E-7 Occupation Codes: Which Job Titles Qualify for Sponsorship and How to Find Yours (2026)

Korea's E-7 visa (특정활동비자, teukjeong hwalttong bija) covers 94 approved occupations across four sub-categories. Your employer cannot sponsor you for E-7 unless your job title and duties map to one of those 94 codes. This guide lists every code, explains the 2026 salary thresholds, and tells you how to find the code that fits your role.

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The E-7 framework

The E-7 (특정활동, teukjeong hwalttong, "Specially Designated Activities") visa is Korea's employer-sponsored professional work visa. It covers a closed list of occupations. If your job title is not on the list, there is no E-7 sponsorship path for it.

The Ministry of Justice (법무부, Beobmubu) administers the system through the Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인청, Chulipguk Oegugin-cheong). Applications go through HiKorea (하이코리아, hikorea.go.kr).

The four sub-categories

As of January 2026, E-7 contains 94 codes across four distinct sub-categories. The sub-category determines your salary threshold, whether ratio caps apply, and what eligibility criteria you must meet.

Why older sources say 87. Earlier E-7 guides widely cited 87 codes. That figure was accurate until 2024. The government added 6 new E-7-3 codes between August 2024 and January 2026: power transmission electrician (76231, August 2024), shipbuilding welder (7430, October 2024), ship electrician (76212, October 2024), automobile body/paint worker (S75104, October 2025), halal slaughter specialist (7103, January 2026), and a mold-making technician (금형원) pilot code announced February 10, 2026. The total is now 94. Any guide still citing 87 is using a pre-2024 count.

Annual quotas

E-7-1, E-7-2, and E-7-3 do not operate under strict national annual caps. E-7-4 does.

E-7-4 quota for 2026: 33,000 workers. This was reduced from 35,000 in 2025, announced by the Ministry of Justice on February 10, 2026 (as of 2026, verify current quota at immigration.go.kr). Applications are accepted year-round with no quarterly windows.

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The 94 E-7 occupation codes

The table below is organized by sub-category and sector to help you locate your role quickly. The primary source for this list is the administrative law blog yoonhjs.com, cross-referenced with IMMIKOREA, current as of January 2026.

Important accuracy note. This list is compiled from private immigration consultancy sources, not directly from the Ministry of Justice official gazette (법무부 관보). Verify any code against the official MoJ occupation designation notice at hikorea.go.kr or immigration.go.kr before relying on it for an application.

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E-7-1: Specialized Professional Personnel (전문인력), 67 codes

E-7-1 is the track for white-collar professionals. Most D-2 graduates, D-10 job seekers, and foreign professionals transferring from overseas will apply under one of these 67 codes.

Salary minimum (2026): 31,120,000 KRW per year. No Korean/foreign worker ratio cap applies to most E-7-1 codes (see callout below for the five exceptions).

Managers (관리자), 15 codes

IT and Digital (정보통신 분야), 10 codes

Note: Code 1350 (IT Manager) is listed in the Managers section above. It is repeated here for discovery purposes only.

Engineering (공학 분야), 15 codes

Science and Research (과학·연구 분야), 5 codes

Finance, Legal, and Administration (금융·법무·행정), 5 codes

Sales, Marketing, and Business Development (영업·마케팅·사업개발), 7 codes

Technology Management (기술경영), 1 code

Design, Arts, and Media (디자인·예술·미디어), 4 codes

Note: Code 1340 is also listed in the Managers section. Listed here for cross-reference.

Education (교육 분야), 4 codes

Healthcare (의료·보건), 1 code

Language Services (언어 서비스), 1 code

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E-7-2: Semi-Professional Personnel (준전문인력), 10 codes

All E-7-2 occupations are subject to the 5:1 Korean/foreign worker ratio cap. The employer must have at least 5 Korean workers enrolled in employment insurance for 3 months or more for each foreign E-7-2 worker.

Salary minimum (2026): 25,890,000 KRW per year.

Office workers (사무종사자), 5 codes

Service workers (서비스종사자), 5 codes

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E-7-3: General Skilled Personnel (일반기능인력), 14 codes

All E-7-3 occupations are subject to the 5:1 ratio cap. E-7-3 was significantly expanded between 2024 and 2026, growing from 8 to 14 codes. This expansion reflects Korea's acute labor shortage in skilled trades industries.

Salary minimum (2026): 25,890,000 KRW per year.

