Overview
E-5 (Professional) applies to holders of a foreign state-certified licence recognised under Korean law who perform professional work permitted by Korean statutes.
It is easily confused with E-7 (Specific Activity), but E-5 hinges on the combination of a state-certified licence and statutorily permitted professional work.
Requirements, documents and periods in this article follow the Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) Foreign Residence Guide Manual (March 2026) and the Immigration Act and its Enforcement Decree/Rules (law.go.kr). The manual is supplementary guidance; approval is decided by the reviewing officer. Always confirm your own case with the competent Immigration Office.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Status | Professional (E-5) |
| Core requirement | Foreign state-certified licence recognised under Korean law |
| Max period per grant | 5 years |
| Workplace change | Post-facto report within 15 days |
Scope of Activity
- Engagement in professional work that Korean statutes permit to be performed
Who Qualifies
- Aircraft pilots recommended by the competent minister
- Holders of advanced medical expertise recommended by the Minister of Health and Welfare to work at national/local government medical institutions, medical corporations, or institutions established by non-profit corporations or government-invested bodies
- Graduates of Korean medical, dental or oriental-medicine schools undertaking internship or residency at a university hospital or a designated hospital
- Essential specialists in ship operation, such as captains, employed by Korean shipping companies
- Holders of officer licences (1st/2nd class navigation or engineering officer) or certificates of competency at captain, chief engineer or management level, recommended by the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries
Required Documents
- Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34), original passport, one standard photo, fee
- Copy of employment contract
- Business registration certificate under the VAT Act (or the relevant business permit/registration)
- Copies of degree certificate and licence
- Employment recommendation from the competent minister
- Proof of residence
Application Process
- Check eligibility — confirm your current status, career, degree and contract type match the requirements.
- Prepare documents — foreign public documents need a translator's certification plus an apostille (or consular confirmation for non-member states).
- Book a visit — reserve a slot at your Immigration Office via HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr), or file online where e-Application is available.
- File and pay — submit the Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34) and pay the screening fee.
- Review — respond to any request for supplementary documents within the deadline.
- Result — on approval, the period of stay and status are granted; reissue your ARC if required.
Key Points
- Under mutual recognition MOUs on officer licences, certificates of competency are currently issued to licence holders from 30 countries.
- D-2 and D-10 holders who meet the requirements and sign an employment contract may change to E-5.
- F-3 dependants of professional personnel may change to E-1–E-5, E-6 (excluding E-6-2) or E-7 occupations.
- Documents issued in Korea must normally be dated within 3 months unless another validity period applies.
- Documents already on file in your alien registration record need not be resubmitted.
- Health certificates, drug test results and pre-employment medical reports must be submitted sealed by the issuing hospital (do not open).
- You must be in Korea when applying; leaving the country after filing may result in refusal.
- Screening fees are non-refundable once the application is accepted.
- The head of the Immigration Office may add or waive documents where necessary for review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I practise immediately with a foreign medical licence?
A. The manual limits eligibility to, among others, those recommended by the Minister of Health and Welfare for the listed institutions. Domestic licensing requirements must be checked separately.
Q. What is the difference between E-5 and E-7?
A. E-5 presupposes a state-certified licence and statutorily permitted professional work; E-7 covers specific occupations designated by the Minister of Justice.
Q. Do interns and residents fall under E-5?
A. Yes — graduates of Korean medical, dental or oriental-medicine programmes training at a university hospital or a hospital designated by the Minister of Health and Welfare are listed as eligible.
Q. What is this article based on?
A. Requirements, documents and periods in this article follow the Korea Immigration Service (Ministry of Justice) Foreign Residence Guide Manual (March 2026) and the Immigration Act and its Enforcement Decree/Rules (law.go.kr). The manual is supplementary guidance; approval is decided by the reviewing officer. Always confirm your own case with the competent Immigration Office.