Overview of the E Series Employment Visas

Most visas for working in Korea start with the letter E. E is the first letter of Employment. Visas are divided according to the work you do. They range from E-1 for university professors to E-10 for vessel crew working on ships. This document explains what you can do with each visa from E-1 to E-10. It also covers who can get each visa, how to apply, and what rights you have while working.

1. Before You Start

Things to Know First

This document is not legal advice. It does not guarantee that you will get a visa. For E series visas, results can differ based on your nationality, job type, education, work experience, company size, annual salary, work location, recommending organization, and past stay record in Korea. Even if job titles are the same, immigration may judge your visa differently if your actual work is different.

The first place to check for policy changes is the latest Integrated Manual for Each Status of Stay on HiKorea. This document is based on the manual edition from August 7, 2026. HiKorea also notes that it can take time for new policies to appear in the manual. Because of this, it is safer to check once more with the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 or the immigration office in charge right before you hand in your documents.

1-Minute Summary

• An E visa is not a permit to do any job anywhere in Korea. You can work only within your permitted job type, company, workplace, and activities.
• Professors, researchers, technical experts, and licensed professionals usually look at E-1 to E-5. Performances and sports use E-6. Government-designated professional and skilled jobs use E-7. Short seasonal farming and fishing work for a few months uses E-8. Production and field workers coming through the Employment Permit System (EPS) use E-9. Vessel crew members use E-10.
• In most cases, a Korean company or inviting organization signs an employment contract first and starts the process. The system does not allow you to get an E visa first without a company and then freely look for a job in Korea.
• In 2026, the minimum wage is 10,320 KRW per hour. Converted to a monthly wage, it is 2,156,880 KRW based on 40 hours per week (209 hours per month). You are not excluded from the minimum wage just because you are a foreigner. Source: Minimum Wage Commission
• E-7 has separate annual salary requirements. For 2026, the requirement is 31,120,000 KRW or more for E-7-1, 25,890,000 KRW or more for E-7-2 and E-7-3, and 26,000,000 KRW or more for E-7-4 (applied from 2026-02-01 to 2026-12-31). For some occupations, a higher standard takes priority. Source: Ministry of Justice 2026 E-7 Wage Requirement Notice
• E-9 is an Employment Permit System (EPS) process run between governments. It is not a visa where private brokers choose jobs for you. Private job brokers cannot take part in official procedures.
• If you stay in Korea for more than 90 days, in principle you must complete foreigner registration within 90 days of arrival. If your address, passport, or workplace changes, you may need permission or you may need to file a report for each change.
• Whether you can bring your family and whether family members can work are covered under F series visas, not E series visas. You must check those rules separately.

Which Visa Is Closest to What You Need?

Work you want to do	Visa to check first	Common examples	Key requirements
Teaching and guiding research at a university	E-1 Professor	University professor, research professor	Appointment or invitation from a university-level institution
Teaching foreign language conversation	E-2 Foreign Language Instruction	Native-speaking assistant teacher at a school, language institute instructor	Citizenship of a country that speaks that language, degree, criminal record check, and other checks
Research and development	E-3 Research	Researcher at a company research institute, university, or research institute	Related doctorate, or master's degree with work experience
Transferring and teaching specialized technology	E-4 Technology Transfer	Expert in transferred technology	Technology introduction or service contract, hard-to-find technology
Licensed professions recognized under Korean law	E-5 Professional Employment	Doctor, airplane pilot, and others	Qualifications recognized in Korea and official recommendation
Performance, broadcasting, sports, and modeling	E-6 Arts and Performances	Artist, entertainer, athlete, coach	Performance or exclusive contract, recommendation from the governing body
Professional, semi-professional, and skilled jobs designated by the government	E-7 Special Occupation	IT, engineer, designer, chef, welder, and others	Match with designated job, education, experience, salary, and company conditions
Seasonal farming and fishing work for a few months	E-8 Seasonal Work	Crop harvesting, seasonal work at fish farms	Program assigned by a local government
Manufacturing, construction, agriculture and livestock, fisheries, and some service jobs	E-9 Non-professional Employment	Production worker, agriculture and livestock worker, some hotel and restaurant assistants	EPS-TOPIK, home country government process, employment permit
Working as vessel crew on domestic ships, fishing boats, and cruise ships	E-10 Vessel Crew	Domestic ship of 5 tons or more, fishing boat of 20 tons or more	Crew labor contract, recommendation from related association or institution

Quick Steps to Decide

1. Write down what you will actually do in one sentence. The standard is your daily work, not the title the company gives you.
2. Check whether that work fits exactly into the specialized activities of E-1 to E-6.
3. If not, check whether it is an occupation designated under E-7.
4. If it is on-site work in manufacturing, agriculture, livestock, construction, fisheries, or some service jobs, and your country takes part in EPS, look at E-9.
5. If it is short seasonal farming or fishing work and you take part in a local government program, look at E-8.
6. If you work on a boat or ship, look at E-10 based on the ship type and size (tonnage).
7. Even if the job matches, you must check separately whether your education, work experience, salary, and company conditions match the rules.