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E-7-4: Skilled Functional Personnel (숙련기능인력), 3 codes

E-7-4 is the conversion track for workers who have spent 4 or more years in Korea on E-9, E-10, or H-2 visas. It uses the K-Point scoring system (see Section 4 below). The 5:1 ratio does not apply to E-7-4 workers, and they are not counted in the foreign worker headcount for ratio purposes.

Salary minimum (2026): 26,000,000 KRW per year. Agriculture and fisheries: 25,000,000 KRW per year (verify this figure at hikorea.go.kr before applying, as the agriculture/fisheries threshold was not confirmed from a 2026-specific primary source in this research).

Root industries (뿌리산업, ppuri sanup) are Korea's foundational manufacturing processes: casting, forging, welding, heat treatment, surface treatment, and mold-making. Workers in these sectors qualify under code S740.

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New E-7 sub-codes: pilot phases (2025-2026)

Two additional E-7 tracks are in pilot or recently launched phases.

E-7-M (K-CORE visa, 케이코어 비자): For foreign graduates of designated Korean 2-year junior colleges in manufacturing programs. The pilot launched with the first cohort admitted February 2026. Actual E-7-M visas will be issued after graduation. The pilot runs until end of 2027. Source: Jobploy, KOWORK.

E-7-T (Top-Tier Employment): Part of the Top-Tier Visa system, effective April 2, 2025. See Section 8 for full details.

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2026 salary thresholds

The 2026 salary thresholds were announced by the Ministry of Justice on December 29, 2025 through Public Notice No. 2025-406 (법무부 공고 제2025-406호). They are effective from February 1 through December 31, 2026.

The E-7-1 threshold increased by 2,450,000 KRW from 2025. The E-7-2/E-7-3 threshold increased by 740,000 KRW.

As of April 2025, the same salary threshold applies to all companies regardless of size. There is no large-company or small-company distinction.

(Thresholds as of 2026. Verify current figures at hikorea.go.kr or immigration.go.kr before submitting any application.)

Annual salary (연봉) vs guaranteed fixed salary (고정급)

This distinction is one of the most common reasons for rejection.

What counts: The guaranteed fixed annual salary stated in your employment contract. This is the number the employer commits to pay you regardless of performance.

What does not count: Performance bonuses, commissions, stock options, incentives, housing allowances paid separately, or any other variable compensation.

If your guaranteed base salary is 28,000,000 KRW and your expected total compensation including bonuses is 35,000,000 KRW, only the 28,000,000 KRW counts toward the threshold. For E-7-1 in 2026, that application cannot proceed.

The employment contract (표준근로계약서, pyojun geunno gyeyakseo) must state the guaranteed annual KRW figure clearly. Immigration officers look at the contract, not pay stubs or offer letters.

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How to find your occupation code

Finding the right code is the most important step in the E-7 process. A wrong code, even a close one, is a documented rejection reason.

Step 1: Define your primary job function

Write down the single thing that takes most of your working time and that your employer is primarily paying you to do. Ignore secondary tasks. Immigration evaluates primary function.

If your role is "Product Manager who also writes some code," your primary function is product management. The relevant code is 2731 (Product Planning Expert), not 2223 (Application Software Developer).

If your role is "data analyst who also writes research reports," your primary function depends on your degree and where most of your time goes. If you have a computer science or statistics background and spend most of your time on data modeling, code 2231 (Data Specialist) is the better match. If you have a research background and the output is reports for decision-makers, code 2122 (Social Science Researcher) or 2734 (Research Expert) may be closer.

Step 2: Check your qualifications against the code

Each E-7 code has a qualification standard. For E-7-1, you must meet one of these:

• Master's degree or higher in a field related to the occupation
• Bachelor's degree plus 1 year of work experience in the field after graduation
• 5 or more years of relevant work experience (no degree required)
• Annual salary exceeding approximately 149,865,000 KRW (waives degree and experience requirements)

Your degree field must be related to the occupation code. A Bachelor of Fine Arts cannot automatically qualify as a 2223 Application Software Developer. A Bachelor of Computer Science can. If there is a gap between your degree and the code, the employer needs to document the connection carefully in the hiring justification letter (고용사유서, gogyong sayo-seo).

Step 3: Verify the code at the official source

Third-party lists, including this guide, are compiled from secondary sources. Before your employer drafts any documents, verify the code at:

• HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr): search under Visa Information / E-7 occupation codes
• Korea Immigration Service (immigration.go.kr): occupation designation notice section

The MoJ publishes the authoritative code list in Korean. If your occupation code is not clearly there, do not proceed based on a third-party source.

