1. Overview
E-7-4 is a change of status for foreign workers who have stayed in Korea for 4+ years in the last 10 years as E-9, E-10 or H-2 and are working normally at their current employer (3+ years outside the Seoul/Gyeonggi/Incheon area with a metropolitan-government recommendation also qualifies). Applicants need at least 200 of 300 points, with at least the minimum score in both average income and Korean ability.
2. Eligibility Requirements
- 4+ years of stay in the last 10 years as E-9, E-10 or H-2, registered as a foreigner and working lawfully at the current employer
- Employment contract of 2+ years from the application date with annual pay of KRW 26 million or more (relaxed for agriculture, livestock, fishing and coastal-shipping workers)
- Recommendation from the employer you have worked for 1+ year
- At least 200 of 300 points, with average income of KRW 25.89 million or more over the last 2 years and Korean ability of at least TOPIK level 2 or equivalent
- Exclusions include a fine of KRW 3 million or more, unpaid taxes, 4+ immigration-law violations or 3+ months of overstay within the last 10 years
3. Required Documents
The full document list is announced on HiKorea and may change in operation; confirm with the immigration office before filing.
4. Procedure
- Confirm eligibility: stay history, employment contract, employer recommendation and points
- Prepare documents
- Apply online through HiKorea e-minwon on the weekday assigned by the last digit of your birth year (Mon: 1, 6; Tue: 2, 7; Wed: 3, 8; Thu: 4, 9; Fri: 5, 0). In-person filing is allowed only in exceptional cases
- Applications are accepted year-round. Only a change of status is granted; this is not a new visa issuance
E-7-4 Extension of Stay
An E-7-4 (skilled worker, points-based) extension is an application for extension of the period of stay, filed before the permitted stay ends, by someone who obtained E-7-4 through a change of status. A single grant is limited to 2 years within the employment contract, and the extension documents are the same as for an E-7 extension.
Detailed requirements for E-7-4 stay management may change in operation, so confirm with the immigration office before filing.
E-7-4 Points Table (K-point E74)
Below is the "K-point E74" points table in Annex 1 of the Ministry of Justice Guide to Residence Matters by Status (Sept 1, 2026 edition). The conversion requirement is 200 or more points (bonus points counted) on a 300-point base scale that excludes bonus points, and average income and Korean ability must each score at least 50 points. Items and points may change in operation.
Average income (average annual income of the last 2 years, max 120 points)
For agriculture, livestock, fishing and coastal-shipping workers the lower limit is KRW 24 million or more. The minimum requirement for the 50-point floor is an average of KRW 25.89 million or more over the last 2 years (the sum of the two years divided by 2), or KRW 24 million or more for those sectors.
Korean ability (max 120 points)
The minimum requirement is TOPIK level 2, KIIP stage 2 completed, or a KIIP pre-assessment placing you in stage 3 (41 points or more).
Age (max 60 points)
Bonus points
The bonus items can be added together; the ministry and metropolitan recommendations are counted as one if both apply.
Deductions
Excluded persons
A person who falls under any of the following cannot apply. Items (1), (3) and (4) count only matters within the last 10 years.
- (1) A criminal fine of KRW 3 million or more
- (2) Unpaid tax (an applicant can apply after paying in full)
- (3) Four or more Immigration Act violations
- (4) Overstay of 3 months or more
- (5) A person judged likely to harm the interests or public safety of the Republic of Korea
- (6) A person judged likely to harm the economic or social order or good morals
Employer requirements and allowed headcount
- The workplace must currently employ at least one E-9, E-10 or H-2 worker normally, as an existing skilled-worker points workplace.
- General rule: 30% or less of the workplace's Korean employees. "Korean employees" means Koreans registered for 3 months or more on the four social insurance workplace subscriber roster.
- Exception: population-decline areas, root industries and agriculture, livestock and fishing allow 50% or less (rounded up). A company employing E-9 or E-10 workers may recommend at least 1 person (2 in those sectors) even with no Korean employees.
- Construction: construction-capacity evaluation value (or average annual construction amount) x 0.4 (0.4 person per KRW 100 million, rounded up), using whichever is more favorable.
- A company with unpaid national tax, local tax or customs duty is excluded.
Special cases: non-metropolitan stay and the Korean-language deferral
- Non-metropolitan exception: a person who has stayed 3 or more years outside Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon and received a metropolitan-government recommendation also meets the stay-history requirement.
- Korean-language deferral (until 31 Dec 2026): an applicant who meets every requirement other than Korean (total of 150 points or more) can have the Korean requirement deferred until the first extension (2 years). If Korean ability is not met within 2 years, family invitation is not possible and only a 6-month stay is granted; if it is still not met within 6 months, further extension is refused and the stay permit is cancelled.