Common Structure of E Visas

Visa, Status of Stay, and Period of Stay Mean Different Things

• Visa (사증): A document issued by a Korean embassy or consulate overseas so you can ask to enter Korea.
• Status of Stay (체류자격): The legal scope of activities you are allowed to do in Korea. If you get E-7, you can do only activities permitted under E-7.
• Period of Stay (체류기간): The time you can actually stay in Korea. It can differ from your visa validity period or labor contract period.
• 외국인등록증 (oegugin deungnokjeung, Residence Card, also called the Alien Registration Card or ARC): A card that proves the identity and stay details of a foreigner staying more than 90 days.

The airport immigration desk is where final entry permission is given. Having a visa does not guarantee entry unconditionally. The basic law is found in Articles 7 to 10 of the Immigration Act and articles related to stay.

How Applications Usually Work

1. You agree on the work and conditions with a Korean company or inviting organization.
2. You check the occupation, qualification, annual salary, and company requirements for that E status in advance.
3. You sign a labor contract, letter of appointment, or invitation agreement.
4. The company applies in Korea for a visa approval confirmation document (사증발급인정서, Confirmation of Visa Issuance) or an electronic visa, or you go through the process directly at a Korean diplomatic mission abroad.
5. Once approved, you get your visa at the Korean embassy or consulate general in your home country.
6. After entering Korea, you complete follow-up steps for your status, such as employment training and a health check-up.
7. If you stay for more than 90 days, you complete foreigner registration within 90 days of your entry date.
8. For contract extensions, workplace changes, or Period of Stay extensions, you must get permission or file a report before each deadline.

For E-8, E-9, and E-10, local governments, sending agencies between governments, employment centers, and vessel crew associations are more deeply involved in this process. Therefore, you must follow the special procedures for each status first.

Documents Commonly Prepared

Requirements vary by status, but the following documents are requested repeatedly.

• Passport, photo, Integrated Application Form, or application for Confirmation of Visa Issuance
• Documents proving what work you will do, such as a labor contract, letter of appointment, dispatch order, or technology introduction contract
• Company business registration certificate, corporate registry, organization founding documents, and proof of tax payment
• Degree certificate, career certificate, certificate or license, and recommendation letter for the specific job
• Criminal record certificate, health certificate (only for statuses that need them)
• Documents used for registration and extension after entry, such as proof of residence and proof of insurance

For public documents issued overseas, attaching a translation alone may not be enough. You may need an Apostille (아포스티유), which proves internationally that a document is genuine, or consular confirmation from a Korean diplomatic mission. Document validity periods and accepted issuing countries also differ by status. You must not simply use documents that were issued long ago.

Check Before Changing Your Workplace

E visas are generally issued on the condition that you do this specific work at this specific company. When leaving a company or changing your company, branch, factory, ship, or performance venue, check first which of the following you need.

• Permission to change or add a workplace (근무처 변경·추가 허가), which must be received in advance
• Report of a workplace change or addition (근무처 변경·추가 신고), usually made within 15 days of the change date
• New Confirmation of Visa Issuance or change of Status of Stay
• For E-9, the workplace change procedure through the employment center

Do not simply trust words like "you can start work right away because it is the same job type." If you work in another workplace without permission, both the worker and the company may violate the Immigration Act. You can check the legal basis in Article 21 of the Immigration Act and the manuals for each status.

2. E-1 to E-10, One by One

E-1 Professor

What Can You Do?

You teach specialized subjects or guide research at junior colleges and higher, or at educational institutions of an equivalent level. Common examples include professors at institutes of science and technology, full-time faculty members, and certain research professors or visiting professors.

Key Requirements

• Employment or invitation relationship with a university-level educational institution
• Letter of appointment, contract, or invitation letter confirming your professorship position or research and educational activities
• Proof of degree and work experience. In some cases, such as full-time assistant professors or higher, required documents may be simplified.

Period of Stay and Key Precautions

• The Period of Stay you can get at one time is usually up to 5 years.
• Teaching outside the university, consulting for companies, or conducting research at other institutions may go beyond your originally permitted scope. This is something you should check in advance: whether you need permission for activity outside your Status of Stay, or a workplace procedure.

E-2 Foreign Language Instruction

What Can You Do?

This status allows you to teach foreign language conversation. Typical organizations include language institutes, elementary, middle, and high schools, university language institutes, training centers of broadcasters and corporations, and qualified lifelong education and vocational training institutions. Teaching foreign literature, translation, and regular academic subject classes are not all automatically recognized under E-2.

Key Requirements

• In principle, you must be a citizen of a country where the language you teach is the native language.
• Generally, you must have graduated from a university in that country with a bachelor's degree or higher. There are exceptions, such as graduates of Korean universities.
• Target countries for the English Program in Korea (EPIK) for public schools are the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland.
• English teachers of Indian nationality must check separate requirements and English teaching qualifications under the Korea-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Key Documents

• Proof of degree with an Apostille or consular confirmation
• Nationwide criminal record certificate. The latest manual usually requires documents issued within the last 6 months.
• If you earned a degree in a third country, criminal record documents from that country may be added.
• Self health statement, labor contract, and documents from the educational institution, such as the academy or school

Period of Stay and Key Precautions

• The Period of Stay is usually given for up to 2 years at one time.
• The place where you teach classes must match the place you contracted and were approved for. If you teach at multiple branches, you may need a procedure to add a workplace.
• The registered type of educational institution and your actual duties are more important than the academy signboard name.

