What can and can't I do with E-7-4 (Skilled Worker) status?

With E-7-4, you can only do the permitted work at the permitted company. If you want to change your company or your job, you must get immigration permission before the change.

What you can do

• Work at the permitted company. You do the work written in your contract, at the company that recommended you and signed the employment contract with you.
• Extend your stay. Up to 2 years at a time, within the period of your employment contract. You can apply from 4 months before your expiry date until the expiry date.
• Invite your family. Your spouse and minor children can usually live with you under the Dependent (F-3) status. Check the detailed requirements separately.
• Leave and re-enter Korea. If you return within 1 year of the day you left, you do not need a re-entry permit. If your remaining stay period is shorter than 1 year, you must return within that period.

What you must not do

• Changing companies or working somewhere else without permission. This includes weekend part-time jobs, side jobs, and daily-wage work at another place. You must get permission for a change or addition of workplace in advance (fee: 120,000 KRW).
• Doing a different job at the same company without permission. For example, if you move from a production job to an office job, first check with Immigration whether you need permission before you start the new work.
• Moving your address to another region after getting a recommendation from a metropolitan or provincial government. After you change to E-7-4, you must keep your address in that city or province for at least 2 years. If you changed under the special rule for non-capital regions, the required period to work at that company and live in that region is 3 years.
• Submitting false documents. If you submit false documents or write untrue information, your application will be denied, and your future visa applications may be restricted. You may also face criminal punishment.

⚠️ Please also follow these rules

• If you move, report your change of residence (address) within 15 days. The report is free.
• When you extend, you submit the company recommendation letter and the income certificate (소득금액증명원) again. So staying at the same company and your income are important.
• A contract with an annual salary of 26,000,000 KRW or more is a required condition when changing to E-7-4. For agriculture, livestock, fishing, and coastal merchant ships, it is 25,890,000 KRW.

If you have already worked somewhere else without permission, you may have problems with your stay. Try the Kevi administrative agent consultation (Visa Service in the app). Check again with HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or 1345 to be sure.