E-7-1 Economic Interest Group Executive Visa

Overview

E-7-1 Economic Interest Group Executive (code S110) is a status for a foreigner who will serve as a senior executive of an economic interest group, such as an employers' association, and meets the wage rule and general visa standard. The job list sets no degree or career requirement for this occupation.

The person in this role decides and drafts the group's policy, articles and rules. He or she organizes, directs and controls the departments that carry those rules out, and represents the group, or acts on its behalf, toward outside parties. The example job given for this occupation is a senior executive of an economy-related organization.

The reason given for leaving out education and career conditions is respect for the autonomy of enterprises. Visa issuance and the like follow the general standard, so the review weighs whether the applicant is barred from certificate issuance, whether the employer meets its requirements and operates normally, whether low-wage use is involved, the tax standing of the hiring organization and other points.

Corporate Senior Executive (1120) is described as a person who represents a 'company or organization (special interest groups excluded)', and its example jobs include company posts such as chairman, representative director and president. The Economic Interest Group Executive (S110) in this article is a separate occupation, with a different description and a different example job.

At a Glance

Scope of Activity

• Deciding and drafting the policy, articles and rules of an economic interest group
• Organizing, directing and controlling the departments that carry those policies and rules out
• Representing the group, or acting on its behalf, toward outside parties
• When the work does not fit this occupation exactly, there is a way to be allowed to work under the most similar occupation. That occupation's requirements, the need to bring the person in, whether a Korean national could fill the job and other factors are reviewed together, and the hire is allowed only where this is found reasonable.
• For this occupation, a move to another employer or an extra workplace is a notify-afterward matter rather than a prior-permission one. Notice goes to the competent immigration office no later than 15 days after the triggering date. Whoever notifies has to satisfy the qualifications that the changed or additional workplace demands; and anyone dismissed, or who quit partway, through their own fault and failed to get the former employer's consent to the transfer falls outside this.

Who Qualifies

• A foreign national who is going to be hired as a senior executive of an economic interest group such as an employers' association
• A person with no degree or career certificate, who is not held to a job-specific requirement but must still meet the annual wage of at least KRW 31.12 million
• A person staying under another status, such as D-10, who wants to change to this occupation. Changes are restricted from short-term stay (B and C series), D-3, E-8, E-9, E-10 and G-1.
• If the post is something like chairman, representative director or president of a company, also look at the description and example jobs of Corporate Senior Executive (1120).

Required Documents

• The foreign national's documents: passport copy, one half-size color ID photo, employment contract and proof of qualifications (degree certificate, career certificate, licenses and the like). This occupation sets no degree or career requirement.
• Write the annual salary and total monthly pay into the contract, and state the daily and monthly working hours beside them so that minimum-wage violations and the like do not occur.
• Anything issued outside Korea should come with a Korean or English translation, and the key papers add consular notarization or an apostille certificate.
• On the organization's side: a national tax payment certificate, a local tax payment certificate and establishment papers of the hiring organization or the like, plus papers proving the need to hire a foreigner, such as a letter of reasons for invitation and a recommendation letter.
• The letter of reasons for invitation should spell out why a foreigner must be hired, how the person will be used, the expected effect and the like.
• For an extension or a workplace change, an income certificate for the previous year issued by the tax office is required.

Application Process

1. Check eligibility — confirm your current status, career, degree and contract type match the requirements.
2. Prepare documents — foreign public documents need a translator's certification plus an apostille (or consular confirmation for non-member states).
3. Book a visit — reserve a slot at your Immigration Office via HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr), or file online where e-Application is available.
4. File and pay — submit the Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34) and pay the screening fee.
5. Review — respond to any request for supplementary documents within the deadline.
6. Result — on approval, the period of stay and status are granted; reissue your ARC if required.

Key Points

• Wage requirement: No amount is set for this occupation alone, so the figure for all E-7-1 professionals applies: at least KRW 31.12 million a year (2026 announcement).
• There is an exception that lowers the wage bar. At a small or medium-sized firm, a venture firm or a mid-sized firm outside the capital region (each confirmed by an official certificate), a person who is to work in an occupation with a wage requirement of 80% or more of last year's per-capita GNI, and who has no E-7 work history at a domestic company or up to 3 years of it, can be reviewed at 70% or more for up to three years; after a full three years, 80% or more applies. This occupation has no amount of its own, so the E-7-1 common announced figure of at least KRW 31.12 million a year is the benchmark; ask the immigration office whether the exception applies. If the exception amount and the announced amount differ, the more favorable of the two is used.
• Employment recommendation letter means one of the papers that prove the need to hire a foreigner; the occupation-specific review standard sets who it is issued for, which ministry issues it and so on. No recommending body is listed for economic interest group executives.
• Job code means the number attached to each occupation at the three-, four- or five-digit level of the Korean Standard Classification of Occupations. For this occupation it is S110.
• A letter of reasons for invitation refers to a written explanation that sets out in specific terms why a foreigner must be hired, how the person will be used, what effect is expected and so on. It is one of the papers the organization prepares.
• Even without degree and career requirements, visa issuance and the like are reviewed on the general standard. That review looks at whether the applicant is barred from certificate issuance, whether the employer meets its requirements and operates normally, and whether low-wage use is involved, among other points.
• The work that VISAS KOREA (Vision Administrative Office) helps with is as follows. When an economic interest group brings in a foreign executive, the establishment and tax papers and the letter of reasons for invitation are reviewed as well.
• Certificate of visa issuance application, Specific Activities (E-7-1)
• Change of status application
• Extension of stay application
• Report of a workplace change or addition (permission)
• Whether a particular executive post at an economic interest group qualifies is decided case by case on review by the immigration office with jurisdiction.
• Related job articles: E-7-1 Corporate Senior Executive visa, E-7-1 Business Support Manager visa, E-7-1 Professional Services Manager visa. The full job list is in All E-7 job categories.
• 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

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