Visa Info


2025.06.25 00:34

E-9 Visa (2025-05-27) [For Foreigners Staying in Korea]

  • admin 9 days ago 2025.06.25 00:34
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[For Foreigners Staying in Korea]

Non-Professional Employment E-9 Visa

Implemented in August 2004 - MOUs signed with 17 countries, operated under the Employment Permit System (EPS) for foreign workers.

1. Eligible Applicants and Employment Requirements

Category Details
Workplace Requirements • Small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 300 regular employees (based on employment insurance) OR capital of 8 billion KRW or less.
• Mid-sized companies in the manufacturing sector that support the core industries (as defined in Article 2, Section 3, Paragraph b of the Act on the Promotion and Advancement of the Manufacturing Support Industry) + whose head office or main office is located outside the Seoul metropolitan area are permitted for manufacturing employment.
Selected Countries (17) Thailand · Philippines · Sri Lanka · Vietnam · Indonesia · Mongolia · Pakistan · Uzbekistan · Cambodia · China · Bangladesh · Nepal · Myanmar · Kyrgyzstan · East Timor · Laos · Tajikistan
Foreign Worker Requirements • Meet domestic employment requirements, such as passing the EPS test.
• No separate asset requirements.

1-1. Scope of Activities

  • Agriculture (01): Crop farming (011), Livestock farming (012), Crop and livestock support services (014)

  • Forestry (02): Forestry (0201), Logging (0202), Forestry support services (0204)

  • Fisheries (03): Coastal and offshore fishing (03112), Aquaculture (0321)

  • Mining (05-08): Metal and non-metal mining, mining support services, etc. (excluding coal, crude oil, and gas extraction)

  • Manufacturing (10-34): All sectors for small and medium-sized enterprises OR mid-sized companies in the manufacturing sector supporting core industries outside the Seoul metropolitan area.

  • Construction (41-42): All sectors (excluding construction of industrial and environmental facilities for power plants, steelworks, and petrochemical processes)

Water supply, sewerage, waste management (36, 39), automotive and parts sales (45), some land, water, and air transport/warehousing (49-52), some publishing, telecommunications, and IT (58, 61-63), finance and insurance (64-66), real estate (68), some professional and technical services (69-72), business facility management and some workforce supply (74, 751), public administration (84), education (85), international and foreign organizations (99), etc.

*️⃣ Simple Labor Occupations: Agricultural, forestry, and fishery simple laborers, loading and unloading workers, building cleaners, security guards, gas station attendants, store organizers, etc.
⛔ Employment Restriction Examples: Skin and foot care specialists, bath attendants, wedding attendants, golf caddies, karaoke and liquor service workers, street vendors, and mobile salespersons.

2. Period of Stay and Extension

Category Period / Requirements
Initial Grant Up to 3 years upon proof of Korean language proficiency (1 year if not submitted)
Total Stay Limit 4 years and 10 months
Additional Extension Workers completing 3 years → Re-employment by employer + Certificate of Extension of Work Period for Those Whose Work Period Has Expired → Up to 1 year and 10 months
Job Seeking Application Exception Extension within 90 days from the issuance date of the job search registration certificate (if the stay expiration date is earlier)
Extension by Discretion (Special) In cases of infectious diseases, natural disasters, etc. → Up to a maximum of 6 years

3. Application, Issuance, and Extension Documents

3-1. Alien Registration (for stays of 90 days or more)

Required Documents Remarks
Application Form (Form No. 34)
Original Passport
1 Standard Size Photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm, taken within the last 6 months)
Fee: 30,000 KRW
Copy of Business Registration Certificate Employing workplace
Drug Test Result Certificate Designated hospital, submitted sealed within 3 months
Medical Certificate Designated hospital, submitted sealed
Proof of enrollment in Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance or Personal Accident Insurance
Documents proving residency Lease agreement, accommodation provision certificate, etc.
Completion of Basic Law and Order Education Mandatory upon registration

3-2. Extension of Stay

Basic Documents Remarks
Application Form (Form No. 34), Passport, Alien Registration Card
Fee
Copy of Employment Permit & Copy of Standard Employment Contract
Copy of Business Registration Certificate
Documents proving residency
Certificate of Extension of Work Period for Those Whose Work Period Has Expired For 1 year and 10 months extension
Letter of Guarantee (Employer)

4. Change of Workplace / Employment Status Reporting

Item Key Details
Permitted Reasons for Change Closure of business, unpaid wages, industrial accidents, etc., where there is no fault of the worker.
Number of Changes Allowed 3 times within 3 years of entry, 2 times within the re-employment extension period (reasons not attributable to the worker are not counted towards the limit).
Exception for Construction Industry Transfer between companies at the same original contractor's site → Not counted towards the limit.
Reporting Deadline Report to the competent immigration office within 15 days from the date of becoming aware of the change.
(Form No. 32, copy of registration card, business registration certificate, etc.)

5. Employer and Worker Obligations, etc.

  • Adherence to minimum wage and total wages – hourly wage, monthly salary, and working hours must be specified in the employment contract.

  • Review of protection of national employment (no exceptions for specific occupations) → Partial exemptions for part-time workers and graduates of government-sponsored scholarship programs.

  • Obligation to subscribe to Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance and Personal Accident Insurance, provide safety education, and manage working conditions.

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. What industries are available for E-9?
Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Mining, Manufacturing, Construction + permitted service industries (excluding finance, insurance, education, etc.).

Q2. What is the maximum period of stay?
Initial 3 years + additional 1 year and 10 months → 4 years and 10 months; up to 6 years with special extension.

Q3. Can I change my workplace?
Generally restricted. Possible up to 3+2 times for reasons not attributable to the worker, such as business closure.

Q4. What documents are required for extension?
Application form, passport/registration card, employment permit, standard employment contract, business registration certificate, residency documents, (if applicable) extension certificate.

Q5. What are the mandatory procedures after entry?
Alien registration within 90 days + drug test and medical certificate (sealed) + basic law and order education.

Q6. Can I change to another visa status?
Generally restricted. Conversion to specific statuses, such as skilled worker E-7-4, is possible if separate requirements are met.

7. List of 17 Selected Countries (in Korean alphabetical order)

Nepal · East Timor · Laos · Mongolia · Myanmar · Bangladesh · Vietnam · Sri Lanka · China · Uzbekistan · Indonesia · Kyrgyzstan · Tajikistan · Thailand · Pakistan · Philippines · Cambodia

(※ Based on the 『Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers, etc.』 and the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Employment and Labor 2025 Guidelines)

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