(Foreigner) What is a work visa?
When hiring a foreigner who does not reside or stay in Korea, the foreigner must apply for and receive a Korean work visa.
*Foreigners holding an F6 (marriage visa) or F5 (permanent resident card) can be employed without issuing a separate work visa.
Typical cases where a work visa is required are as follows:
- Foreigners who do not have a visa for the Republic of Korea
- Foreigners holding a D-2 (study visa)
- Foreigners holding D-4 (general training visa)
- Foreigners holding D-10 (employment visa)
The types of visas that allow you to work in Korea are as follows:
| Visa Type | Detaile | Visa Type | Detaile |
| C-4 (Short-term employment) | – Seasonal work, short-term employment – Other short-term employment (temporary entertainment, lectures, research, etc.) | E-4 (technical guidance) | – Persons who provide specialized knowledge in the field of natural sciences or technology in special industrial fields at public/private institutions |
| E-1 (Professor) | – A person who teaches, researches, or provides guidance at a college or higher educational institution. | E-5 (Professional Occupation) | – A person who works in a specialized field such as law, accounting, or medicine. |
| E-2 (Conversation Instruction) | – Foreign language conversation instructor – Government-invited assistant teacher | E-6 (Arts and Entertainment) | – Those who are active in arts such as music, art, literature, and broadcasting entertainment – Those who perform at hotel facilities, entertainment establishments, etc. – Athlete, professional team coach, manager |
| E-3 (Research) | – Researchers in fields such as natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, arts and physical education, etc. | – Professional personnel | – Professional personnel – Semi-skilled labor – General skilled manpower – Skilled technical manpower (point system) |
What is an E-7 (Specified Activities) Visa?
The E7 visa is a visa applied for by foreigners who do not have an appropriate visa to work.
Foreigners residing abroad apply for an E7 visa at the local Korean embassy by completing and preparing the visa application form and supporting documents.
*If you have an alien registration card, you can change your existing visa to E7 status through a simplified process.
E-7 Visa Application Eligibility
Foreigners who meet one or more of the conditions below are eligible to apply for the E-7 visa.
- Bachelor’s degree and at least 1 year of related experience in a field related to the position introduced.
- Master’s degree or higher in a field related to the introduced occupation
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in a field related to the introduced job
*The applicant’s academic background may differ depending on the school located in Korea and overseas.
Before applying for a visa, you must check your educational background and school location.
In addition to the above conditions, relaxation policies are sometimes implemented to attract domestic students and overseas talent to Korea.
- If you graduated from a Korean university, you can apply for an E-7 visa regardless of your major.
- For overseas talent who have worked at one of the world’s top 500 companies for more than one year, the education requirement may be waived.
Documents required when applying for an E-7 visa
In order for a foreigner to apply for an E-7 visa, the company that wants to hire the foreigner must prepare the documents listed below.
Visa applicants must also submit personal documentation.
Documents prepared by the company (employer)
- Employment contract (copy)
- Identity guarantee
- Documents related to company establishment
– Business Registration
– Employer identification card - Documents proving the need for foreign employment
– Letter of invitation for foreigners
– Foreign recruitment and utilization plan - Employment insurance subscriber list
- Proof of previous year’s sales performance
Visa applicant preparation documents
- visa application form
- Documents proving qualifications (degree, certificate, career certificate, etc.)
Depending on the country in which the document is issued, translation/notarization or Apostille may be required. - Proof of residence in Korea
- Overseas criminal record certificate
- Other documents required to be submitted separately for each occupation
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