Work & Part-time Guide

Check which visas allow employment and what conditions apply.

F-2-T

Top Talent Residence

Individuals meeting the Minister of Justice's criteria for age, education, and income as top talent.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Long-term residence for highly talented individuals recognized by the Minister of Justice based on age, education, and income criteria.

Eligibility Requirements

•Professionals in cutting-edge fields who are recognized as likely to contribute significantly to Korea's economic development and national competitiveness

Required Documents

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Common documents (application form, photo, passport copy, proof of residence, fee)
Employment contract, certificate of employment
Recommendation from relevant central administrative agency, business registration
Diploma/degree, career certificate and other eligibility documents
Korean language proficiency certificate

F-2-T1

Top Talent Residence – Family

Spouse and minor children of individuals qualifying under the Top Talent Residence (F-2-T) category.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Residence for the spouse and minor children of F-2-T holders recognized by the Minister of Justice.

Eligibility Requirements

•Spouse and minor children of professionals in cutting-edge fields recognized as likely to contribute significantly to Korea's national competitiveness

Required Documents

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Common documents (application form, photo, passport copy, proof of residence, fee)
Copy of primary holder's passport
Family relationship documents issued by home country government (marriage certificate, family register)

E-7-T

Top Talent Designated Activities

Individuals contracted to work in cutting-edge fields for domestic companies, recognized by the Minister of Justice for their expertise.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Specific activities in cutting-edge fields under contract with a Korean company, recognized by the Minister of Justice for professional knowledge or skills contributing to national competitiveness.

Eligibility Requirements

•Professionals in cutting-edge fields likely to contribute significantly to Korea's economic development and national competitiveness

Required Documents

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Common documents (application form, photo, passport copy, proof of residence, fee)
Employment contract, certificate of employment
Recommendation from relevant central administrative agency
Diploma/degree, career certificate and other eligibility documents
Korean language proficiency certificate

D-10-T

Top Talent Job-Seeking

Graduates of world-class universities seeking employment or training for domestic work.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Training or job-seeking activities for graduates of world-class universities intending to work in Korea.

Eligibility Requirements

•Graduates of world-class universities seeking training or employment in Korea

Required Documents

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Common documents (application form, photo, passport copy, proof of residence, fee)
Job-seeking activity plan
Graduation certificate from overseas prestigious university

F-5-T

Top Talent Permanent Residence

Individuals contracted to work in cutting-edge fields for domestic companies, recognized by the Minister of Justice for their expertise, seeking permanent residence.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Permanent residence for those contracted to work in cutting-edge fields for Korean companies, recognized by the Minister of Justice for professional expertise contributing to national competitiveness.

Eligibility Requirements

•Professionals in cutting-edge fields likely to contribute significantly to Korea's national competitiveness

Required Documents

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Common documents (application form, photo, passport copy, proof of residence, fee)
Employment contract, certificate of employment
Diploma/degree, career certificate and other eligibility documents
Korean language proficiency certificate

F-5-T1

Top Talent Permanent Residence – Family

Family members of permanent residents working in cutting-edge fields under contract with domestic companies.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Residence for family members of F-5-T permanent residents employed in cutting-edge fields.

Eligibility Requirements

•Spouse and minor children of F-5-T (Top Talent Permanent Residence) holders

Required Documents

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Common documents (application form, photo, passport copy, proof of residence, fee)
Primary holder's passport copy and alien registration card
Marriage certificate, birth certificate and other family relationship documents

C-4

Short-Term Employment Visa

Persons recognized by the Minister of Justice for short-term work in agriculture/fishery harvest processing (C-4-1~4) or short-term professional activities such as entertainment, advertising, lectures, and research (C-4-5).

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Short-term employment in agriculture/fishery sectors designated by the Minister of Justice, or short-term professional activities including entertainment, advertising, modeling, lectures, research, and technical guidance. Stay duration: up to 90 days.

Eligibility Requirements

•C-4-1~4: Seasonal agricultural/fishery work (refer to E-8 for details)
•C-4-5: Short-term employment other than seasonal work (entertainment, advertising, lectures, research, technical guidance)

Required Documents

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Visa application form, passport, 1 standard-size photo, fee
Employment contract
Employment recommendation from relevant ministry
Business registration and related documents

D-10

Job-Seeking Visa

General job-seeking (D-10-1) including short internships; technology startup preparation (D-10-2); high-tech internship (D-10-3) for cutting-edge technology fields.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

D-10-1: Job-seeking activities and paid short-term internships at Korean companies. D-10-2: Startup preparation including attending startup immigration programs and filing IP patents. D-10-3: Internship in cutting-edge technology fields under contract with companies qualifying under Ministry of Justice criteria. Stay duration: 6 months (extendable up to 4 times).

