Arts and Perfomances(E-6)
| Scope of Activities | * Artistic activities in music, fine arts, literature, etc., that generate income
* Entertainment activities performed for profit, including acting, musical performance, theater, sports, advertising, and fashion modeling |
| Eligible Persons | * Artists engaged in creative activities, such as composers, painters, sculptors, craftsmen, writers, and photographers
* Instructors or coaches providing guidance in music, fine arts, literature, photography, performance, dance, film, sports, or other artistic activities (e.g., professional and amateur sports coaches, orchestra conductors) * Individuals or groups performing for profit in entertainment, musical performance, theater, sports, etc., regardless of the form or title of performance (e.g., professional and amateur athletes) * Includes not only those personally performing in entertainment, music, or theater, but also accompanying personnel such as makeup artists and managers |
| Maximum Period of Stay Grantable at One Time | 2 years |
| Activities Beyond the Status of Stay | 1. For registered foreigners legally staying in Korea (including A-1, A-2, A-3) who wish to engage in broadcasting*, film, or modeling activities
*If appearing temporarily (one-time or non-continuous) as a guest on terrestrial broadcasts for non-profit purposes, such activities are considered incidental to daily life and may be conducted without separate permission (reasonable allowances for meals, transportation, etc., may be received). A. Exclusions Persons intending to engage in activities under the detailed status code E-6-2 are excluded from permission for activities beyond status. B. Required Documents ① Application form (Form No. 34), passport, and foreigner registration card, fee ② Employment contract ③ Recommendation letter for performance (from Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism or Korea Communications Commission) ④ Documents related to establishment of the organization, such as business registration certificate ⑤ Consent letter from the original employer (if applicable) ⑥ For A-1 or A-2 status holders, recommendation letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Protocol Officer in charge of VIPs) ☞ Permission is determined through comprehensive review of submitted documents and actual stay conditions. 2. Expansion of Exemption from Permission for Activities Beyond Status Receiving education at a regular educational institution (elementary, middle, high school, or university) within a scope that does not infringe on the original purpose of stay does not require a separate permission procedure within the period of stay (effective June 15, 2009). 3. Employment of Spouses of High-Value Investors and Professional Foreign Workers A. Eligible Applicants * Spouses of professional foreign workers holding qualifications such as Advanced Science & Technology Personnel (SCIENCE card), High-Tech Personnel (GOLD card), or IT Personnel (IT card) * Spouses of investors holding investment status with investments of USD 500,000 or more (including corporations) * Spouses of professional foreign workers holding E-status visas (E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-7; excluding E-6-2) B. Eligible Fields * All occupations except simple labor (D-3, E-9) C. Permitted Period * Up to the spouse’s period of stay (can be continuously extended) D. Required Documents * Supporting documents according to each status of stay under Article 76 of the Rules (guarantee of good conduct may be omitted) ※ For those intending to engage in Specific Activities (E-7), the guidelines for issuance of E-7 visa approval letters apply. |
| Change or Addition of Workplace | E-6-1 (Music, Fine Arts, Literature, and Other Artistic or Broadcast/Entertainment Activities) – Post-Notification Required
E-6-3 (Athletes, Professional Team Coaches, Managers) – Post-Notification Required 1. Revision to Post-Notification System (effective Nov. 15, 2010) (Immigration Control Act Enforcement Decree, Article 26-2(1)) To enhance national competitiveness through better utilization of professional manpower, the system was improved so that professionals may change or add workplaces with post-notification only, instead of prior approval. (Ministry of Justice Notice No. 11-510) A. Eligibility Requirements Foreigners registered and residing in Korea under E-6 (Arts/Entertainment) status, excluding performers in hotels and entertainment establishments (E-6-2), who meet the necessary qualifications to work at the new or additional workplace. ※ Those who meet the qualifications but were dismissed or resigned due to their own fault and did not obtain consent from the original employer are excluded. B. Notification Procedure Foreign nationals must report to the head of the competent immigration office (main office or branch) within 15 days from the occurrence of the reason for change (reporting via a representative is allowed). ※ As a sticker or notation must be affixed or stamped in the passport for workplace change/addition, in-person reporting is the principle. In urgent cases, prior submission by fax is allowed, with a prompt visit to complete the sticker