Step 4: Match the code to the job description

The job title in your employment contract, the duties described in the hiring justification letter, and the occupation code must all point to the same role. A mismatch between any two of these three elements is a rejection risk.

The employer writes the hiring justification letter. Give them the occupation code number and the official Korean and English titles. Ask them to describe your duties using the language of that code's official definition.

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Ministry recommendation letters

What they are and when you need them

A government ministry recommendation letter (고용추천서, gogyong chucheon-seo) is a letter from the relevant sectoral ministry endorsing a specific foreign hire for a specific occupation. It is separate from the immigration application and must be obtained before the main application is submitted.

As of February 2026, 26 occupations require a ministry recommendation letter. The 18 codes documented in this guide are confirmed from current sources. Eight additional occupations are on the MoJ list as of February 2026 but the full details are still being verified against Korean-language MoJ guidance. If your occupation might require a letter, check the current full list at hikorea.go.kr.

The 18 documented codes requiring ministry recommendation letters

The full 26-occupation list is being verified against MoJ Korean-language guidance. If your code may require a recommendation, check the current list at hikorea.go.kr.

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K-Point system: the E-7-4 scoring framework

The K-Point system is used exclusively for E-7-4 eligibility. It does not apply to E-7-1, E-7-2, or E-7-3.

Who uses E-7-4

E-7-4 is for workers who entered Korea on E-9, E-10, or H-2 visas and have worked 4 or more years in Korea over the past 10 years. The conversion path was created by the Sincere Worker amendment, effective October 14, 2021 (partial amendment to the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers, effective from the April 13, 2021 amendment date).

E-7-4 requires employer sponsorship. The employer must currently be employing you.

The K-Point scoring table

Total points available: 300. Minimum to qualify: 200.

Income scoring (minimum 50 points required)

Korean language scoring (minimum 50 points required)

Age scoring

Employer recommendation bonus

All qualifying E-7-4 applicants receive a mandatory 50-point employer recommendation bonus. This is not optional.

Additional bonus points are available for: central ministry designation (+30), regional government designation (+30), 3 or more years with the same employer (+20), rural area work (+20), technical certificate or Korean university degree (+20), and Korean driver's license (+10). These bonus structures are reviewed periodically. Verify current bonus categories at hikorea.go.kr before your application.

Source: Korea Work Expert K-Point table citing the March 2026 Manual.

E-7-4 employer quota

Employers in most industries can employ up to 30% of their Korean workforce as E-7-4 workers. In depopulation areas and root industries (뿌리산업), the cap is 50%. E-7-4 workers are not counted within the standard foreign worker ratio that applies to E-7-2 and E-7-3.

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The 5:1 ratio rule

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K-Tech Pass vs standard E-7

K-Tech Pass and the E-7 visa serve different populations. Confusing them leads to wasted time or a missed opportunity.

K-Tech Pass (케이테크패스) is administered by KOTRA's Global Talent Center. It is for senior researchers and engineers in 8 strategic sectors: semiconductors, displays, secondary batteries, biotechnology, robotics, defense, artificial intelligence, and advanced mobility.

K-Tech Pass does not issue an E-7 visa. It grants F-2 long-term residency directly, with an F-5 permanent residency pathway available after 3 years. Benefits for K-Tech Pass holders include a 50% income tax reduction for up to 10 years, international school enrollment for children, and a 2-week processing window through KOTRA.

Core eligibility centers on a master's or PhD from a globally top-100 university and employment at a Korean advanced-industry firm in one of the 8 covered sectors, with a high-tech industry salary (approximately 149,865,000 KRW or above).

Important: verify K-Tech Pass criteria directly with KOTRA before relying on this section. Some third-party sources conflate K-Tech Pass criteria with the separate Top-Tier Visa criteria (specifically, the "8 years' experience with 3 at a Fortune Global 500 company" criterion belongs to the Top-Tier Visa, not K-Tech Pass). KOTRA's official page is kotra.or.kr/gtc_eng/subList/41000060003.

For everyone else: E-7-1. If you are a foreign professional working in Korea in a white-collar role, E-7-1 is your track. You do not need a top-100 university degree or 8 years of experience. You need your role to match one of 67 codes, a qualified employer willing to sponsor, and a guaranteed salary at or above 31,120,000 KRW per year for 2026.

