E-7 Skilled Worker Visa: Korean Documents and Translation Workflow (2026)

The E-7 visa is Korea's primary skilled-worker visa for foreign professionals — engineers, IT specialists, managers, designers, researchers. Unlike D-2 (which is sponsored by a university), E-7 is sponsored by a Korean employer and requires both the employer and the applicant to submit documents. The E-7 has 87 occupation codes, each with subtly different requirements, and the document bundle is among the heaviest of Korean visas. This guide covers the occupation framework, employer-side and applicant-side documents, salary thresholds, and the renewal flow.

E-7 occupation codes — find yours first

E-7 is divided into 87 specific occupation codes (직종 코드), grouped into broad categories:

• Management and administration (codes 110–149)
• Engineering and technical (codes 150–229)
• IT and computing (codes 230–249)
• Research and academic (codes 250–289)
• Healthcare (codes 290–319)
• Sales, marketing, business support (codes 320–399)
• Design, media, arts (codes 400–499)
• Education and training (codes 500–599)

Each code has specific qualification requirements (degree level, years of experience, professional certification). Confirm the code with your Korean employer's HR before pulling documents — the wrong code means rejection or downgrade to E-9.

Employer-side documents

The Korean employer provides:

1. Business registration certificate (사업자등록증) — proves the company exists. See translate-korean-business-registration.
2. Tax compliance certificate (국세납세증명서) — proves the company pays taxes.
3. Most recent 4 social insurance returns (4대보험 신고서) — proves the company has Korean employees and pays insurance.
4. Employment contract — Korean version signed by both parties.
5. Salary commitment letter — must meet the E-7 threshold (see below).
6. Job posting evidence — proof that the role was advertised to Korean nationals first (for some codes).
7. Company introduction — corporate history, industry, business scope.

The employer submits these in Korean. The applicant typically does not need to translate them.

Applicant-side documents (these need translation)

The applicant provides documents from their home country, which need translation into Korean:

1. Passport copy — usually no translation.
2. Diploma or degree certificate — translation into Korean.
3. Academic transcript — translation into Korean.
4. Work experience certificates from previous employers — translation into Korean.
5. Professional certifications (PE, CPA, AWS, etc.) — translation into Korean.
6. Resume / CV — translation into Korean.
7. Police background check — translation into Korean.
8. Health check — sometimes; usually in Korea.

The translation flow is into Korean for E-7 applications, the reverse of typical Korean-document workflows.

Salary thresholds

E-7 has minimum salary thresholds tied to Korean GNI (Gross National Income). For 2026, the general threshold is approximately KRW 35M annual for most E-7 codes, with higher thresholds for senior positions and specialized roles.

Codes with higher thresholds:

• R&D and research codes — typically KRW 45M+
• Senior management codes — typically KRW 60M+
• Top-tier engineering and IT codes — typically KRW 50M+

Codes with lower thresholds:

• Entry-level engineering and design codes — KRW 30–35M baseline
• Junior research and academic codes — KRW 30M baseline

The salary commitment letter from the employer must state the annual amount and align with the threshold for the specific code.

Translation pitfalls for E-7

Diploma and transcript. Same principles as D-2 — preserve GPA scale, use registered institution name, do not auto-convert. The translation also needs to clearly show degree level (Bachelor's vs Master's vs Doctorate) because E-7 qualification thresholds depend on it.

Work experience certificates. Korean Immigration counts years of experience strictly — only documented years count. Translation should preserve start and end dates in YYYY.MM.DD format and the role title with both literal translation and Korean equivalent.

Professional certifications. Many international certifications (PE, CPA, CFA, AWS, PMP) have established Korean equivalents. The translation should use the standard Korean name plus parenthetical reference to the original.

Resume / CV. Korean Immigration prefers a chronological resume, not a functional one. The translation should reorganize a functional resume into chronological format if needed.

Police background check. Must be issued within the last 3 months. Some origin countries (US, UK, Canada) have specific federal-level checks that satisfy Korean requirements; others need apostille on the certificate.

Renewal flow

E-7 is initially issued for 1–3 years. Renewal documents:

1. Updated employment contract
2. Salary record — proves the threshold was actually paid
3. Most recent 4 social insurance payment records
4. Continuity of role — proof the same job is continuing
5. Updated police check (sometimes)

Renewals are processed at HiKorea, typically 4 months before expiry. The applicant does not need new translations of original diploma/transcript at renewal unless they changed employers or roles.

How ZenTrans handles E-7 document translation

ZenTrans translates applicant-side foreign documents into Korean for E-7 submission:

• Diplomas and transcripts render in Korean academic style
• Work experience certificates preserve company seal and signature areas
• Professional certifications use standard Korean equivalents
• Resumes / CVs reformat for chronological Korean preference (with editor adjustments)
• Police background checks maintain official seals and institutional names
• 15 source languages supported

A typical E-7 applicant package (diploma + transcript + 2 experience letters + 1 certification + resume + police check) processes in 45–90 minutes.

Step-by-step

1. Confirm occupation code with your Korean employer.
2. Gather applicant documents from your home country.
3. Apostille foreign documents (diploma, transcript, police check, marriage cert if dependents).
4. Upload foreign documents to ZenTrans — translate into Korean.
5. Review translations — verify name spelling, dates, role titles, certification names.
6. Notarize Korean translations at a 공증사무소 if HiKorea requires.
7. Coordinate with employer — they submit their side simultaneously.
8. Submit at HiKorea (in Korea) or Korean consulate (abroad).

Frequently asked questions

How long does E-7 last? 1–3 years initially, renewable indefinitely while the job continues. After 5 years on E-7, applicants are eligible for F-2 long-term residency.

Can I switch employers on E-7? Yes, but you must notify Immigration within 14 days and may need to refile certain documents.

Does the salary commitment have to be met exactly? The salary must be at or above the threshold. Bonuses and benefits do not count toward the threshold; only the contracted base salary.

My diploma is from a less-well-known foreign university. Will it be accepted? Korean Immigration recognizes most accredited universities globally. If the university is on the World Higher Education Database, it is accepted. Lesser-known institutions may need additional verification.

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The E-7 visa is the bread-and-butter visa for foreign professionals in Korea. Building the document package once with translations of the diploma, transcript, work experience, and certifications saves significant time at every renewal and any future employer transition.

Ready to translate your E-7 documents into Korean? Open ZenTrans and upload your first document — the first 5 pages are free.