attachment. C. Required Documents ① Application form (Form No. 34), passport, and foreigner registration card, no fee ② Business registration certificate ③ Consent letter from the original employer ④ Employment contract ⑤ Employment recommendation or performance recommendation letter ※ Statement of reasons and guarantee of good conduct may generally be omitted ※ Consent from the original employer is not required if the applicant worked until the contract expiration date or mutually agreed date. In cases such as closure, suspension, or unpaid wages of the original workplace, supporting documents or a statement may be submitted instead. E-6-2 (Performances in Hotels, Entertainment Establishments, etc.) – Prior Approval Required 1. For E-6-2 performers whose affiliated performance agency changes or is added, resulting in a change of employer ※ Changing or adding performance locations under dispatch labor protection laws without changing the dispatching employer is not a workplace change/addition requiring approval; it is an employer notification matter (*Immigration Act Article 19 and Enforcement Decree Article 24*). A. Approval Procedure Apply in advance to the head of the competent immigration office for change/addition of status when the reason for change/addition occurs. The office will review the documents and grant a stay period within a maximum of 1 year during the employment contract period. B. Required Documents ① Application form (Form No. 34), passport, foreigner registration card, fee ② Business registration certificate ③ Consent letter from the original employer ④ Employment contract ⑤ Performance recommendation letter (issued by the Korea Media Rating Board) ⑥ Original guarantee of good conduct 2. For E-6-2 performers who change or add performance locations under dispatch labor laws without changing the dispatching employer (employer notification matter) A. Notification Procedure Report the change of performance location to the head of the competent immigration office within 15 days from the change date. ※ Performance location changes are not allowed within 6 months after entry, except in cases such as closure or suspension of the original venue. B. Required Documents ① Notification of change in employment/training foreigner status (Form No. 32), passport, and foreigner registration card ② Business registration certificates (both dispatching and employing entities) ③ Employer ID (for employees: power of attorney, certificate of employment, employee ID) ④ Dispatch labor contract between dispatching and employing entities ⑤ Performance recommendation letter (issued by the Korea Media Rating Board) ⑥ Venue facility confirmation document |
| Granting of Status of Stay | Not applicable |
| Permission for Change of Status of Stay | Limited permission is granted for cases corresponding to detailed status codes E-6-1 and E-6-3.
☞ Except for the applicants listed below, changes may be permitted for internationally renowned professional artists and athletes with headquarters approval. ☞ Permitted Period : Up to 2 years from the date of change approval, covering the employment contract period plus 1 month. 1. Change from Student (D-2) or Job-Seeking (D-10) to Arts/Entertainment (E-6) A. Eligibility Requirements (All of the following ①, ②, ③ must be met) ① Legally residing in Korea with D-10 (Job-Seeking) or D-2 (Student) status ② The intended field of employment corresponds to one of the following statuses: Professor (E-1), Foreign Language Instructor (E-2), Research (E-3), Technical Guidance (E-4), Professional Employment (E-5), Arts/Entertainment (E-6), or Specific Activities (E-7), and the applicant meets the relevant qualification requirements ③ Must sign an employment contract with the head of the institution/organization of intended employment ※ For D-2 holders, this refers to graduating students who meet the requirements to change to D-10. However, if the applicant has already obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher in their home country or a third country and meets the required work experience, a change may be permitted even while enrolled. B. Required Documents ① Application form (Form No. 34), passport, foreigner registration card, one standard-size photo, fee ② Employment contract (or performance contract) ③ Business registration certificate ④ Employment/performance recommendation letter (issued by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Media Rating Board, Korea Communications Commission, or professional sports federations) 2. Change of Status from Visa Waiver (B-1/B-2) or Short-Term Visa (C-3) to Arts/Entertainment (E-6) A. Conditions for Change * Only permitted if unavoidable or required for national interest - Examples include athletes, musicians, dancers entering for tryouts, or participants in international competitions with prize money. Relevant proof is submitted, and the immigration office grants permission at its discretion (period of stay calculation starts from the entry date, not the date of status change). - If difficult for the local office to determine, approval from headquarters is required. Activities in hotel/entertainment (E-6-2) are prohibited from status change. 