E-7 Specialized Activity Visa: Complete Guide to All 85 Eligible Occupations - Qualification Requirements by Field
The E-7 visa is a professional employment visa issued only for the 85 occupations designated by the Ministry of Justice.
These 85 occupations are divided into 67 professional positions (E-7-1), 9 semi-professional positions (E-7-2), and 9 general skilled positions (E-7-3), with each category applying different requirements for education, experience, and the employing business.
This guide covers the occupational classification system, qualification standards by category, and the most common sticking points encountered in practice — all in one place.
The Classification System for the 85 E-7 Occupations
The "Specialized Activity (E-7) Eligible Occupations" announced by the Korea Immigration Service of the Ministry of Justice is structured around the Korean Standard Classification of Occupations (KSCO).
Even though they all fall under the same E-7 umbrella, in actual screening each category is treated almost like a separate visa.
The first thing to check is which category and which KSCO code your specific job falls into.
Three Occupational Classifications (E-7-1 / E-7-2 / E-7-3)
| Category | Name | Number of Occupations | Main Targets |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-7-1 | Professional Personnel | 67 | Managers, professionals, IT, R&D |
| E-7-2 | Semi-professional Personnel | 9 | Office and service workers |
| E-7-3 | General Skilled Personnel | 9 | Holders of skilled trades qualifications |
The three groups diverge from the baseline education standard all the way to the requirements imposed on the employer.
In particular, E-7-1 generally requires a bachelor's degree or higher, while for E-7-3 the assessment of skill level carries more weight than academic credentials.
Annually Updated Occupation List
The list of occupations is partly added to or removed from each year based on industry demand.
Recently, skilled trades such as shipbuilding welders and aircraft maintenance technicians have been added, broadening the scope of eligibility.
Whether the occupation you are applying under remains on the current list should first be confirmed through announcements from the Korea Immigration Service of the Ministry of Justice or the visa information page on HiKorea.
Since the list of occupations newly added or discontinued each year shifts frequently, please confirm whether your specific occupation still applies through a consultation.
E-7-1 Professional Personnel: 67 Occupations
E-7-1 accounts for the largest share of the 85 occupations and is the area most people picture when they hear "E-7 visa."
It covers managers, professionals, R&D positions, and some office roles, with a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience as the core criterion.
Major Occupational Categories
- Management & Administration: Executives, business support managers, sales and marketing managers
- Professionals: Accountants, legal professionals, advertising specialists, designers
- IT & Engineering: Systems engineers, data analysts, telecommunications technicians
- Natural Sciences & Social Sciences: Researchers, writers, translators
Each occupation has its own KSCO code, and even within the same IT field, the requirements vary depending on the detailed code.
The point where applicants most often get stuck is when they don't know exactly which KSCO code their job actually maps to.
How Education and Experience Requirements Work in Practice
The baseline requirement is "a bachelor's degree in a related field plus 1 year or more of experience" or "5 years or more of experience in a related field."
What's more often overlooked is the difference in how the phrase "related field" is interpreted.
If your degree program isn't directly tied to the job, additional supporting documents are needed, and weak explanations here lead straight to a request for correction.
Income requirements are adjusted each year based on per-capita GNI, so please confirm this year's standard for your specific occupation through a consultation.
E-7-2 Semi-professional Personnel: 9 Occupations
E-7-2 is limited to 9 occupations in the office and service sector.
These are roles where customer interaction and foreign language skills are required together — such as foreign-language services at duty-free shops and tourist hotels, air transport office staff, and medical coordinators.
List of the 9 Occupations
- Sales clerks at duty-free shops and tourist hotels
- Air transport office workers
- Hotel reception clerks
- Medical coordinators
- Customer service representatives
- Head chefs and cooks
- Tour guides and interpreters
- Casino dealers
- Other foreign-language-capable office workers
How Qualification Screening Actually Works
For E-7-2, foreign language proficiency and a clear match to the actual job take priority over academic credentials.
Holders of a domestic bachelor's degree can enter without separate work experience, but overseas degrees go through an additional credential recognition process.
In practice, it's common for applications to be rejected because the employer's registered business code doesn't match the occupation being applied for.
Practical Tip: First check whether your hiring company is registered as a duty-free shop or tourist hotel and whether the business type listed on the articles of incorporation matches that on the business registration certificate.
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Determining which of the 85 occupations your job falls under, and whether your education and experience meet the qualifications, requires a case-by-case review first.
E-7-3 General Skilled Personnel: 9 Occupations
E-7-3 targets skilled workers in sectors facing industrial labor shortages.
