🇰🇷Visa options for South Korea
South Korea offers 36 visa types across 9 categories — from skilled-worker and study visas to family, investment, digital-nomad, and permanent-residency pathways. 25 lead to PR; 22 don't require a job offer. Here's every South Korea visa tracked by VisaMatch.
36visa types
9categories
25PR pathways
22no job needed
Check which South Korea visas you qualify for →
Visa categories in South Korea
All South Korea visa types
Work (13)
E-1 Professor Visa
Employment contract with a Korean university or accredited higher education institution.
E-10 Maritime Crew
Employment contract with Korean shipping or fishing company.
E-2 Foreign Language Instructor
Native speaker of the language being taught, citizen of a native-speaking country (e.g., USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa).
E-3 Research Visa
Employment contract with a designated Korean research institution.
E-4 Technology Instructor
Contract with a Korean company for technology transfer.
E-5 Professional Employment
Valid professional licence recognised in Korea, employment contract with Korean employer or firm.
E-6 Arts & Entertainment
Performance contract with a registered Korean entertainment agency or organisation.
E-7 Specially Designated Activities (Skilled Worker)
Employer-sponsored.
E-7-M Visa (K-CORE — Manufacturing Talent Track)
Launched by the Ministry of Justice in January 2026 (marketed as K-CORE), this visa funnels foreign graduates of designated Korean junior/community college manufacturing-track pro…
E-8 Training Employment
Must have completed D-3 industrial trainee program at sponsoring company.
E-9 Non-Professional Employment
Nationals of 16 EPS partner countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbeki…
K-STAR Visa Track (Science & Technology Talent)
Fast-track F-2 resident visa for international graduates with a master's or doctoral degree in science and engineering, aimed at attracting top global STEM talent.
Top-Tier Visa (Elite Science & Technology Talent)
Fast-track visa for elite global science and technology talent, jointly administered by the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Science and ICT.
Residence Permit (5)
D-1 Culture & Arts Visa Residence
Invitation or contract from a Korean cultural organisation.
D-5 Journalism / News Coverage Residence
Credential from an overseas news organisation.
D-6 Religion Visa Residence
Invitation from a registered Korean religious organisation.
F-2 Resident Visa (incl. F-2-7 Points-Based) Residence
F-2-7: Minimum 3 consecutive years on same visa (D or E class).
F-4 Overseas Korean Visa Residence
Foreign nationals of Korean descent (at least one Korean-born grandparent or parent who was Korean citizen).
Investment & Business (4)
D-10 Job Seeker Visa Business
D-10-1: Graduates of accredited Korean universities.
D-7 Intra-Company Transfer Business
Must have worked for the multinational company for at least 1 year before transfer.
D-8 Corporate Investment Visa Business
D-8-1: Registered company in Korea, KRW 100M minimum investment.
D-9 International Trade Visa Business
Evidence of ongoing trade activities or company registration in Korea.
Visitor & Transit (4)
C-2 Short-Term Business Visit Visitor
Business visitors with invitation letter from Korean company, return ticket, proof of funds.
C-3 Short-Term Visit Visa Visitor
Nationals of countries not qualifying for visa-free entry or K-ETA.
Jeju Island Visa-Free Entry Visitor
Unilateral visa waiver for entry directly into Jeju Island (not mainland Korea) by international flight or ship, for eligible nationalities.
K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) Visitor
Mandatory electronic travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers entering South Korea for short-term visits (tourism, business, transit).
Family (3)
F-1 Family Visitor / Accompanying
Proven family relationship with a Korean resident.
F-3 Dependent Family Visa
Spouse or minor child of a D or E visa holder.
F-6 Marriage Migrant Visa
Legally married to a Korean citizen.
Special Status (3)
F-1-D Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa Special
Age 18+. Must work for overseas company or be a freelancer serving foreign clients.
H-1 Working Holiday Visa Special
18–30 years old (some countries up to 35).
H-2 Working Visit Visa Special
Ethnic Koreans (Joseonjok) from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other CIS states.
Study & Training (2)
D-2 Student Visa Study
Acceptance letter from a Ministry of Education-accredited Korean university.
D-4 General Trainee (Language School) Study
Enrolment letter from an approved Korean institution.
Humanitarian & Protection (1)
Frequently Asked Questions about moving to South Korea
How many visa types does South Korea offer?
South Korea offers 36 visa types across 9 categories — covering work, study, family, investment, and permanent-residency pathways.
Can I move to South Korea without a job offer?
Yes — 22 of South Korea's 36 visa types don't require a pre-arranged job offer. These include points-based skilled visas, investor and entrepreneur visas, digital-nomad and remote-worker visas, study visas, and family-sponsored pathways.
Does South Korea offer a pathway to permanent residency?
Yes. 25 of South Korea's visa types lead — directly or indirectly — to permanent residency. PR typically requires meeting time-in-country, income, language, and eligibility thresholds specific to each visa.
Which South Korea visa is right for me?
It depends on your goal. Employment-based visas suit skilled workers with qualifications and experience; family visas fit those with a spouse or close relative in South Korea; investor and golden visas target entrepreneurs with capital; study visas cover education; digital-nomad and retirement visas suit remote workers and retirees. VisaMatch checks your profile against every South Korea visa in seconds.
How do I check my eligibility for South Korea?
Use VisaMatch's free eligibility checker. Enter your nationality, age, occupation, income, and education, then select South Korea. You'll see every South Korea visa you qualify for, with links to the official government source for each.
South Korea in depth
Air qualityModerateAQI 45
ClimateTemperate, four distinct seasonsHot, humid summers and cold, dry winters.
Infrastructure9.0/10Exceptional infrastructure, among the world's fastest internet.
Cost of living75Index, NYC = 100
SafetySafeVery low crime, among the safest countries in the world.
Internet200 MbpsGood
Political stabilityStableStable democracy, though regional tension with North Korea persists.
Inflation2.5%Purchasing power index 78
Immigrant friendliness2.9/5The E-7 skilled-worker visa exists, but the process and language expectations are demanding.
Income tax45%Top national marginal rate on annual taxable income above KRW 1,000,000,000; effective rate rises to about 49.5% once the 10% local income tax surtax is included
Median salaryKRW 37,551,960/yr
Best-performing job sectors
Tech/semiconductors — +5% YoY, global leader (Samsung, SK Hynix)
Entertainment/gaming — +6% YoY, K-content boom
Manufacturing — +3% YoY
Curated research pass, sourced per field (tax, salary, healthcare and legal figures cite an official or named source) — not live data. Refreshed periodically, not real-time.
See full South Korea insights →
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