Eligibility Requirements

•Common documents: visa application, photo, passport copy, fee, ID copy
•Other required documents: job-seeking plan, degree certificate
•Work experience proof (career certificate with period, location, job type)
•Korean language proficiency (TOPIK within validity period or KIIP completion)
•High-income professional proof (prior year income certificate)

Required Documents

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Common documents: visa application, photo, passport copy, fee, ID copy
Required documents: job-seeking plan, bachelor's degree or higher (from Korean institution), TOPIK Level 4 score report, financial proof

E-1

Professor Visa

For qualified foreigners teaching or conducting research at junior colleges or higher education institutions.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Teaching or research guidance at junior colleges or equivalent institutions by qualified foreigners under the Higher Education Act. Includes academic institution professors, assistant professors and above, and special research professors. Stay duration: up to 5 years per grant.

Eligibility Requirements

•Full-time lecturers (assistant professors and above) appointed at junior colleges or universities
•Professors at academic institutions such as KAIST
•Special research professors at university-affiliated research institutes
•Persons with employment recommendation from the Ministry of Education for teaching/research at accredited institutions

Required Documents

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Visa issuance confirmation application
Passport
1 standard-size photo
Fee
Original + copy of employment contract (or appointment confirmation)
Career certificate with diploma copy
Business registration/research institution documents
Consent from previous employer (if applicable)

E-2

Language Instruction Visa

For qualified foreigners teaching foreign language conversation at language institutes, schools, broadcasting companies, or corporate language training centers.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Foreign language conversation instruction at language institutes, elementary schools and above, broadcasting companies, and corporate language training centers. Stay duration: up to 2 years per grant.

Eligibility Requirements

•Native speakers of the target language with a bachelor's degree or higher from their home country
•Persons with equivalent or higher qualifications
•Persons selected and recruited by the Ministry of Education or provincial education offices for elementary/middle/high schools
•English native speakers (US, UK, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland) with bachelor's degree

Required Documents

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Visa issuance confirmation application
Passport
1 standard-size photo
Officially verified academic credentials
Degree certificate
Government-issued criminal background check (from country of nationality)
Health self-declaration form
Employment contract (must meet minimum wage requirements)
Business registration documents for employer

E-3

Research Visa

For research in natural sciences, R&D in advanced industrial technology, social sciences, humanities, and arts at designated research institutions.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Research in natural sciences or advanced industrial technology R&D, social sciences, humanities, arts, and sports at government-funded research institutions, universities, or private research institutes. Stay duration: up to 5 years per grant.

Eligibility Requirements

•Researchers at institutions under the Specific Research Institute Promotion Act or relevant laws, in natural/social sciences, humanities, or arts
•Science and technology researchers at national defense research institutions
•Researchers contracted with government-funded labs, public/private research institutes, or corporate R&D centers in natural science or industrial technology
•Persons with employment recommendation from the Minister of Science and ICT for positions at STEM research institutions

Required Documents

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Visa issuance confirmation application, passport, 1 standard-size photo
Institution establishment documents (business registration or corporate register)
Master's degree or higher
Career certificate (if applicable)
Employment contract or appointment confirmation letter

E-4

Technology Transfer Visa

For experts providing specialized knowledge in natural sciences or advanced industrial technology to Korean public and private institutions.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Providing specialized knowledge in natural sciences or advanced industrial technology that is unavailable domestically, to Korean public and private institutions. Stay duration: up to 5 years per grant.

Eligibility Requirements

•Persons providing advanced industrial technology unavailable in Korea to domestic institutions
•Persons dispatched from foreign client companies to provide specialized technology
•Persons providing specialized technology introduced by domestic industries

Required Documents

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Visa issuance confirmation, passport, 1 standard-size photo
Institution establishment documents (business registration, foreign investment registration, branch permit, etc.)
Technology import contract approval, technology import contract, or defense contractor designation copy
Dispatch order (or certificate of employment)

E-5

Professional Visa

For foreigners holding government-recognized qualifications from their home country who are permitted under Korean law to engage in professional activities in those fields.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Professional activities permitted under Korean law for foreigners holding government-recognized qualifications from their home country. Stay duration: up to 5 years per grant.

