E-7 Specialty Occupation Visa
South Korea
Last updated: December 26, 2025
3 years (renewable)
$30-$250
3 months
High
About this Visa
The E-7 visa is for skilled workers and professionals who want to work in South Korea. Your employer must sponsor you. This visa is for people with specialized knowledge in fields like IT, engineering, medicine, finance, and design. You need advanced education, years of experience, or both. One important rule: You can only work for the company that sponsored you. Changing jobs is very difficult.
Key Benefits
- Work full-time at sponsored company
- Bring spouse and children under 19
- Spouse can work in most jobs
- Mandatory national health insurance
- Travel freely in and out of Korea
- No re-entry paperwork for trips under 1 year
- Permanent residence after 5 years continuous work
- Bank accounts and phone contracts like Korean citizens
Eligibility & Requirements
Eligibility Criteria
- Master's degree or higher in related field, OR Bachelor's degree plus 1 year work experience, OR 5+ years work experience in field
- Graduated from top 500 world university
- Worked at Fortune 500 company for 1+ year
- Graduated from any South Korean university
- Must be 18 or older
- No criminal record
- No illegal stay in any country
- Cannot have violated immigration laws more than 4 times
- Pass medical exam
- Clean tax record in home country
Financial Requirement
Employer must pay at least â‚©28.67 million per year (approximately $22,750 USD). Employee must demonstrate ability to maintain livelihood.
Documents
- Valid PassportMust be valid for 6+ months
- University DegreeTranslated to English or Korean
- Signed Job ContractSigned by you and your employer
- Job Offer LetterFrom the sponsoring company
- Police Background CheckProof of no criminal record
- Medical Exam ReportFrom approved clinic
- Proof of ResidenceRental contract or address in Korea
- Bank StatementsShowing you have savings
- Business RegistrationEmployer's business license and registration
- Tax Payment RecordsProof employer has no unpaid taxes
- Employer LetterExplaining why they need a foreign worker
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Visa requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Please verify all information with official government sources and consult a qualified immigration attorney before making decisions.