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Top-Tier Visa (E-7-T)

The Top-Tier Visa (탑티어 비자, tabttieo bija) was announced March 5, 2025 and took effect April 2, 2025. It is documented here because some E-7-1 candidates may be considering both tracks simultaneously.

Who qualifies

The employment track (E-7-T) requires all three of the following:

1. A master's or doctoral degree from a globally top-100 university, ranked by QS World University Rankings or U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings. Times Higher Education is not a qualifying ranking for core Top-Tier Visa eligibility.
2. 8 years of relevant work experience, including 3 years at a Fortune Global 500 company.
3. Annual income of approximately 149,865,000 KRW (3 times the 2024 Bank of Korea per capita GNI). This is the same 3x GNI threshold used for other high-income waivers throughout the E-7 system.

Who it is not for

The E-7-T bar is high by design. Most foreign professionals working in Korea do not meet all three criteria. If you lack the Fortune Global 500 background or the 8-year experience threshold, the standard E-7-1 process applies.

The job-seeker track (D-10-T)

Recent graduates of qualifying top-100 universities who do not yet have a Korean job offer can apply for the D-10-T job-seeker track. This provides a 2-year legal stay to find employment in Korea in an advanced technology sector, without needing a prior job offer.

Covered sectors and 2026 expansion

Original covered sectors (announced April 2025): semiconductors, displays, secondary batteries, biotechnology, robotics, and defense.

KPMG GMS Flash Alert 2026-080 (March 26, 2026) confirms the Top-Tier Visa now also includes STEM professors and researchers. Verify current sector coverage at immigration.go.kr or by calling 1345 before relying on any sector list.

University eligibility

No published English-language list of the specific qualifying top-100 universities exists. Verify your institution's status directly with the Korea Immigration Service at immigration.go.kr or by calling 1345 (weekdays, extended hours, available in Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other languages).

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Common mistakes and rejection reasons

The following rejection patterns are documented by immigration consultancy sources. They are not edge cases. They are the most frequent causes of E-7 application failure.

1. Occupation code mismatch

The employer assigns a job title based on HR convention rather than the official E-7 code list. "Business Development Manager" does not appear in the code list. "Management/Business Diagnostic Expert" (2715) or "Product Planning Expert" (2731) might fit, but the employer must make that case explicitly. If the immigration officer cannot find your job title in the code list, the application stops.

Fix it: Confirm the code before any documents are drafted. Give the employer the code number and official Korean title. Ask them to use code-aligned language in the employment contract and hiring justification letter.

2. Salary below threshold in the contract

The employment contract shows a total package that exceeds the threshold, but the guaranteed base salary is below it. Variable compensation does not count.

Fix it: Ensure the guaranteed fixed annual salary (고정급, gojeonggeup) is stated in KRW at or above the threshold in the signed employment contract before submission.

3. Weak hiring justification letter (고용사유서)

The employer writes a one-paragraph letter that says the candidate is qualified and they need them. Immigration requires specific reasons why a Korean national could not fill the role and what specific skills the foreign candidate brings. Vague letters are rejected.

Fix it: The letter must be 1 to 2 pages minimum. It should describe the specific technical skills, language abilities, or market knowledge that make a foreign hire necessary for this role. Generic templates fail.

4. Degree-to-occupation mismatch

The candidate's degree is in a different field from the occupation code. A business administration graduate applying under a software development code, or an arts graduate applying under an engineering code, will face questions about their qualification path.

Fix it: If your degree is in a different but related field, document the connection clearly. Work experience in the field (1 year post-graduation for bachelor's degree holders, or 5 years total without a degree) can substitute for a directly matching degree.

5. Ministry recommendation letter missing or delayed

For the 26 occupations that require a ministry recommendation letter, submitting the main application without it results in rejection or delay. Some employers do not know this requirement exists.

Fix it: Check whether your occupation code requires a letter at hikorea.go.kr before drafting any documents. Start the ministry letter process 1 to 3 weeks before the planned submission date.

6. Employer compliance problems

Immigration checks the employer's tax payment history and insurance enrollment records. An employer with unpaid national or local taxes, or who has not properly enrolled Korean employees in employment insurance, cannot sponsor an E-7 application.

Fix it: Ask the employer to confirm their national and local tax certificates and health/employment insurance enrollment records are current before you start the application process.

7. Workplace change without prior approval

Switching employers while on E-7 without going through the correct process creates a compliance record that can affect renewal. For 19 specific occupations, prior approval from the immigration office is required before the switch. For all other E-7 occupations, you must notify within 15 days. The new role must fall under the same occupation code category as your current E-7 approval.

