What is the E-7-M visa?
E-7-M stands for Korea College-to-Regional Employment and is an employment status granted to international students who have acquired Korean language skills and specialized manufacturing-related technical expertise at a domestic junior college. It is a newly created sub-code under the existing E-7 (Specific Activities) system and is also known by the nickname 'K-CORE Visa'.
'M' signifies an intermediate skill level between skilled professionals (E-7-1) and non-skilled professionals (E-9). It embodies a policy direction to supply local industries with personnel systematically trained at domestic educational institutions, instead of the existing method of directly importing low-skilled labor from overseas.
💡 Please be sure to check before reading this. This article is an administrative guide for reference purposes, compiled based on publicly available materials such as Ministry of Justice Announcement No. 2025-379, government policy briefings, and official press releases. As of March 2026, the E-7-M visa is in the pilot project phase, and the establishment of new status of residence codes and the notification of detailed screening criteria may not yet have been finalized or implemented. Please be sure to check the official guidance from the Ministry of Justice and the competent immigration office for your final decision.
Why Was This System Established? — Background and Purpose
The Ministry of Justice officially announced plans to establish the E-7-M visa on March 3, 2026, while releasing the '2030 Future Strategy for Immigration Policy.' The key background can be summarized in three points.
First, there is the chronic labor shortage in regional small and medium-sized manufacturing companies. Existing systems, such as the non-professional employment (E-9) visa, were insufficient to secure mid-level personnel with technical skills. Second, domestic employment pathways for international students at junior colleges were limited. Since the existing E-7-1 (professional) visa requires a bachelor's degree or higher as a prerequisite, it was difficult for associate degree graduates to utilize it. Third, the policy objectives of economic revitalization in regions experiencing population decline and encouraging the settlement of foreign nationals were combined.
Structure of the system: Admission → Education → Employment → Settlement
The E-7-M program is characterized not merely by visa issuance, but by the design of a consistent pathway from the admission stage to employment and settlement after graduation.
1. Admission Stage — D-2 (Student) Visa Issuance
International students admitted to 'promotion-type professional technical departments' designated by the Ministry of Justice are exempt from the financial ability requirement (20 million won in the capital area / 16 million won in the provinces) if they hold TOPIK Level 3 or higher.
2. While Enrolled — Expansion of Part-time Employment
The permitted hours for part-time employment while studying will be expanded from 30 hours per week to 35 hours.
3. After Graduation — Issuance of E-7-M (K-CORE) Visa
You can obtain an E-7-M visa if you meet the Korean language requirements after graduation (completion of Social Integration Program Level 4 or TOPIK Level 5 or higher) and sign an employment contract with a company related to your major for an annual salary of 26 million won or more.
4. Long-term Stay — Conversion to F-2 (Residence) Status
If you have been continuously employed for more than 5 years with an E-7-M visa, or have worked for more than 3 years at the same company in a population-declining area, you will be eligible to apply for a residence (F-2) visa.
Eligibility Requirements (International Students)
- Korean Language Requirements for Admission : Choose one from TOPIK Level 3 or higher / Completion of Social Integration Program Level 3 or higher / Sejong Institute Intermediate Korean Level 1 or higher
- Korean Language at Graduation: Completion of Social Integration Program Level 4 or TOPIK Level 5 or higher
- Education: Graduated from a Ministry of Justice-designated 'Development-oriented Specialized Technical Department' (Associate Degree)
- Employment Contract: Company related to major, starting salary of 26 million KRW or more
University Designation Requirements
- University Type: Junior College under the Higher Education Act
- Accreditation: Universities accredited or higher in the 2024 Education Internationalization Competency Certification System
- Eligible Majors: Limited to manufacturing-related majors (automotive manufacturing, precision machinery, electrical engineering, etc.)