E-3 Research

What Can You Do?

You conduct research in natural sciences, advanced industrial technology, social sciences, humanities, or arts. Workplaces include universities, public and private research institutes, and company research institutes.

Key Requirements

Immigration usually looks for one of the following:

• Someone who has a doctorate in a related field or will receive a doctorate soon
• Someone who has a master's degree in a related field and at least 3 years of research experience

Special exceptions may apply for master's degrees earned in Korea, graduation from top world universities, or outstanding research achievements. Immigration also reviews whether the research institute is properly established and actively conducting research.

Period of Stay and Key Precautions

• The Period of Stay granted at one time is usually up to 5 years.
• It is important that the research project name, research field, degree, and work experience relate to one another.
• The company must not assign simple production, sales, or general office work under the title of "researcher."

E-4 Technology Transfer

What Can You Do?

You provide specialized knowledge and technology in natural sciences or specialized industrial technology to Korean public organizations or companies. Typical examples include transferring facility and process technology from foreign companies, providing guidance under a technology introduction contract, and supporting advanced technology that is hard to find in Korea.

Key Requirements and Documents

• Contract proving technology introduction, service provision, dispatch, or employment relationship
• Specialized nature of the introduced technology and the applicant's degree and work experience
• Where necessary, acceptance of the contract or recommendation from the competent government ministry
• Documents on the inviting institution's business, tax payment, and technology introduction

Period of Stay and Key Precautions

• The Period of Stay is usually granted for up to 5 years at one time.
• Hiring a regular engineer is different from providing overseas technical guidance. You do not get E-4 simply because you work in a technical job, and many regular engineers look into E-7.

E-5 Professional Employment

What Can You Do?

You perform professional work permitted by Korean law using qualifications recognized under foreign law. Common examples include airplane pilots, doctors and medical trainees, and certain essential maritime professionals.

Key Requirements

• License or qualification recognized as allowing you to do that work in Korea
• Recommendation or approval from the competent ministry or institution
• Professional employment contract and qualified status of the institution

Period of Stay and Key Precautions

• The Period of Stay you can get at one time is usually up to 5 years.
• In some cases, you cannot work immediately in Korea with only your home country license. Check Korea's licensing and recognition procedures first.
• For lawyers, accountants, medical professionals, and others, individual laws for each profession may be stricter than visa requirements.

E-6 Arts and Performances

Detailed Subtypes

Type	Main activities
E-6-1	Paid activities such as arts, literature, music, broadcasting, and entertainment
E-6-2	Performance and entertainment activities at hotels, tourist entertainment facilities, and similar places
E-6-3	Sports activities such as professional or amateur athletes, coaches, and managers

Commercial and fashion models, performing artists, and broadcasting performers may also be included depending on their specific activities.

Key Requirements and Documents

• Performance, appearance, exclusive, or athlete contract
• Legal business status of the activity venue and employer
• Recommendation or confirmation by activity from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Media Rating Board, broadcasting-related organizations, professional sports leagues, or other bodies
• Performance plan, pay, working hours, accommodation, and details of fee deductions

Period of Stay and Risk Prevention

• The Period of Stay granted at one time is usually up to 2 years.
• Management is especially strict for E-6-2, including needing permission in advance when changing workplaces.
• Avoid offers that suggest you "first enter as a tourist or without a visa and then change to E-6-2." Changing your status inside Korea is restricted in some cases.
• The company taking your passport, excessive deductions for placement fees or accommodation, working in a place or job different from your contract, restrictions on going outside, and demands for sexual services are not normal employment conditions.
• If you are in danger or worried about confinement, assault, or sexual violence, contact the police at 112, emergency services at 119, the Women's Emergency Hotline at 1366, immigration at 1345, or labor counseling at 1350.

E-7 Special Occupation

• The E-7 visa is for people who sign a contract with a Korean public agency or company and do work specially designated by the Ministry of Justice. The latest manual covers a system of 94 occupations. A company cannot hire just any foreign worker on an E-7 visa simply because it wants to. The designated occupation must match the actual job duties. Check the specific rules for each job using its occupation code in the 2026-08-07 Latest Integrated Manual.

Five Types of E-7

Type	Category	Representative Scope
E-7-1	Professionals	67 managerial and professional occupations, such as managers, science, IT, engineering, law, finance, education, translation and interpretation, and design
E-7-2	Semi-professionals	10 occupations, including duty-free shop sales, air transport office work, hotel front desk, medical coordinator, customer service, transport service, tour guide and interpreter, casino dealer, and chef
E-7-3	General Skilled Workers	14 designated skilled occupations, such as shipbuilding welding
E-7-4	Points-based Skilled Workers	3 fields of skilled work: root industries, agriculture, forestry, livestock and fisheries, and general manufacturing and construction
E-7-91	FTA Independent Specialists	Independent professional services under trade agreements

The list of occupations can change. Each occupation also has its own rules for education, work experience, employment recommendations, hiring ratios, and annual salary.

