Graduating from a Korean university is one of the most direct pathways to working in Korea long-term. If you are on a student visa and have a Korean job offer, transitioning to an (특정활동 — specific activities) work visa is the standard route. This guide walks you through the D-2 to E-7 transition — including when to apply, what your employer must do, and the most common reasons the switch fails.
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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.
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2026년 4월 22일
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신청 전 주의사항
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.
In practice, the D-2 to E-7 transition often involves an intermediate step: the D-10 (구직 — job seeker) visa. After graduating, many students switch from D-2 to D-10 to give themselves time to find a job while remaining in Korea legally. Once you have a job offer and your employer is ready to sponsor you, you then change from D-10 to E-7. The D-10 stay period is typically 6 months (extendable to 1 year for qualifying graduates). You can skip the D-10 step if you have a job offer ready at the time of graduation.
For the E-7 visa, your qualification must match the occupation code your employer is sponsoring you for. Most fresh graduates qualify under E-7-1 (specialist) or in some cases E-7-3 (general skilled worker). Key eligibility points: you must have a relevant degree (bachelor's or above) in a field related to the job, or 5 years of relevant work experience (industry-specific). Your Korean employer must be registered with immigration and must demonstrate they have tried to hire Korean nationals first (for some quota-limited occupations). The job must appear on the E-7 approved occupation list.
The E-7 transition is employer-driven — your Korean employer must file the visa sponsorship and provide substantial documentation. This includes: business registration certificate, recent tax payment proof (confirming the company is solvent), employment contract, and the employer's consent to the immigration process. Your employer's human resources or legal team should be familiar with this process. If they are not, recommend they consult an 행정사 — a poorly prepared employer application is the #1 cause of E-7 rejections for graduating students.
E-7-1 (specialist) positions require an annual salary at or above the Ministry-announced standard based on the previous year's per capita GNI (approximately ₩42–50M, updated annually). Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and companies in non-metropolitan areas may qualify for a 70% GNI threshold (reduced from 80% as of April 2025). E-7-3 (general skilled worker) positions require only minimum wage or above — the GNI threshold does not apply.
Note when your D-2 expires (it is usually tied to your enrollment period). If you are planning to stay after graduation, begin the switch process 2–3 months before your D-2 expires. Do not wait until after graduation if your D-2 is about to expire.
Find an employer willing to sponsor an E-7. The job must be on the E-7 approved occupation list and match your degree field. Confirm with the employer that they are willing to prepare the immigration sponsorship package — not all Korean companies are familiar with this process.
Your employer must prepare: business registration certificate, recent financial statements or tax payment certificate, employment contract (showing salary at or above GNI threshold for E-7-1), corporate seal documents, and a cover letter explaining why a foreign national is being hired for this role. In some occupations, a quota check with immigration is required first.
You and your employer submit the application at the local immigration office. You bring: passport, ARC, application form, degree certificate (apostilled or Korean equivalency if needed), relevant certifications, and your copy of the employment contract. Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks.
Once approved, collect your updated ARC showing status. You can begin work on the E-7 status start date. Your previous or status is cancelled.
Start the job search in your final semester — not after graduation. The D-10 period goes quickly.
Check the E-7 occupation list (the 특정활동 직종 list) before accepting a job offer to confirm your role is covered.
Korean TOPIK language score (TOPIK Level 2 or above) significantly strengthens E-7 applications for some occupation codes.
If your degree is from a non-Korean institution, immigration may request a degree equivalency review — allow extra time.
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외국인등록증 (ARC)
외국인등록증(ARC)은 90일 이상 한국에 체류하는 외국인에게 발급되는 공식 신분증입니다. 은행 계좌 개설, 휴대폰 계약, 대부분의 공공 서비스 이용에 필수입니다.
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하이코리아 (HiKorea)
하이코리아 사용법 (www.hikorea.go.kr) — 체류기간 연장, 체류자격 변경, 외국인등록증 갱신을 온라인으로 신청하는 방법. 처리 기간: 영업일 기준 3-10일.
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체류기간 연장
체류기간 연장이란 현재 비자 또는 외국인등록증의 만료일 이후에도 한국을 출국하지 않고 합법적으로 체류를 이어갈 수 있도록 허가를 받는 절차입니다.
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체류자격 변경
체류자격 변경이란 이미 한국에 체류 중인 외국인이 출국하지 않고 현재 비자 종류에서 다른 비자 종류로 전환하는 절차입니다. 예를 들어, 졸업 후 취업한 경우 D-2 유학 비자에서 E-7 특정활동 비자로 변경할 수 있습니다.
Can I switch from D-2 to E-7 without going through D-10?
My D-2 expires next month and I don't have a job yet. What should I do?
My employer says they don't know how to do the E-7 sponsorship. Is this normal?
Yes, many smaller Korean companies have never sponsored a foreign employee before. Recommend they consult a Korean 행정사 or specialist who handles corporate immigration — this is a standard service. Some companies use in-house HR specialists who manage this.
Can I do part-time work on D-10 while looking for a full-time E-7 job?
D-10 visa holders are permitted to do limited part-time work (아르바이트) up to 25 hours per week in jobs unrelated to their visa eligibility activities. However, confirm current rules with the immigration office before taking any paid work, as regulations can change.
작성자 James Chae — 엑스퍼트 사피엔스 공동창업자
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