3. Long-term stay under general status who wish to engage in short-term broadcast appearances or modeling before returning home * Arts/Entertainment (E-6) status change may be permitted - Excludes those holding E-6 or statuses without employment restrictions (F-2, F-4, F-5, etc.) 4. Change of Status for German Nationals Entering under Visa Waiver (B-1) to Long-Term Stay A. Permitted Status : All long-term stay statuses except Industrial Trainee (D-3), Non-Professional Employment (E-9), and Working Holiday (H-1) B. Permitted Period : Maximum period of stay grantable for each status at one time 5. Change of Status to Professional for Spouses of Professional Foreign Workers A. Eligible Applicants : Spouses of professional foreign workers holding E-1 through E-5, E-6 (excluding E-6-2), or E-7, with Dependent (F-3) status B. Eligible Fields : All occupations corresponding to professional statuses E-1 through E-5, E-6 (excluding E-6-2), or E-7 C. Required Documents : ① Application form (Form No. 34), passport, foreigner registration card, one standard-size photo, fee ② Employment contract (or performance contract) ③ Business registration certificate ④ Employment/performance recommendation letter (issued by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Media Rating Board, Korea Communications Commission, or professional sports federations) |
| Permission for Extension of Stay | A. Eligible Applicants
Registered foreigners with E-6 status who need to continue staying due to an extension of the employment contract period, change of workplace, or other reasons. B. Criteria for Approval : Single Grant Period for Extension of Stay * E-6-1, E-6-3 : Employment contract period + 1 month (maximum 2 years) * E-6-2 : Performance recommendation period or employment contract period (maximum 1 year; if the Korea Media Rating Board’s recommendation indicates the minor performer is “harmful,” maximum 6 months) C. Required Documents ① Application form (Form No. 34), passport, and foreigner registration card, fee ② Employment recommendation letter or performance recommendation letter ※ Issuing institutions : Korea Media Rating Board, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Communications Commission, etc. ③ Employment contract (or performance contract) ④ Copy of business registration certificate ⑤ Guarantee of good conduct (required only for E-6-2 status) ⑥ Documents proving place of residence (e.g., lease contract, accommodation provision confirmation, notice of stay expiration, utility bills, dormitory fee receipts) ⑦ Confirmation of special health insurance coverage (required only for E-6-2 status) ⑧ Other documents required for review (submit 1–2 items if needed) * Examples : Certificate of employment, foreigner employment status, wage withholding statement |
| Re-entry Permit | 1. Implementation of Re-entry Permit Exemption System (Revised Enforcement Rules, Dec. 1, 2010)
* Foreigners who have completed registration are exempt from re-entry permit if they re-enter within 1 year from the date of departure. * If the remaining period of stay is less than 1 year, re-entry permit is exempt within the remaining period of stay. ※ However, individuals subject to entry restrictions or visa issuance restrictions must visit the local immigration office (main office or branch) to obtain a re-entry permit. 2. Multiple Re-entry Permit (Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Libya have restrictions on multiple re-entry. However, nationals of these countries with F-6 Marriage, D-2 Study, or D-4 General Training visas are allowed) * Applicable when re-entering more than 1 year but within 2 years after departure, within the period of stay. * Required Documents : Application form (Form No. 34), original passport, foreigner registration card, fee |
| Foreigner Registration | 1. Application Documents and Verification Items for Foreigner Registration
A. Application Documents ① Application form (Form No. 34), original passport, one standard-size photo, fee ② Copy of business registration certificate under the Value-Added Tax Act * Business registration certificate or unique number certificate of the organization or company employing the foreigner. If there is no direct employment relationship, a certificate from the inviting or affiliated organization may be submitted. ③ Employment medical examination report (only for E-6-2 status) * Issued according to the government employment medical examination procedure. HIV test and drug test are not mandatory. Designated hospital rules do not apply to Foreign Language Instructor (E-2) or similar positions. ④ Documents proving place of stay 2. Notification of Changes in Foreigner Registration Information A. Items to Report : Name, gender, date of birth, nationality, and passport number, issue date, and expiry date B. Reporting Deadline : Within 15 days from the date of change C. Required Documents : ① Application form (Form No. 34), passport, and foreigner registration card, no fee ② Supporting documents related to the change |
| Change of Status | 1. Dismissal / Resignation
* Must be reported to the head of the competent immigration office within 15 days from the date the reason occurred. |
