D-2 to E-7: The Visa Conversion Roadmap Foreign Graduates Actually Need

Only 33.4% of job-eligible foreign graduates found work in Korea in 2024, compared with 69.5% of Korean graduates. The system is difficult, but it is learnable. This guide gives you the exact process: which visa track applies to you, what the employer must do, and what to try when E-7 sponsorship is not possible.

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Which track are you on?

Everything in the D-2-to-employment process splits into two tracks at graduation.

Track 1: Job offer secured before your D-2 expires. Apply for E-7 (특정활동비자, teukjeong hwalttong bija) directly. You do not need D-10 as an intermediate step. Go to the E-7 application process section of this guide.

Track 2: No job offer yet. Apply for D-10 (구직비자, gujik bija) before your D-2 expires. The remaining D-2 validity after graduation is short, so confirm your exact deadline at 1345 and file the D-10 change within that window. Korean university graduates have more room: under the new-graduate exemption track, you can convert to D-10 within 3 years of graduation. D-10 gives you legal status while you continue your job search. When you have a job offer on D-10, you apply for an E-7 status change.

Both tracks end at E-7 (or an alternative exit). The difference is only whether you pass through D-10 first.

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Working during your D-2 studies

Before graduation, D-2 (유학비자, yukhak bija) holders can work part-time with a part-time work permit (시간제취업허가, siganjetchwi-eopheo-ga). Working without this permit is illegal employment and can result in deportation and future entry bans. If you move to a different employer, you need a new permit before you start.

Two-step approval

1. Your university's international office approves the application (submit through your university's system).
2. Your local immigration office approves it (via HiKorea at hikorea.go.kr or in person).

Hour limits by student level

The table below follows the Ministry of Justice rules as published on Easy Law (생활법령정보, current as of September 15, 2026). The Korean level can be shown with TOPIK, or with the matching Social Integration Program (사회통합프로그램, KIIP) or King Sejong Institute level. Confirm your own limit with the Korea Immigration Service at 1345.

If you do not meet the Korean level, the official table gives only a weekday figure and no unlimited weekend or vacation hours. Students who meet the Korean level and study at a certified university (인증대학), or qualify for the table's grades or Korean bonus, get 5 more weekday hours (30, or 35 for master's and PhD). Master's and PhD students who have finished coursework and are writing a thesis may be allowed up to 30 hours a week, without the unlimited weekend and vacation rule.

Degree students on D-2 can apply as soon as they start; the official table lists no waiting period. Immigration can refuse the permit if your previous-semester GPA is below 2.0 (C average) and it judges that you cannot combine study and work.

What you can work on D-2

Permitted industries include interpretation, translation, restaurant assistance, office support, duty-free shop sales, tour guide assistance, and internships related to your major. Manufacturing work requires TOPIK Level 4 or KIIP Level 4. Delivery, courier, and door-to-door sales are prohibited.

The TOPIK 4 advantage: your highest-value move before graduation

Passing TOPIK Level 4 before graduation gives you:

• D-10 points test exemption: Korean university graduates with TOPIK 4 do not need to score on the 190-point D-10 system for up to 3 years after graduating. (Your first change from D-2 to D-10 is exempt even without TOPIK 4.)
• D-10 financial proof exemption: In the same cases, you do not need to show 6,888,996 KRW (2025 figure, updates annually) in your bank account.
• Higher part-time work hours: TOPIK 4 meets the Korean level required for the full weekday cap (25 hours for Year 3-4 undergraduates, 30 hours for master's and PhD students) and the "no limit" weekend and vacation cap. Year 1-2 undergraduates need TOPIK 3.
• Employer signaling: Korean employers treat TOPIK 4 as a credible marker of workplace communication ability.

If you are in Year 2 or 3 of your undergraduate studies, sitting for TOPIK before graduation is the single most effective preparation step you can take.

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D-10: the job seeker visa

What D-10 is and is not

D-10 is a legal-stay visa. It is not a work visa. You can participate in approved internships. You cannot take general salaried employment. Working a regular job on D-10 is unauthorized employment and will affect all future Korean visa applications.

