Visa Comparison — South Korea
E-7 vs D-10 Visa Korea — Work Visa vs Job Seeker Visa
E-7 and D-10 serve different stages of the same journey. D-10 is what you use when you are in Korea looking for an E-7 job offer — it gives you legal status to attend interviews, network, and explore opportunities. E-7 is what you transition to once you have a Korean employer ready to sponsor you. Understanding both is essential for anyone planning a skilled career move to Korea.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed April 2026
E-7 vs D-10 — side-by-side comparison
Purpose
E-7
Work for a specific Korean employer
D-10
Job search, startup exploration, or startup setup
Can work immediately?
E-7
Yes — for the sponsoring employer
D-10
No — work for Korean companies not permitted
Employer required?
E-7
Yes — employer sponsorship mandatory
D-10
No — self-directed
Duration
E-7
1–3 years (renewable)
D-10
6 months (extendable in some cases)
Occupation restriction
E-7
Limited to 86 designated occupation codes (ISCO/KSO)
D-10
Not restricted by occupation
Salary requirement
E-7
Yes — must meet or exceed sector minimum (typically ₩26M+ or higher)
D-10
None (you are not working)
Path to F-2 / F-5
E-7
Yes — accumulate years and points toward F-2-7
D-10
No direct path — must transition to E-7 or other status first
Remote work for foreign company?
E-7
Not authorised on E-7 (use F-1-D instead)
D-10
Not authorised on D-10 (use F-1-D instead)
Which should you choose?
E-7is right for you if…
You have received a confirmed job offer from a Korean company
Your employer has completed or is processing Ministry pre-approval (고용추천서) if required for your occupation
You want to accumulate years toward F-2-7 long-term residency
You have the required degree and work experience in one of the 86 E-7 occupation codes
D-10is right for you if…
You recently completed a degree in Korea (D-2 graduate) and want to find a job before leaving
You are already in Korea on a valid visa and received a redundancy notice or your visa is expiring soon
You are exploring whether to start a Korean business (D-10-2 startup track)
You need a bridge status while waiting for your E-7 sponsorship application to be processed
Typical path:
The classic D-10 → E-7 transition: ① Arrive on D-10 (or extend existing status to D-10) ② Attend interviews, networking events, and job fairs ③ Receive a job offer from an eligible Korean employer ④ Employer files for Ministry pre-approval (고용추천서) if your occupation requires it ⑤ Apply for E-7 at immigration ⑥ Once E-7 is approved, you can begin work. Note: D-10 does NOT allow you to work while searching — doing any paid work on D-10 without a separate part-time permit is a visa violation. Keep records of all your job search activities as immigration may ask for evidence during D-10 extension requests.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for D-10 from outside Korea?
D-10-1 (job seeker) is primarily designed for people who are already in Korea converting from another status. Applying from abroad is possible in limited cases — typically if you have a Korean degree or significant Korean work history and can demonstrate you are a serious job seeker. In practice, most D-10 applications are in-country status changes. If you are outside Korea looking for a job, it may be more practical to enter on a short visit (C-3 or visa-free), secure a job offer, and then have the employer initiate the E-7 process — though work cannot begin until the E-7 is approved.
Does D-10 count toward F-2-7 points or F-5 residence time?
D-10 time does count as lawful residence in Korea (relevant for F-5 general continuous residence calculation), but D-10 itself does not earn significant points toward F-2-7. The F-2-7 points are heavily weighted toward professional employment (salary, occupation, education), so the real accumulation begins once you are on E-7 and actively employed. D-10 is therefore a bridging status — valuable for legal continuity but not a points-earning period.
Can I switch from D-10 to E-7 without leaving Korea?
Yes. In-country status changes from D-10 to E-7 are routine — you do not need to exit Korea and reapply from your home country. Your employer submits the E-7 petition along with your documents to the local immigration office (출입국·외국인청). Once approved, your D-10 is replaced by E-7. This is a significant advantage: leaving Korea and reapplying from abroad resets your continuous residence clock, which matters for long-term residency calculations.
What if my D-10 expires before I find a job?
D-10 is typically issued for 6 months, with one possible 6-month extension subject to case officer discretion and evidence of active job search. If your D-10 is expiring and you have not yet found an employer, your options are: ① Depart Korea and reapply from abroad once you have a job offer ② If you have a near-confirmed offer, apply for a short extension and document your job search actively. Do NOT overstay — overstaying creates a deportation record and can bar re-entry for 1–10 years depending on the duration.
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