Guide · IMM · 101
The E-7 skilled work visa
Korea's main professional work visa: subcategories, salary floors, and how sponsorship works.
In short
- The E-7 is Korea's main skilled/professional work visa. It covers white-collar and skilled-trade roles in occupations designated by the Ministry of Justice.
- Employer-sponsored. You can't apply on your own. A Korean company has to offer you a job and file for you.
- There are salary floors. For 2026: E-7-1 ≥ about ₩31.12M/year; E-7-2/E-7-3 ≥ about ₩25.89M/year. If you're below the floor, you'll be rejected.
- Your major and experience must match the specific occupation code, and the employer usually needs enough Korean staff (the "20% rule").
The E-7 is the standard route for professionals building a career in Korea, and it can lead to long-term residence (F-2-7 → F-5). The rules are strict. Everything depends on occupation codes, employer sponsorship and salary thresholds, and small mismatches can get an application rejected.
The four subcategories
| Type | Who |
|---|---|
| E-7-1 | Professionals: managers & specialists (IT, engineering, finance, marketing, design, etc.). ~67 occupations. Most white-collar hires. |
| E-7-2 | Semi-professional office/service workers (~10 occupations) |
| E-7-3 | Skilled trades/technicians, such as welders, painters and similar (~10 occupations) |
| E-7-4 | Points-based skilled workers. This is the upgrade path for long-term E-9/E-10/H-2 workers (2026 quota 33,000) |
There are also elite tracks (E-7-S / E-7-T "Top-Tier") for high-tech and innovation talent. These are faster and can skip income requirements via awards, papers or career record.
Who qualifies (E-7-1)
This is the most common type. You generally need one of:
- A master's degree or higher in a field related to the job, or
- A bachelor's degree + 1+ year of relevant experience, or
- 5+ years of experience in the field (no degree)
The salary floors (2026)
The Ministry of Justice sets minimums for applications filed Feb 1–Dec 31, 2026:
- E-7-1: at least about ₩31,120,000/year
- E-7-2 / E-7-3: at least about ₩25,890,000/year
Since 2025 the same floor applies regardless of company size. If your offer is below the floor, immigration will reject it however strong the rest is. For senior roles, an offer right at the minimum can also raise questions.
What the employer must show
- The "20% rule": for many occupations, foreigners can be at most 20% of the company's Korean (insured) headcount, so you generally need ~5 Korean employees per foreign hire. (Relaxed for some IT/startup and high-tech cases.)
- A "reason for employment" statement. It has to clearly explain why the company needs this foreigner and why a Korean can't fill the role. Vague reasons ("hard-working") get rejected.
- Business registration, tax records, financial statements, the contract and job description. Companies with tax or labor violations can be refused.
How the process works
Get a job offer & sign
Find a sponsoring employer and sign a contract meeting the salary floor for your subcategory. You can't start this from abroad on your own.
Employer files for the CCVI
In Korea, the employer applies for a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서) at the immigration office. This takes ~2–4 weeks.
You apply for the visa stamp
With the CCVI number, you apply at a Korean consulate abroad for the visa (~1–3 weeks). Overseas documents must be translated and apostilled/consular-authenticated.
Enter & get your ARC
Enter Korea and register for your ARC within 90 days. Plan 3–7 weeks end-to-end (longer in the Feb–Apr peak).
Living on E-7
- Renewable indefinitely (issued 1–3 years) as long as you keep qualifying employment and still meet the salary floor at each renewal.
- Tied to your employer, role and workplace. Changing jobs needs prior reporting/approval and often a fresh CCVI. The new employer must also qualify.
- Family: spouse and unmarried children under 19 can join on F-3 dependent visas (F-3 can't work without separate authorization).
- Path to residence: E-7 → F-2-7 → F-5. You don't need Korean for E-7 itself, but TOPIK helps a lot for the residency steps.
- Tax: ask HR about the foreign-worker flat 19% option and any engineer tax reductions (see tax guide).
Common questions
Can I apply for E-7 without a job?
No. It's employer-sponsored. You need a signed contract with a qualifying Korean company first. If you're job-hunting, look at the D-10 job-seeker route.
Why do applications get rejected?
The most common reasons are salary below the floor, job duties not matching the occupation code, weak "reason for employment," or the employer failing the 20% rule or having tax/labor issues.
Can I change jobs?
Yes, with prior approval and a qualifying new employer, and often a fresh CCVI. Don't start new work before it's approved.
Can my spouse work?
On F-3 (dependent) they can't work without separate authorization. They'd need their own qualifying visa.
Sources: Korea Immigration Service / Ministry of Justice, HiKorea, KOWORK visa center. 2026 salary floors (E-7-1 ₩31.12M; E-7-2/3 ₩25.89M) per MOJ, effective Feb 1, 2026.
Last verified: July 2026. Occupation lists, salary floors and rules change yearly. Confirm your case at hikorea.go.kr, call 1345, or consult a licensed 행정사. General information, not immigration or legal advice.
Going for an E-7?
Ask others how they matched their occupation code and cleared the salary floor. Post in the community and tag it Immigration.