previous year Have an employment recommendation from a government ministry and earn an annual compensation of at least 1.5 times GNI. Highly compensated professional talent: Annual compensation of more than 3 times GNI (no employment reference required)

Graduates of the Best Practices Training 1. screening criteria for national employment protection No rule of thumb for E7-1 professionals except for wage requirements Among professionals, national protection occupations, semi-professionals, general skilled workers, and skilled workers are subject to screening criteria. 2. Restriction on the employment rate of foreigners In principle, companies with fewer than 5 national employees and focusing on domestic market are not invited. National employment protection occupations generally allow foreign employment within 20% of national employees. Excludes skilled workers E-7-4, seasonal workers E8, non-specialty workers E9, seafarers E10, visiting workers H2, resident F2, overseas compatriots F4, permanent residents F5, and marriage immigrants F6 from the foreign workforce. Professor E1, E7-1 through E7-3 statuses are included in the number of foreign employees to calculate the ratio. Excludes skilled workers E-7-4, seasonal workers E8, non-specialty workers E9, seafarers E10, visiting workers H2, resident F2, overseas compatriots F4, permanent residents F5, and marriage immigrants F6 from the foreign workforce. Professor E1, E7-1 through E7-3 statuses are included in the number of foreign employees to calculate the ratio. Proof of Korean employment refers to the number of persons who have been registered for more than 3 months who meet the minimum wage in the employment insurance subscriber list. In principle, even newly established companies should apply for the domestic employment ratio three months after the business registration date. However, if there is a recommendation from the competent ministry (KOTRA, Korea International Trade Association), etc., additional employment is permitted within the range of 50% of the total national workers in the high-tech industry and within the range of 70% for excellent exporters targeting special language regions. If there is a criterion, apply that criterion 3. Wage Requirements (February 1–December 31, 2026) E-7-1 Skilled Workers: 31.12 million won or more Semi-Professional Workers (E-7-2): 25,890,000 won or more General Skilled Worker (E-7-3): 25.89 million won or more Skilled Workers (E-7-4): 26 million won or more Exclusions: Occupations for which the Minister of Justice has established different wage requirements to protect citizens’ jobs, among other purposes, shall be subject to those requirements. 4. Employer must not have arrears of tax (national tax, local tax) 5. small foreign-invested enterprises or ventures in the early stages of startup are allowed even if they have not had sales for 5 years Manufacturing, trade, consulting, and R&D Small businesses looking to hire specialized talent There are various reasons why an E-7 visa might be denied. First, the most representative reason is because of the wrong choice of occupation. While the business environment is highly developed and the skills and abilities of the professionals needed by companies are diverse, the current E7 visa rules only allow for a limited number of occupations: 67 specialty occupations, 10 semi-specialty occupations, and 9 general skilled occupations. For this reason, it is difficult for companies in industries where it is difficult to clearly distinguish the boundaries of work, where foreigners are hired to do this and that, and it is difficult to select the correct type of job. is often missed. Second, you can’t demonstrate the need for employment (you’re not good at writing a resume). A statement of reason for employment should appeal to the visa officer for the company’s capabilities and vision and convince them of the necessity of hiring foreigners. It’s not easy. Large or publicly traded companies can claim the need to hire foreigners on their own, but small start-ups with little or no track record are subject to stricter visa screening criteria. Therefore, it is important to write a reason for employment that can be contextual and show that the small company has a vision. Third, you don’t meet the basic qualifications. Even if you choose the wrong occupation or the reason for employment is insufficient, you can modify and submit it, but if the basic qualifications are not met even slightly, permission will be rejected immediately. Basic qualifications include both the foreigner who is the target of employment and the qualifications of the company seeking employment. Since basic qualifications may vary depending on the type of job you choose, you should proceed with visa issuance after checking from the beginning. One of the key documents required for an E-7 application is a statement of employment or a plan for utilizing foreign workers . Rather than simply stating, “We need this person because they are proficient in a foreign language” or “We need a foreign national for our overseas business,” you should specifically explain what kind of business the company is in, what duties the foreign national will be responsible for, and how that person’s education, work experience, and expertise will contribute to the company’s business. In particular, if your company is in its early stages, has limited revenue, or is hiring a foreign professional for the first time, you need to fully explain why your company needs that particular foreign professional . In particular, the employment justification letter is where an administrative specialist’s experience and skills are most fully demonstrated. You’ll understand why when you read the story below. While some people mistakenly believe that an employment recommendation letter is always required, an employment recommendation letter from the central government agency is not required for all occupations; the occupations for which it is mandatory are specified separately (16 occupations). 