비자 비교 — 대한민국
The is purpose-built for native-English-speaking teachers at Korean schools and academies. The 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.
E-2이런 분께 적합합니다…
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-7이런 분께 적합합니다…
Can I work as an English teacher on an E-7 visa?
Yes — the includes education-related occupations. However, E-7 for teaching roles typically requires a higher qualification than (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 -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 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?
is specifically for English language instruction. If you want to work in another field, the or other visa categories would be the appropriate route.
비자 신청을 도와드릴 인증된 전문가
Mr. Visa Korea에는 운영팀이 검증한 공인 출입국행정사(행정사)가 등록되어 있습니다. 콜드콜 없이 바로 상담을 예약하세요.
인증된 프로필만 등록
직접 상담 예약 가능
어떤 비자가 나에게 맞는지 모르시겠나요?
검증된 행정사와 연결하여 맞춤 평가를 받으세요.
E-2 또는 E-7에 대해 구체적인 질문이 있으신가요?
K-VISA AI에 물어보세요 — 한국 비자 요건에 대한 즉각적인 답변.
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
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
일반적인 경로:
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.
자격 확인 및 리뷰
Mr. Visa Korea에 등록된 모든 전문가는 한국에 등록된 공인 출입국행정사입니다.
전문가 보기작성자 James Chae — 엑스퍼트 사피엔스 공동창업자
플랫폼 전문 분야: 출입국 컨설팅 및 비자 서비스 · 검토됨 4월 2026