Questions by situation
Each answer starts with the conclusion, then who it applies to, the documents and the timing. Jump here from “Choose your situation” above.
How is the Korea E-7-S negative-list visa different from the regular E-7 visa?
Regular E-7 is allowed only for occupations on the Minister of Justice's designated list, while E-7-S allows any job unless it is on the restricted list. High-income earners (E-7-S1) are assessed on income regardless of education, experience or field, and advanced-industry workers (E-7-S2) on points, income and the advanced-field rule. Neither type is subject to Korean-worker protection criteria such as company size or foreign hiring ratio.
If my salary is at least 3 times Korea's GNI, can I get an E-7-S1 visa without a degree or experience?
Yes. If your income is at least 3 times last year's per-capita gross national income (GNI) and the job is not restricted, you qualify for E-7-S1 regardless of education, experience or field. GNI is the figure the Bank of Korea publishes each year, so compare the threshold at the time of filing with the annual salary in your contract (based on the yearly published figure). The basic documents are the employment contract, passport and photo, the company's incorporation documents and tax certificates, and at extension last year's income certificate is used to recheck actual income.
Are there jobs I cannot take on a Korea E-7-S visa?
Yes. Clerical and elementary (simple labour) occupations in the Korean Standard Classification of Occupations, businesses contrary to public morals, and fields where other laws restrict foreign employment for reasons such as national security (for example, the CEO of a news agency) are not allowed under either E-7-S1 or E-7-S2. Even with enough salary or points, if the duties fall here you are not eligible, so check the job description in the contract first.
What requirements must all be met for the Korea E-7-S2 advanced industry visa?
All four must be met: at least 60 points, income of at least 1 times last year's per-capita GNI, work in an advanced-industry field, and not working in a restricted job. Even if the role is not one of the designated E-7 occupations, meeting these requirements allows E-7-S status.
How do I check whether my field counts as an advanced industry for E-7-S2?
It covers advanced technologies designated under the Industrial Development Act, such as semiconductors, biotech, displays and renewable energy, limited to holding technology or products in, or working directly in, a field that exactly matches one of the 3,043 advanced technologies and products in the official 'Scope of Advanced Technologies and Products' notice. A similar business that does not match a listed item is not accepted. If needed, the office checks whether you hold an advanced technology/product confirmation from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, so getting one in advance makes review smoother.
How do I score 60 points on the Korea E-7-S2 points table?
The mandatory income item gives up to 45 points linked to age; future-contribution items give up to 20 for age, 30 for education (higher for advanced-field degrees), 25 for work experience (regular employment in advanced industries only, including experience before your degree), 20 for Korean ability (higher of TOPIK or KIIP) and 20 for study in Korea. Bonus points of up to 40 come in 10-point items: graduation from a top world university, a KOTRA employment recommendation, hiring by an SME or venture company, and an SCI, SCIE, SSCI or A&HCI paper in the last 5 years as first or corresponding author. Gather evidence for each item and add up the total in advance.
How is E-7-S income proven, and is it different at first application and extension?
Yes, it differs. At first visa issuance the salary in the employment contract is used, and at extension the actual income is checked with last year's income certificate from the tax office. The extension also needs the application form, passport, alien registration card, employment contract, business registration or corporate register, proof of residence and the employer's tax certificates. If actual income falls short of the type's threshold (3x GNI for S1; 1x GNI plus points for S2), it can cause problems at extension review.
Can I change from D-10 or D-2 to E-7-S without leaving Korea?
Registered foreigners lawfully staying on D-1 through E-6, and their F-3 spouses, can apply in Korea for a change to Special Activity (E-7) status if they meet the E-7-S requirements. B and C short-term statuses, D-3, E-8, E-9, E-10 and G-1 are restricted. You file the application form, passport, alien registration card and photo, employment contract, company incorporation documents, career certificates, proof of hiring need and tax certificates, plus points evidence for S2.
If I move to another company on E-7-S, do I need a new permit?
