E-7 Eligibility
Based on 16 official sources.
[1]2026 E-7 wage-requirement standard
The MOJ notice dated 2025-12-29 publishes the 2026 wage-requirement standard for the Specific Activity (E-7) stay status, showing MOJ Public Notice 2025-406 and an attached PDF. It is an official operational basis for E-7 hiring, status-change, and extension checks. Actual amounts, occupation-specific exceptions, and transition rules must still be checked against the original attachment and latest operational guidance, so KARXY should show the source and checked date and route individual cases to administrative-scrivener review.
Source: 법무부 공지사항 · E-7 임금요건 2026 · Checked 2026-07-03
[2]D-2/D-4/D-10/E-7/F-2/F-5 requirement check policy
Stay-status evaluation depends on current status, target status, activity purpose, school/employment/income, remaining stay period, and violation history. D-2 covers degree study, D-4 training/language programs, D-10 job seeking or startup preparation, E-7 professional/specific activities, F-2 residence, and F-5 permanent residence. If facts are missing, ask for current status, expiry date, school or employment conditions, and budget/financial proof before answering.
Source: 하이코리아 체류자격별 통합 안내 매뉴얼 · Checked 2026-07-02
[3]Korea Visa Portal visa-type list
The Korea Visa Portal visa-type list is operational guidance run by the Ministry of Justice. As checked on 2026-07-03, Study·Language Training includes D-2-1, D-2-2, D-2-3, D-2-4, D-2-5, D-2-6, D-4-1, D-4-3, and D-4-7; Professional includes D-10-1, D-10-2, and E-7-1. Legal stay-status conclusions must prioritize the Immigration Act, Enforcement Decree, and Enforcement Rule; the portal is used to confirm labels, categories, and application routes.
Source: Korea Visa Portal · Visa Types · Checked 2026-07-03
[4]KIIP for stay permission, permanent residence, and nationality
MOJ KIIP guidance says eligible participants include foreign residents seeking stay statuses such as permanent residence or nationality, and people within three years after acquiring Korean nationality. Benefits include points for stay, permanent-residence, or nationality applications, and possible exemption from the naturalization test. The curriculum includes Korean language and culture levels 0-4 plus Understanding Korean Society; the latter is shown as 70 hours for permanent residence and 100 hours for nationality. Applicants register through Socinet and level placement; the pre-test is handled through the KIIP test site with a 38,000 KRW fee. F-2/F-5, E-7-4, naturalization, and point-based consultations must verify the completion level, pre-test status, and current proof.
Source: 법무부 주요제도 · 사회통합프로그램 · Checked 2026-07-03
[5]Permanent residence (F-5) scope under the Enforcement Decree
Table 1-3 linked to Article 12-2 of the Enforcement Decree defines who fits Permanent Residence (F-5). As checked on 2026-07-02, a person must first not fall under Immigration Act Article 46(1) deportation grounds and must satisfy one of the listed eligibility paths. Examples include adults who have stayed for at least five years under D-7 through E-7 or F-2, and spouses or minor children of Korean nationals or F-5 holders after a required stay period. F-5 advice must also check conduct, livelihood, basic knowledge, criminal and stay history, notices, and detailed guidance.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 시행령 별표 1의3 · Checked 2026-07-02
[6]MOJ foreigner stay-management policy
The MOJ foreigner stay-management page explains the policy background for e-visas, international-student management, labor-demand-based immigration policy, seasonal workers, and the skilled-worker points visa (E-7-4). As checked on 2026-07-03, MOJ describes e-visa application through the Visa Portal, encourages students to choose institutions with strong programs and support systems, and notes 2024 additions to certain E-7 professional/skilled occupations such as aircraft-parts manufacturing, care work, and power-transmission electrical work. This page is a supporting source for policy direction and program relationships, not a substitute for detailed filing requirements.