Who qualifies for D-10-1

Fast track (no points, no financial proof required):

• Korean university graduates (associate degree or higher) changing from D-2 to D-10 for the first time. This first D-10 grant is 1 year, and extensions use the points test.
• Korean university graduates within 3 years of graduating who hold TOPIK Level 4 or above (or have passed the KIIP stage 4 interim test)
• Young people aged 29 or under with a bachelor's degree or higher from a THE or QS top-200 university (ranked within the last 3 years), or a Korean studies graduate with TOPIK Level 6
• Foreign residents raised in Korea: aged 18 to 24 and graduated from Korean elementary, middle, and high schools
• A few other groups also skip the points test, including former E-1 to E-7 workers whose job ended, care-worker trainees with a nursing-home internship contract, and interns at foreign embassies in Korea; ask 1345 if one applies to you

Points track (for everyone else):

You need a minimum of 60 out of 190 points. Points come from age (up to 20 points), education (up to 30 points), Korean work experience (up to 15 points), and bonus categories including top university attendance, engineering degree, and prior high income. If you are on the points track and not exempt from financial proof, you must show 6,888,996 KRW in your bank account in a certificate issued within one week of application (2025 figure, this updates annually with the 1-person household living allowance; verify the current 2026 figure at 1345 or hikorea.go.kr before applying).

Financial proof is also waived for first-time D-2 graduates. If you graduated from a Korean university with an associate degree or higher and are changing from D-2 to D-10 for the first time, you do not need to show the bank balance, even without TOPIK 4.

Important nuance on D-10 maximum stay:

The 3-year maximum is tier-based, not automatic for everyone. Higher-tier applicants reach the full 3 years: Korean university graduates with TOPIK Level 4 or above, applicants scoring 80 or more on the points test, and graduates of QS or U.S. News top-200 universities. Lower-tier applicants who score 60 to 79 points typically receive 1 year, issued as two 6-month renewals. Separately, if you previously held a professional visa (E-1 through E-7) and lost your job, your D-10 maximum stay under the pre-existing rule is 1 year, not 3.

D-10 duration after the October 29, 2025 reform

The Ministry of Justice reformed D-10 rules effective October 29, 2025, confirmed by the official MoJ press release dated October 27, 2025.

When to apply for D-10

Apply before your D-2 expires. The remaining D-2 validity after graduation is short, so confirm your exact deadline at 1345 and file the D-10 change within that window. Korean university graduates can use the new-graduate exemption track within 3 years of graduation.

Apply at your local immigration office via an appointment booked through HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr), or in person. The D-10 application fee is set at HiKorea, plus the ARC update fee; verify the current amounts at hikorea.go.kr before applying.

Your Employment Seeking Plan matters

The Employment Seeking Plan (구직활동계획서, gujik hwalttong gyehoek-seo) is required for your D-10 application and for any extensions. It must be specific: list actual companies you are targeting, job fairs you will attend, and realistic timelines. "I will look for a job in Seoul" is the kind of vague plan that triggers processing delays and follow-up requests. "I will apply to the KOTRA Global Talent Fair on June 1-2, 2026, targeting R&D and engineering roles at companies X, Y, and Z" is the level of specificity required.

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E-7: the skilled professional visa

Overview of E-7 sub-categories

E-7 covers an officially designated list of occupation codes across four sub-categories. The list is updated periodically, so confirm the current codes at HiKorea. For most D-2 graduates, E-7-1 is the relevant track.

E-7-4 is the fastest-growing sub-category by volume, but it is not a path for D-2 graduates. It requires 4 or more years of stay on an E-9, E-10, or H-2 visa within the last 10 years.

The official occupation-code list is updated periodically, and the E-7-2 and E-7-3 counts in particular have been under expansion through 2026. Confirm the current count and your specific code against the official MoJ list at HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) before relying on any single figure.

E-7-1 eligibility (must meet one)

• Master's degree or higher in a field related to the occupation
• Bachelor's degree plus 1 year of post-graduation work experience in the field
• 5 or more years of work experience in the field (no degree required)
• Annual income above approximately 149,865,000 KRW (3 times the 2024 GNI per capita of 49,955,000 KRW): waives education and experience requirements

The reference figure is the 2024 GNI per capita (49,955,000 KRW), which immigration applies from April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. The GNI reference updates every year: each April, the figure moves to the prior year's GNI as published by the Bank of Korea in March. So the 3×GNI exemption math sits at approximately 149,865,000 KRW for this cycle, and it will shift when the next year's figure takes effect. Verify the current applicable figure at HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or with 1345 before relying on the exact amount.

Korean university graduates may waive the experience requirement for certain occupation codes. Specific conditions vary by code.

E-7-1 salary threshold (2026)

The threshold changed from a GNI-percentage model to a fixed KRW amount in April 2025.

