Work in a skilled professional role at a Korean company.
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
Issuance-manual sections covering E-7 occupation eligibility, salary-threshold handling, and employer-sponsored filing.
Stay-manual sections covering E-7 extension, status change, employer change reporting, and stay-period review.
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.
These points are drawn from Korea immigration manuals and recurring review patterns for higher-risk visa categories.
HiKorea — Korean visa & residency manual: Issuance-manual sections on E-7 occupation eligibility, salary handling, and sponsor review.
Ministry of Justice Immigration Policy Bureau: Stay-manual sections on E-7 extension, employer change reporting, and stay-period review.
Stay Duration
1–3 years per issuance (based on employment contract); renewable
Processing
2–6 weeks
Visa Fee
$74.63 (status change) / $44.78 (extension)
Fees and processing times sourced from HiKorea & Ministry of Justice. Figures are updated periodically but may change — verify before submitting.
Readiness check
Use this quick self-check before you spend time on forms or book a consultation for Specific Activities Visa.
Next focus
Eligibility fit
I meet the core E-7 requirements and understand any sponsor, degree, income, family, or experience conditions that apply.
The E-7 visa (also called the Special Occupation visa) is for foreigners employed in specific professional or technical occupations that require specialized skills not readily available in the Korean workforce. It is divided into four sub-categories: E-7-1 (professional, 67 occupations), E-7-2 (semi-professional — several occupations added in 2024–2025 including power transmission electrician 송전전기원 76231 Aug 2024, shipbuilding welder 조선용접공 7430 and ship electrician 선박전기원 76212 Oct 2024, and root-industry skilled worker 뿌리산업체 숙련기능공 S740 Jan 2025), E-7-3 (general skilled, 16 occupations as of January 2026 — newly added: halal slaughterhouse worker 할랄 도축원 Jan 2026, auto body/paint worker 자동차 판금·도장원 Oct 2025), and E-7-4 (숙련기능인력 — skilled workforce points system, K-Point E74). E-7-4 is a distinct pathway for long-term E-9/E-10/H-2 workers in manufacturing, agriculture, fisheries, and construction to transition to a higher-status skilled visa via a points assessment. In 2026, the annual E-7-4 selection quota is 33,000.
Skilled foreign professionals with a job offer from a Korean company in one of the designated E-7 occupations. Candidates typically need a relevant degree and/or significant work experience. A points-based scoring system evaluates age, education, income, and Korean language ability.
Job offer from a Korean company in a designated E-7 occupation (67 E-7-1 professional + E-7-2 semi-professional + 16 E-7-3 general skilled + 3 E-7-4 points-based skilled categories)
General qualification: master's degree OR bachelor's degree + 1 year relevant experience OR 5 years relevant experience
Salary — E-7-1 (professional): at or above the Ministry-announced standard, based on the previous year's per capita GNI (~₩42–50M; updated annually); SME/venture/non-metropolitan employers: 70% of GNI (reduced from 80% as of April 2025). E-7-2 (semi-professional) and E-7-3 (general skilled): only minimum wage or above required — the GNI threshold does NOT apply to these sub-categories
High earners — E-7-1: if salary ≥ 1.5× GNI with ministry recommendation, or ≥ 3× GNI regardless, degree/experience requirements are waived
Overseas promising talent (해외 유망인재) exception (December 2025): applicants age 29 or under who graduated from a world top-university (per THE/QS rankings) OR are Korean studies majors with TOPIK Level 6 are exempt from job-related degree AND experience requirements — only employment necessity must be recognized
Company must be registered with Korea Immigration Service and meet financial viability requirements
Korean language ability (TOPIK) and other factors may be evaluated depending on occupation category
Delay and refusal risks
E-7 is one of the most scrutiny-heavy Korean work visas because the job, employer, salary, occupation code, and applicant profile must all align.
The job title alone is not enough. Immigration can question a case when duties, salary, degree, experience, and occupation code do not describe the same role.
