South KoreaWork residence permit

Work visa for specialists in South Korea

A South Korean work visa for foreign specialists hired by a local company for a position on the list of activities separately designated by the Ministry of Justice. The status is valid while the holder works under an employment contract for the sponsoring company; changing or adding a place of work requires separate permission from the immigration service.

Visa term

1-2 years initially, renewable

Threshold

No personal funds required; the employer pays the minimum salary under the standard

Processing time

Usually 2-4 weeks

Work

Work for the sponsor; a change requires approval

Source: hikorea.go.kr — statuses of stay that give the right to work, including E-7

Who can obtain one

The visa.go.kr portal identifies two recognised routes into E-7 status.

Foreign National of Special Ability (E-7-1)

A specialist recognised by the Minister of Justice as strengthening the country's competitiveness — under a contract with a public or private organisation in Korea
The work is built around a specific position designated by the Ministry of Justice, not around any vacancy at the employer

Independent Professional by FTA (E-7-91)

A specialist not on the staff of a foreign corporation who provides technical guidance or takes up employment with a Korean company or individual
The ground for entry is a free trade agreement (FTA) between Korea and the specialist's country

What it costs

Single-entry E-7 visa (stay of 91 days or more)	60 USD
Double-entry visa (up to 2 entries)	70 USD
Multiple-entry visa (unlimited entries)	90 USD

Documents to gather

The general package is submitted for alien registration after entry; an E-7 holder additionally attaches documents relating to their status.

Passport with a copy of the personal particulars page and the visa
Alien registration application
A colour photograph 3.5x4.5 cm
A document confirming the place of residence (tenancy agreement, accommodation certificate, utility bill and so on)
A copy of the employer's business registration certificate
For teaching positions at foreign schools, overseas educational institutions and international secondary schools — a medical certificate with drug test results from an institution designated by the Minister of Justice

How the process runs

The route from being hired to lawful status in Korea under the official HiKorea procedure.

1
Conclude a contract with a Korean organisation
An organisation in Korea hires the specialist for a position specially designated by the Minister of Justice — this is the ground for applying for E-7 status.
2
Obtain the visa at a Korean embassy or consulate
The visa is issued by a Korean embassy or consulate on behalf of the Minister of Justice. In some cases the application may be filed with a certificate of confirmation of visa issuance already obtained from the immigration service in Korea.
3
Enter Korea on the visa issued
The visa is valid until its own Final Entry Date stated on it — after that date it automatically ceases to have effect.
4
File the documents for alien registration
within 90 days of entry
A foreign national who intends to stay in Korea for more than 90 days must file registration documents with the regional immigration office within 90 days of entry.
5
Receive the alien registration card
After registration the holder is issued an Alien Registration Card — it confirms the right to stay and work lawfully in Korea under E-7 status.

Who you can bring with you

The visa.go.kr portal describes which family members may accompany an E-7 holder.

Spouse and unmarried minor children

They receive Family Dependency (F-3) status — the category applies to the families of holders of statuses from Culture/Arts (D-1) to Foreign National of Special Ability (E-7); it does not apply to the families of Industrial Trainee (D-3) holders.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Mainly residence; absences are restricted for permanent residence

The application to extend the period of stay is filed with the regional immigration office no earlier than 4 months before the current period expires and no later than its expiry date. Filing after expiry attracts a fine under article 25 of the Immigration Control Act.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Work visa for specialists	visa for remote workers	Visa for business investors
Visa term	1-2 years initially, renewable	Around 1 year (one renewal possible); the rules are still taking shape	1 year initially, renewable
Grounds	Shortage occupations	Remote income	Investors/founders
Money	No personal funds required; the employer pays the minimum salary under the standard	Proof of stable income above the threshold and of savings	Minimum investment from ~100 million KRW; proof of the transfer and of the viability of the business
Work	Work for the sponsor; a change requires approval	Remote work only for a foreign employer; local work is prohibited	Managing the investee company; a director on a salary
Residence	Mainly residence; absences are restricted for permanent residence	Stay within the permitted period; it does not count towards permanent residence	Residence in order to manage the business

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Long-standing E-7 holders move to F-2, then F-5

Route to citizenship

After F-5 and 5+ years plus language — naturalisation

Frequently asked questions about Work visa for specialists

Who can obtain an E-7 visa?

A specialist hired by a public or private organisation in Korea for a position specially designated by the Minister of Justice to strengthen the country's competitiveness (the Foreign National of Special Ability sub-category, E-7-1). Or an independent professional who, under a free trade agreement, provides technical guidance or takes up employment with a Korean company on their own account without being on the staff of a foreign corporation (the Independent Professional by FTA sub-category, E-7-91).

How much does an E-7 visa cost?

A single-entry visa for 91 days or more costs 60 US dollars, a double-entry visa 70 dollars, and a multiple-entry visa with unlimited entries 90 dollars. These are the standard consular visa fees applicable to all Korean visa categories, including E-7.

What must be done after entering Korea and how much does it cost?

A foreign national who will stay in Korea for more than 90 days must file registration documents within 90 days of entry. The registration fee is 30,000 won. An E-7 holder additionally attaches a copy of the employer's business registration certificate, and for teaching positions at foreign schools and international secondary schools a medical certificate with drug test results.

Can the family of an E-7 holder relocate with them?

Yes. The spouse and unmarried minor children of an E-7 holder receive Family Dependency (F-3) status. That category applies to the families of holders of statuses from Culture/Arts (D-1) to E-7, but not to the families of Industrial Trainee (D-3) holders.

Can you change employer on E-7 status?

Yes, but a change or addition of a place of work must be agreed in advance with the regional immigration office. Permission is refused if the new place of work does not match the purpose of stay under the employment contract, if the holder changes jobs too often without a clear reason, or if the place being added involves more working hours or a higher salary than the main one. No more than two places of work may be added on top of the main one.

How is the period of stay on E-7 extended?

The extension application is filed with the regional immigration office in the window from 4 months before the current period expires up to that date itself. Filing after expiry attracts a fine under article 25 of the Immigration Control Act.

How does E-7 differ from the E-9 visa for non-professional employment?

E-7 (Special Occupations) and E-9 (Non-professional Employment) are different statuses from the same list of visas permitting employment in Korea. E-7 is issued for specialised activity separately designated by the Minister of Justice under a contract with an organisation. E-9 is a separate state recruitment programme for non-professional labour.

Other ways to move to South Korea

Every route in one list — migration programmes: South Korea.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.