E-7-4 Skilled Worker Visa: Requirements and Points System

Who can apply

You must meet all four conditions below.

1. You are a registered foreigner who stayed 4 years or more on E-9, E-10 or H-2 in the last 10 years, and you are working normally at your current workplace.
   • Special rule: If you have stayed 3 years or more outside the capital area (outside Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon) and you get a recommendation from a 광역지방자치단체 (province or metropolitan city government), you can apply. People who change status under this special rule must work at that company and live in that area for 3 years.
2. You sign an E-7-4 employment contract with your current workplace for 2 years or more with an annual salary of 26,000,000원 or more.
   • The annual salary is base pay plus all allowances.
   • For workers in farming, livestock, fishing and coastal shipping, the standard is a little lower. The June 2026 법무부 (Ministry of Justice) document says 25,000,000원 or more. The September 2026 법무부 manual says 25,890,000원 or more. One year of work at the 2026 minimum wage is about 25,880,000원. So it is safer to sign a contract for 25,890,000원 or more.
3. You get a recommendation from the company where you have worked for 1 year or more (this is required, and it also gives 50 bonus points).
4. You get 200 points or more in the points system (you must have at least 50 points for income and at least 50 points for Korean).

People who cannot apply – people who got a fine of 3,000,000원 or more, people with unpaid taxes (you can apply after you pay in full), people who broke the Immigration Act 4 times or more, people who stayed illegally for 3 months or more, and others. For fines, Immigration Act violations and illegal stay, only the last 10 years count.

The fine amount for this rule is different in different documents. The 3,000,000원 above is from the September 2026 법무부 manual. The June 2026 법무부 document says 1,000,000원. If you had a fine of 1,000,000원 or more but less than 3,000,000원, you must check with 1345 or your local 출입국·외국인관서 (immigration office) before you apply.

Points table (based on 2026 법무부 documents)

Basic items (total 300 points)

A. Average yearly income in the last 2 years – up to 120 points

Average income	25–30 million	30–35 million	35–40 million	40–45 million	45–50 million	50 million or more
Points	50	65	80	95	110	120

For workers in farming, livestock, fishing and coastal shipping, income counts from 24,000,000원.

Average income is your income for the last 2 years added together and divided by 2. The minimum average income is different in different documents. The table above gives points from 25,000,000원. But the September 2026 법무부 manual text says 25,890,000원, and some parts of the program summary in the June 2026 법무부 press release say 26,000,000원. If your average income is between 25,000,000원 and 26,000,000원, check with 1345.

B. Korean language – up to 120 points

Level	TOPIK level 2 / 사회통합프로그램 (KIIP, Korea Immigration and Integration Program) level 2 / pre-test 41–60 points	TOPIK level 3 / level 3 / 61–80 points	TOPIK level 4 or higher / level 4 or higher / 81 points or more
Points	50	80	120

C. Age – up to 60 points

Age	19–26	27–33	34–40	41 or older
Points	40	60	30	10

Bonus points

Item	Points
Recommendation from your employer (required)	50
Recommendation from a central government ministry	30
Recommendation from a 광역지방자치단체 (province or metropolitan city government)	30
3 years or more at your current workplace	20
3 years or more of work in a population-decline area or in an 읍·면 (town or rural township) area	20
Certificate (기사, 산업기사, 기능사 – Korean technical qualifications) or a Korean degree	20
Korean driver's license (Class 2 regular or higher)	10

Only Korean certificates related to the field you work in on the day you apply are accepted. Only degrees from Korean colleges or universities, at the 2-year college degree (전문학사) level or higher, are accepted.

Bonus points are added together. The employer recommendation is required, so every applicant gets 50 points. The central ministry recommendation and the province or city government recommendation are optional. If you get both, only one (30 points) counts. If you get a province or city government recommendation, you must keep your address in that province or city for 2 years or more after you change to E-7-4.

Point deductions (up to 50 points, within 10 years before the application date)

Item	1 time	2 times	3 times or more
Fine of less than 3,000,000원 (up to 20 points)	5	10	20
Your stay permission was limited because of unpaid taxes (up to 15 points)	5	10	15
Administrative penalty for breaking the Immigration Act 3 times or less (up to 15 points)	5	10	15

The 3,000,000원 fine amount for deductions is from the text of the September 2026 법무부 manual. One deduction box in the points table of the same manual and the June 2026 법무부 document say less than 1,000,000원. Documents also differ on whether 과태료 (administrative fines) count for the Immigration Act deduction. The September manual does not count 과태료. The June document counts 과태료. If you ever paid a fine or a 과태료, check with 1345 before you apply.

Temporary delay of the Korean language requirement

If you meet all requirements except Korean and have a total of 150 points or more, you can delay the Korean requirement. The condition is that you improve your Korean by your first extension (2 years). This special rule is open until December 31, 2026.

• People who change status under this special rule can invite family only after they meet the Korean requirement.
• If you do not meet the Korean requirement within 2 years after the change, your period of stay is extended for only 6 months.
• If you still do not meet the Korean requirement within those 6 months, you cannot get another extension, and your stay permission can be canceled.

