It is very difficult and challenging to leave your home country and earn money in another country. To work in a foreign country, you need to be qualified. You have to know the culture, the laws, the communication, and the due process to make sure you won’t get in trouble. It’s hard to feel valued in your own country, but abroad, you always have to prove yourself to get by.
To get a job, work, and live in Korea, you need a south korea work permit visa. It’s not easy for people from developing countries to get a Korean visa. This is because until 1989, South Korea was an extremely closed country, with very limited passport issuance, let alone international travel, and while many restrictions have been lifted over time, public opinion has a long history of being wary of illegal immigration.
Citizens from Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Western European countries within the EU, Turquoise, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand can enter South Korea visa-free, and the immigration process is straightforward, with no questions asked at all or only formalities (purpose of stay, duration, etc.). In addition, with the introduction of automated immigration checkpoints, queues and even face-to-face encounters with immigration officers have been eliminated.
On the other hand, nationals from developing countries in the second and third world, such as Eastern Europe, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia, face a much more difficult process to obtain even a short-term visa to Korea. Proof of property is almost mandatory, and if there is any doubt about the documents, the visa will be denied immediately. In the case of the Philippines, it’s even easier to get a US visa than a Korean visa.
Even if you do get a visa for the above countries, immigration can be quite difficult. This is why Chinese people often come to Korea on package and group tours. This is because the immigration process is much easier for groups from these countries than for individuals. Instead, the group leader is screened separately.
Russia has a visa-free agreement with South Korea, which it does not have with China and Japan, so it is possible to enter South Korea without a visa, but immigration officials tend to be more stringent due to the high probability of illegal labor.
In the case of Chinese (mainland) nationals, who account for the largest number of foreigners entering South Korea, visa applicants’ backgrounds and histories vary widely, so the government has streamlined the visa issuance process to differentiate between applicants based on their wealth, including real estate, as well as their hukou, education, and work.
For example, if you are a resident of a large city such as Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, have graduated from a prestigious Chinese university such as Peking University or Tsinghua University, or are employed by a well-known company and earn a certain level of salary, you will have an easier time getting a visa.
Vietnamese applicants must prove that they have at least VND110 million in their local bank accounts and that they will not become illegal immigrants by providing a guarantor. It’s worth noting that entry is more difficult for young people, especially women. This is because they may be trying to enter the country to work in the illegal sex trade.
Korea work permit visa types
There are two main types of korea work permit visa: E and H. The H-2 visa requires you to be a resident of China and the former Soviet Union and have a family member or relative in Korea. If you don’t meet these requirements, it’s more common to get a work visa under the E category.
Employment (E, H)
- Teaching (E-1)
- Conversation tutor (E-2)
- General conversation instructor (E-2-1)
- School assistant (E-2-2)
- FTA English (E-2-91)
- Research (E-3)
- Technical Instruction (E-4)
- Professionals (E-5): Occupations that literally require professional qualifications, such as doctors, sea captains, airline pilots, lawyers, etc.
- Arts and Entertainment (E-6): includes arts and entertainment, hospitality, and athletics.
- Arts and Entertainment (E-6-1): Artists, entertainers, broadcasters, theater performers, etc.
- Hotel and entertainment (E-6-2): Singers, etc.
- Athletics and sports (E-6-3): Athletes and managers, etc.
- Specific Activities (E-7): Professional, semi-professional, and skilled laborers.
- Specific Activities (E-7-1)
- FTA Independent (E-7-91)
- Skilled Labor (E-7-4) Scoring System
- Seasonal work (E-8)
- Non-specialized employment (E-9): There are more than 10 specifics.
- Manufacturing (E-9-1)
- Construction (E-9-2)
- Agriculture (E-9-3)
- Fishing (E-9-4)
- Refrigeration and freezing (E-9-5)
- Material Gathering (E-9-6)
- Animal Husbandry (E-9-8)
- Past Years of Recommendation (E-9-95)
- Past Years of Employment (E-9-96)
- Past Special Employment (E-9-97)
- Past Lawful Action (E-9-98)
- Seafarer Employment (E-10)
- Inland Seamen (E-10-1)
- Fishing Seamen (E-10-2)
- Cruising Seafarers (E-10-3)
- Tourism (H-1)
- Visiting employment (H-2):
- Relative Visiting Employment (H-2-1)
- Study visitor (H-2-2)
- Voluntary Visitor Employment (H-2-3)
- Training visit employment (H-2-4)
- Lottery Visitor Employment(H-2-5)
- Change of employment(H-2-6)
- Expiration Visiting Employment(H-2-7)
- Other Visitor Employment (H-2-99)
korea work permit visa has different requirements and preparations. There are only a limited number of legal professionals in Korea who are authorized to practice these visas. The strategy for obtaining a visa may vary in detail depending on the internal flow and policy system in Korea. Therefore, it is best to work with a legal professional authorized by the country, such as a certified administrator, rather than a broker.
If you are interested in working with a local Korean administrator to help you get a korea work permit visa, please contact us through this link and we will be happy to assist you.