E-6 Visa in Korea: Requirements & Documents

E-6 Arts & Entertainment Visa — The E-6 visa in Korea is the residence status for foreign artists, performers, musicians, entertainers and professional athletes who work in Korea under a contract. It has three sub-types (E-6-1, E-6-2 and E-6-3), and the Korean sponsoring organization first obtains a Certificate of Visa Issuance for the applicant. For a longer walkthrough see our E-6 arts and entertainment visa guide. Requirements, sub-types, documents, and the application process are explained below.

1. Overview

The E-6 visa (Arts & Entertainment) is issued to foreign nationals who perform or otherwise engage in arts, entertainment, or sporting activities in Korea as their primary occupation. This includes artists such as composers and painters, musicians, vocalists, dancers, actors, circus performers, athletes, coaches, and accompanying staff such as makeup artists and managers.

The E-6 visa requires a specific contract with a Korean arts organization, entertainment company, sports team, or performance venue. Adding or changing a workplace is handled by a report within 15 days for E-6-1 and E-6-3, and by prior permission for E-6-2.

2. E-6 Sub-Types

Type	Description
E-6-1	Paid arts activities (music, art, literature, etc.), professional broadcast and entertainment performance, and artists such as composers, painters, photographers, conductors, and models
E-6-2	Performers (e.g. singers, instrumentalists, acrobats, magicians) at hotel facilities and entertainment establishments under the Tourism Promotion Act. Additional documents are required.
E-6-3	Professional athletes (football, baseball, basketball, etc.), professional team coaches, and managers

3. Eligibility Requirements

Valid contract with a Korean arts organization, entertainment company, sports team, or performance venue
Professional qualification in the relevant field; a performance or employment recommendation from the competent agency may be required depending on the activity
The sponsoring Korean organization must be legally registered (business registration certificate)
The applicant's background is reviewed under general immigration screening
E-6-2 applicants must submit additional documents, such as a performance recommendation from the Korea Media Rating Board, a performance venue facility confirmation, and a guarantee letter

4. Required Documents

Category	Documents	Notes
Common	Visa issuance confirmation application form, passport, standard passport photo (1 copy)	Filed by the sponsoring organization
Contract	Copy of the employment contract; performance plan	Guardian's consent if the invitee is a minor
Sponsoring org	Copy of the Korean organization's business registration certificate; performance recommendation (Korea Media Rating Board etc.) for performances under the Performance Act	Recommendation is exempt for performances not subject to it
E-6-2 additional documents	Entertainment activity plan, qualification or career certificate (apostilled or confirmed by the Korean mission), performance venue facility confirmation, guarantee letter, dispatch business permit (if applicable)	Hotel/entertainment establishment performers
Other cases	Employment recommendation from the competent central government agency, or documents proving the need for employment; for advertising models, entertainment-planning business registration, tax payment certificate, contract with the advertiser, portfolio	Depends on the type of activity

Document requirements vary by sub-type and the nature of the activity. Confirm the complete case-specific checklist with the competent immigration office.

5. Application Process

Secure a performance or employment contract from a Korean organization
Korean sponsoring organization submits documents to obtain a Certificate of Visa Issuance (CVI); the stay period granted is up to 2 years
For E-6-2: additional documents (e.g. a performance recommendation from the Korea Media Rating Board) are submitted with the CVI application
Applicant applies for the E-6 visa at the Korean embassy/consulate in their home country using the CVI
Enter Korea and register as a foreigner (ARC) within 90 days of entry
Perform activities only as permitted by the visa conditions — working outside the contracted scope is not permitted

How Long Can I Stay on an E-6 Visa, and Can I Extend or Change Status?

An E-6 stay is granted per sub-type and can be extended while you still need to stay in Korea, for example because the contract is renewed or the workplace changes. The Certificate of Visa Issuance route in section 5 is for people applying from abroad; the points below apply once you are registered in Korea.

