Mitra KoreaIf You Were Told 'The E-7-4 Quota Is Full': How the 33,000 Places for 2026 Work, What to Check Now, and What to Do This Year to Prepare for 2027
In 2026, 33,000 E-7-4 visas can be issued. This number is split by type of recommendation. If one track is closed, check the 하이코리아 notices and call 1345 to see if another track is still open. If every track is closed, keep your stay through re-employment, raise your points, and apply as soon as applications open next year.
Quick summary
- In 2026, 33,000 E-7-4 (skilled worker) visas can be issued in total (it was 35,000 in 2025). This number is split up by type of recommendation. The types are company recommendation (the individual track), central ministry recommendation, provincial government recommendation, flexible allocation, and others.
- So when you hear "the quota is full," first check which track is full. Even if the company recommendation track is closed, the provincial government recommendation track may still be open. You can check in the 하이코리아 (Hi Korea, the government immigration website) notices and by calling 1345.
- If everything really is closed, you cannot apply this year. Then you have two jobs. ① Keep your stay (re-employment extension, up to 4 years 10 months in total). ② Raise your points (Korean, certificates, KIIP). Then apply early, as soon as applications open next year.
- If your stay ends in only a few months, call 1345 right now. You need to check whether another way is open to you, such as the non-capital-area special rule, a local government recommendation, or trying again after you re-enter Korea.
When does this apply to me?
- Your boss says, "I tried to apply, but they said the quota is finished."
- An administrative agent (행정사) or broker says, "There is no quota left, but if you pay more, I can get you in."
- You heard that applications are blocked on 하이코리아.
- Your 4 years 10 months will end soon, and now you cannot apply for E-7-4.
How the 2026 quota works
In February 2026, the 법무부 (Ministry of Justice) set the E-7-4 number at 33,000 people. Under the selection plan, this number is split by type of recommendation.
| Track | Who recommends | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Company recommendation (individual track) | Your current employer (required, 50 points) | The way most people use. It usually closes first |
| Central ministry recommendation | Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and others | 30 extra points. Separate applications through each ministry's notice |
| Provincial government recommendation | Province or large city (시·도) | 30 extra points. You must live in that province or city for 2+ years after the change |
| Flexible allocation | The 법무부 adjusts it as needed | Places may be given when other tracks run out |
The exact number for each track changes every year, and different sources give different numbers, so we do not write them here. What matters for you is: "Is a track I can apply to still open?"
Steps: when you hear "the quota is full"
- Check the 하이코리아 notices. On 하이코리아 (hikorea.go.kr), go to the notices (공지사항) and search for "숙련기능인력" or "E-7-4". Closing notices for each track are posted there. Do not just believe what your boss says.
- Call 1345 to check. Ask: "Is the E-7-4 company recommendation track closed? Is the provincial government recommendation track still open?" Nepali service is on weekdays, 09:00~18:00.
- Look into a provincial government recommendation. Check on your province or city (시·도) office website, or call 1345, to see whether the province or city where you work has posted a recommendation notice. If you meet the conditions, you can add the 30-point local government recommendation to your boss's recommendation (company recommendation, 50 points) and apply through a different track. See Legal alternatives if your boss refuses to recommend you for E-7-4.
- Check central ministry recommendation notices. There are separate notices for each industry, such as manufacturing (Ministry of SMEs and Startups), agriculture and livestock (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs), and fishing (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries). The application period is short, so check together with your boss.
- If every track really is closed, go to "Prepare for 2027" below.
What to do this year to prepare for 2027
1. Keep your stay.
- Before your 3 years end, your boss must apply for a re-employment extension (up to 1 year 10 months). You need this extension to stay in Korea until next year. See E-9 stay extension and re-employment. If your boss will not do it, see When your boss says 'I won't re-employ you'.
- If your 4 years 10 months end before applications open next year, you will not have time to apply for E-7-4. In that case, read When 4 years 10 months end: 4 options and Re-entry for sincere workers, and talk to 1345.