What Education and Work Experience Are Looked At

For general professionals, you usually need at least one of the following as a basic requirement:

• A master's degree or higher related to the occupation
• A related bachelor's degree and at least 1 year of related work experience
• At least 5 years of related work experience

Special exceptions apply to graduates of Korean universities, graduates of top global universities, people with experience at global companies, and people recommended by government ministries. On the other hand, even if you meet these basic standards, your visa may not be approved if you do not meet the separate job requirements, salary rules, or company conditions.

2026 Minimum Annual Salary Rules

The period of application is from February 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.

Type	Minimum 1-Year Pay
E-7-1	31,120,000 KRW
E-7-2	25,890,000 KRW
E-7-3	25,890,000 KRW
E-7-4	26,000,000 KRW

These amounts are the general standards. If an occupation has a higher standard, a multiple of Gross National Income per capita (GNI), or a separately announced amount, that higher standard takes priority. You must also check your contract and the guidelines for your occupation to see whether base pay and fixed allowances are included in your pay. Source: Ministry of Justice 2026 Wage Requirement Notice for Special Occupation (E-7), 2026-08-07 Integrated Manual

The Company Must Meet Conditions Too

For some occupations where Korean job protection applies, the company is also evaluated on the conditions below:

• Hiring limits for companies with fewer than 5 Korean employees or companies focused on the domestic market
• A limit on the number of E-7 foreign workers within a certain percentage (usually 20%) of Korean employees
• Unpaid taxes, whether the business actually operates, sales revenue, number of workers enrolled in employment insurance, and whether the job is truly needed
• A statement of reasons for employment and a plan for using the worker (documents explaining why the company needs to hire this foreign worker)

The allowed percentage can differ by occupation, and there are special exceptions and exemptions. Even if a company says "we can sponsor you", do not just trust those words. Check the employer requirements for your occupation.

Newer Special Types of E-7

• E-7-S Special Track for Professionals: This track is for outstanding professional talent, such as high-income earners and a points-based high-tech industry track. For the high-income track, earning at least 3 times the previous year's Gross National Income per capita (GNI) is key, excluding restricted occupations. The high-tech industry track looks at high-tech fields, points, and income requirements together.
• E-7-Y Special Track for Youth Raised in Korea: This is a route to change your Status of Stay within Korea. It targets young people age 18 to 24 who grew up in Korea from childhood and completed elementary, middle, and high school education in Korea. It is not a standard route for newly hiring from abroad.
• E-7-T Promising Talent: This is an advanced talent route in high-tech industries. It looks at degrees or work experience from top global universities, income, and recommendations from relevant government ministries.

For these special tracks, detailed points tables and restricted occupations are important. You must not trust ads that make simple claims like "no education needed" or "any job is possible".

E-7-4 Skilled Worker: A Step Up from E-9

E-7-4 is a route to change your Status of Stay within Korea, rather than a work visa you get from abroad for the first time. People who have worked legally in Korea on E-9, E-10, or H-2 visas for a long time change to this visa by proving their skill level and settlement requirements.

Here are the main standards from the 2026-08-07 manual:

• You must have stayed legally in Korea on an E-9, E-10, or H-2 visa for at least 4 years in total within the last 10 years, and you must be working as a registered foreigner right now. There may be regional recommendation exceptions for people who stayed outside the Seoul metropolitan area for at least 3 years.
• A contract of at least 2 years to keep working at your current workplace, and a recommendation from the company
• Annual salary is generally at least 26,000,000 KRW. A separate standard of at least 25,000,000 KRW applies to agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and domestic merchant ships
• Check the average income standard for the last 2 years: generally at least 25,000,000 KRW per year, or at least 24,000,000 KRW for designated sectors like agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and domestic merchant ships
• At least 200 points out of a maximum of 300 points in total, combining income, Korean language ability, age, work experience, recommendations, and other factors
• You must meet the minimum points for income and Korean language separately. For Korean language, standards may include passing TOPIK Level 2, completing Level 2 of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP), or being assigned to Level 3 on the pre-evaluation test.
• You must not have disqualifications such as unpaid taxes, heavy fines, immigration violations, or long periods of illegal stay.
• The selection quota for 2026 is 33,000 people. You can check the latest notices for HiKorea online applications and rules on application days based on birth year.

The system that allows you to postpone the Korean language requirement is a conditional policy that applies only until December 31, 2026. If you receive permission while postponing the requirement, you must complete the required level before your next extension. Before applying, check the latest points table and remaining quota by calling 1345.

E-7 Application Document Checklist

• Labor contract and job description stating the occupation code and actual job duties
• Degree certificates, transcripts and proof of major, certificates of employment, licenses, and certificates
• Translations of foreign-issued documents with Apostille or consular confirmation
• Statement of reasons for employment, plan for using the worker, and occupation-specific recommendation letters
• Business registration, corporate or institutional documents, tax payment proofs, sales revenue, and employment insurance records
• Proof that you meet the 2026 annual salary standard for your type
• Workplace location, housing, contract period, allowances, and deduction items

E-8 Seasonal Work

What You Can Do

• You do seasonal work in growing and harvesting crops, fisheries, and some directly connected primary processing work. The total Period of Stay is up to 8 months, and it cannot be extended beyond 8 months.

