After years of working in Korea on an (non-professional employment) visa, many workers wonder if there is a way to obtain a more stable, long-term status. The answer is yes: the E-7-4 K-Point skilled workforce pathway (숙련기능인력 점수제, K-Point E74) was created specifically to allow experienced E-9/E-10/H-2 workers to upgrade to a skilled worker visa. In 2026, 33,000 spots are available.
Reviewed against
James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). License No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Korean Administrative Agents Association). Reviewed against the HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 and cross-checked with Ministry of Justice issuances.
Last reviewed
April 22, 2026
Source references
Filing caution
Requirements can change by nationality, local immigration office, and filing channel. Confirm exact requirements with HiKorea, the responsible Korean consulate, or a licensed immigration specialist before filing.
E-7-4 is a sub-category of the E-7 (특정활동, designated activities) visa, designed for long-term foreign workers in manufacturing, agriculture, fishery, and food processing who have demonstrated sustained performance in Korea. Unlike professional E-7 categories that require academic qualifications, E-7-4 is based on a points system (K-Point) that rewards work experience, employer retention, Korean language ability, income, age, and education.
Once you hold E-7-4:
To be considered for E-7-4, you must meet all of the following:
Your total score must be 200 or higher. There are two mandatory minimum items — you must score points in both:
Mandatory items (both required):
Note: The Korean language requirement (TOPIK Level 2+) is temporarily waived until December 31, 2026 for applicants who meet all other conditions. However, you still need to score ≥ 200 points overall.
Point categories:
| Category | Maximum Points |
|---|---|
| Income (평균임금) | 50 |
| Korean language / TOPIK (한국어 능력) | 50 |
| Age (연령) | 25 |
| Education level (학력) | 20 |
Your current employer must issue a formal employer recommendation (고용주 추천서 or 고용주 확인서) as part of the application. This confirms:
The recommendation letter must be on company letterhead, signed by the representative (대표이사), and include your name, employee ID, period of employment, and proposed E-7-4 position title.
If your employer is reluctant to provide the recommendation, this is a common barrier. Some employers are unfamiliar with the process or worry about administrative burden. Explain that E-7-4 benefits them too — it gives them access to a more stable, experienced worker without the constraints of the employer-binding rules.
Step 1 — Check your score. Calculate your K-Point score using the KIS online calculator (HiKorea). Confirm you are above 200.
Step 2 — Obtain your employer recommendation. Get the signed recommendation letter from your employer confirming the 2-year contract, salary ≥ ₩26M, and headcount availability.
Step 3 — Prepare your documents. See the document checklist below.
Step 4 — Apply online via HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr). Applications for E-7-4 are submitted online only — not in person at immigration offices. Log in with your alien registration number, navigate to the E-7-4 application page, upload all documents, and submit.
Step 5 — Birth-year rotation window. Applications are not open year-round to everyone simultaneously. KIS uses a birth-year 5-day rotation system (출생연도 순환 신청). For example: those born in years ending in 1 or 6 apply on day 1, those ending in 2 or 7 on day 2, etc. Check the KIS announcement for the exact schedule each intake cycle.
Step 6 — Selection results. KIS reviews applications and announces selection results. If selected, your employer receives notification and you can proceed with the formal status change.
Step 7 — Status change (체류자격 변경). After selection, visit the local immigration office with your employer to complete the formal change from to E-7-4. Your new ARC will reflect E-7-4 status.
Gather these before submitting on HiKorea:
Once you hold E-7-4:
From 2026, KIS introduced a regional recommendation pathway within E-7-4, designated -4R. Under this variant:
If you are indifferent to which Korean region you work in, -4R can open an additional quota path beyond the national E-7-4 allocation. If you are committed to working in Seoul or the capital region, the standard E-7-4 route is more appropriate.