The 2026 figure is what applies to most readers of this guide (as of April 2026, verify at HiKorea or with 1345 before submitting).

The salary reality check: 31,120,000 KRW/year is approximately 2,593,000 KRW/month. Tech companies in Seoul often pay above this for entry-level engineering roles. Many Korean SMEs pay below it. If an employer offers you a role but the stated salary falls below the threshold, the E-7-1 application cannot proceed. The Ministry of Justice sets the figure on a pre-tax annual salary basis. If your offer leans on variable pay like performance bonuses or commissions rather than guaranteed base salary, confirm with 1345 how immigration will count it before you sign.

E-7-2 and E-7-3 salary thresholds (2026)

Occupations requiring ministry recommendation letters

16 specific E-7 occupations require a government ministry recommendation letter (고용추천서, gogyong chucheon-seo) before the immigration application. Start this process 1 to 3 weeks before submitting your main application. Examples:

• International sales representatives: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) or KOTRA
• Technology management experts: KOTRA
• Medical coordinators (E-7-2): Ministry of Health and Welfare
• Travel product developers: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
• Hotel receptionists (E-7-2): Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
• Financial experts (5+ years, no degree): Financial Services Commission

High-income applicants (annual salary at or above approximately 149,865,000 KRW, 3 times the 2024 GNI per capita) may qualify for the E-7-S high-income track, which carries different documentation requirements. Verify with 1345 whether your specific occupation still requires the ministry recommendation.

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The E-7 application process: step by step

Step 1: Confirm the occupation code match

The employer's job description must map to an official E-7 occupation code. This is the step most commonly skipped and the most common cause of rejection. Check the current occupation code list at HiKorea (the official e-government immigration portal, hikorea.go.kr) or immigration.go.kr. Any third-party list should be cross-checked against the official MoJ version.

Common mismatches: "general business analyst," "admin manager," and "content creator" are often not listed or require experience levels entry-level candidates do not have. Confirm the code before the employer drafts any documents.

Step 2: Employer writes the hiring justification letter

The hiring justification letter (고용사유서, gogyong sayo-seo) must explain:

• Why a Korean national could not fill this role
• What specific skills the foreign candidate brings
• How the occupation matches the company's core business

Minimum 1 to 2 pages. A letter that says "we need this person because they are skilled" will be rejected. The letter must be specific to the individual and the role.

Step 3: Get ministry recommendation letter (if required)

If your occupation is among the 16 that require it, the employer initiates this with the relevant ministry. Timeline: 1 to 3 weeks. Do not wait until after the main documents are assembled.

Step 4: Gather applicant documents

• Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity remaining)
• Unified visa application form (available at hikorea.go.kr)
• Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증)
• 1 passport-size photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm, white background, taken within 6 months)
• Highest academic degree certificate and transcript (apostilled or consular-notarized if obtained abroad, translated into Korean or English)
• Work experience certificates (apostilled if issued by a foreign institution)
• Criminal record certificate from Korea (Korean National Police Agency) and your home country
• Occupation-specific proof: professional licenses, portfolios, or certifications relevant to your E-7 code

Apostille note: If your degree is from outside Korea, factor in apostille processing time from your home country. This can take 1 to 4 months depending on the country. Do not leave this to the last week.

Step 5: Employer assembles their documents

• Business registration certificate (사업자등록증, saeopja dungnokjeung)
• Employment contract stating the job title, occupation code, and annual salary in KRW (guaranteed fixed components only)
• Corporate income tax return and financial statements
• National and local tax payment certificates proving no unpaid taxes
• Health and employment insurance member list
• Hiring justification letter
• Ministry recommendation letter (if applicable)

There is no minimum employee headcount for E-7-1 sponsorship. A company with 2 or 3 people can sponsor. This is a common misconception. Ratio caps apply to E-7-2, E-7-3, and E-7-4, not E-7-1.

Step 6: Submit the status change application

In-country applicants submit at their local immigration office or via HiKorea online. The status change permit fee is 100,000 KRW (paid as a government revenue stamp). This is separate from the Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) reissuance fee in Step 7.

During processing, your current legal status is maintained automatically. You can remain in Korea. You cannot begin work until the E-7 is issued and your ARC is updated.

Step 7: Receive approval and update ARC

Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) reissuance fee: 35,000 KRW (cash only). This is separate from the 100,000 KRW status change permit fee in Step 6, so budget 135,000 KRW total. E-7 maximum initial validity: 3 years.

