Work Permits for South Korea

There are several types of work visas for South Korea, and the type determines what employment you can undertake. Your sponsoring employer typically initiates the process by applying for a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance (CCVI) from the Ministry of Justice. Once approved, you use this CCVI to apply for your visa at a Korean embassy or consulate in your home country. After arrival, you’ll need to obtain a residence card within 90 days for stays longer than three months.

The system has several different categories tailored to different professional fields, from language instruction and specialised skills to corporate transfers and working holidays. Requirements vary significantly between visa types, but most demand proof of qualifications, employment contracts and clean criminal records.

Visas, Permanent Residence, and Residence Cards in South Korea

Types of work visas in South Korea

Specially Designated Activity (E-7) visa

Specially designated activity visas (E-7) are for candidates who are qualified in certain in-demand fields as designated by the Ministry of Justice. This includes top-level executives, different kinds of engineers and certain IT professionals. The E-7 is the primary work visa for skilled foreign professionals relocating to Korea.

The E-7 visa is typically granted for one year initially, although validity can range from one to three years depending on your circumstances. Processing usually takes one to three months from when your employer submits the CCVI application. You’ll need to provide proof of employment, certificates of degrees or other qualifications and professional reference letters.

Salary thresholds apply to E-7 applications, with specific minimum requirements that vary by position and are updated annually.

Foreign Language Instructor (E-2) visa

You can apply for Foreign Language Instructor visas in South Korea to teach English or other languages at the primary school level and above. The regulations for this class of visa are strict.

You need to have a tertiary degree and be a native resident of a country whose mother tongue is the same as the language you’ll teach. An exception exists if you’ve studied and resided in a country that speaks that language for 10 or more years from at least the junior high school level onwards. TEFL or TESOL certifications aren’t legally required for the E-2 visa, although many schools prefer candidates with these qualifications.

You must submit an original employment contract and letter from the school, official academic transcripts, personal reference letters and original degree certificates. You also need to provide an apostilled criminal record clearance certificate and an apostilled copy of your degree certificate, alongside medical clearance and a completed visa application form.

If you’re applying for the first time, you may need to schedule an interview at your nearest South Korean embassy or consulate. If you’re invited by the Ministry of Education, there are additional requirements, including an original employment contract from the superintendent of Educational Affairs in South Korea.

The visa is valid for one year, and you’ll also have to apply for a South Korean work permit once you’ve arrived. You can extend your E-2 visa by applying up to four months before expiration if you’re renewing with the same employer. After holding certain work visas including the E-2 for five years or more, you may qualify to convert to an F-2-99 visa, which offers longer-term residency with more flexibility.

Read an expat’s guide to Teaching English in South Korea and Teaching in Rural South Korea.

Intra-company Transfer (D-7) visa

Intra-company transfer visas in South Korea come in two main variants. The D-7-1 covers transfers from a multinational company’s foreign headquarters or office to its Korean branch or subsidiary, whilst the D-7-2 applies when a Korean company transfers employees from its foreign branch back to the domestic headquarters. Both require you to have worked for the company for at least one year. These visas are the standard route for multinational corporations relocating staff to Korea.

You’ll need to provide an employment certificate from your head office, an assignment letter, proof of foreign currency transfer, and company registration documents proving the corporate relationship between the sending and receiving entities. The visa is typically valid for one to two years and can be renewed. Your spouse and children can accompany you on F-3 dependant visas.

Processing times generally run two to four weeks once your employer submits the CCVI application.

Special Profession (E-5) visa

If you’re applying for an E-5 visa in South Korea, you’ll need a certificate of qualification recognised under Korean law. It’s aimed at candidates such as airline pilots, accountants, lawyers, architects, doctors, hospital interns and residents, and those hired as essential staff for shipping services. The visa is typically valid for one year and renewable annually.