Based on the latest manual, seasonal work under the Short-Term Employment (C-4) system ended in 2025, and seasonal work now runs under the E-8 system.

Main Routes

Type	Route
E-8-1 / E-8-3	Agriculture / fisheries workers coming through agreements (MOU) between foreign and Korean local governments
E-8-2 / E-8-4	Agriculture / fisheries route inviting overseas relatives of marriage immigrants
E-8-5 / E-8-6	Re-entry route for past seasonal workers who meet the requirements
E-8-7 / E-8-8	Agriculture / fisheries route for parents of international students in Korea who meet the requirements
E-8-99	Separate personnel for the program, such as interpretation and operational support

How the Application Works

Korean city, county, and district (si, gun, gu) governments make allocation plans, assign workers to farms and fishing households, and then carry out the Confirmation of Visa Issuance process. An individual cannot apply for an E-8 visa on their own just by seeing an online job ad.

Main documents include a Standard Labor Contract, proof of efforts to hire Korean workers first, route-specific proofs such as agreements, family relationships, or past work, and housing documents. After entering Korea, foreigner registration, industrial accident compensation insurance or safety insurance for farmers and fishermen, traveler insurance, drug tests, and housing inspections by the local government may be required.

Workplace Rules and Important Notes

• You cannot do work outside of seasonal work.
• In principle, you cannot add another workplace on your own.
• You can change your workplace under the management of the local government only when there is a valid reason, such as employer fault or mutual agreement before foreigner registration.
• If an overseas broker says "we connect you directly to a farm without a local government allocation", check with the Korean local government to see if it is an official program.

E-9 Non-professional Employment and the Employment Permit System (EPS)

• The E-9 visa is an Employment Permit System (EPS) visa operated by the government. It operates to fill labor shortages at small and medium-sized workplaces in Korea. Workers go through procedures with public agencies in their home countries, HRD Korea, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Korean companies must get an employment permit. Official guides: EPS Employment Procedures for Foreign Workers, HRD Korea EPS

Countries That Can Participate Now

The countries listed in the latest manual from 2026-08-07 are the following 17 countries:

Thailand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, Timor-Leste, Laos, and Tajikistan.

You should also check whether the agency in charge of EPS is actively operating in your country.

Who Can Apply

The general conditions for taking EPS-TOPIK and being selected are as follows:

• Age 18 to 39. According to official notices, the rule for the Philippines is age 18 to 38.
• No criminal record of imprisonment or heavier punishment
• No record of deportation or a departure order from Korea
• No travel restrictions preventing departure from your home country
• Total past stay in Korea on E-9 and E-10 visas must be less than 5 years

EPS-TOPIK is a test that evaluates Korean language ability and the basics of Korean life and occupational safety. Candidates are selected in order of the highest scores among those who score at least 80 points out of 200 points, and passing test results are valid for 2 years. Passing the test does not guarantee a job or visa issuance. Source: EPS-TOPIK Official Guide

Step-by-Step Process

1. Take the EPS-TOPIK and skills test according to official notices in your home country.
2. After passing, complete a health check-up and register on the jobseeker roster (구직자명부, gujikjamyeongbu).
3. A Korean company applies for a foreign worker employment permit at the employment center after trying to hire Korean workers first.
4. The company signs a Standard Labor Contract with a person referred from the jobseeker roster.
5. Take pre-departure employment training in your home country for 1 to 2.5 weeks.
6. Receive your E-9 visa, enter Korea in a group, and complete at least 16 hours of employment training after entry.
7. Get placed at your workplace after health checks, insurance sign-ups, and other required steps.

For the 3rd round of employment permit applications in 2026, the Ministry of Employment and Labor required companies to make job-seeking efforts for Koreans for 7 days, and instructed them to submit applications through employment centers or 고용24 (Work24). The allocated quota at that time was 12,630 people in total: 9,020 for manufacturing, 1,906 for agriculture and livestock, 1,196 for fishing, 394 for construction, and 114 for services. This schedule and quota show the volume that companies apply for in the 3rd round of 2026. It is not a number of open slots that workers can apply for directly at any time. Source: Ministry of Employment and Labor 2026-06-25 Press Release

Eligible Industries

E-9-1 Manufacturing

• The basic targets are manufacturing companies with fewer than 300 employees or capital of 8,000,000,000 KRW or less.
• Special exceptions may apply to confirmed small and medium-sized enterprises, root industry mid-sized companies outside the Seoul metropolitan area, and companies outside the Seoul metropolitan area that have moved their business back to Korea.
• The separate quota for shipbuilding is integrated into manufacturing starting in 2026.

E-9-2 Construction

• General construction is the target.
• Some types of construction are excluded, such as certain industrial and environmental plant construction. You must check the industry type of the worksite and company.

