E-7 Specific Activities Visa Korea: Complete Guide 2026
The E-7 (Specific Activities) visa is Korea's primary employment visa for foreign professionals hired by Korean companies and institutions. It covers a broad range of specialized occupations — from IT and finance to design, healthcare, and skilled trades.
The key constraint: the job must appear on the Ministry of Justice's approved occupation list. If the position isn't there, E-7 is simply not available. Understanding that boundary, and how education, experience, and salary requirements apply to each occupation, is what makes or breaks a successful application.
Table of Contents
- 1. What Is E-7? — Defining "Specific Activities"
- 2. Eligible Occupations — Key Categories
- 3. Education and Experience Requirements
- 4. Salary Requirements
- 5. Employer Requirements
- 6. Required Documents
- 7. Application Procedure
- 8. Duration and Extension
- 9. E-7 to F-2 and F-5 — Pathways to Long-Term Residency
- 10. Frequently Asked Questions
- 11. Consultation
1. What Is E-7? — Defining "Specific Activities" {#section-1}
E-7 is the "Specific Activities" visa category under Korea's Immigration Act. "Specific activities" refers to occupations designated by the Minister of Justice in a regularly updated approved occupation list with numerical codes.
Core principles:
- Occupation-restricted: Work outside the approved job description is prohibited
- Employer-specific: The visa ties you to a named employer; changing jobs requires re-application
- Qualification-gated: Each occupation has education, experience, and/or salary thresholds
E-7 covers professionals (IT, finance, engineering, design, teaching, medical, legal) as well as specialized skilled workers under the E-7-4 (Skilled Industrial Personnel) sub-category.
2. Eligible Occupations — Key Categories {#section-2}
The Ministry of Justice maintains the official E-7 occupation list. Key categories include:
Professional Roles
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Research & Engineering | Natural science researchers, engineers |
| IT | Software developers, data analysts, cybersecurity professionals |
| Finance | Investment analysts, financial managers, accountants |
| Design | Industrial design, UX/UI design, fashion design |
| Marketing | Global marketing specialists |
| Translation & Interpretation | Professional interpreters/translators in designated languages |
| Healthcare | Licensed physicians, nurses (subject to separate licensing requirements) |
| Education | University faculty, research professors, specialized instructors |
| Management Consulting | Corporate strategy and management advisors |
| Legal | Foreign legal consultants (based on home country bar admission) |
E-7-4 Skilled Industrial Personnel
Since 2019, E-7-4 enables non-professional foreign workers (E-9 or H-2 holders) who meet specific experience criteria to upgrade to E-7 status in qualifying skilled trades.
3. Education and Experience Requirements {#section-3}
Requirements vary by occupation. General principles:
Standard Professional Occupations
| Requirement | Minimum Standard |
|---|---|
| Education | Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (Master's/PhD preferred) |
| Experience | 1+ years in the relevant field (adjusts based on education level) |
| Alternative path | 5+ years of relevant work experience can substitute for a bachelor's degree in some occupations |
IT Occupation Special Provisions
For IT roles, practical skill evidence often matters more than formal credentials. Submitting a portfolio, open-source contributions, and professional certifications (e.g., AWS, CISA, Certified Information Processing Engineer) strengthens applications without or alongside degrees.
Salary-Education Tradeoff
Applicants substituting experience for education may face a stricter salary threshold than degree holders. A pre-submission consultation with the relevant immigration office is recommended.
4. Salary Requirements {#section-4}
E-7 has a statutory minimum salary requirement.
Core Standard
| Standard | Details |
|---|---|
| Legal minimum | At least 80% of Korea's national average wage (Ministry of Employment and Labor annual figure) |
| 2026 reference | Approximately ₩27 million or above (changes annually) |
| Seoul/Metropolitan area | ₩30 million or above passes scrutiny in most cases |
Notes by Occupation Type
- Advanced professionals (Master's/PhD): Salary flexibility applied more generously in practice
- Skilled trades (E-7-4): Separate minimum salary figures per occupation code
- Startups and SMEs: Below-standard salaries may be accepted if strong supporting evidence of company viability and hiring necessity is provided
5. Employer Requirements {#section-5}
The sponsoring employer must also meet qualifying criteria:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Business registration | Officially registered Korean legal entity or sole proprietorship |
| Business continuity | At least 1 year of operating history |
| Tax compliance | No outstanding national tax arrears |
| Social insurance | Active enrollment and payment of national health/pension/employment insurance |
| Employment appropriateness | Compliant with foreign worker employment ratio limits by industry and company size |
Newly established companies (under 1 year) must supply additional evidence of business viability and specific necessity of hiring a foreign national.
