Korea Visa Types: Every Visa Compared Side by Side (2026)
Every major Korean visa in one comparison table: work (E-2, E-7, E-7-M, E-9), study and job seeking (D-2, D-10), residency (F-2, F-4, F-5), family (F-3, F-6), working holiday (H-1), and the digital nomad visa (F-1-D). Duration, work rights, sponsor requirements, salary minimums, 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 (EPS)
Korea's non-professional employment visa, issued under the Employment Permit System (EPS). The most common entry path for migrant workers from 17 sending countries into manufacturing, agriculture, fishery, construction, and service industries.
Who it's for
Workers from EPS sending countries (Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, and 12 others) hired by Korean employers in non-professional sectors.
E-9 visa detailsE-7
Skilled Professional Work Visa
Korea's skilled-professional work visa for foreign nationals in 86 designated occupation codes. The most common path for foreign-graduate hires, technical specialists, and corporate transferees in Korea.
Who it's for
Foreign professionals hired by Korean employers in one of the 86 E-7 occupation codes (E-7-1 through E-7-4) — software engineers, researchers, financial professionals, designers, technical staff, and related roles.
E-7 visa detailsE-7-M (K-CORE)
Manufacturing-track Skilled Visa
Korea's E-7-M (K-CORE) visa, launched in 2026, lets foreign graduates of 16 designated Korean junior colleges work in manufacturing and qualify for long-term residence in 5 years. Designed to fill skilled-trade gaps in Korean SMEs.
Who it's for
Foreign graduates of 16 specific Korean junior colleges (전문대학) entering manufacturing roles via the K-CORE pathway.
E-7-M (K-CORE) visa detailsE-2
Conversation Instructor Visa (English Teaching)
Korea's E-2 conversation instructor visa (회화지도 비자), the standard route for teaching English at schools and private academies. Restricted to citizens of 7 designated countries, with a bachelor's degree in any field.
Who it's for
Citizens of the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and South Africa with a bachelor's degree, hired by a Korean school or private academy (hagwon).
E-2 visa detailsH-1
Working Holiday Visa
Korea's working holiday visa (관광취업), open to citizens of roughly 30 partner countries and regions aged 18 to 30 (up to 34 or 35 for some countries). Live in Korea for up to 12 months and work part-time to fund the stay.
Who it's for
Citizens of partner countries within the age window (standard 18 to 30; Canada, the UK, and several European countries allow up to 34 or 35), on a once-per-lifetime basis for most nationalities.
H-1 visa detailsD-2
Student Visa (Degree Programs)
Korea's D-2 student visa (유학 비자) for full-time degree programs, bachelor's through doctorate. Language-training students use the separate D-4 visa. Part-time work rights scale with TOPIK level.
Who it's for
International students admitted to a full-time degree program at a Korean university; 253,434 international students were in Korea in 2025.
D-2 visa detailsD-10
Job Seeker Visa
Korea's D-10 job-seeker visa (구직 비자) for post-graduation job hunting, internships, and startup preparation. The October 2025 reform extended the maximum stay from 2 to 3 years and exempted D-2 converts from the points test.
Who it's for
Graduates seeking professional employment in Korea: fresh D-2 converts, overseas graduates who pass the points test, and Top-Tier (D-10-T) talent from top-100 universities.
D-10 visa detailsF-1-D
Digital Nomad (Workation) Visa
Korea's F-1-D workation visa (디지털 노마드) for remote workers employed overseas. Launched January 2024 and extended indefinitely from January 2026. Overseas income only, with a high income threshold and mandatory private insurance.
Who it's for
Remote workers and freelancers earning from overseas sources at roughly 2x Korea's per-capita GNI, who want to live in Korea while working for a non-Korean employer.
F-1-D visa detailsF-2
Korean Resident Visa
Korea's F-2 long-term resident visa, awarded via a points-based system. The intermediate step between work visas (E-series) and permanent residency (F-5), with broader work rights and family-sponsorship privileges.
