Korea Visa Types: Every Visa Compared Side by Side (2026)
Duration, work rights, sponsors, and the path to permanent residency.
Korean visa comparison table
Every figure in this table comes from the corresponding fact-checked Seoulstart guide, each verified against Korean government primary sources. For the deeper per-visa guide with eligibility, application steps, and FAQ, click any visa code in the first column.
| Visa | Purpose | Duration | Work rights | Sponsor | Path to F-5 | Family | Korean | Salary minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-9 | Non-professional employment (manufacturing, agriculture, fishery, construction, services) | 3 years (extendable to 4y10m) | Yes (employer-sponsored only) | Yes (EPS-registered employer) | Via E-7-4 long-term skilled track | Not standard (limited) | EPS-TOPIK pre-departure test | Korean minimum wage applies |
| E-7 | Skilled professional employment (86 occupation codes) | Up to 3 years, renewable 2-year increments | Yes (employer-sponsored, occupation-locked) | Yes (Korean employer with E-7 eligibility) | Direct after 5+ years of E-7 stay | F-3 dependents | None mandatory (varies by employer) | ₩31.12M/year (E-7-1, 2026) |
| E-7-M (K-CORE) | Manufacturing skilled trades via designated junior colleges | Up to 3 years, renewable | Yes (manufacturing-only) | Yes (registered manufacturing SME) | Accelerated to F-2 in 5 years (vs standard 7-10) | F-3 dependents | Functional (TOPIK 2+ recommended) | ₩31.12M/year (matches E-7) |
| E-2 | Foreign-language conversation instruction (teaching) | Up to 2 years per issuance (usually 1-year contracts) | Yes (sponsoring school only) | Yes (school or registered academy) | Via F-2-7 points system, then F-5 | F-3 dependents | None (TOPIK 3+ helps the F-2-7 path) | Set by contract |
| H-1 | Working holiday (extended tourism with incidental work) | Up to 12 months (once per lifetime for most countries) | Part-time up to 25h/week (Canada: up to 40h) | No (bilateral agreement, ~30 partner countries) | Not a residency track (convert to E-2/E-7/D-2 to stay) | Not applicable | None | Not applicable |
| D-2 | Full-time degree study (bachelor's through doctorate) | Tied to program enrollment | Part-time only, 10-30h/week scaled by TOPIK level | Yes (admitting university) | Via D-10, then E-7, then F-2 | Restricted (F-3 only for humanitarian reasons) | TOPIK 3-4 unlocks longer work hours | Not applicable (financial proof ~₩20M instead) |
| D-10 | Job seeking, internships, startup preparation | Up to 3 years (1-year increments since Oct 2025) | No full-time work; internships up to 1 year per company | No (points-tested; D-2 converts exempt) | Via E-7 employment, then F-2 | No (not an F-3 sponsor visa) | None mandatory (TOPIK adds points) | Not applicable |
| F-1-D | Remote work from Korea for an overseas employer | 1 year, extendable once (2 years total) | Overseas income only (no Korean employer or clients) | No (income + insurance proof instead) | None (no permanent-residency pathway) | Spouse + children under 18 (category varies by consulate) | None | Income ~2x per-capita GNI (~₩104.8M, 2026) |
| F-2 | Long-term residence with broader work rights (points-based) | Up to 3 years, renewable indefinitely | Yes (full work rights, no employer sponsorship) | No | Direct after 3+ continuous F-2 years | F-1 / F-3 dependents | Functional (TOPIK 3+ for max points) | Income points reward higher salaries |
| F-3 | Dependent visa for spouses + minor children of E/F-series holders | Matches sponsor's visa, up to 3 years renewable | No (separate S-3 work permit required) | Yes (the sponsoring visa holder) | Indirect (must convert to own work or F-2 visa first) | Not applicable | None | Sponsor income threshold ₩24-30M/year (first dependent) |
| F-4 | Overseas Korean (재외동포) ethnic-Korean residence visa | 3 years, renewable indefinitely (no points test) | Yes (broad, except simple labor) | No | Direct after 2+ continuous F-4 years | F-1 dependents | None mandatory | Not applicable |
| F-5 | Permanent residence (영주권) | Indefinite (ARC card renewed every 10 years) | Yes (any field, no sponsor) | No | This is the destination | F-3 dependents | KIIP Level 5 or 종합평가 60+ (TOPIK not accepted) | F-5-1 route: ~2x per-capita GNI (~₩104.8M, 2026) |
| F-6 | Spouse of Korean citizen (marriage migrant) | 1 year initial, then 2-year renewals | Yes (full work rights, no employer sponsorship) | Yes (Korean spouse) | Direct after 2+ continuous F-6 years | F-1 for parents and children | TOPIK 1 or KIIP Stage 2 for first renewal | Sponsor income threshold ₩24M+/year |
Detailed visa-by-visa breakdown
E-9
Non-Professional Employment Visa (비전문취업)
Korea's non-professional employment visa under the Employment Permit System (EPS).