Unlike the general labor visa (E-9), it evaluates skill level, education, and work experience all together.
List of the 9 Occupations
- Animal keepers
- Aquaculture technicians
- Halal slaughterers
- Musical instrument makers and tuners
- Shipbuilding welders
- Marine electricians and ship painters
- Marine engineers
- Aircraft maintenance technicians
- Power transmission electricians
Stricter Requirements for the Employer
For E-7-3, the requirements imposed on the business hiring the foreign worker are particularly strict.
Annual revenue, the proportion of domestic employees, and even the industrial accident insurance enrollment history are all examined.
Even with a thick stack of documents, if the employer fails to meet these requirements, the application is denied regardless of the applicant's own occupational qualifications.
In a recent comparable case, the applicant's own qualifications were more than sufficient, but the application was rejected because the employer fell short on the domestic-hire ratio.
Employer requirements shift on a quarterly basis, so please confirm whether your company qualifies through a consultation.
Key Points Where Qualification Requirements Diverge by Occupation
Although all 85 occupations sit under one umbrella, the points where screening outcomes diverge tend to be the same every time.
| Item | E-7-1 | E-7-2 | E-7-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Bachelor's or higher | Associate to bachelor's | High school or higher |
| Experience | 1 year or more | Varies by occupation | Varies by occupation |
| Income Requirement | GNI standard applies | Partially applied | Partially applied |
| Employer Requirement | General | Industry match | Strict |
Alignment Between Job and Major
Even with a bachelor's degree, if the job and the field of study are far apart, you'll likely receive a correction request.
Example: A computer science graduate applying for an accounting position must separately demonstrate the relevance of the role.
Korean and Foreign Language Proficiency
For E-7-2 occupations, demonstrating either foreign language or Korean language ability is essentially baseline.
Holding an officially recognized score such as TOPIK improves your chances, but a score alone isn't the end of the story.
Caution: A weak Job Description (JD) can block your application even if your education and experience are strong. Don't simply submit the JD as written by the hiring company — restructure it to align with the KSCO occupational definition.
Common Sticking Points During Application
Even with all the paperwork in order, E-7 applications frequently fall short on occupational matching.
Here are the points where outcomes actually diverge in real screening.
- When your job doesn't align with a KSCO code
- When the company's business type doesn't match the applied-for occupation
- When the "relevance" of your education and experience is weakly demonstrated
- When income falls below the GNI threshold
- When the employer's domestic-employee ratio is insufficient
Processing times vary by immigration office, and additional review tied to certain occupations can extend the timeline further.
Since confirming the competent jurisdiction comes first, we'll find and walk you through the fastest route.
Costs vary case by case, and we'll provide accurate figures during the free consultation.
The original legal text can be found in the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act on the Korean Law Information Center, and changes to the occupation list are posted in the announcements section of the Ministry of Justice website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Where can I check the 85 E-7 occupations?
The current list of occupations is published in the announcements of the Korea Immigration Service of the Ministry of Justice and on the visa information page at HiKorea.
Since some changes are made each year, you should reference the announcement that's current as of your application date.
Q2. Will I be rejected if my major doesn't match the job?
It's not an automatic rejection, but additional supporting documentation will be required.
You can supplement with proof of work experience, certifications, and a statement showing the job's relevance — outcomes vary case by case.
Q3. Is education unnecessary for E-7-3 General Skilled Personnel?
It depends on the occupation.
For occupations like shipbuilding welder, where skill level is the core focus, academic credentials carry less weight, but for aircraft maintenance technician, related certifications and proof of experience are required together.
Q4. Is overseas work experience also recognized?
Yes, it is recognized.
The certificate of employment must specify the role, period, and position, and it must be accompanied by an Apostille or consular verification.
Q5. Are the income requirements the same every year?
They are adjusted each year based on the previous year's per-capita GNI.
Since the applied rate varies by occupational category, please confirm this year's standard for your specific occupation through a consultation.
Q6. How long does it take from application to a result?
It varies considerably depending on the occupation, the immigration office, and whether additional review is triggered.
We'll proceed by the fastest available route, and we'll share an accurate timeline based on your specific case.
Need a Consultation with a Professional?
The E-7 visa, with its breadth of 85 occupations, comes with that many case-by-case variables.
Mapping your job to KSCO, demonstrating your education and experience, and verifying the employer's eligibility — all of this needs to be checked in advance to prevent rejection.
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Costs vary case by case, and we'll provide accurate figures during the free consultation.
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