Professor, Researcher, Professional

Professor (E1)

Who

Foreigners who can apply for E1 visa is as follows.

• A Professor at a college, junior college, graduate college and college-affiliated research institute
• An advanced science and technology researcher who meets requirements as follows.
• You are employed by science and engineering college, junior college, college-affiliated research institute, government research institure, and corporate research institute etc.
• You must have a master's degree of science and engineering with career of more than 3 years or doctoral degree of science and enginerring.
• You must have a job recommendaction from the ministry of education of Korea.

The period of stay is up to 5 years and can be extended.

Visa issuance and change

You need the visa issuance certificate before applying for E1 visa. You can apply online.

Even visa waivers and non-work visa holders can change to E1 visa.

Permission for activities not covered by E1 visa status

E1 visa holders as advanced science and technology researchers can get a permit for activities of E3 visa.

E1 visa holders who work at a religious organization can get a permit for activities of D6 visa.

Researcher (E3)

Who

Foreigners must meet requirements as follows to get a E3 visa.

• You must have a master's degree with career of more than 3 years or doctoral degree including being about to get it. If you obtain a master's degree from Korean schools or foreign high rank schools or you are author of master's thesis listed in the SCIE, A&HCI, SCI, SSCI, career requirement will be exempted.
• You are one of the following.
• A researcher of science, engineering, social sciences, humanities, arts and physical education at the government-funded research institute
• A researcher of science and engineering at defence industry research institute
• A resarcher of science, engineering and advanced industrial technology at the college, junior college, college-affiliated research institute, government research institure, and corporate research institute which carries out industrial technology development project led by the Korean government.
• An advanced science and technology researcher employed by science and engineering college, junior college, college-affiliated research institute, government research institure, corporate research institute etc. You must get a job recommendation from the ministry of science and technology of Korea.
• A researcher of social sciences, humanities, arts and physical education at college and junior college etc.
• A visiting researcher who is employed by a foreign organization and will conduct research acitivities in Korea

The period of stay is up to 5 years and can be extended.

Visa issuance and change

You need the visa issuance certificate before applying for E3 visa. But it's not mandatory if you will work at the government-funded research institute or defence industry research institute.

You can apply online for a visa and visa issuance certificate.

Even visa waivers and non-work visa holders can change to E3 visa.

Permission for activities not covered by E3 visa status

E3 visa holders as advanced science and technology researchers can get a permit for activities of E1 visa.

Technical instructor (E4)

Foreigners who will provide a special technology not available in Korea to local companies and organizations can have E4 visa.

The period of stay is up to 5 years and can be extended.

You need the visa issuance certificate before applying for E4 visa. You can apply online.

Even visa waivers and non-work visa holders can change to E4 visa.

Professional (E5)

Foreigners who can apply for E1 visa is as follows. Other some professionals can have E7 visa.

• An airplane pilot recommended by the ministry of transportation of Korea
• A medical doctor recommended by the ministry of health of Korea
• An intern and resident who trains at the hospitals after graduated from Korean medical school and dental school
• A ship operating professional like captain, engineer and navigator employed by Korean transportation company

The period of stay is up to 5 years and can be extended.

A pilot and ship professional don't need the visa issuance certificate and others need it.

You can apply online for a visa and visa issuance certificate.