E-7 Specially Designated Activities

The E-7 Specially Designated Activities visa is South Korea's principal professional work visa, covering a defined list of occupations across management, professional, technical and skilled fields. It is the status that most skilled foreign professionals use to work in Korea outside the specific points-based and investor tracks.

The E-7 is occupation-driven. Korean immigration publishes the designated activities and occupations eligible for the visa, and your job must fall within that list. The categories span senior managers and executives, professionals such as engineers and IT specialists, and various skilled and technical roles, with the rules - including any salary or experience requirements - calibrated to each occupation.

The E-7-1 points-based track sits within this broader E-7 framework as a sub-category for occupations assessed through a points system; the wider E-7 also accommodates roles assessed on a more conventional qualifications-and-job-offer basis.

The visa is issued for a defined period and renewable while you remain in a qualifying role. For many professionals it is the long-term gateway into Korea's labour market and, with sustained employment and integration, can support progression toward more permanent residence options. In 2026 the E-7 remains the backbone of Korea's skilled-migration system.

You must have a job offer from a Korean employer for a role within one of the designated E-7 occupations, and you must meet the qualification and experience standards set for that specific occupation. Typically this means a relevant university degree combined with relevant professional experience, with the exact balance depending on the occupation.

The employing company must be a legitimate business able to justify hiring a foreign professional and to pay an appropriate salary, and immigration may consider the ratio of foreign to Korean employees. You must meet character requirements. Some occupations carry minimum salary or experience thresholds, and certain occupations are assessed through the points-based sub-category instead. Because the designated occupation list and the per-occupation criteria are set by Korean immigration policy and updated periodically, always confirm the current requirements for your role.

First, confirm that your intended role appears on Korea's list of designated E-7 occupations and review the qualification and experience standards for that occupation, since requirements differ from one occupation to the next.

Secure a job offer from a legitimate Korean employer and assemble your evidence: degree certificates, employment and experience letters, and any occupation-specific qualifications.

The employer is usually closely involved in the immigration process. For applicants abroad, the standard route is for the employer to support an application for a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance from Korean immigration; once that is approved you collect the visa at a Korean embassy or consulate. Applicants already in Korea on another status can apply for a change of status at an immigration office.

Korean immigration assesses whether the role is a genuine designated occupation, whether the employer is legitimate, and whether you meet the qualification standards. After the visa is granted you enter or remain in Korea on E-7 status, and within the required period after arrival you complete foreign-resident registration at your local immigration office.

The E-7 carries Korean immigration fees for the Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance or a change of status, together with the foreign-resident registration fee payable after arrival; these government charges are comparatively modest. Larger preparation costs include certified translations of degrees and experience letters, document authentication or apostille from your home country, and procuring official records. If your occupation involves the points-based assessment, factor in the TOPIK examination fee. Engaging a Korean administrative agent or attorney to handle the application adds professional fees, and employers sometimes contribute toward relocation expenses.

E-7 applications are processed by Korean immigration within its standard work-visa timeframes, generally a number of weeks once a complete application is submitted. For applicants abroad, the Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance is processed first, after which the visa is collected quickly at the embassy or consulate; a change of status from within Korea follows similar timeframes. A clear demonstration that the role is a genuine designated occupation, backed by full evidence of your qualifications and experience, is what allows immigration to decide without requesting further documentation.

After arrival you must complete foreign-resident registration at your local immigration office within the required period and collect your alien registration card, which you will use for banking, the national health insurance system and other administrative matters.

E-7 status is tied to your designated occupation and employer, so a significant change of job or employer generally requires reporting to immigration and may need a fresh assessment of the new role. Keep your employment contract, payslips and tax records, because continued qualifying employment supports each renewal.

With sustained E-7 employment, a stable record and integration into Korean life - improving Korean-language ability helps considerably - you may over time become eligible to progress toward longer-term residence options. Family members can generally accompany you on dependent status. Renew your visa before expiry on the basis of your ongoing qualifying role.