Who it's for
Workers from EPS sending countries hired by Korean employers in non-professional sectors.
E-9 visa detailsE-7
Skilled Professional Work Visa (특정활동)
Korea's skilled-professional work visa for 86 designated occupation codes.
Who it's for
Foreign professionals hired in one of the 86 E-7 occupation codes.
E-7 visa detailsE-7-M (K-CORE)
Manufacturing-track Skilled Visa (특정활동 (K-CORE))
E-7-M (K-CORE), launched in 2026, for graduates of 16 designated Korean junior colleges entering manufacturing.
Who it's for
Foreign graduates of 16 designated Korean junior colleges (전문대학) entering manufacturing.
E-7-M (K-CORE) visa detailsE-2
Conversation Instructor Visa (회화지도)
Foreign-language conversation instruction at schools and academies.
Who it's for
Citizens of 7 designated countries teaching at a Korean school or academy.
E-2 visa detailsH-1
Working Holiday Visa (관광취업)
Bilateral working holiday: extended tourism with incidental work.
Who it's for
Ages 18–30 from partner countries, once per lifetime for most nationalities.
H-1 visa detailsD-2
Student Visa (유학)
Full-time degree study from bachelor's through doctorate.
Who it's for
Students admitted to a Korean university degree program.
D-2 visa detailsD-10
Job Seeker Visa (구직)
Job seeking, internships, and startup preparation after study or as a points-tested applicant.
Who it's for
Graduates job-hunting in Korea, and other points-tested job seekers.
D-10 visa detailsF-1-D
Digital Nomad (Workation) Visa (원격근무 (워케이션))
Remote work from Korea for an overseas employer. No Korean employer or clients.
Who it's for
Remote workers with overseas income of roughly 2x Korea's per-capita GNI and qualifying insurance.
F-1-D visa detailsF-2
Korean Resident Visa (거주)
Long-term residence with broader work rights, often via the points system.
Who it's for
Long-term residents who qualify on points, income, or a designated track.
F-2 visa detailsF-3
Dependent Visa (동반)
Spouse and unmarried minor children of a qualifying long-term visa holder.
Who it's for
Family joining an E- or F-series sponsor already in Korea.
F-3 visa detailsF-4
Overseas Korean Visa (재외동포)
Residence visa for ethnic Koreans with foreign citizenship (재외동포).
Who it's for
Ethnic Koreans with foreign citizenship who meet F-4 eligibility.
F-4 visa detailsF-5
Permanent Residence Visa (영주)
Permanent residence (영주). Indefinite stay, any field of work, no sponsor.
Who it's for
Residents who qualify through marriage, points, income, or a designated F-5 route.
F-5 visa detailsF-6
Marriage Migrant Visa (결혼이민)
Spouse of a Korean citizen. Direct path to F-5 in about two years.
Who it's for
People married to a Korean citizen.
F-6 visa detailsEPS · E-9