What is the E-7 Visa?

2026 E-7 Visa Changes: 94 Eligible Occupations Confirmed and E-7-4 Employment Limit Expanded

Changes to Korea’s E-7 Visa System in 2026

The Korean Ministry of Justice has updated the list of designated occupations under the E-7 (Specific Activities) visa program for 2026.

A total of 94 occupations are included in the updated E-7 framework. Changes have also been introduced to the E-7-4 Skilled Worker visa, particularly regarding employment limits and Korean-language requirements.

These changes are important not only for foreign nationals seeking professional or skilled employment in Korea, but also for Korean companies planning to hire foreign workers.

What Is the E-7 Visa?

The E-7 visa allows foreign nationals with professional knowledge, technical skills, or specialized abilities to work in designated occupations in Korea.

The E-7 visa is divided into several categories, including:

• E-7-1: Professional Workers
• E-7-2: Semi-Professional Workers
• E-7-3: General Skilled Workers
• E-7-4: Skilled Workers

Simply receiving a job offer from a Korean company does not automatically qualify a foreign worker for an E-7 visa.

Immigration authorities may review whether the occupation is eligible under the E-7 system and whether the applicant satisfies requirements related to education, work experience, qualifications, salary, and employment conditions.

E-7-4 Employment Limit May Increase to 50%

One of the most notable changes concerns the number of E-7-4 skilled foreign workers that eligible employers may hire.

According to the report, the employment limit in the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors has been adjusted so that the previous 30% limit may be increased to as much as 50%.

This could give employers facing skilled labor shortages greater flexibility in hiring foreign workers.

However, this should not be interpreted as meaning that every company can automatically employ foreign workers up to 50% of its workforce.

The applicable limit may depend on factors such as the industry, number of Korean employees, current foreign workforce, and other immigration requirements.

Korean-Language Requirements Have Also Been Adjusted

Korean-language proficiency is an important requirement for the E-7-4 visa.

The updated rules provide more specific conditions regarding the temporary deferral of Korean-language requirements.

This means that certain applicants who do not fully satisfy the Korean-language requirement at the time of application may be able to receive a temporary grace period if they meet the applicable conditions.

However, this does not mean that Korean-language proficiency is no longer required for the E-7-4 visa.

Foreign workers who plan to work and live in Korea for the long term should continue studying Korean and prepare to satisfy the required language standard within the applicable period.

What Foreign Workers Should Check

Foreign workers preparing for an E-7 visa should not determine their eligibility based only on the name of their occupation.

Immigration authorities may consider several factors, including:

occupation classification, education, work experience, professional qualifications, salary, employment contract, and the employer’s eligibility.

Even jobs that appear similar may fall under different E-7 occupation classifications depending on the actual duties described in the Job Description.

Therefore, applicants should carefully confirm the correct occupation and eligibility requirements before signing an employment contract or submitting a visa application.

What Korean Employers Should Prepare

Korean companies planning to hire foreign workers under an E-7 visa should also prepare carefully before recruitment.

The employee’s actual job duties should be clearly defined and should correspond to an eligible E-7 occupation.

Employers should also review salary requirements, working conditions, social insurance obligations, and documents that may be required during the immigration review process.

For E-7-4 workers in particular, companies should check their current number of Korean and foreign employees because employment limits may apply.

Korea Expands E-7-3 Visa Opportunities for Foreign Skilled Workers in the Automotive Parts Industry

South Korea is creating new employment opportunities for foreign skilled workers in the automotive parts manufacturing industry.

Gwangju Metropolitan City has launched a pilot program using the E-7-3 visa for foreign skilled workers to address labor shortages in local automotive parts companies.

The program is particularly focused on skilled workers in mold and die, forming, and welding-related fields.

What Is the E-7-3 Visa?

The E-7-3 is a Korean employment visa for foreign workers with specific technical or functional skills.

Traditionally, the visa has been used for designated occupations in industries such as shipbuilding and aircraft manufacturing.

However, severe labor shortages in Korea’s automotive manufacturing sector have created demand for skilled foreign workers in additional manufacturing fields.

The new pilot program therefore allows qualified foreign workers to work in selected automotive parts manufacturing positions.

Skilled Workers Needed in Three Major Fields

The pilot program focuses primarily on three areas:

• Mold and die
• Forming
• Welding

The purpose of the program is to recruit foreign workers with relevant technical skills rather than simply increase the number of general production workers.

This could create new opportunities for foreign workers who already have manufacturing experience in their home countries.

Pilot Program in Four Regions

Four regions were selected for the pilot program:

Gwangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Chungcheongnam-do.

The program targets automotive parts manufacturers located outside the Seoul metropolitan area with approximately 30 to 299 employees.

In Gwangju, the program is scheduled to operate for two years, from October 2025 to September 2027.

A total of 100 foreign skilled workers are planned under the program, with 40 positions initially allocated in the first year.

Future allocations may be adjusted depending on the results of the pilot program.

Strong Demand from Korean Automotive Companies

Demand from local companies has already been significant.

A survey conducted among automotive parts manufacturers in Gwangju found that 16 companies requested a total of 122 foreign skilled workers.

This indicates that the demand for skilled manufacturing workers exceeds the initial number of available positions.

The Korea Automotive Technology Institute is responsible for managing the program.

Foreign candidates may undergo skills assessments before being matched with participating Korean companies.

New Opportunities for Foreign Skilled Workers

The pilot program may be particularly relevant to foreign workers with professional experience in areas such as:

Welding · Mold and Die · Forming · Automotive Parts Manufacturing

Applicants interested in E-7 employment in Korea should understand that professional experience and technical capability can be important parts of the qualification process.

Therefore, workers planning to apply for skilled jobs in Korea should prepare reliable documentation proving their education, employment history, technical experience, and relevant skills.