Who it's for
Foreign residents who have accumulated enough points based on age, education, Korean ability, income, and Korean residency duration to qualify for the long-term resident track.
F-2 visa detailsF-3
Dependent Visa
Korea's F-3 dependent visa for spouses and minor children of E-series and F-series visa holders. Lets families join visa-holding workers in Korea, with restrictions on employment.
Who it's for
Spouses and unmarried minor children (under 19) of foreign nationals legally resident in Korea on E-1 through E-7 or F-2/F-4/F-5/F-6 visas.
F-3 visa detailsF-4
Overseas Korean Visa
Korea's F-4 visa for overseas Koreans (재외동포). Available to ethnic Koreans with foreign citizenship, with broad work and residence rights, but excluding non-skilled labor and certain restricted occupations.
Who it's for
Foreign nationals who are ethnic Koreans, including 1st-generation Korean emigrants, their descendants up to the 3rd generation, and former Korean citizens.
F-4 visa detailsF-5
Permanent Residence Visa
Korea's F-5 permanent residence (영주권): indefinite stay, the right to work in any field without a sponsor, and local-election voting rights after 3 years. You keep your original passport; it is not citizenship.
Who it's for
Long-term residents who complete a qualifying route: 5 consecutive years on a qualifying visa (F-5-1), 2+ years on F-6 or F-4, or 3+ continuous years on F-2, each with its own income and integration requirements.
F-5 visa detailsF-6
Marriage Migrant Visa
Korea's F-6 visa for foreign spouses of Korean citizens. Provides full work rights, NHIS coverage, and a 2-year path to permanent residency, with specific protections in cases of divorce or domestic violence.
Who it's for
Foreign nationals legally married to Korean citizens, including same-sex spouses where the marriage is recognized in the home country.
F-6 visa detailsEPS and E-9 workers
On the Employment Permit System? Start here
If you came to Korea through the Employment Permit System (EPS) on an E-9 visa, your situation is different from a professional visa holder. These guides cover the visa, your rights at work, and the money you are owed when the contract ends.
The EPS guide
How the Employment Permit System works, from matching to arrival.
Read guideE-9 visa guide
Duration, workplace changes, and the path to staying longer.
Read guideE-9 worker rights
What the law protects: contracts, wages, and changing jobs.
Read guideWorkplace injury compensation
What you can claim if you are hurt on the job.
Read guideDeparture insurance
The severance-style payout you collect when you leave.
Read guideE-8 seasonal-worker scams
The recruitment scams to watch for in seasonal work.
Read guideHow do you choose the right Korean visa?
The Korean visa you qualify for is determined by your situation, not a choice between equivalents. The decision tree most foreign residents follow:
- If you have a job offer from a Korean employer in a professional role: apply for E-7 (or E-7-M for the manufacturing track via designated junior colleges).
- If you're matched through the Employment Permit System from a sending country: E-9, the non-professional employment visa.
- If you're coming to teach English at a school or academy: E-2, open to citizens of 7 designated countries with a bachelor's degree in any field.
- If you're coming to study a full-time degree: D-2, sponsored by your admitting university. Part-time work rights scale with your TOPIK level.
- If you just graduated in Korea and are job hunting: D-10, up to 3 years since the October 2025 reform. D-2 converts skip the points test on their first application.
- If you work remotely for an overseas employer: F-1-D, the digital nomad visa. High income bar (~2x per-capita GNI), no Korean employer or clients, 2 years maximum.
- If you're 18 to 30 and from a partner country: H-1 working holiday: 12 months, part-time work to fund the stay, once per lifetime for most nationalities.
- If you're an ethnic Korean with foreign citizenship: F-4 (overseas Korean) is almost always the best path. It's renewable indefinitely with broad work rights.
- If you're married to a Korean citizen: F-6. Direct path to F-5 in 2 years.
- If you're already on E-7 and qualify for the points system: upgrade to F-2 to remove employer sponsorship and shorten the path to F-5.