E-9-3 Agriculture and Livestock

• This covers crop cultivation, livestock farming, and related service industries.
• In 2026, growing grain crops and other food crops was included in the expanded target list.

E-9-4 Fisheries

• This includes coastal and offshore fishing, aquaculture, and salt harvesting.
• E-9 fishing crew mainly work on fishing vessels under 20 tons where the Seafarers Act does not apply. If you work on a fishing vessel of 20 tons or more, look into E-10-2.

E-9-9 Forestry

• This covers designated simple labor in seedling growing and forest tending, logging, and forestry-related services.
• You need to verify employer qualifications, such as permitted corporations or forestry business operators.

E-9-10 Mining

• This covers designated simple labor in metal and non-metal mining.
• You need to verify employer conditions, such as mining rights and production records.

E-9-5 Service Industry

Allowed sectors in the service industry are separately defined. The main targets confirmed in the latest standards are as follows:

• Construction waste management
• Inland refrigerated and frozen warehousing
• Building cleaners and kitchen assistants at hotels, resort condominiums, and hostels in Seoul, Busan, Gangwon, Jeonbuk, Gyeongbuk, and Jeju
• Kitchen assistants at Korean restaurants that meet designated regional and business conditions
• Collection and wholesale of recyclable materials
• Publishing of books, magazines, other printed materials, music, and audio recordings
• Designated simple loading and unloading tasks in specified sectors: waste and recycling, food and tobacco brokerage, wholesale of fresh and simply processed foods, parcel delivery, air freight, meat transportation, and similar fields

Even for a hotel or restaurant, the company can hire through E-9 only if the region, operating period, number of Korean workers with employment insurance, and permitted duties all match the requirements.

Period of Stay and Workplace Changes

• The first period you can work is up to 3 years. If you get re-employment permission, you can usually work up to 4 years and 10 months in total.
• In principle, you work at the workplace you were first assigned to.
• You can apply for a workplace change if there are legal reasons, such as contract termination, business shutdown or closure, unpaid wages, assault, violation of working conditions, or employer fault.
• As a rule, you can change up to 3 times during your first 3 years, and an additional 2 times during the re-employment period. Changes made for reasons not caused by the worker may not count toward the limit.
• When your contract ends, you usually must apply for a workplace change within 1 month and find a new workplace within 3 months. For exceptional situations like injury, illness, pregnancy, or childbirth, you must report them immediately to the employment center with supporting documents.

Specific reasons for changes and deadlines are stated in Article 25 of the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers and guides from the employment center.

Beware of Brokers

• Private individuals cannot get involved in selecting or placing EPS jobseekers. Offers like the ones below are very likely scams:

• "If you pay more money, you will get an E-9 visa without taking the test."

• "We will guarantee a specific factory or city for you."

• "You can enter on a tourist visa first, work, and change your visa later."

• "You can work at another workplace without reporting it to the employment center."

Before sending money, always check with the official sending agency in your home country and the EPS website.

E-10 Vessel Crew

Specific Types

Type	Target
E-10-1	General crew (ratings) working on domestic merchant ships (ships traveling between Korean ports) of 5 tons or more under a crew labor contract of 6 months or more
E-10-2	Fishing crew working on fishing vessels of 20 tons or more for 6 months or more
E-10-3	Crew working on cruise ships of 2,000 tons or more operated by Korean cruise operators for 6 months or more

Requirements may differ depending on whether you are an officer, such as a deck officer or engineer, or a general crew member (rating).

Application and Required Documents

• Crew labor contract signed with a shipowner or ship operating business
• Ship, fishery, and business licenses, and the crew list (선원명부, seonwonmyeongbu)
• Recommendations and confirmations by type from the Korea Shipping Association, National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, or Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries
• Criminal record certificate, health status, drug tests, industrial accident and accident insurance, and proof of housing

Period of Stay and Workplace Changes

• The first period you can work is up to 3 years. If you are re-employed, you can usually work up to 4 years and 10 months in total.
• Even under the same shipowner, you often need permission before changing ships or workplaces.
• In some cases, E-10-2 workers can do related E-9 tasks, such as drying and packaging, on a limited basis under the same employer if requirements are met. However, you must not start without prior permission.
• If you face unpaid wages, assault, passport confiscation, or being prevented from leaving the ship, immediately consult seafarer labor agencies, maritime authorities, the police, or call 1345 and 1350.

3. Life in Korea and Safety

Pay, Working Hours, Insurance, and Taxes

Lowest Wage Levels for 2026

• Per hour: 10,320 KRW
• Daily wage for 8 hours a day: 82,560 KRW
• Monthly wage based on 209 hours, including 40 hours a week and paid weekly holidays: 2,156,880 KRW

Source: Minimum Wage Commission, 2026 Application Status. If your visa has a separate annual salary standard like E-7, you must meet both the minimum wage and the visa standard.

