Korea Visa Sponsorship Guide (2026)
Most professional work visas in Korea — the E-7 above all — are employer-sponsored. You usually can't just apply on your own: a Korean company has to offer you the job and start the process by getting a Confirmation of Visa Issuance from immigration. This page explains honestly who does what, what the employer must prove, and where the worker steps in — and points you to the official sources that decide each case.
What "sponsorship" means in Korea
For work visas like the E-7, the Korean employer is the one who drives the process. They offer the job, prove their business is legitimate and the role is justified, and file for a Confirmation of Visa Issuance (CCVI) — a pre-approval from the Korea Immigration Service. Only after that is issued does the worker apply for the actual visa. The list below covers the building blocks; treat it as orientation, not a guaranteed checklist.
The sponsorship process, step by step
1. Job offer from a Korean employer
2. Employer files for the CCVI
3. Immigration reviews & issues a CCVI number
4. Worker applies for the visa
What the sponsoring employer must show
The exact documents depend on the visa type and year, but employer requirements commonly include:
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Legitimate business | A registered, genuinely operating company in Korea |
| Eligible role | The job is on the relevant eligible-occupation list for the visa type |
| Financial & tax records | Company financial statements and tax-payment records |
| Justified need | A reason the foreign professional is necessary for the business |
| Salary & ratio rules | Meeting the year's salary standard and, for some categories, a Korean-to-foreign staffing ratio |
The precise employer documents, salary standard, and any staffing-ratio rules are set officially and updated periodically. Confirm the current requirements on HiKorea or by calling 1345 — do not rely on a remembered figure.
The E-7 salary standard (changes yearly)
The E-7 visa has a minimum salary standard that is set each year and varies by E-7 sub-type. Because the won figure is revised annually, this page does not quote a fixed number — confirm the current threshold for your sub-type in our E-7 guide and, definitively, on HiKorea.
Sponsorship and the student-to-work path
Many sponsored E-7 hires are graduates of Korean universities changing status after they finish — see our student-to-work visa guide. If you're between visas while a sponsor prepares the CCVI, take care not to let your current status lapse into an overstay.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an employer to sponsor me?
For most professional work visas like E-7, yes — a Korean company must offer the job and file for the Confirmation of Visa Issuance. You generally can't self-sponsor.
What is a CCVI?
A Confirmation of Visa Issuance — a pre-approval the employer obtains from immigration before you apply for the actual visa. You then use the CCVI number to complete the visa application.
What must the employer prove?
A legitimate operating business, an eligible role, financial/tax records, justified need for a foreign hire, and meeting salary and any staffing-ratio rules. Confirm the current list officially.
What salary is required for E-7?
A minimum standard set each year and varying by E-7 sub-type. The won figure changes annually — confirm the current threshold on HiKorea.
Can I start sponsorship from abroad?
Generally no for the CCVI pre-approval — the Korean employer files it inside Korea. Once it's issued, you complete the visa at a Korean embassy/consulate.