- If you're joining a family member already on a Korean visa: F-3 (dependent) for spouse and minor children.
For deep eligibility breakdowns, salary thresholds, and application processes, click into any visa above.
Rule changes
What changed in 2026
Korean visa rules moved a lot this cycle: new E-7-4 rules from June 2026, the E-7-M (K-CORE) manufacturing track launch, the D-10 reform carrying into effect, and the F-1-D digital nomad pilot extended indefinitely. We track what is confirmed versus only reported, with primary sources.
Korean visa FAQ
Which Korean visa do I need to work in Korea?
It depends on the job. With a professional job offer from a Korean employer, you apply for the E-7 visa (or E-7-M for the manufacturing track via designated junior colleges). Teaching English at a school or academy is the E-2 conversation instructor visa, restricted to citizens of 7 designated countries. If you are matched through the Employment Permit System from a sending country, you get the E-9 non-professional employment visa.
Can I work remotely from Korea for a foreign company?
Yes, on the F-1-D digital nomad (workation) visa: 1 year initial plus a 1-year extension, income of roughly 2x Korea's per-capita GNI, and private insurance with at least 100 million KRW of coverage including evacuation home. You cannot work for a Korean employer or take Korean clients on it, and it has no path to permanent residency.
Can I change my visa without leaving Korea?
Many changes are processed inside Korea at immigration: D-2 students converting to D-10 or E-7, and E-7 holders upgrading to F-2 through the points system, are standard in-country changes. Some are not: since April 2025, F-3 dependent status must be applied for at a Korean embassy abroad. Check the specific guide for your target visa before planning around an in-country change.
What is an ARC (Alien Registration Card)?
The Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) is the resident ID card for foreign nationals staying in Korea more than 90 days. You must apply within 90 days of arrival, and it unlocks banking, phone contracts, and health insurance. Permanent residents can carry a mobile version with the same legal validity since January 2025.
Which Korean visa lets me bring my family to Korea?
The F-3 dependent visa is for the spouse and unmarried minor children of a qualifying long-term visa holder. If you are married to a Korean citizen, your own status is F-6, which is a direct path to F-5 permanent residency in about two years.
What is the difference between the E-7 and E-9 visas?
E-7 is the skilled-professional employment visa, tied to a specific job offer in a designated occupation. E-9 is the non-professional employment visa issued through the Employment Permit System for workers from sending countries. E-7 has broader paths to long-term residency.
How do I get permanent residency (F-5) in Korea?
There is no single path. Common routes: F-6 (married to a Korean) qualifies after about two years; E-7 holders who meet the points system can upgrade to F-2 to remove employer sponsorship and shorten the path; and several visas allow F-5 after a qualifying period of residence and income. Each visa's guide covers its specific F-5 path.
What is the best Korean visa for an ethnic Korean with foreign citizenship?
The F-4 overseas Korean visa is almost always the best path. It is renewable indefinitely and carries broad work rights.
More visa guides
Beyond the visa codes above: conversion paths, occupation rules, the 2026 changes, and the guides for arriving, marrying, and leaving.
D-2 to E-7 conversion
How foreign graduates move from a study visa to a professional work visa.
Read guideE-7 occupation codes
Which job titles qualify for E-7 sponsorship, and how to find your code.
Read guideE-7-M (K-CORE) visa
The manufacturing track from a designated junior college to residence.
Read guide2026 visa changes
What's confirmed, and what's only reported, in the 2026 visa overhaul.
Read guideWorking Holiday (H-1) visa
The bilateral working-holiday option, by country and age limit.
Read guideDigital nomad (F-1-D) visa
The 2026 workation visa: who qualifies and what you can do.
Read guideMarriage documents from home
Country-by-country paperwork to register a marriage in Korea (F-6).
Read guideLeaving Korea checklist
Closing out tax, pension, insurance, and accounts when you depart.
Read guideRelated directory
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