Republic of Korea · work sponsored · Leads to settlement

E-7 Designated Activities Visa

By Sam Parks · Last reviewed: 18 April 2026

Work visa for foreign professionals in specialised occupations — Korea's primary employer-sponsored route for skilled workers.

Requires employer sponsorshipLeads to permanent residency1–3 years; renewable.

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

Reviewed 18 April 2026Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) ↗

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.

Guidance by nationality

Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.

Additional sources

Primary source
Korea Immigration Service — visa categories ↗ · Korea Immigration Service
Link last verified: 18 April 2026

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).
✓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.
!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.
·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.
·Passport-sized photos meeting Korean biometric requirements.

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.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

Official portalEmployer
Request visa issuance confirmation ↗
The Korean employer uses the official visa system and immigration office process to support E-7 visa issuance confirmation.
Korea Visa Portal / Ministry of Justice · verified 18 April 2026
Official portalApplicant
Use Hi Korea for immigration services ↗
Use Hi Korea for stay-related applications, appointments and immigration office services after arrival.
Korea Immigration Service · verified 18 April 2026

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Frequently asked questions

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.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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Overview

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).
✓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.
!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.
·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.
·Passport-sized photos meeting Korean biometric requirements.

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.