Contents
1. What is the E-7-1 Visa?
The E-7-1 visa is the professional specialist sub-category of Korea's E-7 (특정활동) work visa. It covers over 86 designated occupation codes in knowledge-intensive industries — from IT engineers and financial analysts to medical professionals, researchers, and educators.
Unlike E-7-4 (which is for skilled technicians upgrading from manual labor visas), E-7-1 targets professional-level workers with university degrees or equivalent professional experience, hired by Korean companies that sponsor their work visa.
- 86+ designated occupation codes (직종코드)
- Degree required: Bachelor's or higher in relevant field (or 5+ years equivalent experience)
- Employer-sponsored: Korean company applies on your behalf
- Stay period: 1–3 years, renewable
- Salary: Must meet occupation-specific minimum (직종별 고시기준)
2. Eligible Occupation Categories
E-7-1 occupations are organized into major industry groups. Here are the main categories and example roles:
| Category | Example Occupations | Example Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Information Technology | Software developer, data scientist, IT security specialist, AI/ML engineer, system architect | H1, H2, H3, H4 series |
| Engineering & Science | Mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, biotech researcher, chemical engineer, R&D specialist | E1, E2, E3 series |
| Finance & Business | Financial analyst, fund manager, insurance actuary, management consultant, accountant | A1, A2 series |
| Education | University professor, specialized instructor (not E-2 native English) | B1 series |
| Healthcare & Medicine | Medical specialist (with Korean license), pharmacist, medical device specialist | D1 series |
| Design & Creative | Industrial designer, UX/UI designer, fashion designer, game designer | F1, F2 series |
| Legal & Compliance | Foreign legal consultant, compliance officer, international law specialist | C1 series |
| Cultural & Media | Journalist (for foreign media), cultural specialist, international broadcasting | G series |
Before applying, your employer must identify the correct occupation code (직종코드) from the official Ministry of Justice list. If your job title or duties don't match any listed code, the E-7-1 cannot be used. Contact an immigration specialist to confirm your code.
3. Eligibility Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Education | Bachelor's degree or higher in a field relevant to the occupation code. Some codes accept 5+ years of professional experience in lieu of degree. |
| Job offer | Must have a signed employment contract with a registered Korean company for a qualifying occupation code |
| Employer eligibility | Korean employer must be registered, financially stable, and not on the immigration disqualification list |
| Salary | Must meet the occupation-specific minimum salary published annually by the Ministry of Justice |
| Foreign worker ratio | Company's total foreign E-7 workers must not exceed 20% of Korean employees (varies by company size) |
| No violations | Clean immigration and criminal record |
4. Salary Standards
Each E-7-1 occupation code has a designated minimum salary (직종별 최저 고시기준). These are updated annually and must be strictly observed:
- Initial E-7-1 (first hire): Salary must meet or exceed the occupation-specific minimum announced by the Ministry of Justice for that year
- E-7-1 renewal (after 1 year): Salary must meet or exceed the previous year's national GNI per capita (approximately KRW 50M/year)
Immigration officers verify actual payroll records during the application. Offering a salary that meets the minimum on paper but paying less in practice (e.g., through deductions or splitting into allowances) is a violation that can result in rejection or cancellation. The stated salary in the contract must match actual payments.
5. Required Documents
From the Applicant
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Valid passport | Original; at least 6 months validity |
| Application form | Standard immigration 통합신청서 |
| Degree certificate | Apostille + certified Korean translation |
| Academic transcripts | Apostille + translation |
| Career/work history certificates | From previous employers; showing relevant experience |
| Professional licenses/certifications | If applicable to the occupation code |
| Passport-size photo | Recent, white background |
From the Korean Employer
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Employment contract | Signed; must specify occupation code, salary, and job duties |
| Job description (직무기술서) | Detailed description matching the E-7-1 occupation code |
| Business registration certificate | Current and valid |
| Corporate income tax return | Most recent year; shows financial health |
| Staffing plan (인력수급계획서) | Explanation of why foreign hire is necessary and domestic hiring was considered |
| Foreign worker ratio confirmation | Proves E-7 foreign workers don't exceed 20% of Korean employees |
6. Application Process
- Confirm occupation code — Employer and applicant confirm the matching occupation code from the official MoJ list.
- Prepare all documents — Applicant gathers education/experience docs; employer prepares company documents.
- Employer submits visa invitation or applicant applies at embassy — For overseas applicants: apply at Korean embassy. For status change in Korea: apply at the immigration office.
- Wait for processing — Typically 2–4 weeks for in-Korea applications; 5–15 days at embassy.
- Receive E-7-1 visa/status — Initial period typically 1 year; renewed annually or up to 3 years.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Our specialists identify the right occupation code for your role and guide both employer and applicant through the full process.
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