Indonesian applicants · Republic of Korea
E-7 Designated Activities Visa for Indonesian citizens
Work visa for foreign professionals in specialised occupations — Korea's primary employer-sponsored route for skilled workers.
This page covers the E-7 Designated Activities Visa specifically for Indonesian applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Indonesia. The general eligibility criteria apply to everyone.
- Processing time
- 2–6 weeks.
- Government fees
- Visa fee KRW 130,000 (single entry, approximately USD 100 — verify on hikorea.go.kr).
- Typical duration
- 1–3 years; renewable.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
No nationality-specific treaty frameworks apply to this combination.
Consular processing: a Republic of Korea consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence
Tourist entry vs. this route
Tourist-entry rules for Indonesian nationals are set by Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) and change periodically — check the official entry-requirements page. The E-7 Designated Activities Visa is a separate application from any tourist entry.
Visa overview
The E-7 visa is South Korea's main work visa for foreign professionals in designated specialised occupations. The employer must demonstrate that the position requires specialised knowledge or skills that justify hiring a foreign national. The Ministry of Justice maintains a list of eligible occupations for the E-7 visa. Salary must meet the minimum threshold set by the Ministry of Justice (verify the current figure on the Hi Korea portal — hikorea.go.kr). The E-7 is employer-tied — changing employers requires notifying immigration and ensuring the new role also qualifies. After accumulating sufficient points on the F-2 immigration points system (based on salary, Korean language, age, qualifications, and social contribution), E-7 holders can transition to the F-2 long-term residence visa, which then leads to F-5 permanent residence.
Additional sources
Primary source
Korea Immigration Service — visa categories ↗ · Korea Immigration Service
Link last verified:
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Job offer from a Korean employer for a position classified under a designated specialised occupation on the E-7 eligible-occupation list.
- ✓Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field, or equivalent professional experience (typically 5+ years for applicants without a degree — assessed case-by-case).
- €Salary meeting the minimum threshold set by the Ministry of Justice (verify the current figure on hikorea.go.kr — the threshold varies by occupation and experience level).Ministry of Justice / Korea Immigration Service (Republic of Korea) ↗
- ✓The employer must meet certain criteria (company size, financial stability, tax compliance) to sponsor E-7 workers — small or newly established companies face additional scrutiny.
Common blockers
- !Occupation not on the E-7 designated list — general service, retail, or manual-labour roles do not qualify.
- !Salary below the minimum threshold for the occupation.Ministry of Justice / Korea Immigration Service (Republic of Korea) ↗
- !Employer too small or newly established — immigration authorities assess the employer's capacity to sponsor foreign workers, and very small companies may be limited in the number of E-7 workers they can sponsor.
- !Qualification mismatch — the degree or experience must be relevant to the specific occupation.
Typical evidence
- ·Employment contract specifying role, salary, and conditions.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Republic of Korea) — Embassy in Finland ↗
- ·Degree certificates with apostille (or consular legalisation for countries not in the Apostille Convention).
- ·Employer's business registration certificate (saeopja deungnog jeungmyeongseo).
- ·Employer's tax-payment certificate and financial statements (for employer-eligibility assessment).
- ·Valid passport.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Republic of Korea) — Embassy in Finland ↗
- ·Passport-sized photos meeting Korean biometric requirements.Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Republic of Korea) — Embassy in Finland ↗
Application pathway
Secure a qualifying job offer
The employer must offer a role classified under a designated E-7 occupation. Verify the occupation is on the current E-7 eligible list through hikorea.go.kr or the immigration office.
Employer applies for visa issuance confirmation
The employer submits a visa issuance confirmation application to the regional immigration office in Korea. Processing takes 2–4 weeks. On approval, a Certificate of Visa Issuance Confirmation Number is provided.
Apply for E-7 visa at Korean consulate
With the confirmation number, apply for the E-7 visa at the Korean embassy or consulate in your country of residence. Processing takes 1–2 weeks.
Enter Korea and register
Within 90 days of arrival, register as a foreign resident at the local immigration office and obtain your Alien Registration Card (ARC — oegugin deungnog jeung). The ARC is essential for banking, phone contracts, and daily life.
Accumulate points for F-2 transition
While working on the E-7, accumulate points toward F-2 eligibility: salary level, TOPIK Korean-language score, qualifications, age, and social contribution. 80 points qualifies for F-2 long-term residence.
Apply for F-2, then F-5 permanent residence
After reaching 80 points, apply for F-2 (long-term residence with employer-independent work rights). After 2+ years on F-2, apply for F-5 permanent residence.
Not sure Republic of Korea is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer work sponsored routes that Indonesian nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Indonesian applicants — work sponsored routes
- Republic of Ireland
Indonesian applicants — work sponsored routes
- Federal Republic of Germany
Indonesian applicants — work sponsored routes
- Portuguese Republic
Indonesian applicants — work sponsored routes
Frequently asked questions
Are Indonesian citizens eligible for the E-7 Designated Activities Visa?+
Eligibility for the E-7 Designated Activities Visa is set by Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) and is not nationality-restricted. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do Indonesian applicants typically file the E-7 Designated Activities Visa?+
a Republic of Korea consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Indonesian applicants need a tourist visa for Republic of Korea as well?+
Tourist-entry rules for Indonesian nationals are set by Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) and change periodically — check the official entry-requirements page. The E-7 Designated Activities Visa is a separate application from any tourist entry.
Does the E-7 visa lead to permanent residence?+
Not directly. The pathway is: E-7 → F-2 (points-based long-term residence, 80 points required) → F-5 (permanent residence, after 2+ years on F-2). The points are scored across income (up to 25 points), TOPIK Korean language (up to 20 points), qualifications (up to 20 points), age (up to 15 points), and social contribution/integration (up to 20 points). Most E-7 holders can realistically reach 80 points within 3–5 years if they invest in TOPIK certification.
Do I need to speak Korean for an E-7 visa?+
No Korean-language requirement at the E-7 application stage. However, TOPIK scores are worth significant points for the F-2 transition — TOPIK Level 5–6 (highest) scores 20 points, Level 3–4 scores 15 points, Level 1–2 scores 10 points. Korean-language investment is strongly recommended from day one, as it is typically the swing factor between qualifying for F-2 or not.
Can I change employers on the E-7 visa?+
Yes, but you must notify the immigration office and the new employer must also meet the E-7 sponsorship criteria. The new role must be in an E-7-designated occupation. If you change to a role outside the E-7 category, you may need a different visa type. Report the change within 15 days.
What is the Alien Registration Card (ARC) and why is it important?+
The ARC (oegugin deungnog jeung) is your foreign-resident identification card in Korea. It is essential for: opening a bank account, getting a phone number, signing a housing lease (jeonse or wolse), accessing healthcare through the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), and many daily activities. Apply within 90 days of arrival at the local immigration office. It typically takes 2–3 weeks to issue.
Are there limits on how many E-7 workers an employer can sponsor?+
Yes. The Ministry of Justice applies limits based on the employer's size and sector. Larger, established companies can sponsor more E-7 workers; small or newly established companies face tighter limits. The exact ratios are set by regulation and can change — check with the relevant immigration office.