Eligibility Requirements

•Pilots recommended by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport
•Physicians with cutting-edge medical skills, recommended by the Minister of Health and Welfare, working at specific medical institutions
•Doctors doing internship/residency at Korean medical university hospitals
•Persons approved for inter-Korean cooperation projects
•Essential professional personnel for cruise ship operation

Required Documents

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Visa application form, passport, 1 standard-size photo, fee
Letter of invitation
Diploma and qualifications/license copy
Employment recommendation from relevant central administrative agency head
Employment contract

E-6

Arts / Entertainment Visa

E-6-1: Profitable arts/entertainment (music, fine arts, literature, broadcasting, advertising, sports). E-6-2: Entertainment at hotels or adult entertainment venues. E-6-3: Professional athletes and sports-related personnel.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

E-6-1: Profitable artistic activities (music, arts, literature), professional broadcasting/performance, advertising/fashion modeling, sports. E-6-2: Performance or entertainment activities at hotel facilities or entertainment establishments under the Tourism Promotion Act. E-6-3: Professional athletes, coaches, managers in sports. Stay duration: up to 2 years per grant.

Eligibility Requirements

•Profitable artistic activities: music, fine arts, literature, directing, photography, orchestral performance
•Profitable entertainment activities: performance, concerts, theater, sports competitions, advertising, fashion modeling
•All forms of individual or group entertainment performance activities including accompanying staff (makeup artists, managers, etc.)

Required Documents

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For performances under the Performance Act: visa issuance confirmation, passport, photo, business registration, employment contract, performance committee recommendation (if required), performance plan
For hotel/entertainment venue performances: additional documents including career certificate (3+ years, apostilled)
For advertising models: additional business certificates, platform registration, activity plan, portfolio

E-7

Designated Activities Visa

E-7-1 (Professional): 67 professional/managerial job categories. E-7-2 (Semi-professional): 10 clerical/service job categories. E-7-3 (General skilled): 10 skilled trade categories. E-7-4 (Skilled labor): Point-based system, 3 specific job categories.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Employment in designated professional, semi-professional, skilled, or experienced-skilled job categories specified by the Minister of Justice. Stay duration: up to 3 years per grant.

Eligibility Requirements

•General requirements: master's degree or higher in related field; OR bachelor's degree + 1+ year experience; OR 5+ years of relevant work experience
•Special preferential requirements: 1+ year at Fortune 500 company; graduate of top global university; STEM graduate of domestic junior college or above

Required Documents

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Applicant documents: integrated application form, passport/ID, foreign occupation declaration, residence contract copy, photo, employment contract, qualification documents (degree, career certificate, qualifications)
Company documents: business registration, corporate register, employment necessity documents, invitation letter, employment plan, government employment recommendation (if required), creditworthiness proof

E-8

Seasonal Employment Visa

For persons recognized by the Minister of Justice to work in crop cultivation/harvesting and fishery primary processing sectors designated through consultation with relevant ministries.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Seasonal employment in crop cultivation, harvesting (including primary processing), and fishery primary processing. Stay duration: up to 5 months per grant (total stay not to exceed 8 months).

Eligibility Requirements

•E-8-1: Selected through MOU between Korean and foreign municipalities (agriculture)
•E-8-2: Recommended by marriage immigrants for relatives within 4th degree (agriculture)
•E-8-3: Selected through MOU between Korean and foreign municipalities (fisheries)
•E-8-4: Recommended by marriage immigrants for relatives within 4th degree (fisheries)
•E-8-5/6: Re-entry recommendation after G-1 seasonal work
•E-8-99: Language communication assistants and other auxiliary personnel

Required Documents

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Standard labor contract
Travel insurance certificate
Proof of domestic worker recruitment efforts
Foreign seasonal worker-related documents (passport copy)
MOU copy
Accommodation inspection documents

E-9

Non-Professional Employment Visa

Employment permit system allowing employers to hire foreign workers and allowing foreign workers to work for designated employers for up to 4 years and 10 months.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Employment Permit System: authorizes employers to hire designated foreign workers for up to 4 years and 10 months under specific conditions. Stay duration: up to 3 years per grant.

