E-7 Visa Korea Salary Requirements 2026: Minimum Pay by Category
Quick summary: As of February 1, 2026, the minimum annual salary required to sponsor an E-7-1 (Specialized/Professional) visa in Korea is 31,120,000 KRW (about 31.12…
Quick summary: As of February 1, 2026, the minimum annual salary required to sponsor an E-7-1 (Specialized/Professional) visa in Korea is 31,120,000 KRW (about 31.12 million won) or higher, per Ministry of Justice Notice No. 2025-406, published December 29, 2025, and valid through December 31, 2026. That’s an increase of 2.45 million won over the 2025 threshold. Requirements for E-7-2/3 (around 25.89 million won) and E-7-4 (around 26 million won) have not changed. Because these figures are revised roughly every year, always confirm the current number on HiKorea before signing an offer letter or filing your visa application.
What Is the E-7 Visa, and Who Actually Needs It?
The E-7 visa is Korea’s main work visa category for foreign nationals hired into specific occupations — everything from corporate managers and engineers to language instructors and skilled technicians. It’s split into several subcategories, and the one most people mean when they say “E-7” is E-7-1, which covers professional and specialized roles (marketing, IT, design, R&D, management, and similar white-collar positions).
Unlike some other work visas, E-7 is employer-sponsored: a Korean company has to file on your behalf, and that company has to meet a minimum salary requirement set by the Ministry of Justice. This threshold exists so that E-7 sponsorship isn’t used to hire foreign workers at below-market wages — it’s tied to Korea’s Gross National Income (GNI) and is updated annually.
2026 E-7 Minimum Salary Requirements, by Subcategory
| Subcategory | Who it covers | 2026 minimum annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| E-7-1 (Specialized/Professional) | Management, IT, marketing, R&D, and other professional roles | 31,120,000 KRW or higher |
| E-7-2 / E-7-3 | Semi-skilled and select service occupations | Approximately 25,890,000 KRW |
| E-7-4 | Skilled functional roles (manufacturing, agriculture, fisheries, etc.) | Approximately 26,000,000 KRW |
Official notice (Korean, as confirmed by the Ministry of Justice — quoted verbatim):
“2026년 2월 1일부터 적용되는 법무부 고시 기준, E-7-1(전문인력)의 최소 연봉 요건은 연 3,112만원 이상입니다(법무부 공고 제2025-406호). 정확한 최신 금액은 반드시 하이코리아(hikorea.go.kr) 공지사항에서 재확인하시기 바랍니다. — 최종 확인일: 2026-08-09″In English: Per the Ministry of Justice notice effective February 1, 2026, the minimum salary for E-7-1 (specialized/professional) status is 31.12 million won or higher (Notice No. 2025-406). Always double-check the current figure on HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr). Last verified: August 9, 2026.
You can read the original Ministry of Justice notice (PDF) directly here: Ministry of Justice Notice No. 2025-406 (immigration.go.kr).
Why the Threshold Went Up: 2025 vs. 2026
The E-7-1 minimum isn’t a fixed number — it moves with Korea’s GNI and gets republished each year, usually in late December for the following year. Here’s the recent trend:
- 2025 (Notice No. 2025-106, effective April 1 – December 31, 2025): 28,670,000 KRW
- 2026 (Notice No. 2025-406, effective February 1 – December 31, 2026): 31,120,000 KRW
- Change: +2,450,000 KRW year over year
This is a meaningful jump, so if you’re negotiating an offer or renewing a contract that was based on 2025 figures, it’s worth flagging to your employer that the bar has moved.
What Counts Toward the Salary Requirement
A few practical points that trip people up:
- The figure is an annual base salary commitment stated in your employment contract — not a guaranteed bonus, not a one-time signing bonus, and not the value of in-kind benefits (housing, meals, etc.), which immigration officers generally don’t count toward the threshold.
- The requirement applies at the time of application and renewal — a contract that dips below the current year’s threshold can be a problem even if it was compliant when you first signed.
- Different E-7 subcategories have different thresholds (see the table above), so make sure you’re checking the number for your specific job classification, not just “the E-7 number” in general.
How to Confirm Your Own Eligibility
- Identify your exact E-7 subcategory based on your job duties and the Korean Standard Classification of Occupations code your employer will file under.
- Check the current year’s Ministry of Justice notice on the HiKorea notice board — the number changes annually and sometimes mid-year, so don’t rely on a figure you saw in an older article (including this one, past its “last verified” date).
- Compare it against your contracted annual base salary, not your take-home pay after taxes and deductions.
- If you’re close to the line, ask your employer’s HR or an immigration-savvy accountant to confirm how your specific compensation structure is being calculated before you file.
Where to Verify the Latest Figures Yourself
Don’t take any blog’s word for it on a number that determines your legal work status. Go to the source:
- HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) — official immigration portal; check the Notices section for the current year’s E-7 salary notice.
- Korea Immigration Service (immigration.go.kr) — publishes the original Ministry of Justice notices, including the PDF cited above.
- Your local immigration office (출입국·외국인청) — for questions specific to your case, especially if your compensation structure is unusual (equity, commission-heavy pay, etc.).
본 글은 일반 정보 제공 목적이며, 개별 사안은 하이코리아 상담센터 또는 행정사·법무사 확인이 필요합니다.
(This article is provided for general information only. For your specific case, please consult the HiKorea counseling center or a licensed immigration attorney/agent.)
Written by the Koreayo Editorial Team · Reviewed for accuracy on 2026-08-09
