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South Korea · Work visa

E-7 Specially Designated Activities Work Visa

Processing
2-8 weeks
Cost
From $60
Validity
Up to 3 years per issuance

Korea’s main employer-sponsored work visa, covering ~90 designated professional, semi-professional and skilled occupations (E-7-1 professionals being the largest group). Requires a Korean employer and a Ministry of Justice occupation match.

Requirements

  • Job offer in one of the designated E-7 occupation codes
  • Master’s degree; or bachelor’s plus 1+ year of relevant experience; or 5+ years of relevant experience
  • Minimum annual salary for E-7-1 of about KRW 31.1 million (2026 Ministry of Justice standard); SMEs and non-capital-region companies may use a relaxed ~70%-of-GNI threshold
  • Sponsoring company meets foreign-hire ratio and financial soundness requirements
  • Clean criminal record and valid health status

Time and cost

Processing time
2-8 weeks (visa issuance confirmation via KVAC/embassy)
Validity
Up to 3 years per issuance, renewable
Cost

From $60

Required

  • About $60 visa fee (single-entry; multiple-entry $90)
Path to residency
F-2-7 points residency after 1+ year, then F-5 permanent residence

Documents

  • Valid passport

    Valid for the intended stay

  • Employment contract

    Stating occupation code, salary and duration

  • Degree certificate (apostilled)

    With apostille or consular legalisation

  • Career/experience certificates

    Proving the required years in the field

  • Employer’s business registration

    Company registration and financial documents

  • Criminal record check (if it applies)

    Required for certain occupations and nationalities

Tips

  • The salary floor follows GNI per capita; confirm the current figure before signing a contract
  • Occupation-code fit matters more than job title; misclassification is a common refusal reason
  • The points-based E-7-S track has fewer restrictions for applicants who meet its criteria