Overview
An E-7 (Specific Activities) application does not end with one foreign national. The documents fall into two groups: documents prepared by the invited foreign national and documents prepared by the inviting employer. Even within E-7, the application differs by stage: visa issuance certificate, change of status, extension, and change or addition of workplace. So when choosing an agent, it is safer to ask which stage the agent handles and how far before looking at names or advertising.
This article does not recommend or rank any office. It lists questions to ask before engaging an agent. Vision Administrative Office (VISAS KOREA) handles visa and residence documents by engagement: document review, preparing and filing applications, and accompanying clients to the Immigration Office. Approval is decided by the immigration office’s examination, so no result is promised. Employer requirements and denial reasons are covered in separate articles.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scope | Questions to ask before engaging an E-7 agent (not a recommendation or ranking of any office) |
| Stage handled | Whether the agent covers the visa issuance certificate, change of status, extension, or change/addition of workplace, and how far |
| Document structure | Documents split into those of the invited foreign national and those of the inviting employer, so confirm who prepares what |
| Attendance and agency | A stay-permit application must be made while in Korea and an agency cannot file for a foreigner who is out of the country; reports of workplace change/addition may be filed by an agent, with in-person reporting as the rule |
| Government fees | Examination fee: KRW 60,000 for an extension and KRW 100,000 for a change of status, not refunded after filing (separate from the agent’s fee) |
| How it is decided | Approval is decided by examination, and the head of the office may add or remove submitted documents |
Scope of Activity
- For each E-7 stage (application, extension, workplace change), the document structure and filing method, and the questions to ask an agent in light of them
- Rules on attendance and agency (stay application notes, the workplace change/addition report procedure)
- Out of scope: evaluating or recommending any office, agent fees, processing time and judging the likelihood of approval
Who Qualifies
- Foreign nationals preparing an E-7 visa issuance certificate or change of status who first want to know what an agent can handle
- Employer staff about to hire foreign professionals who want to separate the documents the employer prepares from the agent’s scope of work
- E-7 holders facing an extension or a workplace change/addition report who want to confirm what an agent may do on their behalf
- People comparing explanations from several offices who need one list of questions to compare them on the same basis
Required Documents
- Which stage you are handing over: visa issuance certificate, change of status, extension, or workplace change/addition report, and whether preparing the form, filing, and accompanying you to the office are all included, confirmed in writing
- Asking for a check of occupation and eligibility: whether your occupation is a permitted occupation, and how the agent checks the general requirement (one of: a master’s degree or higher in a related field, a bachelor’s degree plus at least 1 year of experience, or at least 5 years of related work experience) and any occupation-specific requirement
- Documents prepared by the invited foreign national: copy of passport, one half-length color photo, employment contract, and proof of qualifications (degree certificate, career certificate, licenses, etc.). Documents issued abroad need a Korean or English translation, and key documents need consular notarization or an Apostille
- Documents prepared by the inviting employer: documents on establishment of the employing organization, proof of the need to hire a foreigner (a statement of reasons for invitation, a hiring recommendation, etc.), a national tax payment certificate and a local tax payment certificate, and a letter of guarantee (only for occupations notified by the Minister of Justice). Also ask how far the employer’s cooperation is needed
- Check of the employment contract: whether the agent checks that working hours (daily and monthly hours, etc.) are stated against the total monthly pay (annual salary)
- Occupation and annual income reporting forms: foreigners in a status that allows employment must report their occupation and annual income when applying for a stay permit, using the Foreigner Occupation Report and the ‘annual income’ field of the integrated application form; ask whether the agent checks these entries too
- Government fees versus the agent’s fee: the examination fee (KRW 60,000 for an extension, KRW 100,000 for a change of status) is not refunded after filing and is separate from the agent’s fee; confirm this before signing
- Attendance and agency limits: at which stage you must go to the office yourself, and which reports an agent may file for you (such as the workplace change/addition report)
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
- A stay-permit application must be made while you are in Korea. A foreigner applying for any stay permit must be staying in Korea, leaving the country after filing may lead to denial, and an immigration-service agency cannot file for a foreigner who is out of the country. If you are told that an extension or change can be handled while you are abroad, ask what that is based on.
- For visa applications, agency filing may be restricted where examination is needed, for example when a direct interview with the applicant is required. Ask the agent in which cases you would need to appear yourself.
- Workplace change or addition depends on the occupation. A listed group of occupations falls under prior permission and the other E-7 occupations under a report filed within 15 days of the reportable event, and for the report an agent’s report is allowed, but because a report mark must be added to the passport, in-person reporting is the rule. A person dismissed or who left mid-term for reasons attributable to themselves without the former employer’s consent to transfer is excluded from the report route and falls under a workplace change permit or a visa issuance certificate application.
- Approval is decided by examination, and the head of the Immigration Office may add or remove submitted documents when needed for examination. Any explanation that states a result as certain is something to ask the basis for, and the scope of work and responsibility for results should be confirmed in writing before signing.
- Anything not covered here is not asserted. This article makes no judgment on the qualifications of an administrative agent or how to appoint one; for a specific case, confirm with the competent Immigration Office and the person in charge.
- 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 an agent get me an E-7 approval?
A. Approval of any application is decided by examination, and the head of the Immigration Office may add or remove submitted documents when needed for examination. An explanation that states approval as certain is something to ask the basis for. What an agent can offer is a scope of work such as document review, preparing and filing applications and accompanying you to the office, so start by confirming what is being handled.
Q. Which documents do I prepare myself for an E-7 application?
A. The invited foreign national prepares a copy of the passport, one half-length color photo, an employment contract and proof of qualifications (degree certificate, career certificate, licenses, etc.). Documents on the establishment of the employing organization, proof of the need to hire, and tax payment certificates fall on the inviting employer, so also confirm how far the employer will cooperate.
Q. Can an agent file an extension or change for me while I am abroad?
A. A foreigner applying for any stay permit must be in Korea, and an immigration-service agency cannot file for a foreigner who is out of the country. The documents for a visa issuance certificate and whether an agent may file it must be checked separately and confirmed with the office for your case.
Q. When I change jobs, will the agent decide whether a permit or just a report is needed?
A. Occupations that need prior permission are separated from those that need only a report. The report is filed within 15 days of the reportable event; an agent’s report is allowed, but in-person reporting is the rule. Before engaging, ask whether the agent will determine which route your occupation falls under and whether the former employer’s consent is needed (it is exempt if you worked until the contract end date or an agreed date).
Q. Are government fees included in the agent’s fee?
A. The examination fees are KRW 60,000 for an extension and KRW 100,000 for a change of status, and they are not refunded once the application is accepted. These are government fees under the Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, so confirm before signing how they are shown separately from the agent’s fee.