E-1 Professor Visa Korea — University Faculty Eligibility, Salary Requirements & Renewal
The E-1 visa is issued to foreign nationals employed as professors, lecturers, or faculty members at Korean colleges and universities accredited under the Higher Education Act (고등교육법). E-1 is one of the most stable Korean work visas — professors at accredited institutions enjoy long-stay durations, family accompaniment rights, and a clear path toward long-term residency.
Base de relecture et sources
Relu à partir de
James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). Licence n° 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Association coréenne des agents administratifs). Verifie selon le manuel HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 et recoupe avec les publications du Ministere de la Justice.
Dernière relecture
4 septembre 2026
Références de source
Prudence avant dépôt
Les exigences peuvent varier selon la nationalite, le bureau d'immigration competent et le canal de depot. Avant de deposer, confirmez les exigences exactes avec HiKorea, le consulat coreen competent ou un specialiste de l'immigration habilite.
Eligibility criteria for E-1
E-1 applicants must meet all of the following:
1. Academic qualification: • PhD (doctoral degree) from a recognized university — the standard requirement for full-time faculty • OR master's degree plus significant professional experience for fields requiring practical expertise (fine arts, music performance, professional practice fields)
2. Employment at an accredited institution: • Accredited college or university under the Higher Education Act (고등교육법) • Includes universities (대학교), colleges, graduate schools, and junior colleges (전문대학) • Non-accredited private institutes (hagwons, language schools) do NOT qualify — those use E-2
3. Salary threshold: The institution must pay above the MOJ minimum threshold for E-1 qualification (updated periodically — confirm with the hiring institution's international office).
Required documents
• Valid passport • Visa application form + photo • Employment contract from the Korean university • University's Higher Education Act accreditation confirmation • PhD certificate — apostilled or consularly authenticated • Degree transcript (official) • CV / academic curriculum vitae • Criminal background check (apostilled)
Stay duration, family rights, and E-1 vs E-2 vs E-3
Duration: Typically 1 year; renewable annually. For tenured faculty, 2–3 year visas are sometimes issued at renewal.
Family: Spouse and children may accompany on F-3 (dependent companion).
| E-1 Professor | E-2 English Teacher | E-3 Researcher | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer | Accredited university | Language school/hagwon | Research institute |
| Degree | PhD (standard) | Bachelor's minimum | PhD or master's |
| Primary activity | Teaching + research | Language instruction | Research |
A foreign professor teaching Korean history at Yonsei University → E-1. A foreign native English speaker at a hagwon → E-2. A molecular biologist at KAIST → E-3.
Path to long-term residency from E-1
• F-2-7 (Points-based): Under the professional track, E-1 holders can apply after 3 or more continuous years on a professional status — or without that waiting period if their annual income is ₩40 million or more — provided they score 80+ points. Doctoral degree and professor-level income are high-scoring factors. • F-2-99 (5-year continuous residence): After 5 continuous years of qualifying status, provides open work rights. • F-5 (Permanent residency): Available after 3 or more years on F-2-7 (F-5-16), or after 5 continuous years on E-1 and other D-7 to E-7 or F-2 statuses (F-5-1).
Conseils des 행정사
Apostille or authentication of your PhD certificate is critical — plan 4–8 weeks for this process before starting the visa application.
The university's HR/international faculty office handles most of the Korean-side documentation — coordinate closely with them.
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Questions fréquentes
I have a master's degree, not a PhD. Can I get E-1?
Possibly, depending on the field. For applied and professional fields (architecture, fine arts, music performance, business practice), some Korean universities hire faculty with master's degrees plus professional experience. The accredited institution's determination of your qualification is key.
Can I teach at a hagwon on E-1?
No. E-1 is strictly for accredited universities and colleges under the Higher Education Act. Hagwons and private institutes require E-2.