Visavergleich — Südkorea
E-2 vs E-7 Visa — English Teacher or Skilled Worker?
The E-2 is purpose-built for native-English-speaking teachers at Korean schools and academies. The E-7 is a broader work visa covering 94 professional occupations — including education roles. Many E-2 holders eventually upgrade to E-7 for more flexibility, higher pay, and a cleaner path to long-term residency.
English Language Instructor
Vollständigen Leitfaden ansehen →
Specific Activities (Skilled Worker)
Vollständigen Leitfaden ansehen →
E-2 vs E-7 — direkter Vergleich
Who can apply
E-2
Citizens of 7 native-English countries (US, UK, CA, AU, NZ, SA, IE)
E-7
Any nationality — if the employer sponsors you
Eligible jobs
E-2
English language instruction only
E-7
94 professional occupations (engineers, IT, healthcare, arts, education, etc.)
Education required
E-2
Bachelor's degree (any field)
E-7
Bachelor's + 1 yr experience, or Master's in field
Criminal background check
E-2
Required from home country
E-7
Required (from home country or apostilled)
Medical certificate
E-2
Required (drug test + physical)
E-7
Required for most occupations
Salary floor
E-2
No official national minimum, but contract-set
E-7
Occupation-specific minimum salary (MOJ-set)
Employer change
E-2
Allowed with immigration approval + new contract
E-7
Allowed with immigration approval + new contract
Part-time / private tutoring
E-2
Strictly prohibited without separate permit
E-7
Generally not allowed outside approved scope
Path to F-2-7 / F-5
E-2
Counts as Korean work experience for K-Points
E-7
Counts as Korean work experience for K-Points
Initial validity
E-2
1–2 years (tied to contract)
E-7
Up to 3 years
Korean language
E-2
Not required
E-7
Not strictly required, but helps with K-Points
Welches sollten Sie wählen?
E-2ist richtig für Sie, wenn…
You are a citizen of one of the 7 eligible English-speaking countries
You want to teach English at a school or hagwon in Korea
You have a bachelor's degree in any field and a clean background
You're new to Korea and want a straightforward route with a clear employer
E-7ist richtig für Sie, wenn…
You want to work in a professional field beyond English teaching (IT, engineering, design, etc.)
You are not from one of the 7 E-2 countries but hold a relevant degree
You want a longer initial stay (up to 3 years) and more career flexibility
You are already on E-2 and want to expand your work scope or earn more
Typischer Weg:
E-2 → E-7 transitions are common. After building Korean work experience on E-2 (which counts toward K-Points), teachers with a TOPIK score and relevant qualifications often apply for E-7 in education-related occupations (e.g. curriculum development, educational program design) for better pay and benefits.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Can I work as an English teacher on an E-7 visa?
Yes — the E-7 includes education-related occupations. However, E-7 for teaching roles typically requires a higher qualification than E-2 (e.g., TESOL certification, relevant degree, prior teaching experience) and the job description must match an eligible E-7 occupation code.
Can I switch from E-2 to E-7 without leaving Korea?
Yes. With a new employer sponsor and an E-7-eligible job offer, you can apply for an in-country status change. You don't need to return to your home country.
Are E-2 holders eligible for the F-2-7 points-based visa?
Yes — time spent on E-2 counts as Korean work experience toward the K-Point score for F-2-7. A TOPIK score and a degree from a Korean university can further boost your points.
I'm Canadian but not an English teacher — can I get E-2?
E-2 is specifically for English language instruction. If you want to work in another field, the E-7 or other visa categories would be the appropriate route.
Verwandte Leitfäden
Andere Visavergleiche
Unsicher, welches Visum zu Ihrem Profil passt?
Verbinden Sie sich mit einem verifizierten 행정사 für eine persönliche Beurteilung.
Haben Sie eine spezifische Frage zu E-2 oder E-7?
Fragen Sie K-VISA AI — sofortige Antworten zu koreanischen Visaanforderungen.