The E-1 visa is issued to foreign nationals employed as professors, lecturers, or faculty members at Korean colleges and universities accredited under the Higher Education Act (고등교육법). E-1 is one of the most stable Korean work visas — professors at accredited institutions enjoy long-stay durations, family accompaniment rights, and a clear path toward long-term residency.
E-1 applicants must meet all of the following:
1. Academic qualification:
• PhD (doctoral degree) from a recognized university — the standard requirement for full-time faculty
• OR master's degree plus significant professional experience for fields requiring practical expertise (fine arts, music performance, professional practice fields)
2. Employment at an accredited institution:
• Accredited college or university under the Higher Education Act (고등교육법)
• Includes universities (대학교), colleges, graduate schools, and junior colleges (전문대학)
• Non-accredited private institutes (hagwons, language schools) do NOT qualify — those use E-2
3. Salary threshold:
The institution must pay above the MOJ minimum threshold for E-1 qualification (updated periodically — confirm with the hiring institution's international office).
• Valid passport
• Visa application form + photo
• Employment contract from the Korean university
• University's Higher Education Act accreditation confirmation
• PhD certificate — apostilled or consularly authenticated
• Degree transcript (official)
• CV / academic curriculum vitae
• Criminal background check (apostilled)
Duration: Typically 1 year; renewable annually. For tenured faculty, 2–3 year visas are sometimes issued at renewal.
Family: Spouse and children may accompany on F-3 (dependent companion).
| E-1 Professor | E-2 English Teacher | E-3 Researcher | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer | Accredited university | Language school/hagwon | Research institute |
| Degree | PhD (standard) | Bachelor's minimum | PhD or master's |
| Primary activity | Teaching + research | Language instruction | Research |
A foreign professor teaching Korean history at Yonsei University → E-1. A foreign native English speaker at a hagwon → E-2. A molecular biologist at KAIST → E-3.
• F-2-7 (Points-based): After 1+ years in Korea, E-1 holders can apply if they meet the K-Point threshold (typically 80+ points). Doctoral degree and professor-level income are high-scoring factors.
• F-2-99 (5-year continuous residence): After 5 continuous years of qualifying status, provides open work rights.
• F-5 (Permanent residency): Available after F-2-7 with 1 additional year.
Apostille or authentication of your PhD certificate is critical — plan 4–8 weeks for this process before starting the visa application.
The university's HR/international faculty office handles most of the Korean-side documentation — coordinate closely with them.
도움이 필요하신가요?
저희 전문가들은 e-1 professor visa korea — university faculty eligibility, salary requirements & renewal 사례를 정기적으로 처리하며 한국 출입국관리소가 요구하는 사항을 정확히 알고 있습니다.
전문가 찾기I have a master's degree, not a PhD. Can I get E-1?
Possibly, depending on the field. For applied and professional fields (architecture, fine arts, music performance, business practice), some Korean universities hire faculty with master's degrees plus professional experience. The accredited institution's determination of your qualification is key.
Can I teach at a hagwon on E-1?
No. E-1 is strictly for accredited universities and colleges under the Higher Education Act. Hagwons and private institutes require E-2.