One of the most common questions foreign workers in Korea have is: 'Can I change jobs on my visa?' The answer depends entirely on which visa you hold. Some work visas allow fairly free employer changes with a simple notification; others bind you strictly to one employer and require full re-application. Working for a new employer without following the correct process is an immigration violation, even if the job itself is legal.
Korean work visas fall into two groups:
Most E-series work visas are employer-bound. F-series visas (F-2, F-4, F-5, F-6) and H-2 are generally free-to-work.
E-2 is tied to your specific sponsoring institution (school or hagwon). However, employer changes ARE allowed under these rules:
• Process: Submit a 'workplace change report' (근무처 변경신고) at immigration within 15 days of starting at the new employer
• Requirements: New employment contract + new employer's business registration + updated health declaration
• Key rule: You must NOT start working at the new institution before reporting to immigration — or at most, simultaneously file the report on your first day
• School restrictions: Some public school contracts and EPIK contracts explicitly prohibit mid-contract employer changes without release from the school
The fee for workplace change notification is ₩120,000.
E-7 is also employer-bound, but workplace changes are routinely allowed:
• Process: Submit workplace change report (근무처 변경신고) within 15 days of starting with new employer
• Requirements: New employment contract in E-7-eligible occupation + new employer documentation + ARC
• Occupation must match: The new job must still fall under the same E-7 occupation code as your current visa. Changing to a completely different occupation typically requires a new E-7 application
• Multiple employers: E-7 holders can add a second employer (추가 근무처) with immigration approval — useful for consultants or part-time academic roles
After the change, your E-7 validity period remains the same — the change of employer does not reset your stay duration.
E-9 is the most restrictive for employer changes. Workers are placed by the EPS system with a specific employer and sector:
• Standard rule: E-9 workers generally CANNOT freely change employers. Changes are allowed ONLY in specific circumstances:
- Employer closes down or cannot continue operations
- Worker experiences human rights violations (verified by MOEL)
- Employer violates the employment contract in a documented way
- After 3 years with one employer (and employer consent), a voluntary change is possible in limited cases
• Process for permitted changes: Apply through HRD Korea (한국산업인력공단). The employer change is managed by the EPS system, not directly at the immigration office
• Sector restriction: E-9 workers also cannot freely change sectors. A worker hired for agriculture cannot move to manufacturing without going through the EPS re-matching process
Working for an unapproved employer on E-9 is one of the most serious immigration violations for EPS workers and can result in deportation and a multi-year ban.
H-2 holders have the greatest employer flexibility among work visas:
• Change employers freely within permitted occupations — no pre-approval required
• Notification required: Must notify immigration within 15 days of changing to a new employer
• Occupation scope: H-2 is limited to certain occupation categories (manufacturing, construction, agriculture, fishery, food service, cleaning, caregiving). Changing jobs within these categories is unrestricted.
• Prohibited work: H-2 cannot be used for white-collar professional work (E-series occupations). If an H-2 holder wants to work in a professional role, they must change to E-7 or another appropriate visa.
H-2's flexibility is one of its main advantages, particularly for 고려인 (Koryo-saram) workers who may move between employers seasonally.
• E-3 (Research): Change allowed with workplace change report. New employer must be a research institution or company with a qualified research facility.
• E-4 (Technology transfer): Similar to E-3 — employer change allowed with notification, new employer must be approved for technology transfer activities.
• E-5 (Professional services): Employer change allowed with notification — common for doctors, lawyers, CPAs moving between hospitals, firms.
• E-6 (Arts and entertainment): Change allowed with notification — performer must update to new promoter or venue operator.
Always report employer changes within 15 days — late reporting is itself a violation even if the job change was allowed.
For E-9 workers: do not leave your employer without going through the formal EPS channel — even if your employer is treating you poorly, follow the legal process to protect yourself.
E-7 workers adding a second employer: the secondary role must also be an E-7-eligible occupation.
Keep a copy of every workplace change report receipt (근무처 변경신고 접수증) — it protects you if there is a gap between employers.
도움이 필요하신가요?
저희 전문가들은 changing employers on a korean work visa — rules by visa type (e-2, e-7, e-9, h-2 & more) 사례를 정기적으로 처리하며 한국 출입국관리소가 요구하는 사항을 정확히 알고 있습니다.
전문가 찾기How much does a workplace change notification cost?
The immigration fee for a workplace change notification (근무처 변경신고) is ₩120,000. This is separate from any visa extension fee.
Can I work for a new employer on the same day I quit my old one?
Technically yes for most E-series visas — but you must file the workplace change report either before you start or within 15 days of starting. If you start working and then forget to file, you are in violation. For E-9 workers, you cannot start with a new employer at all without prior EPS approval.
What if my employer goes bankrupt?
If your employer closes or enters bankruptcy, you are allowed to change employers without normal restrictions. Document the closure (court notice, company registration cancellation). For E-9, notify HRD Korea immediately — they will assist with re-matching. For E-7 and E-2, notify immigration and request an exception for the standard notification requirement.
Can I be on two visas at once — for example, E-7 and working part-time on F-2-7?
No. You can only hold one immigration status at a time. However, if you change from E-7 to F-2-7 (points-based residency), your F-2-7 grants completely unrestricted work rights — you can then work for multiple employers without any reporting requirement.