E-7 vs D-10 Visa Korea — Work Visa vs Job Seeker Visa

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.

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.

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.

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.