E-7 visa — skilled professional work in Korea: complete 2026 guide
Sub-categories, education requirements, minimum salary, the application process, and the E-9 → E-7-4 conversion path.
The E-7 visa is a residence status for foreigners doing professional, technical, or skilled work sponsored by a Korean company. It is one of the most common ways for foreign workers to work long-term and legally in Korea, and it opens a path toward residence (F-2) and permanent residence (F-5).
1. E-7 has four sub-categories
The Ministry of Justice divides E-7 into four groups by the nature of the work:
- E-7-1 (professionals & managers) — about 67 occupations such as marketers, developers, overseas sales, HR, and management.
- E-7-2 (semi-professional & office/service) — about 10 occupations such as medical coordinators, hotel receptionists, and care assistants.
- E-7-3 (skilled trades) — about 10 industrial occupations such as welders, aircraft mechanics, and shipbuilders.
- E-7-4 (points-based skilled workers) — for people who have worked in Korea for years, assessed via a points system (see E-9 → E-7-4 below).
Identifying the right sub-category matters, because salary requirements and paperwork differ between groups.
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Fill E-7 forms →2. Education & experience requirements
For E-7-1, an applicant must meet ONE of the following:
- A bachelor's degree + at least 1 year of experience related to the role; or
- A master's degree or higher in the relevant field; or
- At least 5 years of experience in the field applied for.
There is a priority exemption: graduates of universities in the QS top 500 or Times top 200 may be exempt from the 1-year experience requirement if the company can show a hiring need. The occupation applied for must be on the permitted list for its sub-category.
3. 2026 minimum salary & hiring quota
Effective Feb 1, 2026, the minimum annual salary is:
- E-7-1: ≥ ₩31,120,000 / year
- E-7-2 and E-7-3: ≥ ₩25,890,000 / year
On the sponsoring company's side, foreign workers may in principle not exceed 20% of Korean national employees. Companies with fewer than 5 Korean employees that mainly serve the domestic market may not be eligible to sponsor E-7-1 for occupations subject to screening.
4. Process & processing time
The typical process has two steps. First, the company applies for a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance (CCVI) at a Korean immigration office — about 2–4 weeks. Then the applicant applies at a Korean consulate/embassy for the visa stamp — another 1–3 weeks. End to end this is usually 3–7 weeks. During peak season (February–April) it can take 1–3 months longer, so companies and applicants should plan ahead.
Once issued, E-7 status is generally granted for one to three years based on the contract and can be renewed in further increments while the employment and salary conditions are maintained. Time spent on E-7 also counts toward the residence requirements for F-2 and, later, F-5 permanent residence.
5. E-9 → E-7-4 conversion path (upgrade)
This is an important path for foreign manual workers already in Korea. The main requirements:
- At least 5 years of legal work in the last 10 years on an E-9 / E-10 / H-2 visa;
- A 2-year or longer contract with an annual salary of ≥ ₩26,000,000 + a formal recommendation from the company;
- At least 50 income points AND 50 Korean-language points (both are required — falling short on either means ineligible even with a high total);
- E-7-4 workers are capped at ≤30% of Korean employees (50% in depopulation areas / root industries).
For 2026, there is a policy to defer the Korean-language requirement until Dec 31, 2026 (meet the required level at the first extension, within 2 years). E-7-4 holders may sponsor a spouse and minor children on F-3.
6. Documents to prepare
The basic file includes: the labor contract, degree + transcript (consular-legalized), a certificate of experience, a criminal-record check, the sponsoring company's documents (business registration, employee list, letter of employment reason / 고용사유서), and the visa application form. Some occupations also require a professional license.
7. Common pitfalls
- Filing the wrong E-7 sub-category or omitting the letter of employment reason (고용사유서) is a common cause of refusal.
- The salary in the contract must meet the minimum threshold for the relevant sub-category.
- Foreign degrees usually need consular legalization + notarized translation.
- The E-7 visa is tied to the sponsoring company; changing jobs must be reported and may require re-applying for status.