Eligibility criteria, required documents, and quotas for the E-7 employment visa in Korea.
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1. Overview
The E-7 visa is an employment visa for Korean companies hiring foreign professionals (engineers, researchers, managers, skilled workers). The Ministry of Justice's permitted-occupation list covers 94 occupations (67 professional, 10 semi-professional, 14 general-skilled and 3 skilled-worker points occupations), with different eligibility per occupation.
2. Eligibility Requirements
Valid passport and ID documents (passport copy, recent photos)
Korean business location or employer/sponsor verification
No prior immigration violations or unpaid taxes
Health check results (only where required for the occupation)
E-7 Four Occupation Categories
The designated occupations are divided into four groups, based on the major groups of the Korean Standard Classification of Occupations and the skill level.
Sub-status
Category
Korean Standard Classification of Occupations (skill level)
Occupations
E-7-1
Professional (management and professional occupations)
Major groups 1 (managers) and 2 (professionals and related workers) (skill levels 3 and 4)
67
E-7-2
Semi-professional
Major groups 3 (clerks), 4 (service workers) and 5 (sales workers) (skill levels 2 and 3)
10
E-7-3
General skilled
Major groups 6 (skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers), 7 (craft and related trades workers) and 8 (equipment, machine operating and assembling workers) (skill level 2)
14
E-7-4
Skilled worker (points system)
Occupations in major groups 6, 7 and 8 (skill level 2) to which the points system applies
3
The number of occupations is the number selected by the Minister of Justice; detailed requirements differ by occupation.
2026 E-7 Wage Requirements (Ministry of Justice Notice No. 2025-406)
Under Article 7(7) of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, the Ministry of Justice announces the E-7 wage standards. Notice No. 2025-406, published on 29 December 2025, applies to E-7 visa issuance certificates and related decisions from 1 February 2026 to 31 December 2026; until 31 January 2026 the previous wage standards apply.
Category
2026 wage requirement
Professional (E-7-1)
KRW 31.12 million per year or more
Semi-professional (E-7-2)
KRW 25.89 million per year or more
General skilled (E-7-3)
KRW 25.89 million per year or more
Skilled worker (E-7-4)
KRW 26.00 million per year or more
Occupations for which the Minister of Justice has set a different wage standard to protect domestic jobs follow that standard (the notice's "excluded occupations" clause). The amount announced as of the application date is applied. Because the wage requirement is announced each year, check the notice for the relevant year when you apply.
Domestic documents: within 3 months of issue unless otherwise specified; overseas documents need Apostille or consular legalization
Status
Current alien registration (if any), entry/exit records
As requested by the Immigration Office
Business
Business registration, employment contract, lease (if applicable)
Business proof
Income
National and local tax payment certificates; other income documents as requested
Varies by occupation
Specific documents per case will be advised in your consultation.
4. Procedure
Consultation and visa eligibility assessment
Case-specific document preparation guidance
Foreign investment declaration or business registration (if applicable)
Visa Issuance Certificate or direct immigration application
Visa issuance at Korean embassy in home country
Alien registration upon arrival (within 90 days)
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How long does the process take?
A. Processing time varies depending on the competent Immigration Office.
Q. What are the benefits of using an administrative agent?
A. Vision Administrative Agent provides case-by-case review, document preparation, and immigration accompaniment in 4 languages.
Q. How can I get a consultation?
A. You can start a consultation right away with the QR codes at the top of the site (KakaoTalk, WeChat, LINE, WhatsApp). Consultation hours are weekdays 09:30–17:30 (KST).
Q. What if my application is denied?
A. Depending on the denial reason, additional documents, appeals, re-applications, or judicial review are possible options. Strategy varies by case — we recommend consultation first.