Requirements for the company

• The workplace must currently employ at least 1 foreigner with E-9, E-10 or H-2 status.
• The company can hire E-7-4 workers up to 30% of the number of Korean workers it employs.
  • Special rule: population-decline areas, root industries (뿌리산업, basic manufacturing such as casting and welding), and farming, livestock and fishing: up to 50% (farming, livestock and fishing were added in June 2026).
  • Small workplaces with 4 or fewer Korean workers: up to 1 person (2 people for special-rule workplaces).
• For construction, the number is 0.4 people for every 100,000,000원 of the company's construction capacity rating (시공능력평가액).
• Companies with unpaid national or local taxes cannot take part.
• The number of people a company can recommend must also be within the hiring limit above (based on the September 2026 법무부 manual). If unpaid wages or human rights violations such as violence are confirmed, the company loses the right to recommend and cannot recommend anyone for 5 years.

Steps

1. Calculate your points yourself. It is easy to use the self-check form in the 하이코리아 notice.
2. Get the points you are missing. Korean (TOPIK or 사회통합프로그램), certificates and a driver's license are the easiest items to raise.
3. Get a recommendation letter and an employment contract for 2 years or more from your company.
4. Apply for a change of status of stay through 하이코리아 online services (전자민원). You can apply online on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Your application day depends on the last digit of your birth year (Monday 1·6, Tuesday 2·7, Wednesday 3·8, Thursday 4·9, Friday 5·0). Check the 하이코리아 notice.
5. Wait for the result. If you are approved, you get a period of stay of up to 2 years at a time, and you can extend it later.

The fee for a change of status of stay is 100,000원.

Be careful

• This is a change of status of stay, not a new visa. You must apply while you are in Korea.
• There is a yearly quota (limit). The 2026 quota is 33,000 people. Applications are open all the time from March 1 to December 31, 2026, until the quota is full. The quota is divided by recommendation type (individual track with company recommendation, central ministry recommendation, province or city government recommendation, and others). When the quota is full, no more applications are accepted. Check the 하이코리아 notice for application dates and closing news.
• False documents are very dangerous. They can lead to refusal of your status change, limits on future visa applications, and even criminal punishment.
• If you changed companies and it was not your fault, from June 2026 the time you worked at your previous company is added to the time at your current company. Examples are when you changed because the company stopped work or closed, because of verbal abuse or violence, or because of unpaid wages. You must prove this with documents. This applies to "recommendation from a company where you have worked 1 year or more" and to the "3 years or more at your current workplace" bonus. It applies both when you change to E-7-4 and when you extend your period of stay. Example: 9 months at the previous company + 4 months at the current company = 1 year 1 month. Check with your local 출입국·외국인관서 or 1345 which documents are accepted. More details: E-7-4 after changing workplaces
• The items and points in the points table can change over time. Before you apply, check that year's selection plan in the 하이코리아 notice again.

What comes next

• Inviting family – E-7-4 allows family to come with you. You can invite your spouse and children under 19. If you got the delay of the Korean requirement, you can do this only after you meet the Korean requirement. Check with 하이코리아 or 1345 about who you can invite and what documents you need.
• Permanent residence (F-5) – Under Annex Table 1-3 of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, an adult who has stayed in Korea for 5 years or more on E-7 or F-2 status can be eligible for permanent residence. There are extra checks such as income, behavior and basic knowledge, so check with 하이코리아 or 1345.
• Regional skilled worker (E-7-4R) – If you work in a population-decline area or a population-decline watch area, you can also look at E-7-4R. You may be eligible if you stayed 2 years or more on E-9, E-10 or H-2 in the last 10 years (E-7-4 needs 4 years). But you must have both a recommendation from the 광역지자체 (province or metropolitan city government) and a recommendation from your company. You must live and work in the recommended area for 3 years or more. The points standard (200 out of 300) is the same. Check the detailed conditions in the notice of that province or city and with 1345. See also: Regional visas (F-2-R, E-7-4R)

Frequently asked questions

Q. I have not taken a Korean test yet. Can I apply? A. Until December 31, 2026, you can apply if you meet all requirements except Korean and have a total of 150 points or more. But you must improve your Korean by your first extension. If you do not, your stay is extended for only 6 months. If you still do not within that time, your stay permission can be canceled.

Q. Does the 사회통합프로그램 pre-test score count? A. Yes. 41–60 points gives 50 points, 61–80 points gives 80 points, and 81 points or more gives 120 points. A pre-test result is no longer valid 2 years after the result date. Even with 41 points or more, it does not count if your speaking score is less than 3 points and you are placed in level 0.

Q. Can I get the population-decline area bonus more than once? A. No. Work time in population-decline areas and in 읍·면 areas is added together, but you get 20 points only once.

Q. Is it a disadvantage to be over 41? A. Your age points drop to 10. You need to make up the points with income, Korean and bonus points.

Q. What happens if my company does not recommend me? A. The employer recommendation is required, so you cannot apply. Talk with your company early.

Where to get help

• 외국인종합안내센터 (Immigration Contact Center) 1345 (many languages; questions about the points system and online applications)
• 하이코리아 www.hikorea.go.kr (online applications, selection plan notices)
• Your local 출입국·외국인관서
• 사회통합프로그램 information www.socinet.go.kr