Things You Must Check in Your Contract

• Base pay, fixed allowances, performance pay, payment dates, and payment methods
• Regular working hours, break times, paid weekly holidays, and overtime, night, and holiday work and allowances
• The actual work you will do, workplace address, and whether you work in multiple places
• Contract period, probation period, and conditions for dismissal or resignation
• Housing location, type, and cost, and monthly pay deductions such as food, transport, and insurance
• Who pays for airfare, visa fees, and sending costs
• Applicable programs such as severance pay and departure guarantee insurance

You must get a Standard Labor Contract in a language you understand. Put verbal promises into the contract, and keep a copy of every signed page.

Basic Rights Guaranteed by Korean Labor Law

• The right to receive full payment directly in legal currency (money) on a set date
• Allowances for overtime, night, and holiday work exceeding legal standards. Calculations may differ depending on workplace size and applicable laws.
• Paid weekly holidays, annual paid leave, and severance pay when meeting conditions
• Treatment and compensation if you are injured while working
• The right not to face unfair discrimination based on nationality
• The right to be protected from assault, forced labor, and the taking of your passport or Residence Card

You can check rules on non-discrimination, labor contracts, health insurance, exclusive insurances, and workplace changes for E-9 workers in the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers.

Social Insurance Differs for Each Person

The saying that "foreigners do not have the four major insurances" is incorrect. The saying that "all foreigners are automatically enrolled in the same way" is also incorrect.

• Industrial accident compensation insurance applies broadly to protect people who get hurt while working.
• For health insurance, check the requirements for workplace coverage or local coverage.
• National pension differs depending on country reciprocity, social security agreements, and exempt countries.
• Employment insurance can be mandatory or optional depending on your Status of Stay and the insurance item.
• For E-9 and E-10, exclusive insurances under the Employment Permit System are separately connected. These include departure guarantee insurance and trust, return cost insurance and trust, guarantee insurance, and accident insurance.

Check your pay slip, the EPS Guide to the Four Major Insurances, the National Health Insurance Service, and the National Pension Service to see what is deducted from your monthly pay.

Taxes and Year-End Tax Settlement

The schedule and method of year-end tax settlement (the process of settling one year of taxes) for foreign workers are basically the same as for Korean workers. If your company does not use the batch data service, download simplified data from Hometax and hand it in to your company. However, the division between resident and non-resident, flat tax rate options, tax treaties, and proofs for deductions for overseas dependents differ for each person. Check the National Tax Service Guide to Year-End Tax Settlement for Foreign Workers (2026-01-07) and call the National Tax Service call center at 126.

Administrative Procedures to Handle After Arrival

Foreigner Registration

Foreigners who plan to stay for more than 90 days must, as a rule, register at the immigration office in charge within 90 days from the date of entry. You may need an Integrated Application Form, passport, photo, proof of where you live, and employment, business, health, or insurance documents depending on your status.

Reporting Changes

If the following information changes, you usually must report many of these items within 15 days from the date of change:

• Name, sex, date of birth, and nationality
• Passport number, issue date, and expiry date
• Address of where you live
• Name or details of your organization or workplace

However, changing your workplace may need permission in advance depending on your status. You must not think that everyone can just report it later within 15 days.

Extension of Period of Stay

Apply before your Period of Stay ends. Your Period of Stay does not extend automatically just because your labor contract was extended. Your passport validity, contract period, wages, unpaid taxes, insurance, and actual work status may be reviewed again.

Re-entry

Registered foreigners are generally exempt from a re-entry permit if they return within 1 year from the date of departure and within their permitted Period of Stay. There are exceptions, such as entry bans or having less than 1 year left on your Period of Stay, so check before leaving for a long time.

These Offers Are Red Flags

• If any of the following applies to you, check with 1345, 1350, and official agencies before signing a contract or sending money.

• Someone says they will "issue a visa first" without an employment contract or company information.

• Someone tells you to enter on tourism, visa-free travel, or a short-term visit and start working first.

• The actual job differs from the company, duties, and workplace written in the contract.

• Someone asks for a large deposit, visa fee, or broker fee in cash or to a personal bank account.

• The company keeps your original passport or Residence Card continuously.

• The company deducts housing costs, food costs, or sending fees from your monthly pay without clear grounds.

• The E-7 job code is for a professional role, but you are only given production, packaging, or cleaning work.

• You are on an E-9 visa, but they send you to another factory or farm without employment center procedures.

• Someone asks you to sign a blank contract, a Korean document you do not understand, or a double contract with amounts different from reality.

Keep contracts, pay slips, bank transfer records, work schedules, messages, workplace photos, and passport copies in a safe personal storage space as evidence.