Track your application at hikorea.go.kr under MyPage. The status label "심사 중" (under review) for more than 3 weeks is worth following up by calling 1345 with your application receipt number.

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How to talk to your employer about E-7

According to a NOVAsia analysis of KITA and Saramin survey data, nearly half of Korean firms do not fully understand E-7 eligibility rules, and one-third report difficulty with the process. The person across the desk from you may know less about this visa than you do after reading this guide.

That is not a reason to give up on sponsorship. It is a reason to arrive at the conversation prepared.

What to bring to the conversation

A plain-language explanation of what the employer must do:

"To sponsor me for E-7, your company needs to confirm that my role matches one of the official E-7 occupation codes, write a 1-to-2-page hiring justification letter explaining why a Korean national could not fill the role, and submit your business registration, tax certificates, employment contract, and insurance records with my application. There is no minimum employee count for E-7-1. The application takes several weeks to process."

The occupation code. Look up the code for your role before the meeting and bring it. The MoJ occupation code list is available through hikorea.go.kr. Tell the employer: "My role matches code [X]. Here is the official description."

A document checklist. Print or share the employer document list from Step 5 above. Employers who have never sponsored E-7 often do not know what they need to gather.

A timeline. Build backward from your D-10 expiry or graduation date. "My D-10 expires on [date]. To stay legal, we need to submit by [date]. That means you need to have the documents ready by [date]."

Employers that regularly sponsor E-7-1

Based on documented hiring patterns:

• Technology and software companies (Naver, Kakao, gaming studios)
• Biotech, pharmaceutical, and R&D companies
• Export-oriented smaller manufacturers needing foreign-language capabilities (international sales, occupation code 2742)
• MNC Korea offices
• Hotel and hospitality groups (for E-7-2)

Large chaebols (Samsung, Hyundai, LG) rarely sponsor entry-level foreign graduates through E-7. Their Korean-language aptitude tests function as effective gatekeepers. Traditional manufacturing SMEs hire foreign workers on E-9 or H-2, not E-7.

To search for employers with E-7 experience, use Seoulstart Jobs (disclosure: this is us; every listing shows the visa-tier match on the card), KOWORK (kowork.kr/en), and KOTRA Contact Korea (kotra.or.kr/ck_eng). See the Korean job platforms guide for a full comparison. Before finalizing any employer, asking "have you sponsored E-7 visas before?" is legitimate due diligence.

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The F-2-7 parallel strategy

F-2-7 (점수제 우수인력 거주비자, jeomsuje usu inryeok geojubija) is a points-based residence visa that requires no employer sponsor. F-2-7 holders can work for any employer, including self-employment. Holding F-2-7 can open a path to F-5 permanent residency after several years; the exact qualifying period and conditions are set in the Immigration Control Act enforcement decree, so verify your specific path at immigration.go.kr or with 1345.

Many D-2 graduates pursue E-7 and F-2-7 simultaneously. This is the right approach if you have strong points.

F-2-7 at a glance

Points come from: age, education level, income, TOPIK score, Korean university graduation bonus, QS top-500 university bonus, engineering degree, and global company experience.

A Korean university graduate with TOPIK 5 or 6, some post-graduation income, and an engineering or business degree often reaches the commonly cited 80-point pass mark. Confirm the current threshold and score bands on the HiKorea F-2-7 points table before relying on a specific number. You can apply for F-2-7 from D-10 without having held E-7 first.

For the F-2-7 to F-5 path and a readiness check, see the F-4, F-5, and F-6 work rights guide and the F-5 Readiness Checker at /tools/f5-readiness.

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The Top-Tier Visa: context for the few who qualify

The Top-Tier Visa (탑티어 비자, tabttieo bija) was announced March 5, 2025 and took effect April 2, 2025. It is not the path for most D-2 graduates. It is documented here so readers who do qualify understand what exists.

Sub-types:

• D-10-T (Top-Tier Job Seeker): For recent graduates of globally top-100 universities in advanced technology sectors. The Ministry of Justice specifies top-100 standing; reporting indicates the designated rankings are QS and U.S. News rather than Times Higher Education, so confirm which ranking applies at immigration.go.kr or with 1345. Provides a 2-year legal stay to find employment in Korea without a prior job offer. The required degree level for D-10-T is not published clearly in English-language sources; confirm with immigration.go.kr or 1345 whether a bachelor's degree qualifies or whether a Master's or higher is needed, as it is for the E-7-T employment track.
• E-7-T (Top-Tier Employment): For professionals already hired by a Korean advanced tech company. Requirements: Master's or doctoral degree from a top-100 university, 8 years of experience (including 3 years at a Fortune 500 company), and annual income of approximately 149,865,000 KRW (3 times the 2024 GNI per capita).
• F-2-T (Top-Tier Residency): Grants F-2 long-term residency immediately, with F-5 permanent residency available after 3 years.

