Korea E-7 Visa: Ministry of Justice Rules Explained

Korea’s E-7 visa is the main route for foreign professionals who want a long-term, sponsored job in Korea. It is not a general work permit. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) decides which jobs qualify, how much you must earn, and what your employer must prove. The Korea Immigration Service then issues the visa.

This guide explains how the Ministry of Justice runs the E-7 system, who qualifies, and how to apply. It is written for students on D-2 or D-10 visas, current workers, and overseas Koreans who want a clear, sourced picture before they file. D-10 job seeker visa

What Is the E-7 Visa, and Which Office Issues It?

The E-7 visa is Korea’s 특정활동 (teukjeong hwaldong, “specially designated activities”) work visa for foreign professionals. The Ministry of Justice sets the eligibility rules, salary floors, and occupation codes. The Korea Immigration Service, an agency under the MOJ, reviews and issues the visa. You file through HiKorea, the official immigration portal. Each E-7 is tied to one sponsoring employer.

The E-7 sits above short-term and language visas because it allows multi-year stays and is a common stepping stone to an F-2 residence visa and later F-5 permanent residency. Because the MOJ treats E-7 as a skilled-labor channel, it screens both you and your employer. Your degree, career, salary, and the company’s finances are all reviewed together.

The legal basis is the Immigration Act and its Enforcement Decree, published in English by the Korea Ministry of Government Legislation. The detailed occupation list and salary standards are released each year in the MOJ’s E-7 guidelines, summarized on HiKorea. Korea visa types eligibility guide

Which Jobs Qualify? E-7 Eligible Occupation Categories

The E-7 eligible occupation categories are split into four sub-types. E-7-1 covers professional roles such as IT developers, engineers, designers, managers, researchers, and university-level instructors. E-7-2 covers semi-skilled service roles. E-7-3 covers skilled trades. E-7-4 is a points-based track for long-term skilled workers already in Korea. The MOJ publishes the exact occupation codes each year.

E-7-1 is the largest and most common track. Historically it has listed dozens of approved professional occupations, each with its own code. The Ministry of Justice updates this list yearly, adding or removing roles based on labor-market needs. Some occupations carry extra conditions, such as a minimum number of years of experience or a specific degree field.

“Foreign nationals who intend to engage in activities under a contract with a public or private organization in Korea” may be granted the E-7 status, per the MOJ’s published visa categories.

If your offer does not map to an approved code, the application will be refused even if the salary and documents are perfect. Before you sign a contract, confirm the occupation code with your employer and cross-check it on HiKorea. For borderline roles, you can call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 to ask which sub-type applies. visa category change application

What Must Your Employer Provide? Employer Sponsorship Requirements for E-7

The employer sponsorship requirements for E-7 focus on the company, not just you. The sponsoring business must be legally registered, financially stable, and actually need a foreign specialist. The MOJ also limits how many foreigners a company can hire relative to its Korean national staff, and it checks that the firm pays its taxes and social insurance.

In practice, the Korea Immigration Service reviews the company’s business registration certificate, recent financial statements, and proof of national employees. A common rule is that foreign E-7 hires cannot exceed roughly 20% of the company’s Korean national workforce, and very small or newly formed companies face tighter scrutiny. The company must show it tried to fill the role and that the position genuinely requires your skills.

Your employer usually leads the filing. For applicants outside Korea, the company applies for a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서) on your behalf at an immigration office. This shifts much of the document burden onto the employer, so choose a sponsor that has hired foreign staff before. Employer obligations are summarized in MOLEG’s English statutes on the Ministry of Government Legislation portal.

What Is the Minimum Salary Requirement for E-7?

The minimum salary requirement for E-7 is tied to Korea’s per-capita Gross National Income (GNI). For the E-7-1 professional track, your annual salary generally must reach at least 80% of the previous year’s GNI per capita. The Ministry of Justice updates this figure every year, so always confirm the exact won amount on HiKorea before signing.

The salary floor exists to stop companies from using the E-7 to import cheap labor. Because the threshold moves with GNI, a contract that qualified two years ago might fall short today. Some specialized or in-demand roles can be approved slightly below the standard, but this is an exception decided by the immigration officer, not a right.

Do not rely on memory or old blog posts for the exact number. The current GNI-based threshold is published in the MOJ’s annual E-7 guidance and reflected on the Korea Immigration Service site. If your offered salary is close to the line, ask your employer to state the figure clearly in the contract and keep payslips, because immigration may check actual payments at extension time. visa extension required documents checklist

What Documents Do You Need for an E-7 Special Occupation?

The required documents for an E-7 special occupation come in two sets: yours and your employer’s. You provide an application form, passport, photo, degree and career certificates, and proof of qualifications. Your employer provides the employment contract, business registration certificate, financial records, and tax and insurance proof. Missing or unauthenticated documents are the most common cause of delay.

For the applicant, prepare:

1. Application form (the integrated Form 34, available on HiKorea).
2. Passport and one standard ID photo.
3. Degree certificate, usually with an apostille or consular legalization.
4. Career or employment certificate proving relevant experience, if required for your occupation code.
5. Alien Registration Card (ARC), if you are already in Korea on another status.

For the employer, expect:

1. Employment contract stating salary, role, and the approved occupation code.
2. Business registration certificate and recent financial statements.
3. Proof of Korean national employees and the foreign-to-national hiring ratio.
4. Corporate tax payment certificate and proof of social insurance enrollment.

Document rules differ slightly by sub-type and by which immigration office handles your case. Always check the current checklist on HiKorea and bring originals plus copies. If a document is in a language other than Korean or English, you typically need a certified translation.

How to Apply for an E-7 Visa in Korea

There are two main paths for how to apply for an E-7 visa in Korea. If you are abroad, your employer first obtains a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance at an immigration office, then you apply at a Korean embassy. If you are already in Korea on another visa, you apply to change status directly at an immigration office through HiKorea.

Path A - applying from outside Korea:

1. Sign an employment contract with an eligible Korean employer.
2. Your employer applies for the Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서) at the local immigration office.
3. Once approved, you take the certificate number to a Korean embassy or consulate and apply for the E-7 visa.
4. Enter Korea, then complete Alien Registration within 90 days at an immigration office.

Path B - changing status inside Korea (common for D-2 graduates and D-10 job seekers):

1. Receive a qualifying job offer in an approved occupation.
2. Book a visit on HiKorea; appointments fill up fast, so reserve early.
3. Submit your documents and the change-of-status fee at the immigration office.
4. Collect your new ARC reflecting the E-7 status.

After approval, register for health coverage. Foreign residents are generally enrolled in the National Health Insurance Service once they hold long-term status. You can also build points toward an F-2 visa through the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) and use Government24 for related civil documents. For appointment changes or rule questions, call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.

The E-7 is demanding because the Ministry of Justice screens both the worker and the workplace. But once you match an approved occupation, meet the salary floor, and pair with a stable sponsor, it becomes a reliable, renewable base for a long-term life in Korea.