1. if you are inviting an E7 visa recruit from abroad – Prepare visa documents and apply for a visa issuance certificate to the immigration office having jurisdiction over the company address – If permission is granted, the confirmation of visa issuance will be emailed to the foreigner – For foreigners, submit it to the Korean consulate in the country -Enter Korea after visa issuance is completed – Apply for alien registration card within 90 days 2. Change of status if the E7 visa recruit is staying in Korea – Prepare visa documents and apply for change of status of stay and alien registration card at the Immigration Office having jurisdiction over the company address – Receive alien registration card upon approval 3. How long does it take to issue – Once the E7 visa documents are received by the immigration office, it takes approximately 3-4 weeks for approval. – This includes the time required to have foreign documents such as diplomas and work experience certificates notarized by an apostille or consulate. – In the case of small businesses, it may take additional time to go out on-site due diligence. Foreign nationals who are issued an E-7 visa may sponsor their spouse and minor children on F-3 dependent visas so that they can live together in South Korea. If the E-7 applicant and their family members are abroad, they can apply for the E-7 visa and their family members’ F-3 visas at the same time; alternatively, the E-7 visa holder may enter South Korea first and then invite their spouse and children separately. To prove family relationships, you will need family relationship documents such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate ; depending on the country, an Apostille or consular certification may be required. However, since the F-3 visa is not, in principle, a status of residence that permits employment , if a spouse wishes to work in Korea, they must determine whether they qualify for a separate status of residence that allows employment or whether they have obtained the necessary authorization. Many people stay in the country on a D-10 job-seeking visa, complete an internship at a domestic company, and are then formally hired, after which they switch to an E-7 visa . During the internship period, both the company and the foreign national can assess each other’s suitability for the position; subsequently, if the foreign national meets the E-7 requirements and signs a full-time employment contract, they can apply to change their residency status. In particular, if the work performed as an intern is the same as or related to the occupation for which you are applying for an E-7 visa , it can help demonstrate continuity of work and the necessity of hiring a foreign national. However, simply having worked as an intern does not guarantee an E-7 visa; the foreign national must separately meet the requirements regarding educational background, work experience, the E-7 job category, the company’s hiring criteria, and the annual salary threshold . E7 visa holders can change their work location. For example, if you are moving from the head office to a branch, you can report it to the immigration office within 14 days. If you are moving to another company, you cannot change your job without the consent of your original employer, unless there are unavoidable circumstances such as suspension or closure of the company you are working for, or delayed payment of wages. You will need a change of employment agreement from your original employer. Depending on your industry, you may need to file after you change jobs, or you may need to get clearance before you change jobs. Integrated application Employment letters Documents related to establishment of employment organization Employment contract Documents proving company sales performance Tax payment certificate Details of Employment Insurance Insured Persons Employment recommendation letter (if necessary) Background check (applicable to your job) Documents separately determined for each job type Documents proving foreigner qualification requirements Certificate of experience Certificates, etc. Marriage certificate for family invitation Family certificate Additional documents may be added or subtracted because the documents to be submitted are different by company and job type E7 visa denied 100% Refund Policy IMMIKOREA Visa is a Ministry of Justice-registered immigration service agency that directly handles foreign employment and E-7 visa matters. We do not simply accept documents prepared by clients. We manage the entire process, from reviewing the foreign national’s education and work experience → selecting an E-7 visa occupation → reviewing the company’s employment requirements → verifying wage standards → preparing the statement of employment reasons → applying for an entry-exit permit → responding to requests for additional documentation → to foreign national registration . In particular, for the E-7 visa, the application process and required documents may vary even for the same job, depending on the company’s industry and size, as well as the foreign national’s field of study and work experience. IMMIKOREA Visa reviews every aspect of the process—from the foreign national’s eligibility and company requirements to job selection, application submission, and handling of requests for additional information. Beyond visas: Everything you need to know about the entire process of settling in Korea From finding a home to moving in, settling in, managing your stay, and providing family support, IMMIKOREA Relocation is here to help. D8 Visa Qualification and Application Procedure E-6 Visa Entertainment, Art, Sports Fields 이미코리아 행정사사무소 Ι 서울특별시 중구 퇴계로 320 SW빌딩 10층. 10F SW Building, Toegye-ro 320, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. License No.1710100774, Business No. 302-32-12290. representative Kang Shin Woo. Copyright © 2020 immikorea.com by IMMIKOREA INC.