2. Raise your points. You need 200 out of 300 points. You also need at least 50 points each for average income and Korean.
- Korean: Until December 31, 2026, the Korean minimum is paused for now. But it is not decided whether this pause will continue in 2027. The safest thing is to raise your TOPIK level or your 사회통합프로그램 (KIIP, Korea Immigration and Integration Program) level now. See Studying Korean and KIIP.
- Certificates: A 기능사 (craftsman-level national technical certificate) gives extra points. See Get extra points with a 기능사 certificate.
- Income: You must earn 26,000,000 원 or more per year. Keep your 급여명세서 (pay slips) and your 소득금액증명 (proof of income certificate).
- 1 year at your current company: To get a company recommendation, you must work 1 year or more at your current workplace. If you change companies because of the quota, your 1 year may start again from zero. Before you move, see E-7-4 after changing workplaces.
- Avoid fines and penalties: A fine can lower your points or stop you from applying. See How fines affect your visa.
3. Find out next year's start date early. The 2026 selection plan was announced at the end of February, and applications started in March. 2027 may be at a similar time, but this is not confirmed. Check the 하이코리아 notices in January and February, and apply as soon as possible once applications open. The later you apply, the bigger the risk that the quota closes. See E-7-4 200 points: the order to raise them within 1 year.
What to prepare (for a 2027 application)
- Passport, 외국인등록증 (alien registration card), check your period of stay (on 하이코리아)
- 근로계약서 (employment contract), recent 급여명세서, 소득금액증명 (from Hometax or a tax office)
- TOPIK score report or proof of KIIP completion
- 기능사 certificate (if you have one)
- Confirmation that your employer will recommend you (by text message: "Will you recommend me for E-7-4 next year?")
Be careful
- Anyone who says "pay money and I will get you into the quota" is a scammer. The quota is given out by the 법무부. Money does not open it.
- If your boss asks you to sign a resignation letter (사직서) because the quota is full, do not sign. See Being forced to sign a resignation letter.
- The quota and re-employment are different systems. Even if E-7-4 is blocked, you can still get a re-employment extension.
- The fine limits are different in different sources (1,000,000 원 or 3,000,000 원). If you have a record of a fine or penalty, check with 1345 or the 출입국·외국인관서 (immigration office) in advance.
- There are other visas (such as F-2-R regional visa), but the conditions are different. See Regional visa and check with 1345.
Frequently asked questions
Q. My boss said "the quota is finished," but there is no notice on 하이코리아. A. Ask 1345 yourself. Your boss may be wrong, or an administrative agent may have told them that. Also check that it is different for each track.
Q. If I cannot apply this year, will my points go down next year? A. Your points are counted based on your situation at the time you apply. If your stay gets longer and you add Korean and certificates, your points usually go up. But the selection plan changes every year, so check next year's notice for the points table.
Q. I have 5 months of stay left. I cannot wait until applications open next year. A. Call 1345 right now. It depends on your situation: whether a re-employment extension is possible, whether you can apply now under the non-capital-area special rule (3 years outside the Seoul capital area + local government recommendation), or whether you should leave Korea, re-enter, and try again.
Q. If I get a provincial government recommendation, must I live in that area? A. Yes. After the change, you must keep your address in that province or city for 2 years or more (3 years if you changed under the non-capital-area special rule). You can move to another area after that.
Where to get help
| Organization | Phone | What they help with |
|---|---|---|
| 외국인종합안내센터 (Immigration Contact Center) | 1345 | Whether the quota is closed, track check, stay advice. Nepali on weekdays 09:00~18:00 |
| 하이코리아 | hikorea.go.kr | Notices, online applications, check your period of stay |
| 외국인력상담센터 (Foreign Workforce Counseling Center) | 1577-0071 | Re-employment and workplace change advice. Many languages including Nepali. 3-way calls |
| 고용노동부 (Ministry of Employment and Labor) Customer Center | 1350 | Re-employment extension process |
| E-7-4 points calculator | /ne/tools/e74 | Check your points |