E-7-S is not on the list of occupations needing a prior workplace permit, so you report the change or addition to the immigration office within 15 days of it occurring. The new workplace must still meet the E-7-S requirements (3x GNI income for S1; points, income and advanced field for S2), and if you quit early through your own fault without the former employer's consent, you need a change permit or a new visa certificate instead of a report. The report needs the integrated application form, passport, alien registration card, employment contract, business registration and the former employer's consent (waived when the contract has ended).
After 1 year on E-7-S, can I switch to the points-based residence visa (F-2-7)?
There is a special route. If you have stayed in Korea on E-7-S for 1 year or more, are currently employed normally, meet the E-7-S2 points rule of 60 or more (or, for S1, the income rule) and have completed or been placed at KIIP level 3 or higher, the F-2-7 points requirement is waived. Other requirements such as good conduct and never having worked in a restricted field still apply.
Can I go from E-7-S through F-2-7 to points-based permanent residence (F-5-16)?
If you changed from E-7-S to F-2-7, have stayed in Korea for 3 years or more and are currently employed, you fall under the F-5-16 special route. Those coming from S1 must have income of at least 3 times GNI, those from S2 must meet the E-7-S2 points rule of 60 or more, and for those from S2 the livelihood requirement is relaxed from 2 times to 1 times last year's per-capita GNI. Other permanent residence requirements follow the F-5-16 rules.
How many years can I get on an E-7-S visa at a time, and can my family come?
E-7-S is part of Special Activity (E-7), so the cap per grant of 3 years applies (5 years for talent recommended by the competent ministry or E-7 workers in regional specialised development zones and high-tech medical complexes), with the actual period set by review. The spouse and minor children of E-7 holders are eligible for accompanying (F-3) status, so family can join.
Key terms
- Negative-list Professional (E-7-S, 네거티브 방식 전문인력)
- The Special Activity (E-7) sub-status that lists only restricted jobs instead of designated occupations, allowing high earners and advanced-industry workers.
- High-income earner (E-7-S1, 고소득자)
- A professional earning at least 3 times last year's per-capita GNI, who receives an E-7 visa regardless of education, experience or field.
- Advanced-industry worker (E-7-S2, 첨단산업분야 종사자)
- A professional with 60 or more points and income of at least 1 times GNI working, or about to work, in an advanced technology field designated under the Industrial Development Act.
- Per-capita GNI (전년도 1인당 국민총소득)
- Last year's per-capita gross national income published annually by the Bank of Korea, used as the multiple for E-7-S income rules.
- Advanced technology/product confirmation (첨단기술·제품 확인서)
- A document from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy confirming that a technology or product is on the advanced list, checked when needed for E-7-S2.
- Restricted jobs (제한 직종)
- Clerical and elementary occupations, businesses contrary to public morals and fields closed to foreigners for reasons such as national security, where E-7-S is not allowed.
- KIIP (사회통합프로그램)
- The Ministry of Justice's Korean language and society programme; completion of or placement at level 3 or higher is needed for the E-7-S route into F-2-7.
About our office
- Office
- Vision Administrative Office (비전행정사사무소 · VISAS KOREA)
- Principal
- Alex Lee (이원중), licensed administrative agent (행정사)
- Licence
- Administrative agent (행정사) — preparing immigration and residence filings and submitting them on the client’s behalf with written authorization (위임장)
- Scope
- Korean visas (visa issuance certificate, change of status, extension), permanent residency (F-5), foreign-invested company, branch and liaison office setup, immigration violation review and entry-ban response
- Languages
- Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese
- Address
- 3F Sungwoo Bldg, 324 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04614, Korea
- Hours
- Weekdays 09:30–17:30 (KST)
Who hires us for this
- Companies in advanced technology fields such as semiconductors, biotech, displays and renewable energy
- Companies recruiting highly paid overseas talent for roles not on the designated occupation list
- SMEs and venture companies hiring R&D staff in advanced fields
- Foreign professionals with 1 year or more on E-7-S preparing to switch to F-2-7
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