Covered sectors: Semiconductors, displays, secondary batteries, biotechnology, robotics, and defense industries. Reported expansions in April 2026 add STEM professors and researchers; verify current sector coverage at immigration.go.kr or by calling 1345 before relying on this.

Who this realistically applies to: D-10-T is accessible to recent graduates of qualifying top-100 universities even without a job offer. E-7-T requires 8 years of experience and Fortune 500 background, well beyond what most graduates possess. If you graduated from a top-100 university and are targeting AI, semiconductors, biotech, or robotics, D-10-T may give you a longer legal runway to find a Korean employer.

Note: The specific list of qualifying universities is not published in English-language sources. The official Ministry of Justice notice specifies top-100 standing without naming the ranking systems in its public English materials; reporting indicates the designated rankings are QS World University Rankings and U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings. Verify which ranking applies and your institution's eligibility directly with immigration.go.kr or by calling 1345 before assuming you qualify.

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The 10 mistakes that cost foreign graduates their E-7 application

1. Starting the job search too late. Korean hiring cycles run in spring (March to April) and fall (September to October). Begin your job search 6 to 12 months before graduation to hit both cycles.

2. Skipping TOPIK before graduation. Your first change from D-2 to D-10 is exempt from the points test and financial proof, but that first grant is 1 year and extensions use the points test. TOPIK Level 4 keeps you exempt for up to 3 years after graduation. Without either exemption, you must score 60 points and show 6,888,996 KRW in your bank account. TOPIK tests are held three times a year.

3. Targeting roles outside E-7 occupation codes. If the role does not appear in the official code list, the employer cannot sponsor you for it. Check the code before applying.

4. Misunderstanding the salary threshold. 31,120,000 KRW/year, pre-tax, for 2026. If the offer leans on variable pay like bonuses rather than guaranteed base salary, confirm with 1345 how immigration counts your package. If the qualifying amount falls below this figure, the application cannot proceed.

5. Accepting vague promises from employers. Ask directly: "Have you sponsored E-7 visas before?" An employer who has never processed E-7 may agree to sponsor and then fail to produce adequate documents. Delays and denials from poorly written justification letters are common.

6. Confusing D-10 with a work visa. D-10 is not a work visa. It allows approved internships, and some D-10-1 holders can get a separate part-time work permit. Starting salaried employment on D-10 without permission is unauthorized work. Do not begin full-time work until your ARC shows E-7.

7. Continuing D-2 part-time work after graduation. Your D-2 part-time work permit ends with your student status. On D-10-1, part-time work needs its own permit. You need a Korean degree from less than 3 years ago, TOPIK Level 4 or KIIP stage 4, and no past E-1 to E-7 status, and the permit fee is ₩120,000. Manufacturing jobs need KIIP stage 4; TOPIK does not count for them. Working without the right permit is illegal employment and creates a record that affects all future applications.

8. Applying for the wrong E-7 sub-category. Your degree and job description determine your sub-category. You cannot apply under E-7-2 to avoid the higher E-7-1 salary threshold. Mismatched applications are rejected.

9. Not considering F-2-7 at the same time. Many candidates exhaust time chasing E-7 sponsors without knowing that F-2-7 exists and may already be within reach on their current points.

10. Underestimating apostille processing time. Foreign-issued degree documents require apostille certification. Depending on your home country, this can take 1 to 4 months. Build this into your timeline from the moment you start your job search.

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Where to prepare your Korean resume and applications

Korean employers expect an 이력서 (iryeokseo) format resume, not a Western CV. Most postings assume Korean-format submission. See the Korean resume guide before submitting any application.

For job platforms that serve foreign job seekers in Korea, including English-language and multilingual boards with E-7 guidance, see the Korean job platforms guide.

@misc{seoulstart-d2-to-e7-conversion,
  author = {{Seoulstart Editorial Team}},
  title = {{D-2 to E-7: The Visa Conversion Roadmap Foreign Graduates Actually Need (2026)}},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Seoulstart},
  url = {https://seoulstart.com/guides/d2-to-e7-conversion},
  note = {Last updated October 17, 2026}
}