Eligibility Requirements

•Foreign workers meeting domestic employment requirements under the Act on Foreign Workers' Employment
•Eligible nationalities: Thailand, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, East Timor, Laos

Required Documents

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Criminal background check (issued by authorized home country authority, covering all criminal records, valid within 3 months of visa application date)
Health status confirmation (self-completed, reporting TB, hepatitis B, syphilis, drug use, mental illness history)
Visa issuance confirmation application, passport, 1 photo, business registration copy, employment permit and standard labor contract copy, workplace condition survey

E-10

Crew Employment Visa

For foreigners employed as domestic vessel crew (E-10-1), fishing vessel crew of 20+ tons (E-10-2), or cruise ship crew of 2,000+ tons (E-10-3).

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Employment as domestic coastal vessel crew, fishing vessel crew (20+ ton vessels), or coastal cruise ship crew (2,000+ ton vessels). Stay duration: up to 3 years per grant.

Eligibility Requirements

•E-10-1 (Coastal Crew): Employment on coastal passenger/cargo vessels under Maritime Act with 6+ month contract
•E-10-2 (Fishing Crew): Employment on fishing vessels (20+ tons) under Fisheries Act with 6+ month contract
•E-10-3 (Cruise Crew): Employment on cruise ships (2,000+ tons) under Cruise Industry Act with 6+ month contract

Required Documents

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Basic documents for each type: visa issuance confirmation, passport, business registration, 1 standard-size photo
Additional documents: standard labor contract copy, personal guaranty, foreign crew employment report approval, relevant operation permits, seafarer identification documents

F-2-R

Regional Specialized Visa

Designed to encourage foreign residents to settle in areas experiencing population decline, contributing to regional revitalization.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Encouraging foreign nationals to settle in population-declining regions designated by the Ministry of Justice, to support local economy and population growth through specialized regional industries, universities, and employment.

Eligibility Requirements

•Education/income (at least one required): 2-year college degree or higher from Korean institution; OR prior year income ≥ 70% of per capita GNI
•Residence: continuous residence in the recommended region
•Employment/startup: work or business in government-designated industry sectors within the recommended region; employment contract wage ≥ 70% of per capita GNI; or investment ≥ KRW 200M for startup
•Korean language: KIIP Stage 3+ or TOPIK Level 3+

Required Documents

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Integrated application form, passport, photo
Alien registration card
Academic credentials (degree/diploma/graduation/expected graduation certificate)
Income proof (official tax document)
Proof of residence (rental contract, property register, etc.)
Employment/startup documents
Overseas criminal background check
Korean language proficiency proof
Regional government recommendation letter (valid within 3 months)

H-1

Working Holiday Visa

For nationals of countries with working holiday agreements with Korea, primarily for tourism with incidental short-term employment to fund the trip.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Tourism as the primary purpose with incidental short-term work to fund travel expenses. Available to nationals of agreement countries. Stay duration: as specified in the bilateral agreement.

Eligibility Requirements

•Nationals of eligible countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, USA, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Italy, UK, Austria, Hungary, Israel, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Chile, Poland, Spain, Argentina)
•Must be 18–30 years old at time of visa application
•No serious criminal record
•Sufficient financial means for stay
•Tourism must be the primary purpose; work in E-1~E-7 fields is restricted; maximum 25 hours of work per week

Required Documents

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Visa application form, photo, passport, round-trip ticket (or deposit equivalent)
Bank balance or financial proof for at least 3 months of stay
Criminal background check, health certificate
Insurance certificate
Enrollment certificate or final academic credential
Working holiday activity plan

H-2

Working Visit Visa

For ethnic Koreans who previously held Korean nationality or their lineal descendants who have acquired foreign nationality, with relatives in Korea or meeting other qualifying conditions.

Work Permitted

Visa Purpose

Visiting and working in Korea for ethnic Koreans (foreign nationals who previously held Korean nationality, or their lineal descendants) with Korean relatives or other qualifying connections.

Eligibility Requirements

•Persons invited by a Korean national or F-5 holder who is a blood relative within 8th degree or in-law within 4th degree
•Persons qualifying under the Act on the Honor and Support of Persons of National Merit or the Act on the Honor and Support of Independence Activists
•Persons with special contributions to Korea or who promote Korea's national interests
•Parents and spouses of D-2 visa holders enrolled for at least one semester
•Persons who voluntarily departed for maintaining domestic immigration order

Required Documents

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Common documents: Korean language proficiency proof, overseas criminal background check
For relatives (연고동포): family relationship records, family register extracts, relative relationship documents
For non-relatives (무연고동포): official documents from nationality country proving ethnic Korean status
For returning after expiration: same documents as above plus health status confirmation