Fix it: Before changing employers, confirm whether your occupation requires prior approval or post-notification. Call 1345 if you are unsure.

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Documentation checklist

Initial E-7 application (applicant documents)

• Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)
• Unified visa application form (available at hikorea.go.kr)
• Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증, oegugin deungnogjjeung) if already in Korea
• 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 issued outside Korea, 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 from your home country
• Occupation-specific documents: professional licenses, portfolios, 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. Depending on your country, this can take 1 to 4 months. Build this into your timeline from the start.

Initial E-7 application (employer documents)

• Business registration certificate (사업자등록증, saeopja deungnogjjeung)
• Employment contract stating the job title, occupation code number, and guaranteed annual salary in KRW
• Corporate income tax return and financial statements
• National and local tax payment certificates confirming no unpaid taxes
• Health and employment insurance enrollment records
• Hiring justification letter (고용사유서, gogyong sayo-seo): minimum 1 to 2 pages, specific to the individual and the role
• Ministry recommendation letter (고용추천서, gogyong chucheon-seo), if your occupation code requires one

E-7 renewal documents

For renewal, the same basic document set applies. You also need:

• Proof of continuous employment in the same occupation code: pay stubs, employment insurance records, or a letter from the employer confirming your role
• If changing occupation code at renewal: a new hiring justification letter explaining the role change
• If any prior immigration violations occurred during the current E-7 period: document what happened and how it was resolved

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FAQ

The official list shows 94 codes but many sources still say 87. Which is correct? 94 is the current count as of January 2026. The 87 figure was accurate through 2023 and spread widely in third-party guides. The government added 6 new E-7-3 codes between August 2024 and January 2026: power transmission electrician, shipbuilding welder, ship electrician, automobile body/paint worker, halal slaughter specialist, and mold-making technician pilot. Always verify at hikorea.go.kr before relying on any published count.

My role combines marketing and data analysis. Which code applies? Immigration looks at your primary function and your qualifications. If your degree and most of your work time are in marketing, code 2733 (Advertising and PR Expert) or 2731 (Product Planning Expert) is the better match. If your primary duty is data modeling and your degree is in statistics or computer science, code 2231 (Data Specialist) is more accurate. Confirm with your employer before any documents are drafted.

My employer wants to call me an office worker in the contract. Is that a problem? Yes. "Office worker" is not a recognized E-7 occupation code. The employment contract must state a job title that maps to one of the 94 approved codes. Ask your employer to review the official code list and use code-aligned language.

Does the 31,120,000 KRW minimum include performance bonuses? No. Only guaranteed fixed salary counts. Performance bonuses, commissions, stock options, and other variable components are excluded. The employment contract must state the guaranteed annual KRW amount at or above 31,120,000 KRW for E-7-1.

Can I change employers while on E-7? Yes, but the rules differ by occupation. For 19 specific occupations, you need prior approval before switching. For all other E-7 occupations, notify within 15 days. In both cases, the new employer must operate in the same occupation category as your current E-7 approval.

I am on E-7-4. My Korean is below TOPIK 2. Can I still apply in 2026? Under the 2026 special deferral, yes, if your income score reaches at least 50 points (annual income at or above 25,000,000 KRW) and your total K-Point score excluding Korean reaches at least 150. The deferral expires December 31, 2026. If you use it, you must achieve TOPIK Level 2 or KIIP Level 2 before your first renewal.

What is the difference between K-Tech Pass and E-7? K-Tech Pass is administered by KOTRA and grants F-2 residency directly, not an E-7 visa. It targets senior engineers and researchers in 8 high-tech sectors with top-100 university degrees. Most foreign professionals apply through E-7-1. Verify current K-Tech Pass criteria at kotra.or.kr/gtc_eng/subList/41000060003 before assuming you qualify or do not qualify.

Which university rankings qualify for the Top-Tier Visa? QS World University Rankings and U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings only. Times Higher Education does not qualify for core Top-Tier Visa eligibility. Verify your institution's status directly with immigration.go.kr or by calling 1345.

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Last verified: April 2026. Occupation code counts, salary thresholds, K-Point scoring tables, and the E-7-4 quota are reviewed annually. Verify current figures at hikorea.go.kr, immigration.go.kr, and moj.go.kr before making any application decisions. For urgent questions, call the Korea Immigration Service contact center at 1345 (weekdays, extended hours, available in Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other languages).