Manual basis: The E-7 manual is organized around specific occupation codes and requires the applicant's work to fit the permitted activity.
Low salary, vague contract terms, missing worksite details, or contract changes can trigger closer review, shorter stay grants, or refusal.
Manual basis: The E-7 sections reference wage requirements, minimum-wage handling, contract review, and restrictions when salary standards are not met.
Sponsor-side issues such as tax arrears, wage arrears, illegal hiring history, insufficient Korean employees, or quota limits can affect the filing.
The E-7 manual includes employer restriction, hiring-limit, and compliance-review sections.
Real-world scenarios
E-7 scenarios are strongest when the occupation code, real duties, applicant qualifications, and employer documents all tell the same story.
You have a Korean employer and the role is software, IT, data, engineering, or another skilled professional field.
Main risk
Immigration will look for a clean match between the E-7 occupation code, job duties, degree or experience, contract, salary, and employer records.
Documents to prioritize
Valid passport
Visa application form + passport photo
Employment contract
Degree certificate (apostilled or verified)
Career certificates or proof of work experience
Company's business registration certificate
Company's financial statements (recent)
E-7 points calculation sheet
Criminal background check (if required by occupation)
Confirm your occupation is eligible
Check the Ministry of Justice's list of designated E-7 occupations. Your job title must closely match a listed category.
Calculate your points score
Use the E-7 points system to verify you meet the 60-point minimum. Points are awarded for age, education, income, Korean language ability, and prior Korean residence.
Employer applies for confirmation of visa issuance
Your Korean employer submits the initial application to the regional immigration office to obtain a Certificate of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서).
Apply at the Korean consulate
With the issuance certificate, apply for your E-7 visa at the Korean embassy in your country.
Arrive and register
Register at your local immigration office within 90 days of arrival to receive your Alien Registration Card.
Need help with your E-7 visa?
Connect with a verified specialist who handles E-7 applications.
Verified professionals who can help with your visa application
Mr. Visa Korea lists certified immigration administrative agents (행정사) who have been verified by our team. Book a consultation directly — no cold calls, no guessing.
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Direct consultation booking
Unfamiliar with a term?
Specific tracks under the E-7 category. Pick the one that matches your situation for track-level documents, criteria, and filing notes.
The same visa can involve different authentication, translation, sponsor-document, and review risks depending on nationality and document origin.
See all 94 eligible occupations
Searchable table of every E-7 occupation — E-7-1 professionals (67), E-7-2 semi-professional (10), E-7-3 skilled (14), and E-7-4 points-based (3).
Still have questions about the E-7 visa?
Ask K-VISA AI — free, instant answers on Korean visa requirements and procedures.
Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed April 2026
Applicants often lose time when the education/experience file does not prove the specific occupational qualification claimed.
Manual basis: The E-7 manual ties many occupation routes to degree, career, licensing, recommendation, or special-route evidence.
E-7 is tied to approved activity and employer conditions. Freelancing, second jobs, or employer changes can create extension and cancellation risk.
Manual basis: The stay manual covers E-7 employer-change, additional workplace, and status-scope management rules.
Source note
These are practical risk factors for Specific Activities Visa, not a complete list of legal refusal grounds. Final review can vary by nationality, filing channel, consulate, immigration office, and case facts.
You studied in Korea, hold or plan to hold D-10, and have a Korean employer ready to sponsor E-7.
Main risk
A Korean degree helps only if the job, degree field, occupation code, and employer sponsorship are consistent.
Documents to prioritize
A Korean startup wants to sponsor a foreign developer, designer, engineer, or specialist.
Main risk
Small employers need especially clear evidence of business activity, salary ability, Korean hiring records, and why the foreign role is needed.
Documents to prioritize
Certified & reviewed
All agents on Mr. Visa Korea are certified immigration administrative agents (행정사) registered in Korea.
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