6. Required Documents {#section-6}
From the Applicant
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Visa application form | From overseas consulate or Hi Korea |
| Passport | Valid 6+ months |
| Passport-size photo | 3.5×4.5 cm, taken within 6 months |
| Degree certificate | Graduation certificate + apostille + Korean translation |
| Experience certificate | Employment certificate or career verification + translation |
| Professional license/certification | If applicable to the occupation |
From the Employer
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Employment contract | Must specify salary, position, and job duties |
| Business registration certificate | |
| Corporate registration extract | For incorporated entities |
| Tax payment certificate | Most recent year |
| Social insurance enrollment certificate | |
| Statement of need for foreign employee | Explains why a foreign national is necessary for this specific role |
7. Application Procedure {#section-7}
From Overseas (Visa Application)
- Submit documents to the Korean embassy or consulate in your country
- Processing time: typically 5–15 business days
- Enter Korea after visa issuance
- Register as foreign resident within 90 days of entry
In-Korea Status Change (Already in Korea)
- Apply online via Hi Korea (www.hikorea.go.kr) or visit your local immigration office
- Processing: typically 2–4 weeks
- New alien registration card issued after approval
8. Duration and Extension {#section-8}
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Initial stay period | Typically 1 year (2–3 years possible for large companies and high-earning roles) |
| Extension application | At least 30 days before expiry; via Hi Korea or local immigration office |
| Extension review items | Continued employment proof, salary transfer records, social insurance contributions, tax compliance |
| Extension limit | No legal cap — extendable indefinitely with continued employment |
9. E-7 to F-2 and F-5 — Pathways to Long-Term Residency {#section-9}
Long-term E-7 holders have clear pathways to more stable residency:
| Pathway | Key Requirements |
|---|---|
| F-2-7 Points-Based Long-Term Residency | Earn 80+ points on the scoring table while in E-7 status |
| F-5-1 Long-Term Resident PR | 5+ years of lawful stay in Korea + self-sufficiency + clean record |
| F-5-16 Points-Based PR | F-2-7 for 3+ years → apply for F-5-16 |
Why E-7 holders do well on F-2-7 points: The income category (up to 60 points) rewards higher earners. E-7 professionals with competitive salaries and several years of Korea residence typically accumulate enough points efficiently.
10. Frequently Asked Questions {#section-10}
Q. Can I do freelance or part-time work for another company while on E-7? A. No. E-7 ties you to a single employer and occupation. Working for any other entity — even unpaid consulting — violates your visa conditions and risks cancellation.
Q. If I change jobs, do I need to get a new E-7? A. Yes. You must apply to change your designated employer, either as a status change or as part of your extension. Promptly notify your immigration office when an employment change occurs.
Q. I don't have a bachelor's degree. Can I still get E-7? A. For some occupations, yes. Relevant work experience of 5+ years can substitute for a degree in designated cases. This varies by occupation code, so professional review before applying is important.
Q. Can my spouse and children join me in Korea? A. Yes. Spouse and minor children qualify for F-3 (accompanying family) visas. Note that F-3 holders are generally not permitted to work without a separate work authorization.
Q. My E-7 application was denied and I don't know why. A. Korean immigration law does not require detailed rejection notices to be furnished. Options include: requesting an officer interview to discuss the decision, filing an administrative appeal, or having an administrative attorney review the file to identify the likely grounds.
11. Consultation {#section-11}
E-7 visa success depends on correctly identifying the occupation code, meeting the salary threshold, and ensuring the employer's documentation is complete. Mismatches at any step result in rejection.
Vision Administrative Office provides E-7 eligibility screening, occupation code matching, employer document preparation, and full application support.
Free consultation: 02-363-2251