Guide
The E-7 Work Visa in Korea
The E-7 is the visa most international graduates move onto when they get hired in Korea. Here are the subcategories, the salary floor, what qualifies you, how sponsorship works, and where it leads.
The E-7 is Korea's main work visa for skilled foreign professionals, and it is where most international graduates land their first real job. The defining feature is that it is employer-sponsored: you do not apply on your own, your company applies to hire you for a specific designated occupation. That makes the job offer the hard part, and the visa the part that follows.
- It is employer-sponsored and occupation-specific. A Korean company applies to hire you for a designated skilled role.
- There are subcategories, from professionals (E-7-1) to skilled trades on a point system (E-7-4).
- There is a minimum salary threshold, reviewed each year. For 2026 it was set at roughly KRW 31.12 million per year for E-7-1 and KRW 25.89 million for E-7-2 and E-7-3.
- Typical qualifications: a relevant master's, or a bachelor's plus about a year of related experience, or several years of experience without a degree.
- It leads onward. Time on an E-7 builds toward the F-2-7 residence visa and eventually F-5 permanent residence.
The subcategories
The E-7 is not one thing. It is split by skill level and occupation:
| Type | Who it is for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E-7-1 | Professionals and managers | The most common route for graduates, covering dozens of designated occupations |
| E-7-2 | Semi-professional roles | A defined list of occupations |
| E-7-3 | General skilled workers | A defined list of occupations |
| E-7-4 | Skilled tradespersons | Point-based, with its own pathway toward permanent residence |
Most international graduates of Korean universities enter through E-7-1, the professional and managerial track.
The salary threshold
The E-7 sets a minimum salary so the visa is reserved for genuinely skilled roles. The figure is reviewed annually. For the 2026 application period, the minimum was set at approximately KRW 31.12 million per year for E-7-1 professionals and KRW 25.89 million per year for E-7-2 and E-7-3 roles.
What qualifies you
For the professional track, you generally need to meet one of these, in a field relevant to the job:
- A master's degree or higher in a relevant field, or
- A bachelor's degree plus around a year of related work experience, or
- Roughly five years of relevant experience without a degree.
A Korean degree relevant to the role is a strong fit for the E-7-1 route, which is part of why studying in Korea and then working there flows so naturally.
How employer sponsorship works
Because the E-7 is sponsored, the sequence is:
- You get a job offer from a Korean employer for a designated occupation.
- The employer prepares the sponsorship, showing they are a legitimate registered business, that the role is appropriate, and that the salary meets the threshold.
- You apply for the change of status (from a D-10 or D-2) or for the visa from abroad, with the employer's documents.
- On approval, you work for that employer in that role. Changing employers later involves notifying immigration and meeting the rules again.
Where the E-7 leads
The E-7 is rarely the final destination. Time spent working on it, along with your income, Korean ability, and a Korean degree, builds points toward the F-2-7 residence visa, which frees you from employer sponsorship. From there, the path continues to F-5 permanent residence. Some tracks, such as E-7-4, have their own structured route toward permanent residence.
What to do next
- Job-hunting now? See the D-10 job-seeker visa and the internships guide.
- Thinking long-term? Read the F-2-7 residence visa guide.
- See the full picture in the working in Korea after graduation overview.