Work permits and visas in South Korea: An employer’s guide

To hire or relocate an employee to South Korea, you need to make sure they have the proper work visa under local immigration laws. Your company also needs to stay on top of labor and tax laws for compliant HR.

South Korea’s immigration rules tie the right to work to status of stay (visa category) and employer. Only visa types that allow work may be used for employment, and foreigners must follow the activities permitted by that status. 

In this article, Remote walks you through right-to-work checks, work visa types, and visa requirements for your employee to work in the Republic of Korea. 

See also: The complete employer's guide to hiring in South Korea

Do non-citizens need a work visa or work permit in South Korea?

Yes. To perform paid work in the Republic of Korea, foreign nationals must hold a status of stay (visa) that specifically allows employment.

It's important to note that foreign nationals may work only within the scope of their status and at workplaces reported to/approved by immigration authorities. For any employment, the correct D/E/F (or H-1 for limited working holiday) status is required.

Right-to-work checks in South Korea

Foreign employees may work only within the activities permitted by their status of stay and typically at a designated workplace. Changes (e.g., additional worksites, employer changes) require permission or a status change with immigration.

Note that a K-ETA is not a visa and is only for short visits (tourism, visiting relatives, events/conferences, or business with no commercial activities). It does not allow paid employment.

As an employer, hire only candidates who hold a visa/status that authorizes work. If the employee will stay over 90 days, they must register and obtain a Residence Card (foreigner registration) within 90 days of arrival. This is a separate step from the visa and is required for long-term sojourns.

Work visa types in South Korea

The Korea Visa Portal lists visa categories and sub-codes, which employers can use as their primary taxonomy reference. Here's the list of work visa types in South Korea, by category:

E-series — Employment / Professional

E visa categories are for hiring a foreign national into a defined professional role in Korea. Each sub-category specifies the permitted work activities. In most cases, the visa sponsor secures a Confirmation of Visa Issuance (CCVI) domestically before the employee applies at a Korean mission.

• E-1 Professor Visa: Teaching/research at higher-education institutions
• E-2 Foreign Language Instructor Visa: Conversational language teaching at approved institutions
• E-3 Research Visa: Research at designated institutions)
• E-4 Technical Instructor/Technician Visa: Technology guidance/transfer
• E-5 Professional Visa: Licensed professionals
• E-6 Culture & Arts/Entertainment Visa: Artists, performers, etc.
• E-7 Foreign National of Special Ability Visa: Designated occupations requiring specialized skills

D-series — Corporate assignments

D-series are for company assignments rather than direct local hiring. For example, a
D-7 Intra-Company Transfer Visa is for people from overseas headquarters or affiliates to a Korean entity (D-7-1/D-7-2 and FTA variants).

F-series — Overseas Koreans

F-4 (Overseas Korean) routes are available to eligible individuals of Korean heritage and other specified groups. The Korea Immigration Service defines the scope of permitted activities and job limits. Some F-4 holders must pledge non-employment in restricted occupations.

H-1 — Working Holiday (limited work while traveling)

The H-1 Working Holiday program is for youth mobility, extended holiday, and short-term, incidental work. Korean missions handle country eligibility and program terms for H-1 visas according to bilateral MOUs.

Short-term business and short-term employment

For short stays, C-3-4 Business Visitor visa covers business visits, meetings, market research and contracting. Note that it is not for-profit work. Meanwhile, a C-4 Short-Term Employment visa covers temporary paid work up to 90 days in specified activities.

Non-professional hiring under the Employment Permit System (EPS, E-9)

For “non-professional” roles (manufacturing, agriculture, fisheries, etc.), Korea uses the Employment Permit System (EPS), administered by the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) and HRD Korea. EPS applies to E-9 (and H-2) workers and is not a “sponsorship” scheme. Rather, it’s a government-run matching and permit program with sending-country MOUs and EPS-TOPIK testing.

Skilled Worker Points System (E-7-4)

Eligible foreign nationals who have worked in Korea on E-9 / E-10 / H-2 status and who meet points criteria (e.g., skillfulness, etc.) may apply to change status to E-7-4 Skilled Worker Points System Visa for continued skilled employment.

Visa application process in South Korea

To apply for a work visa in Korea, useful resources are the Korea Visa Portal for status, categories, and application forms; your local Korean mission for checklists and timelines; and HiKorea (KIS) for registration and online appointments. 

Here are some points to note on the visa process in Korea: 

Sponsor gets a CCVI (Visa Issuance Number)

For most D/E/F work statuses, your Korean entity (the “inviting party”) applies in Korea for a Certificate/Confirmation of Visa Issuance (CCVI/CVI) through the Korea Visa Portal or at a local Korea Immigration Service office. The CCVI is then provided to the applicant for use at the embassy/consulate.

Applicant files at a Korean mission

With the CCVI number, the worker submits the visa application form, passport, photo, fee, and any category-specific documents to the Korean embassy or consulate.

Print approval notice

Once approved, applicants can verify and print the Visa Grant Notice / Confirmation of Visa Issuance via the Visa Portal.

Post-arrival registration (long-term stays)

If the employee will remain in Korea over 90 days, they must register and obtain a Residence Card (foreigner registration) within 90 days of arrival through the local immigration office/HiKorea system. 

Keep details updated

Registered foreigners must report a change of residence within 14 days through the immigration office or local government office. 

Work visa costs and processing times in South Korea

For South Korean visa fees, the Visa Portal publishes standard fee bands. Korean visa processing time is mission-specific. For example, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA notes visas normally take two to three weeks.

Digital nomad visa in South Korea

South Korea’s Ministry of Justice launched the F-1-D Workation (Digital Nomad) visa on January 1, 2024 to let eligible foreign remote workers live in Korea while working for an overseas employer. Employment for Korean companies is restricted under this status.

Requirements for F-1-D visa include: 

• Age and experience: 18+ years old and at least one year of work in the same industry

• Employer: Employed by (or operating) a non-Korean company

• Income threshold: Earn at least 2× Korea’s per-capita GNI for the previous year (exact amount is set by the government and updated) 

• Family members: Spouse and minor children can accompany the main applicant under the program’s rules 

• Length of stay: Granted for up to one year, with a possible one-year extension (total up to two years

Details on how to get a digital nomad visa in South Korea can vary by consulate, so applicants should check with their mission.

How Remote can help with work visas in South Korea  

To hire or relocate employees to South Korea, you need to have your own entity in the country. You also need to navigate immigration laws to avoid potential penalties, as well as handle payroll and benefits according to local tax laws. 

That's why Remote’s Employer of Record service is invaluable. We act as the legal employer in South Korea on your company’s behalf. Remote helps you navigate compliance according to local labor and tax laws, so you can onboard your employees in a matter of days to save time and resources. 

If you already have an entity in South Korea, Remote can help with international employee relocation with case-by-case immigration assessments, and guidance on South Korean visa applications. 

To learn more about the processes involved in relocating international employees, download Remote's Relocation Guide, or contact our Relocation team today.