Scope of activity
An E7 visa is required for high level foreign employees in private companies or public organizations.
There are 4 subtypes of E-7 visas based on the target jobs:
- Professional workers (E-7-1)
- Semi-professional workers (E-7-2)
- General workers (E-7-3)
- Skilled workers based on the score system (E-7-4)
- Special professional workers (E-7-S)
The period of stay is up to 3 years and can be extended.
Target job
There are a total of 91 target jobs. For a complete job list, please see the PDF document attached.
- Professional workers (E-7-1): Senior executive, manager, engineer, nurse, university lecturer, foreign school teacher, management expert, overseas salesperson, translator & interpreter, designer, announcer, etc
- Semi-professional workers (E-7-2): sales clerk in duty-free shop, air transport clerk, hotel receptionist, medical coordinator, customer counseling clerk, transportation service worker, tourist interpreter, casino dealer, chef, cook and caregiver
- General workers (E-7-3): Animal breeder, aquaculture technician, halal slaughterhouse worker, musical instrument manufacturer and tuner, shipbuilding welder, aircraft mechanic, ship painter, ship electrician, and aircraft or its components manufacturer and transmission line electrician
- Skilled workers (E-7-4): Skilled worker in the manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, livestock, fishery and construction
- Special professional workers (E-7-S): High earners, advanced technology workers
Requirements
Just because you've made a employment contract with local companies does not mean you automatically have E-7 visa. Generally, you must meet the requirements below but those can be slightly different according to the specific occupation. I can check the exact requirements for you.
- Foreigners must have the degree and career related to the job. There are some exceptions like Korean college degree, foreign top class colleges degree, etc.
- Local companies must have a certain level of sales volume and no tax arrears.
- Local companies must hire a certain number of Koreans and pay above the minimum wages to foreign employees. They can hire only a certain number of foreigners.
You cannot apply overseas for E7-4 visa.
Process
- Companies and organizations make a employment contract with foreigners.
- They must apply for E7 visa issuance or change of status of stay.
- Authorities will permit after checking eligibility.
- Foreign employees can start a work.
E-9, E-10, H-2 → E-7-4
E-9, E-10 and H-2 visa holders can change to an E-7-4 visa status if all of the following requirements are met:
- Employed in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, livestock, and fishery fields for at least 4 years in the past 10 years with the above 3 visa types. It is also possible if you stayed in an area other than Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi for 3 years.
- Get a certain score on the score system
- No criminal record, no tax arrear (but possible after full payment), no violation of Korean immigration law four or more times and no illegal stay for three or more months