1. Overview
The E-7 Designated Activities Visa is a work visa issued to foreign nationals employed by Korean companies in occupations specifically designated by the Ministry of Justice. Unlike general employment visas, the E-7 applies to 94 designated occupations (as of August 2026) ranging from managers, engineers and designers to chefs and skilled technicians. Each occupation has its own educational and experience requirements, and the foreign worker's qualifications must precisely match the designated category.
The E-7 visa requires the Korean employer to sponsor the application. The employer must demonstrate that hiring a foreign worker is justified and that the role falls within a designated category. Both the employer and the employee bear documentation responsibilities throughout the application.
2. Key Designated Job Categories
Note: The full list of designated occupations and category-specific requirements is maintained by the Ministry of Justice. The applicable category should be verified individually for each case.
3. Requirements
- A Korean employer (company, organization, or institution) willing to sponsor the application
- The position falls within one of the 94 E-7 designated occupations (as of August 2026)
- Applicant holds a master's degree or higher in a related field, or a bachelor's degree plus 1 year of experience, or 5 years of experience in a related field (occupation-specific rules apply)
- Salary meets the wage standard announced by the Ministry of Justice (Notice No. 2025-406, applied from 1 February to 31 December 2026: E-7-1 KRW 31.12 million per year; E-7-2 and E-7-3 KRW 25.89 million per year; E-7-4 KRW 26.00 million per year)
- No immigration law violations; no serious criminal record
- Company is within the employment limit: foreign E-7 workers are in principle limited to 20% of Korean employees, and domestic-market businesses with fewer than 5 Korean employees are in principle not allowed
4. Required Documents
5. Application Process
- Preliminary review — verify job category eligibility and qualification match
- Employer prepares company documents (business registration, tax payment certificates, documents proving the need for the hire)
- Applicant prepares personal documents (diploma + apostille, experience certificates)
- Employer submits application at the immigration office (or Korean embassy/consulate if applicant is abroad)
- Supplementary document request response (if immigration authority requests additional materials)
- E-7 visa issuance confirmation (if applying from abroad) or status change (if in Korea)
- Obtain visa at Korean embassy in home country, or receive new ARC in Korea
- If the workplace changes in the future, report it to the immigration office within 15 days (prior permission is required for certain occupations)
6. FAQ
Q. How many job categories does the E-7 cover?
A. The Ministry of Justice designates 94 occupations (as of August 2026). Each category has specific educational and experience requirements that the applicant must satisfy.
Q. Is a university degree required for all E-7 categories?
A. A degree is not always required. The general requirement is a related master's degree, or a bachelor's degree plus 1 year of experience, or 5 years of related experience, and occupation-specific rules apply.
Q. Is there a minimum salary requirement?
A. Yes. The Ministry of Justice announces the wage standard each year (Notice No. 2025-406, applied from 1 February to 31 December 2026: E-7-1 KRW 31.12 million per year; E-7-2 and E-7-3 KRW 25.89 million per year; E-7-4 KRW 26.00 million per year). Hiring is in principle restricted if the salary is below the standard.
Q. Can an E-7 holder change employers?
A. For most E-7 occupations, a workplace change is reported to the immigration office within 15 days of the change. Certain occupations require prior permission, and a person dismissed for their own fault without the former employer's consent is excluded from the report procedure.
Q. Can E-7 lead to permanent residency?
A. Not automatically. Some E-7 holders may apply for the F-2-7 points-based residency if they meet its requirements, and F-5 permanent residency has its own requirements. Please confirm the current requirements with the immigration office.
Q. Can I change from D-10 to E-7 without leaving Korea?
A. Yes, in principle. A registered foreigner who is lawfully staying in D-10 status can file a change of status to E-7 at the immigration office in Korea without first leaving the country, provided the job falls within an E-7 designated occupation and meets that occupation's requirements and you have signed an employment contract with the employer's representative. The document list includes the application form, passport and alien registration card, photo, fee, the employment contract, the employer's business registration documents, career certificates, the competent ministry's employment recommendation or documents proving the need for the hire, and tax payment certificates. The immigration office decides each case on its own facts.
Q. How do I apply for the Korea E-7 visa?
A. An E-7 application is sponsored by a Korean employer, and the job must fall within one of the 94 designated occupations (as of August 2026). You and the employer prepare the documents listed in section 4 (for example the diploma with apostille, experience certificates, business registration, the signed employment contract and tax payment certificates), and the application is filed at the immigration office, through a visa issuance confirmation if you are abroad or as a change of status if you are already in Korea. After approval you receive the visa or a new alien registration card. The immigration office decides each case, and the full steps are in section 5.