Working Holiday (H-1) visa

If you’re a resident of certain countries with working holiday agreements, between the ages of 18 and 30, you may apply for an H-1 visa in South Korea. Over 25 countries participate in the programme, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, many of the EU countries, Chile, and Argentina.

This visa is valid for one year. The H-1 visa cannot be extended or renewed – it’s strictly a one-year opportunity. You also cannot convert to this visa from another visa status whilst in Korea, nor can you convert from H-1 to another work visa without leaving the country. Some countries, including the United States, Ireland, and Sweden, allow their nationals to reapply for a second working holiday, although most countries limit it to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

You must show proof of onward travel and proof of funds. Those entering on this visa can engage in some employment and some educational pursuits, but the main idea is for this trip to mostly be a holiday. You’re limited to working a maximum of 1,300 hours during your year in Korea – roughly 25 hours per week – and cannot work more than six months with the same employer.

Certain types of work are restricted, including foreign language instruction, professional positions that would normally require E-1 through E-7 visas, entertainment industry jobs, and positions requiring professional licences.

Other work visa categories

South Korea issues several other employment-related visas for more specialised situations.

• The E-1 visa is for professors teaching or conducting research at universities and higher education institutions, typically granted for one year and renewable annually.
• The E-3 Research visa is for researchers at government-designated research institutions.
• The E-4 Technical Instructor visa applies to technology transfer roles where you’re sharing expertise in natural science or technology fields.
• The E-6 Arts and Entertainment visa is for performers, artists, musicians, and athletes engaged in pure art or sports activities.
• The F-4 visa is for individuals of Korean heritage, including former Korean citizens and those with Korean parents or grandparents. F-4 holders can engage in most employment activities except simple labour.

Applying for a work visa in South Korea

Work visas in South Korea are usually valid for one year initially. The CCVI application through your employer usually takes one to four weeks, followed by another two to four weeks for processing the actual visa at the embassy or consulate. Plan for one to two months total from start to finish.

It isn’t possible to change from a tourist visa to a work visa within South Korea – you must do this from an embassy or consulate in your home country.

You can find relevant forms at the South Korean Ministry of Justice’s Immigration Service website and the Korea Visa Portal. The CCVI application process typically happens domestically through your employer, whilst you handle the actual visa application at the embassy.

When you apply for a visa, tell your employer and the staff at the South Korean embassy whether you’d like a multiple- or single-entry visa.

Applications may face delays if documents are incomplete, apostille certifications are missing, or if there are questions about your qualifications or the sponsoring employer’s eligibility. Starting the process well ahead of your planned start date helps avoid these complications.

The Korea Visa Portal is going to be invaluable. On it, you can submit your CCVI application, track its status, and download your visa application forms once it’s approved. Documents issued outside Korea generally require apostille certification or consular authentication, along with translations into Korean or English.

Changing employers

Changing employers is a complicated procedure, as work visas in South Korea are sponsored by the employer. This means that to change employers, you must have your visa changed. If your employment is terminated, you’ll need to act quickly to either find new employment or make other arrangements. You should notify immigration of any employment changes within two weeks.

You can do this without leaving South Korea if you have all the relevant documents needed for a visa and if your current employer signs a letter of release. Alternatively, a Certificate of Employment from your current employer serves the same purpose – Korean immigration accepts both documents. The letter of release or Certificate of Employment is then submitted to the Korean immigration office with your passport and Residence Card.

You can change from one visa category to another – such as E-2 to E-7 – without leaving Korea if you have the proper documentation and your employer’s cooperation. The D-10 job seeker visa offers an alternative pathway – it provides six months to search for professional employment in E-1 through E-7 categories – although you must apply for it from outside Korea rather than converting from a work visa whilst in the country.

Useful links

• Korea Immigration Service
• Korea Visa Portal
• HiKorea – Immigration Contact Centre
• Ministry of Education
• KOWORK Visa Center – E-7 Visa Guide

Work visa requirements are subject to change at short notice, and you’re advised to contact your respective embassy or consulate for the latest details.