E : Long-term Employment

• E-7 : Particular activities
  • E-7 : General
  • The E-7 visa is a type of visa that allows foreign professionals who are difficult to replace with Korean workers to be employed by domestic companies, among others. The E-7 visa is issued to individuals who intend to engage in activities specially designated by the Minister of Justice under employment contracts with public institutions, private organizations, and other entities in Korea. In other words, the E-7 visa is a type of visa granted to foreign nationals who are employed under a contract in industries designated by the Minister of Justice as requiring the introduction of foreign professionals with specialized knowledge, skills, or abilities to enhance national competitiveness.
    As of the end of December 2019, there were 85 eligible job codes and 277 eligible detailed job codes for the E-7 visa, and applicants must first verify whether their job is included in these codes. Additionally, the government has established employment protection measures for quasi-skilled and functional workers who may pose a risk to domestic employment due to national substitution concerns, including qualification and wage requirements and company-specific quotas. Moreover, depending on the detailed job code, government agencies or subsidiaries such as KOTRA may require a recommendation letter for employment.