If you have safely settled in Korea and you're contemplating getting a professional job here, you now face the ultimate quest — getting a legitimate long-term visa. In this case, the E-7 visa would be worth acknowledgment.

Searching for a visa that allows you to work in a Korean company? Considering your job field to be within a specially categorized industry? Keep on reading, this may be the next visa you qualify for!

The following information is based on general searching results and conditions may differ depending on the policy and the applicant’s background status. Please refer to the immigration office and the official agencies for professional advice.

What is an E-7 visa? 🔍

E-7 is the special occupation visa that covers job industries facing a domestic labor shortage. The hiring (domestic) company provides sponsorship to the foreign national who holds this visa.

According to the Korea Visa Portal, operated by the Ministry of Justice, E-7 is for someone who plans to engage in a field designated by the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Korea for the enhancement of national competitiveness by adopting foreign workers with professional knowledge/technology under a contract with a public or private institute in Korea. In short, it is granted to those in a professional field.

What are the variations for E-7? — Different types of E-7 visa ✍️

E-7 visa consists of several variations, ranging from E-7-1 to E-7-91. E-7’s variations are not quite as bold as others, since the focus is more on the specific codes of the occupations the applicants sign up for.

What’s complex about E-7 is that there are around 85 job category codes and 277 detailed occupation codes, which you need to search through to determine yours. 

Occupations vary from sports, nursing, education and arts to firefighting. These consist of a wide variety of professions addressed for visa application yet extremely specific occupation codes for those wanting to obtain the E-7 visa.

To start with, E-7-1, also known as the Foreign National of Special Ability visa, is for those who want to engage in activities specially designated by the Minister of Justice after being invited by a public or private organization. Engineering, IT, natural sciences, education, arts, and other professional services are included.

E-7-2 is classified as “semi-professional,” including office workers, guides, clerks and chefs.

E-7-3 is dubbed as the visa for “general workers,” including electricity technicians, animal breeders and those in the agriculture industry as well as shipbuilding professions.

E-7-4 is for “skilled workers,” meaning those in manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, livestock, fishery and construction.

E-7-S is dubbed as the visa for “special professional workers,” including those with high income and in the advanced tech industry. This visa assesses applicants on a point-based system.

Rarely, E-7-91 is added to the list — for someone who does not belong to any foreign corporation and who plans to provide technology guidance or to be independently employed by a Korean corporation or an individual, under an FTA (Free Trade Agreement.)

How long does E-7 last? ⏳

An E-7 visa lasts up to three years and can be extended by the visa's expiration as long as the qualifications are met. Typically, however, E-7 visas are granted for a year or two and require renewal nearing the expiry date.

Who qualifies for E-7? 👤