Technical instruction visa at a glance
| Official name | Technical instruction (E-4) |
|---|---|
| Scope of activity | Providing specialist knowledge in the natural sciences or technology in a special industrial field |
| Precondition | An invitation from a Korean public body or private organisation |
| Where it borders related routes | A posting to install or maintain imported machinery, or to supervise shipbuilding or industrial plant manufacture, may overlap with trade management (D-9). Short-term provision of technology for income may overlap with short-term employment (C-4). We tell them apart by the purpose of the activity and the contract structure. |
| Document categories checked | Proof relating to technology import, export or import of services, or the defence industry; contracts; business premises records |
| What K-Biz Visa handles | Consultation, document preparation and filing with the immigration office |
Common points of confusion
- Technical jobs in general
- Taking on technical work does not by itself make it E-4. We look at the invitation relationship and the nature of the technology provided together.
- Installation, maintenance and supervision work
- Installing or maintaining imported machinery, or supervising shipbuilding or industrial plant manufacture, does not automatically fall under E-4. If the structure is a posting to work at a Korean organisation, we also look at export equipment (D-9-2) and ship equipment (D-9-3) under trade management (D-9).
- Invitation relationship
- An invitation from a Korean public body or private organisation is a precondition. We first sort out who is inviting you and the contract.
- Where it borders short-term employment
- Short-term provision of technology for income may overlap with short-term employment (C-4). Length of stay alone does not decide the status. We look at the purpose of the activity and the contract structure.
Before the consultation
You do not need to send documents for a first enquiry. Tell us the organisation you will belong to, your duties and your current immigration situation. Once we set the scope of the review, we give you a list of the documents needed.
What to tell us first
- The organisation you plan to join and your duties
- The form and length of the contract
- Your education and work experience
- Your current visa status and entry plans
Documents we ask for later
- Original employment contract
- Degree certificate and certificate of work experience
- Documents about the organisation
- Copies of your passport and ID
We ask only for the sensitive documents the review needs, and keep and delete them under our privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
We look at the invitation relationship, the nature of the technology provided and the contract structure together.
If the structure is a posting to a Korean organisation to install or maintain imported machinery, or to supervise shipbuilding or industrial plant manufacture, we look first at export equipment (D-9-2) and ship equipment (D-9-3) under trade management (D-9). Installation or maintenance work as a whole does not automatically fall under E-4.
Length of stay alone does not decide it. Short-term provision of technology for income may overlap with short-term employment (C-4), so we look at the purpose of the activity and the contract structure together.
The evidence categories set out are proof relating to technology import, export or import of services, or the defence industry; contracts; and business premises records.
Technology import and export or import of services are also among the categories. We look at the relationship under which you provide the technology.
Related agencies and laws
The procedures and criteria on this page follow the guidance of the agencies and the laws below. How they apply is checked case by case.
Agencies
- Ministry of Justice immigration offices
- Korea Visa Portal
Laws
- Immigration Act
- Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act
- Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act
Send an enquiryTell us whether this is an invitation or a posting, and the technology you will provide, and we will reply with the routes to check.