Everything You Need to Know About the South Korea E-7 Visa Requirements

Are you looking to work in South Korea?

You are highly recommended to get an E-7 Visa. It is designed for foreign professionals who want to contribute to the nation’s economy and development with their skills. However, like with any visa, applying for an E-7 visa is a multi-step process. Therefore, make sure to fulfil all E-7 visa requirements to boost your chances of getting the visa.

To help you, we have come up with this comprehensive guide. 

South Korea E-7 Visa: What is it?

The E-7 visa has been introduced to bring in skilled foreign professionals to address the needs of the Korean labor market. This Visa can be your gateway to a career in Korea if you are an experienced and skilled professional. Eligible fields are defined by the Ministry of Justice and include IT, engineering, finance, design, culinary arts, and other specialized professions. Some teaching and research positions may qualify under E-7, but general English teaching falls under the E-2 visa.

(Note: The job categories eligible for this visa are subject to change, and therefore, you should refer to the Korean Ministry of Justice to ensure details are updated.)

Basic E-7 Visa Requirements to Know

There are a few important E-7 visa requirements you need to fulfill to qualify for an .

• Job Offer:

  This visa cannot be applied for by yourself and is sponsored by a job offer in Korea. A Korean company has to sponsor you, and they do most (but not all) of the initial paperwork.

  
  

• Qualifications: 

  The specific skills and experience depend on the specific position. However, you should have a bachelor's degree in a related field. If you have a degree, you generally need at least 1 — 1.5 years of appropriate experience. Without a degree, you will typically need over 5 years’ experience. Professional certifications or diplomas may also be accepted for particular jobs.

  
  

• Point-Based System: 

  A points-based system applies in some sub-categories of the E-7 (such as E-7-4 skilled worker visas). For most E-7 categories, eligibility is determined by qualifications, experience, and employer sponsorship. You will be awarded points on education, work experience, age, Korean language skills, and the salary that your employer will offer. A bonus point is awarded for graduating from any Korean university. 

  
  

• Clean Criminal Record: 

  You'd be required to obtain a police clearance certificate (PCC) from your home country, and it needs to be clean.

  
  

• Minimum wage plus health insurance: 

  You must be offered the legal minimum wage and must have health insurance.

  
  

Understanding the Benefits of the E-7 Visa

• Family: 

  You can bring your family along through an F-3 dependent visa.

  
  

• Visa renewal: 

  You may renew your E-7 visa while you stay employed.

  
  

• Path to Residency: 

  After a couple of years, you can become eligible for a permanent residency (F-5 visa) or long-term residency (such as the F-2).

  
  

• Facility for Changing the Visa Status: 

  Some applicants have the option of changing their status to a D-10 or job seeker visa, which gives them a little time to find a new position.

  
  

• Industry-Specific Requirements:
  

Here are some criteria set by the Korean industries for their foreign employees, which are categorized according to the industries.

1. IT, Engineering, and Science: Advanced degrees, such as a master's or doctoral degree in IT graduate (M.A. or Ph.D.) or other certifications( such as programming or Cyber Security) may be required.

   
   

2. Teaching or Research: Requires at least a minimum BA and experience. For certain roles, you might need a teaching license or evidence that you've previously worked as a teacher.
   

3. Finance and Law: You may have to get licenses from your country of origin or require more years of work experience.
   

4. Culinary employment: Foreign chefs, for instance, will have to show over 5 years' experience in their individual culinary area and might require a certification from their local country.

(Note: Keep in mind that some jobs have a limited quota, meaning that only a certain number of E-7 visas are issued for the position in that job. Always check for these limitations.)

Documents For E-7 Visa Requirements

Documentation is key, so you need to prepare. You'll require a combination of personal, professional, and employer-issued documents.

Your Personal Documents:

• A passport with a minimum of 6 months of validity

• Filled out the visa application form

• Two recent passport-sized size

• Criminal Background Check (notarized)

• Report of health check-up
  

Your Education and Work Documents:

Post-Secondary notarial transcripts: Documentation of employment experience (for example, letters of recommendation, a CV, job certificates)

Documents from Your Korean Employer: A copy of your Job offer or contract of employment

• Corporate business registration certificate

• A plan to employ (the reason they are hiring a foreigner)

• Staff list (number of Koreans and foreign workers)
  

Optional but Helpful Documents:

1. TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) certificate (Level 3 or above is very helpful)

2. Evidence of accommodation in Korea

3. Authorisation (if someone is doing so on your behalf)

   
   

Steps to Entering this Career Field: E-7 Visa Process

Step 1: Get a Job Offer:

Receive a Job Offer in South Korea (this is the most important first step). Your company must be in an approved industry and agree to sponsor you.

Step 2: Employer Applies for a visa issuance Certificate: 

After you get hired, your employer will obtain a visa issuance certificate from the Korean Ministry of Justice on your behalf. They will file the documents with the Korean immigration.

Step 3: Receive a Visa Issuance Number: 

If everything goes well, then you will be issued a visa issuance number. This number is referred to as your golden ticket, as it means Korea has cleared you to be eligible to apply for the visa. The length of time it takes for this can range from 2 to 6 weeks.

Visa Issuance Number: 

The first step to receive a visa is to get a visa issuance number in Korea.

Apply at the Korean Embassy: 

Once you get your visa issuance number, while other documents like your passport are ready, visit the Korean embassy or consulate in your home nation. Get the actual visa stamped in your passport. This generally takes 5 to 10 business days.

Fly to Korea and Register for Your ARC: 

Once you arrive in Korea, there is a 90-day window to go to a local immigration office to register for your Alien Registration Card (ARC). This card represents the Korean official ID and is required to do everything from getting a phone to opening a bank account.

The Cost of an E-7 Visa

However, the E-7 visa may not be expensive, but there are still other costs.

• Visa Charges: Fees vary by nationality and consulate, but generally range from USD 60–100. e.g. A one-entry visa valid for three months costs approx $60 USD, and for a multi-entry visa, the cost reaches $100 USD. Embassies can also charge a fee to issue the visa.
  

• Document Fees: Will involve paying for notarizing ($20 to $100) of documents for initial filing, as well as certified translation if your documents are in a foreign language other than English or Korean.
  

• Health Check: A health check may be required, particularly for ARC registration or if working in health, education, or food-related industries. 
  

• Sending the passport: Some embassies may charge the cost of sending you your passport and documents. 

Over to You…

So you must have understood everything you need to know about the E-7 Visa. It is an important visa to apply for if you want to work in South Korea. For any kind of visa assistance, get in touch with our visa experts at J&J Korea.