E-7-3 covers 14 skilled trades; E-7-4 is a points-based status change

This guide is for Korean employers of foreign skilled workers, and for the workers. E-7-3 (일반기능인력) brings in a qualified tradesperson for a listed trade. E-7-4 (숙련기능인력) lets long-serving E-9, E-10 or H-2 workers switch status on points. Rules follow the Ministry of Justice (법무부) manuals updated on October 19, 2026.

Two routes compared

The 14 E-7-3 trades

Percentages cap these workers as a share of Korean staff. Many trades also need an overseas skills test by a body the ministry designates. Ministry names are the post-2025 names: Ministry of Trade and Industry (산업통상부), Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (기후에너지환경부).

Shipbuilding trades

Welders, ship electricians and ship painters share these rules:

• Foreign workers up to 30% of Korean staff. Small shipbuilders (1 year in business, small-business confirmation) may hire at least 5, plus 1 for every ₩2 billion of annual sales.
• Pay: 80% of the previous year's GNI per capita. Workers newly brought in from October 2024 may be paid at least ₩25,890,000 (2026 figure) until 3 full years after entry.
• Welders: an intermediate or higher welding certificate (AWS or similar), 2 years' experience after it, and an overseas skills test. The employer needs sales of ₩1 billion or more over the last year, 10 or more workers (waived for small businesses) and no runaway foreign workers in the last 2 years. Equipment suppliers must show that 50% or more of their business is shipbuilding.
• Electricians and painters: a related degree plus experience (bachelor's: 1 year; associate degree: 5 years). Passing the designated skills test cuts this (bachelor's: none; associate degree: 2 years).
• Korean science or engineering graduates (associate degree or higher) hired by a shipbuilder with a ministry recommendation may change status.
• Within 1 year of entry: 21 or more points on the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (사회통합프로그램, KIIP) pre-test with placement at level 2, or completion of level 1. This applies to entries from January 1, 2024.
• A change of workplace is allowed only for closure, business trouble or other reasons that are not the worker's fault, with papers from the shipbuilding association.

E-7-4: who can apply

The worker must meet all four:

1. At least 4 years on E-9, E-10 or H-2 within the last 10 years, now registered and working normally. Workers with 3 years in a non-capital region who get a provincial or metropolitan government recommendation also qualify.
2. A contract with the current employer for at least 2 years, paying ₩26,000,000 or more a year (₩25,890,000 for agriculture, livestock, fisheries and coastal shipping).
3. A recommendation from the current employer after at least 1 year there.
4. At least 200 of 300 points, bonus points included, with at least 50 points each for income and for Korean.

Excluded (most items within 10 years): a fine of ₩3,000,000 or more, unpaid taxes until paid, 4 or more Immigration Act violations, illegal stay of 3 months or more, and threats to public safety or order.

E-7-4 points

Agriculture, livestock, fisheries and coastal shipping workers reach the lowest income band from ₩24,000,000.

Bonus points: employer recommendation 30; a central ministry recommendation 30 or a provincial or metropolitan government recommendation 50 (only one of the two counts); 3+ years with the current employer 20; 3+ years in a depopulation area or a town or township (읍·면) area 20; a Korean technical licence (기사, 산업기사, 기능사) or a Korean degree 20; a Korean driving licence of class 2 ordinary or higher 10. Deductions reach 50 points at most: fines below ₩3,000,000 (up to 20), tax-arrears restrictions (up to 15) and Immigration Act violations (up to 15).

If everything except Korean is met (150 points or more), the Korean requirement can be deferred until the first extension (2 years). This option runs until December 31, 2026. A worker who still falls short after 2 years cannot invite family and gets only 6-month stays; failing again within those 6 months ends the stay.

Employer limits and the 2026 quota

• The employer must currently employ at least one E-9, E-10 or H-2 worker normally and have no unpaid national, local or customs taxes.
• E-7-4 workers may reach 30% of Korean staff, or 50% in depopulation areas, root industries and agriculture, livestock and fisheries. An employer of E-9 or E-10 workers gets at least 1 (2 in those sectors) even with no Korean staff. Construction firms get 0.4 workers per ₩100,000,000 of construction capacity.
• Korean staff means people on the employment insurance roster for 3 months or more, so firms usually wait 3 months after opening.
• An employer that withholds wages, abuses workers or hires illegally loses the right to recommend for 5 years.
• Contracts running into 2027 must also meet the 2027 minimum wage of ₩10,700 an hour (₩2,236,300 a month for 209 hours). See 2027 minimum wage ₩10,700: notify workers by December 31, 2026.

The 2026 plan offers 33,000 places: 12,000 for the employer-recommendation track, 6,300 by central ministries, 8,500 by provinces and metropolitan cities and 6,200 held flexibly. Applications run from March 1 to December 31, 2026, until the quota closes, online through HiKorea (하이코리아). The filing weekday follows the last digit of the birth year: 1/6 Monday, 2/7 Tuesday, 3/8 Wednesday, 4/9 Thursday, 5/0 Friday. Workers recommended by a province or metropolitan city must keep their address there for at least 2 years after the change (3 years, with the same employer, under the non-capital 3-year rule).