- Excluded fields: Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts and Physical Education, Services (Hotels, Healthcare), Shipbuilding (Separate wide-area visa program)
- Department Recruitment Quota: Within 100% of the enrollment quota, maximum 50 people
Pilot Project Status: 16 Junior Colleges Selected
The Ministry of Justice conducted department recruitment from December 8, 2025, to January 9, 2026, and designated one department each at 16 junior colleges nationwide as a pilot program in February 2026.
| school | specialty |
| Gyeonggi Institute of Science and Technology | Future Electric Vehicle Department |
| Daerim University | Department of Future Automotive Engineering |
| Bucheon University | Textile and Fashion Business Department |
| Seojeong University | Global Textile & Fashion Business Department |
| Osan University | Electrical Engineering Department |
| Yongin College of Arts and Sciences | Department of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering |
| Yeongjin College | SmartCAD/CAM and |
| Gumi University | Department of Special Construction Machinery Engineering |
| Gyeongnam Information University | Mechanical Engineering |
| Dong-eui University of Science and Technology | Department of Mechanical Engineering |
| Busan Institute of Science and Technology | Automotive Department |
| Geoje University | Department of Mechanical Engineering |
| Ulsan College of Science | Department of Mechanical Engineering |
| Gunjangdae | Smart Agro-food Division |
| Jeonju Vision University | Department of Future Mobility |
| Mokpo Science University | Department of New and Renewable Energy and Electrical Engineering |
What is the difference from the existing E-7 visa?
| item | E-7-1 | Establishment of E-7-M(K-CORE) |
| Education | Bachelor's degree or higher | Associate's degree |
| Major scope | 67 specialized occupations | Limited to manufacturing-related majors |
| Korean language requirements | No separate requirements | TOPIK Level 5 or KIIP Level 4 |
| Wage requirements | Over 80% of GNI (31.12 million per year based on 2026) | Starting salary of 26 million won or more per year |
| Regional Linkage | nationwide | Center of the region where the designated university is located |
| F-2 switching route | Separate pathways such as the F-2-7 point system | Eligible to apply after 5 years of employment or 3 years of continuous service in a population decline area. |
The E-7-M is exclusively for junior college graduates, and Korean language proficiency and connection to local industries serve as key evaluation factors instead of the bachelor's degree and work experience requirements of the existing E-7-1.
Summary of benefits for international students
- Exemption from Financial Ability Requirement: If you have TOPIK Level 3 or higher, proof of financial resources (20 million KRW for the Seoul Metropolitan Area / 16 million KRW for other regions) is waived for D-2 visa issuance.
- Expansion of part-time employment: Up to 35 hours per week of part-time work allowed while enrolled (previously 30 hours)
- Allowed changes to academic records: Transfer to other domestic universities and transfer to a different major within the same university are permitted.
- E-7-M Visa after Graduation: Separate work visa issued upon employment related to major
- Residence (F-2) Conversion Pathway: Long-term stay possible through 5 years of employment or 3 years of continuous employment in areas with declining populations.
🚨 Please note that this is a pilot project.
As of March 2026, the E-7-M visa is in the 'Pilot Project for Cultivating Vocational Technical Departments' phase. The pilot period runs until the end of 2027, and decisions regarding extension, regularization, reduction, or suspension will be made based on performance evaluations (employment rate, illegal stay rate, nationality diversity, etc.). If the pilot project ends or changes, the issuance criteria for the E-7-M visa may also change.
Frequently Missed Risks
1. Major-Employment Mismatch: If the major of a training-type vocational technical department does not match the industry of the employing company, the issuance of an E-7-M visa may be denied. The criteria for reviewing the scope of 'major-related companies' may vary depending on the judgment of the competent immigration office.
2. Wage shortfall: The standard of an annual starting salary of 26 million won or more is based on the pilot project period and is subject to change in the future.
3. Regional Restrictions: Since the purpose of this program is to foster a workforce for local industries, there may be restrictions on employment in specific regions, such as the Seoul metropolitan area. Specific criteria for regional restrictions need to be verified.
4. Status of stay upon termination of pilot project: Measures to maintain the status of stay for E-7-M visa holders should the pilot project be discontinued have not yet been clearly disclosed.
To whom is this system meaningful?
The E-7-M (K-CORE) visa is a meaningful program for people who meet the following conditions.
The primary beneficiaries of this system are international students currently studying or preparing to enroll in manufacturing-related majors at Korean junior colleges, as well as employers in local small and medium-sized manufacturing companies seeking to stably secure foreign workers with intermediate technical skills. However, the existing E-7-1 pathway may be more suitable for professionals who already hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while those with experience in non-professional employment (E-9) should consider the E-7-4 (Skilled Workforce Point System). It is accurate to understand E-7-M as a newly created 'third pathway' situated between these two.
The real journey begins the moment you receive your diploma. We understand that the entire process of checking visa requirements, preparing documents, and interviewing in a foreign land is not easy. JobPloy, a recruitment platform for international students, will be by your side from the very first step of recruitment to your stable settlement, helping you fully unfold your career in Korea.