Specific Activities (E7)

Scope of activity

An E7 visa is required for high level foreign employees in private companies or public organizations.

There are 4 subtypes of E7 visas based on the target jobs:

• Professional workers (E7-1)
• Semi-professional workers (E7-2)
• General workers (E7-3)
• Skilled workers based on the score system (E7-4)
• Special professional workers (E7-S) 

The period of stay is up to 3 years and can be extended.

Available job

There are a total of 91 jobs for E7 visa. For a complete job list, please read the PDF document attached.

• Professional workers (E7-1): Senior executive, manager, engineer, nurse, university lecturer, foreign school teacher, management expert, overseas salesperson, translator & interpreter, designer, announcer, etc
• Semi-professional workers (E7-2): 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 (E7-3): 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 (E7-4): Skilled worker in the manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, livestock, fishery and construction
• Special professional workers (E7-S): High earners, advanced technology workers

Requirements

Just because you've made an employment contract with local companies does not mean you automatically get an E7 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.

E9, E10, H2 → E7-4

E9, E10 and H2 visa holders can change to an E7-4 visa status if all of the following requirements are met:

1. 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.
2. Get a certain score on the score system
3. 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

Related services

• Visa Issuance
• Status of Stay
• Foreigner Registration