Source: 법무부 이민정책 · 외국인 체류관리 · Checked 2026-07-03
[7]Legal basis for change-of-status permission
Immigration Act Article 24 requires a foreign national staying in Korea to obtain change-of-status permission in advance, as prescribed by Presidential Decree, before engaging in activities under a status different from the current one. A person who was in one of the Article 31(1) exempt categories and changes identity must obtain change permission within 30 days from that change. The review criteria are set by Ministry of Justice rules, so KARXY should check whether the new activity has started, whether the current activity stopped, whether domestic change is available for the target status, and the Enforcement Decree tables, Enforcement Rule attachments, and HiKorea guidance.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 제24조 · Checked 2026-07-02
[8]Visa types and certificate for confirmation of visa issuance
Immigration Act Article 8 distinguishes single-entry visas from multiple-entry visas and delegates visa issuance criteria and procedures to Ministry of Justice rules. Article 9 allows a certificate for confirmation of visa issuance to be issued before visa issuance when the Minister of Justice considers it necessary, based on the foreign national's application, and the person intending to invite that foreign national may apply on their behalf. For D-2/D-4 admissions, E-7 employment, E-8 seasonal work, F-6 invitations, or other sponsor-driven matters, KARXY should check whether a certificate route applies, whether the inviter can apply on behalf of the applicant, the overseas mission visa step, and Enforcement Rule attachments.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 제8조·제9조 · Checked 2026-07-02
[9]Workplace change or addition permission and reporting
Article 21 states that a foreign national changing or adding a workplace within the scope of the stay status generally must obtain permission in advance. A person with professional knowledge, technology, or skills as prescribed by Presidential Decree may instead fall under a report-within-15-days structure after the change or addition. Employing or brokering a foreign national who lacks the required workplace permission or report is also prohibited. KARXY should check the current designated workplace, new contract start date, whether the case is permission or reporting, and employer or broker risk.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 제21조 · Checked 2026-07-02
[10]Short-term and long-term ordinary stay statuses
Article 10-2 divides ordinary stay status into short-term and long-term status. Short-term status covers tourism, visits, and similar purposes for, in principle, 90 days or less. Long-term status covers study, training, investment, assignment, marriage, and similar purposes for more than 90 days within the maximum stay period set by Ministry of Justice rules. KARXY should separate C-3 short-term questions from D-2, D-4, D-10, E-7, and F-2 long-term questions, then check the 90-day threshold, activity purpose, and applicable Enforcement Decree table.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 제10조의2 · Checked 2026-07-02
[11]Employer reporting duty within 15 days
Immigration Act Article 19 creates an employer reporting duty when specified events occur for a foreign national who holds a stay status permitting employment. Contract termination, resignation, death, inability to locate the worker, or material employment-contract changes can create employer reporting risk separate from the worker's own workplace-change or stay-status issue. For E-7 and other work-status consultations, KARXY should check the employer's reporting deadline, event date, resignation date, new workplace start date, and changed contract terms.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 제19조 · Checked 2026-07-02
[12]Long-term stay-status classifications under the Enforcement Decree
The Enforcement Decree table linked to Article 12 defines long-term stay statuses by eligible person or activity scope. D-2 covers degree study or specific research at higher-education or research institutions; D-4 covers training, education, or research under Ministry of Justice conditions; D-10 covers job seeking/training for E-series fields or startup preparation; E-7 covers activities specially designated by the Minister of Justice under contract. F-2 and F-5 require separate residence/permanent-residence criteria.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 시행령 · Checked 2026-07-02
[13]Skilled worker points-based visa
The MOJ policy-service page on the skilled-worker points-based visa is operational guidance for E-9, E-10, H-2 and similar non-professional workers seeking conversion to skilled-worker status. It highlights stay/work history, period relief through social-integration completion, exclusions for fines, tax arrears, immigration violations or illegal stay, and general/special conversion quotas. Actual E-7-4 eligibility needs the score table, industry and workplace rules, latest quota, and competent-office guidance.
Source: 법무부 정책서비스 · 숙련기능인력 점수제 비자 · Checked 2026-07-03
[14]HiKorea integrated stay-status manual
HiKorea publishes an integrated manual by stay status for visa and residence petitions, covering applicant scope and required documents. The manual is updated when rules change, but publication can lag, so current case advice should be checked through 1345 or the competent immigration office. KARXY checks the Immigration Act, Enforcement Decree, and Enforcement Rule first, then uses this manual as operational document/procedure guidance.
Source: 하이코리아 체류자격별 통합 안내 매뉴얼 · Checked 2026-07-02
[15]Core rule: stay status and permitted activity scope
Under the Immigration Act system, a foreign national must hold a stay status and act only within the permitted status and period. Codes like D-2, D-4, D-10, E-7, F-2, and F-5 are not mere labels; they define the starting point for permitted activities and stay management. Answers must first identify current status, target activity, expiry date, and registration status.
Source: 국가법령정보센터 · 출입국관리법 · Checked 2026-07-02
[16]HiKorea status-change guidance
If the applicant stops the current status activity and begins an activity under another status, change-of-status permission is required. HiKorea states the default principle is to depart, obtain the appropriate visa, and re-enter; domestic change is limited and strictly reviewed when requirements can be met in Korea. Permission must be obtained before starting the new activity.
Source: 하이코리아 체류자격변경 안내 · Checked 2026-07-02
How these rules apply can differ with your circumstances, and the final decision rests with the immigration office with jurisdiction. Preparing and filing documents for an individual case is the work of a licensed administrative scrivener.