Start preparing for TOPIK Level 2 at least 6 months before you plan to apply. The exam is offered 3–4 times per year. Even though the language requirement is waived until December 31, 2026, having TOPIK Level 2+ adds 50 points to your K-Point score and significantly increases your chances of selection.
Your length of service at your current employer is one of the highest-point categories — switching employers frequently reduces your score. If you have been at the same company for 4+ years, do not change jobs before applying.
The 20% employer quota can be a bottleneck. Ask your employer's HR department to check their current E-7-4 headcount allocation before you invest time in preparing your application.
Download your full entry/exit history from HiKorea before calculating your K-Point score. Periods of absence from Korea count differently than periods of stay.
If you are declined in one intake cycle, you can reapply in the next cycle (KIS runs multiple intake rounds per year within the annual 33,000 quota). Address any point deficiencies — usually income or language — before reapplying.
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Visa Process
Alien Registration Card (ARC)
The Alien Registration Card (ARC) is the official ID card issued to foreigners staying in South Korea for 91 days or longer. It is required to open a bank account, sign a phone contract, and access most public services.
Visa Process
HiKorea
How to use HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) — Korea's official immigration portal for visa extensions, status changes, and ARC renewal. Processing time: 3-10 business days.
Visa Process
Visa Extension (Stay Period Extension)
A visa extension — officially called a 'stay period extension' (체류기간 연장) in Korean immigration law — allows a foreigner to legally remain in Korea beyond the expiry date on their current visa or ARC without leaving the country.
Visa Process
Status of Sojourn Change (체류자격 변경)
A status of sojourn change allows a foreigner already in South Korea to switch from one visa category to another without leaving the country — for example, from a D-2 student visa to an E-7 skilled worker visa upon graduation and employment.
Can I apply for E-7-4 if I have been on H-2 instead of E-9?
Is there a minimum TOPIK level required?
Yes — TOPIK Level 2 is a mandatory item for K-Point scoring. However, KIS has temporarily waived the Korean language requirement until December 31, 2026, for applicants who meet all other eligibility conditions. This means in 2025–2026 you can score 200 points without TOPIK Level 2 — but you will miss out on the 50 language points, so you need to compensate in other categories. After the waiver expires, TOPIK Level 2 will be mandatory.
What if my employer will not give me a recommendation letter?
Without the employer recommendation, you cannot apply. If your employer refuses, try to understand why: some employers simply do not know the process. Providing them with the official KIS employer guide (출입국외국인정책본부 E-7-4 고용주 안내) may help. If the refusal is because the employer's quota is full, consider whether changing to a different employer is possible — but changing employers resets your tenure points, so weigh that trade-off carefully.
After getting E-7-4, when can I apply for F-5 permanent residency?
Directly from E-7-4, the pathway to F-5 typically requires first obtaining F-2 (long-term residency) status and then meeting the F-5 requirements. Under F-5-1 (general pathway), you would need 5 years of continuous stay on qualifying visas (which can include E-9, E-7-4, and F-2 time combined), income/asset requirements, TOPIK Level 1+, and good conduct. Many E-7-4 workers who then earn F-2 can apply for F-5 after reaching the 5-year total.
What is the birth-year rotation system and when can I apply?
Because the annual E-7-4 quota (33,000 in 2026) is oversubscribed, KIS staggers applications by birth year to prevent server crashes and ensure fair access. In a typical 5-day rotation, applicants born in years ending with 1 or 6 go first, then 2 or 7, then 3 or 8, then 4 or 9, then 5 or 0. The exact dates are announced by KIS before each intake cycle. Applications open on HiKorea and fill up quickly — be ready with all documents before your day arrives.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed April 2026
| Length of stay at current employer (근속연수) |
| 40 |
| Total E-9/H-2 work period in Korea (근무경력) | 50 |
| Field/industry specialisation (업종 적합성) | 35 |
| Training/certification (직업훈련 이수) | 30 |
Higher income, longer tenure at the same employer, and TOPIK Level 4+ all contribute significantly to pushing your score above 200.