Where to Get Help

Problem	Official Contacts and Websites
Visa, stay, foreigner registration, workplace	Immigration Contact Center 1345, from overseas +82-2-1345 or +82-2-6908-1345~6, HiKorea
Unpaid wages, unfair dismissal, working conditions	Ministry of Employment and Labor Customer Support Center 1350, local labor office in charge
E-9 employment permit, workplace change	Employment center in charge, EPS, Ministry of Employment and Labor 1350
EPS return and stay support	HRD Korea Foreign Workers' Consultation Center 1577-0071
Taxes	National Tax Service call center 126, National Tax Service
Crime, assault, illegal confinement	Police 112
Fire, emergency patients	Fire and ambulance 119
Violence against women, emergency protection	Women's Emergency Hotline 1366

4. Wrapping Up

18 Questions to Check Yourself Before Applying

1. What is the nationality on my passport?
2. How old am I in international age?
3. Can I explain the work I will actually do in Korea in one sentence?
4. What is the exact E status and detailed occupation code for that work?
5. Is my degree major related to that work?
6. How many years of related work experience do I have, and can I get a certificate showing the company, duties, and period?
7. Is this a job that needs a license or qualification recognized in Korea?
8. Is a recommendation from the relevant ministry, association, or local government needed?
9. Have I checked the Korean company's exact corporate name, business registration number, and workplace address?
10. Does that company meet the size, sales, and Korean employment conditions to hire a foreigner with this status?
11. Does the annual salary meet both the 2026 minimum wage and the separate annual salary standard for that visa?
12. Are base pay, allowances, and housing and food deductions written as numbers in the contract?
13. Are working hours and overtime pay written down?
14. Do foreign degree, work experience, and criminal record documents need an Apostille or consular confirmation?
15. Are the issue dates for criminal record documents and health check-ups still valid?
16. Who pays for the visa, airfare, insurance, and sending costs?
17. Where can I transfer if I resign, get dismissed, or if the company closes, and what is the application deadline?
18. Did I recheck the latest document list with 1345 and the relevant Korean diplomatic mission right before handing in the documents?

Final Checklist Before Departure

• Check your name, passport number, and Status of Stay on the visa sticker or visa issuance confirmation document
• Keep all pages of the signed labor contract and its translation
• Check the address, contact person, and contact information of the company, school, or institution
• Check base pay, allowances, deduction items, working hours, and housing photos and address
• Prepare original documents and electronic copies of degree, work experience, and criminal record certificates
• Check whether the Apostille and consular confirmation are valid
• Plan your schedule for training, health check-up, and foreigner registration after arrival
• Keep living expenses for the first 1 to 2 months and emergency return funds separately
• Do not leave your original passport with another person for a long time
• Save the contact numbers for 1345, 1350, 112, 119, and your home country's embassy or consulate

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find a job in Korea first and get an E visa after that?

From E-1 to E-7, you generally apply after signing a contract with a company or inviting institution. You can have an online interview and sign a contract from abroad, but it is not an open work permit granted without a company. E-9, E-8, and E-10 follow separate public selection and placement channels.

Can I enter on a tourist visa to have an interview or work?

An interview is different from actual employment. If you work for pay under a short-term visit status, it can become illegal employment. In many cases, changing to an E status within Korea is restricted. You must get the right status first before starting work.

Is E-7 impossible without a degree?

General E-7 may have pathways other than a degree, such as 5 years of related work experience. There are also separate types such as E-7-4 or E-7-Y. However, occupation-specific requirements come first, so this does not mean "any E-7 is possible with just work experience."

Can I change to E-7 while working on E-9?

As a main example, there is the E-7-4 Skilled Worker change pathway. Authorities review your stay period, continuous work period, income, Korean language skills, company recommendation, points, violations, and unpaid taxes. It is not an automatic upgrade.

Can I buy flight tickets before my visa is issued?

Visa issuance and entry are not guaranteed, so tickets that allow date changes or refunds are safe. Follow official notices for channels with set group entry dates like E-9.

Do I become an illegal stayer immediately if I leave my company?

Leaving your job does not mean your Period of Stay disappears on that exact day. However, the activity that was the basis for your stay ends, and company reports along with job seeking and transfer deadlines for your status may start. Inform 1345 and the employment center of your situation right away, and get the needed permission or make the required report.

Will it be approved if my monthly pay is higher than the E-7 salary standard?

No. Salary is only one of many requirements. The occupation, actual duties, education, work experience, company qualifications, Korean job protection standards, recommendation letters, and stay records are all reviewed together.

In Closing

Before deciding to work in Korea, write down your actual duties, exact visa sub-type, company, workplace, annual salary, and contract deduction items on a piece of paper and check them with official agencies. In a good job, the visa and contract details match your actual work. Also, a good company does not take your passport or ask for money outside official procedures.

Policies, required documents, and practices of diplomatic missions can change. Right before handing in your documents, check all three: ① the latest HiKorea manual, ② the immigration office in charge or 1345, and ③ the latest checklist of the Korean diplomatic mission where you will apply.

Official Sources

This document was written based on the following official materials:

• Integrated Manual for Each Status of Stay (2026-08-07 edition) · Ministry of Justice, HiKorea
• 2026 Wage Requirement Notice for Special Occupation (E-7) · Ministry of Justice
• Information on the 3rd Foreign Worker Employment Permit Application for 2026 (2026-06-25) · Ministry of Employment and Labor
• Employment Procedures for Foreign Workers · Employment Permit System (EPS)
• EPS-TOPIK Test Information · HRD Korea
• Immigration Act · Korean Law Information Center
• Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers · Korean Law Information Center
• Status of the Minimum Wage for 2026 · Minimum Wage Commission
• Year-End Tax Settlement Guide for Foreign Workers (2026-01-07) · National Tax Service