Could Korea Expand the Program?

The automotive parts program is currently a pilot project rather than a nationwide employment system.

However, its results could be important for the future of Korea’s skilled foreign worker policy.

If participating companies successfully address their labor shortages through the program, similar opportunities could potentially expand to additional companies, regions, or manufacturing fields.

Korea’s automotive industry is also undergoing a major transition from conventional internal-combustion vehicles toward electric, hydrogen, and other future mobility technologies.

Maintaining a stable supply of skilled manufacturing workers will therefore remain an important issue for Korean automotive parts companies.

For foreign workers with relevant technical experience, the expansion of E-7 visa pathways into automotive manufacturing is an important development to watch.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general information about employment and E-7 visas in South Korea. Visa eligibility and employment requirements may vary depending on the occupation, employer, region, applicant’s experience, and current Korean immigration regulations. Applicants should always check the latest official requirements before applying.

Source: Maeil Labor News, “Gwangju Launches Two-Year E-7 Visa Pilot Program for Automotive Parts Industry.”

As the number of foreign workers in South Korea continues to grow, Korean banks are expanding their financial services for foreign residents.

In the past, it was often difficult for foreign workers to obtain unsecured personal loans from Korean banks. However, major banks are now introducing loan products specifically designed for foreign workers, including those holding E-7 and E-9 visas.

Shinhan Bank, NH NongHyup Bank, and Hana Bank are among the major Korean banks offering these products.

For foreign professionals and workers planning to live and work in Korea, this is an important development.

Shinhan Bank – SOL Global Loan

Shinhan Bank offers the SOL Global Loan, a personal loan product for foreign workers in Korea.

Eligible visa types include:

• F-2 (Resident)
• F-5 (Permanent Resident)
• E-7 (Specific Activities)
• E-9 (Non-professional Employment)

Applicants must have received their salary through Shinhan Bank for three consecutive months.

They must also have at least six months remaining on their permitted period of stay in Korea.

The maximum loan amount is:

KRW 20 million

The available loan term ranges from:

6 months to 36 months

This means that E-7 and E-9 workers who are legally employed in Korea and regularly receive their salary through Shinhan Bank may be eligible to apply.

NH NongHyup Bank – NH K-Foreigner Credit Loan

NH NongHyup Bank also offers a personal loan product specifically for foreign workers called the NH K-Foreigner Credit Loan.

Eligible visa types include:

• F-2
• F-5
• F-6
• E-7
• E-9

Applicants must generally have been employed for at least six months, based on employment records available through Korea’s National Health Insurance Service.

The maximum loan amount is:

KRW 30 million

The available loan term ranges from:

6 months to 60 months

Applicants who meet certain preferential conditions may also receive an interest rate discount of up to 1.0 percentage point per year.

Among these three products, NH NongHyup Bank offers the highest maximum loan amount.

Hana Bank – Hana Foreigner EZ Loan

Hana Bank offers the Hana Foreigner EZ Loan, another credit loan designed specifically for foreign workers.

This product mainly targets workers holding:

E-7 and E-9 visas

The maximum loan amount is:

KRW 10 million

The loan period can be up to:

30 months

The product was designed with factors such as the average length of stay and visa expiration dates of foreign workers in Korea in mind.

Comparison of Personal Loans for Foreign Workers

However, holding an eligible visa does not automatically guarantee loan approval.

Banks may consider several factors during the credit review process, including:

• Employment history
• Monthly income
• Salary payment records
• Remaining visa period
• Period of stay in Korea
• Credit history and financial records

Therefore, the actual loan amount, interest rate, and approval decision may differ depending on each applicant’s circumstances.

Why Are Korean Banks Expanding Services for Foreign Workers?

Foreign residents are becoming an increasingly important customer group for Korean financial institutions.

According to statistics cited in the report, the number of foreign residents in Korea exceeded 2.7 million.

The income levels of foreign workers have also increased significantly.

As more foreign residents receive stable salaries and remain in Korea for longer periods, banks are beginning to see them as an important financial customer base.

Financial services for foreigners are therefore expanding beyond traditional services such as currency exchange and international money transfers.

Foreign residents can increasingly access services such as:

Salary accounts → Debit cards → Savings accounts → Personal loans

This represents an important change in Korea’s financial environment for foreign workers.

What Does This Mean for E-7 Visa Holders?

This development is particularly relevant to foreign professionals working in Korea under the E-7 visa program.

Working in Korea is not only about receiving a monthly salary.

Foreign workers who maintain legal employment, receive their salary through a Korean bank account, participate in Korea’s social insurance system, and build a stable financial history may gradually gain access to a wider range of financial services.

For this reason, E-7 workers should pay attention to their financial records from the beginning of their employment in Korea.

Receiving salary through a bank account, maintaining continuous employment, and keeping proper National Health Insurance and employment records can be important when applying for financial services later.

Important Things Foreign Workers Should Know

Korea’s financial market for foreign residents is still developing.

Each bank has different requirements regarding visa type, employment period, salary payments, remaining visa period, and credit history.

Even two workers who both hold E-7 visas may receive different loan decisions depending on their income, employer, employment history, remaining period of stay, and individual credit profile.

Foreign workers planning to stay and work in Korea for several years should therefore begin building a reliable banking and financial history as soon as possible.

A stable employment record and regular salary payments can become increasingly important as foreign workers use more financial services in Korea.

Disclaimer

This article is intended for general informational purposes only. Loan products, eligibility requirements, interest rates, limits, and other conditions may change. Applicants should confirm the latest requirements directly with the relevant bank before applying for a loan.

Source: Opinion News, “Foreign Worker Credit Loan Products Expand as Shinhan, Hana and NongHyup Join the Market,” September 30, 2025.