Visa Comparison — South Korea

E-2 vs E-7 Visa — English Teacher or Skilled Worker?

The E-2 is purpose-built for native-English-speaking teachers at Korean schools and academies. The E-7 is a broader work visa covering 94 professional occupations — including education roles. Many E-2 holders eventually upgrade to E-7 for more flexibility, higher pay, and a cleaner path to long-term residency.

Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens

Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney (행정사)Reg. No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회Licensed Realtor · Korea

Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed April 2026

Reviewed by licensed immigration attorneys on Expert Sapiens

Licensed Immigration AttorneysAILA Members

E-2

English Language Instructor

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E-7

Specific Activities (Skilled Worker)

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E-2 vs E-7 — side-by-side comparison

	E-2	E-7
Who can apply	Citizens of 7 native-English countries (US, UK, CA, AU, NZ, SA, IE)	✓ Any nationality — if the employer sponsors you
Eligible jobs	English language instruction only	✓ 94 professional occupations (engineers, IT, healthcare, arts, education, etc.)
Education required	Bachelor's degree (any field)	Bachelor's + 1 yr experience, or Master's in field
Criminal background check	Required from home country	Required (from home country or apostilled)
Medical certificate	Required (drug test + physical)	Required for most occupations
Salary floor	No official national minimum, but contract-set	Occupation-specific minimum salary (MOJ-set)
Employer change	Allowed with immigration approval + new contract	Allowed with immigration approval + new contract
Part-time / private tutoring	Strictly prohibited without separate permit	Generally not allowed outside approved scope
Path to F-2-7 / F-5	Counts as Korean work experience for K-Points	Counts as Korean work experience for K-Points
Initial validity	1–2 years (tied to contract)	✓ Up to 3 years
Korean language	Not required	Not strictly required, but helps with K-Points

Who can apply

E-2

Citizens of 7 native-English countries (US, UK, CA, AU, NZ, SA, IE)

E-7

Any nationality — if the employer sponsors you

Eligible jobs

E-2

English language instruction only

E-7

94 professional occupations (engineers, IT, healthcare, arts, education, etc.)

Education required

E-2

Bachelor's degree (any field)

E-7

Bachelor's + 1 yr experience, or Master's in field

Criminal background check

E-2

Required from home country

E-7

Required (from home country or apostilled)

Medical certificate

E-2

Required (drug test + physical)

E-7

Required for most occupations

Salary floor

E-2

No official national minimum, but contract-set

E-7

Occupation-specific minimum salary (MOJ-set)

Employer change

E-2

Allowed with immigration approval + new contract

E-7

Allowed with immigration approval + new contract

Part-time / private tutoring

E-2

Strictly prohibited without separate permit

E-7

Generally not allowed outside approved scope

Path to F-2-7 / F-5

E-2

Counts as Korean work experience for K-Points

E-7

Counts as Korean work experience for K-Points

Initial validity

E-2

1–2 years (tied to contract)

E-7

Up to 3 years

Korean language

E-2

Not required

E-7

Not strictly required, but helps with K-Points

Which should you choose?

E-2is right for you if…

You are a citizen of one of the 7 eligible English-speaking countries
You want to teach English at a school or hagwon in Korea
You have a bachelor's degree in any field and a clean background
You're new to Korea and want a straightforward route with a clear employer

E-7is right for you if…

You want to work in a professional field beyond English teaching (IT, engineering, design, etc.)
You are not from one of the 7 E-2 countries but hold a relevant degree
You want a longer initial stay (up to 3 years) and more career flexibility
You are already on E-2 and want to expand your work scope or earn more

Typical path:

E-2 → E-7 transitions are common. After building Korean work experience on E-2 (which counts toward K-Points), teachers with a TOPIK score and relevant qualifications often apply for E-7 in education-related occupations (e.g. curriculum development, educational program design) for better pay and benefits.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work as an English teacher on an E-7 visa?

Yes — the E-7 includes education-related occupations. However, E-7 for teaching roles typically requires a higher qualification than E-2 (e.g., TESOL certification, relevant degree, prior teaching experience) and the job description must match an eligible E-7 occupation code.

Can I switch from E-2 to E-7 without leaving Korea?

Yes. With a new employer sponsor and an E-7-eligible job offer, you can apply for an in-country status change. You don't need to return to your home country.

Are E-2 holders eligible for the F-2-7 points-based visa?

Yes — time spent on E-2 counts as Korean work experience toward the K-Point score for F-2-7. A TOPIK score and a degree from a Korean university can further boost your points.

I'm Canadian but not an English teacher — can I get E-2?

E-2 is specifically for English language instruction. If you want to work in another field, the E-7 or other visa categories would be the appropriate route.