E-6-1 and E-6-3 extension: the employment contract period plus 1 month, up to 2 years per grant.
E-6-2 extension: the performance recommendation period or the contract period, up to 1 year. If the Media Rating Board recommendation marks the performance as harmful to minors, the limit is 6 months.
Extension documents: application form, passport and alien registration card, fee, an employment or performance recommendation (issued by bodies such as the Media Rating Board, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Communications Commission or a professional sports federation), the employment or performance contract, a copy of the business registration certificate, and proof of residence. E-6-2 applicants also submit an identity surety letter and a health insurance eligibility record. The office may ask for other materials such as a certificate of employment.
Changing status to E-6: allowed only in a limited way for E-6-1 and E-6-3. A D-2 holder who is an expected graduate, or a D-10 holder, can change if the planned work falls under E-1 to E-7 and a contract is signed with the head of the hiring organization. Entrants on B-1, B-2 or C-3 can change only where there is an unavoidable reason or a national-interest need, and a change into E-6-2 is not allowed. A change grants the contract period plus 1 month, up to 2 years.
Changing workplace: for E-6-1 and E-6-3 it is reported after the change, and for E-6-2 prior permission is needed when the employer changes. See the section on workplace changes in the workplace change report guide.

E-6 rules, including those for E-6-2, have been updated, so check the latest requirements before you file. There is no fixed processing time, so it depends on the immigration office handling the case. For a longer walkthrough, see our E-6 arts and entertainment visa guide.

6. Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can K-pop idols and their staff use the E-6 visa?

A. Yes. Performing artists signed with a Korean entertainment agency typically apply for E-6-1 if they perform at venues such as concert halls. The agency acts as the sponsoring organization. Accompanying staff such as makeup artists and managers are also covered by the E-6 category.

Q. Why does E-6-2 require additional documents?

A. E-6-2 covers performers at hotel facilities and entertainment establishments under the Tourism Promotion Act. Additional documents are required, such as a performance recommendation from the Korea Media Rating Board, a performance venue facility confirmation, and a guarantee letter.

Q. Can a professional athlete apply for E-6?

A. Yes. E-6-3 is for professional athletes, professional team coaches, and managers contracted with Korean sports teams. This covers football, baseball, basketball, and other professional sports.

Q. Which languages are available for consultation?

A. Consultation is available in English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese.

Q. What is the E-6 visa in Korea, and who needs it?

A. The E-6 visa is the Arts & Entertainment status for foreign nationals who perform or engage in arts, entertainment or sporting activities in Korea as their main occupation, including composers and painters, musicians, actors, dancers, professional athletes, coaches, and accompanying staff such as makeup artists and managers. It has three sub-types: E-6-1 (arts and entertainment), E-6-2 (hotel and entertainment-establishment performers) and E-6-3 (professional athletes, coaches and managers).

Q. How do I get an E-6 visa in Korea?

A. A Korean sponsoring organization, such as an entertainment company, arts organization, sports team or venue, applies for a Certificate of Visa Issuance with the application form, your passport and photo, its business registration certificate and a copy of the contract (plus a performance recommendation where the Performance Act applies). You then apply for the E-6 visa at a Korean mission abroad using the certificate, enter Korea and register as a foreigner within 90 days. If you later change or add a workplace, see our workplace change report guide.

Q. How long can I stay on an E-6 visa, and can I extend it?

A. An E-6 stay is granted per sub-type and can be extended while you still need to stay in Korea, for example because the contract is renewed or the workplace changes. At an extension, E-6-1 and E-6-3 holders receive the employment contract period plus 1 month, up to 2 years per grant. E-6-2 holders receive the performance recommendation period or the contract period, up to 1 year, or up to 6 months if the Media Rating Board recommendation marks the performance as harmful to minors. The extension file includes an employment or performance recommendation, the employment or performance contract, a copy of the business registration certificate and proof of residence, and E-6-2 applicants also submit an identity surety letter and a health insurance eligibility record. There is no fixed processing time, so it depends on the immigration office handling the case.