Skilled worker visa at a glance
| Official name | Points-based skilled worker category of specially designated activities (E-7) |
|---|---|
| Stay history category | Registered foreign nationals who have stayed in Korea on E-9, E-10 or H-2 for 4 years or more within the last 10 years |
| Points categories | Skill level, age, work experience, Korean language ability and other factors |
| 2026 wage requirement | KRW 26 million or more a year, in effect from 2026-02-01 to 2026-12-31 |
| 2026 issuance volume | 33,000 people. This figure does not indicate individual approval or the places remaining |
| What K-Biz Visa handles | Consultation, document preparation and filing with the immigration office |
Common points of confusion
- Stay history and change of status
- Even with 4 years or more of stay history, you also need to meet the points requirements. Check the points table and the bonus point criteria in the official guidance at the time of application.
- Issuance volume and approval
- The 2026 issuance volume of 33,000 people shows the size of the programme. It does not indicate an individual's chance of approval or the places remaining.
- Unavoidable job changes
- A special rule that counts previous periods of employment after an unavoidable job change, for reasons such as suspension of business, closure or unfair treatment, came into force in June 2026. The reason and supporting evidence are checked case by case.
Before the consultation
For your first enquiry, tell us your stay history and employment history so far. Once we set the scope of the review, we send you a list of the documents for the points assessment.
What to tell us first
- Your current visa status and whether you hold foreign resident registration
- Length of stay on E-9, E-10 or H-2
- Your current workplace and duties
- Your Korean language background
Documents we ask for later
- Documents proving your stay history
- Employment contract and certificate of employment
- Proof of Korean language ability
- 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
Stay history is one of the categories reviewed. Ministry of Justice guidance explains that registered foreign nationals who have stayed on E-9, E-10 or H-2 for 4 years or more within the last 10 years are also assessed on points requirements covering skill level, age, work experience, Korean language ability and other factors.
It is KRW 26 million or more a year, in effect from 2026-02-01 to 2026-12-31.
The issuance volume is a figure that shows the annual size of the programme. It does not mean you will be approved, or that places will remain when you file.
A special rule that counts previous periods of employment after an unavoidable job change, for reasons such as suspension of business, closure or unfair treatment, came into force in June 2026. The reason and supporting evidence are checked case by case.
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
Send an enquiryTell us your stay history and employment history, and we will reply with the points categories to check and the documents to prepare.