The Ministry of Justice to Launch Visa System Improvements in the Advanced Industry Sector and Support for Labor Shortages in the Industry! - Introduction of "Negative Criteria Professional Visa," Expansion of Annual Issuance Quota for Skilled Workers Visa, and Relaxation of Visa Regulations |
◆ The Ministry of Justice will implement improvements to the foreign professional workforce visa (Specific Activity E-7) system starting from January next year to enhance the competitiveness of the advanced industry sector and support labor shortages in the industry.
1. Establishment of a "Negative Criteria Visa (E-7-S)" for employment in the advanced industry sector and high-income earners
- Foreign nationals who meet certain score requirements, including prospective workers in the advanced industry and high-income earners (with a previous year's per capita Gross National Income (GNI) of more than 3 times the national average), will be allowed to obtain a visa broadly, regardless of their occupation, with some exceptions. ※Excluded occupations: Simple labor, general office work, occupations contrary to social ethics, etc. - However, to prevent the misuse of this system in favor of low-wage foreign workers instead of Korean nationals, the income criteria for the newly established "E-7-S" visa in advanced fields will be strengthened, requiring a previous year's per capita GNI income or more. ◆ Range of advanced industry sectors ◆
Carbon/Nano Convergence | Fiber & Apparel | Chemical Process Materials | Ceramics | Bio |
Metal Materials | Production Infrastructure | Semiconductors | LED/Optoelectronics | Display |
Networks | Mobile Communication | Broadcasting | Radio & Satellite | Information Appliances |
Smart Services | Information Security | Medical Devices | Secondary Batteries | Production Systems |
Robotics | Automobiles | Shipbuilding & Maritime | Aviation | Drones |
Energy Resources | Nuclear | New Renewable Energy | Electric Power | Base SW Computing |
Converged SW | Embedded SW | Knowledge Services | Plant Engineering | Clean Infrastructure |
◆ Score Table for Negative Criteria Professional Employment Visa (E-7-S) ◆
<Eligible for application if the score is 60 or higher>
1. Mandatory Items
❍Income: Up to 45 points, adjusted for age
2. Potential Future Contribution Items
2-1. Age: Up to 20 points
2-2. Education: Up to 30 points
2-3. Work Experience: Up to 25 points
2-4. Korean Language Proficiency: Up to 20 points
2-5. Domestic Study Experience: Up to 20 points
3. Bonus Items: Up to 40 points
4. Penalty Items: Up to 10 points
2.Significant expansion of the annual quota for skilled workers' visas (E-7-4) from the current 2,000 to 5,000 in 2023
※ Visa issuance for foreigners with a history of illegal stay will be restricted during the selection process.
3. Relaxation of wage requirements for hiring foreigners with E-7 visas in small and medium-sized enterprises, venture companies, and non-metropolitan mid-sized enterprises
- Application of 70% or more of the previous year's per capita GNI (around KRW 28 million as of 2021) for a certain period (3 years).
4.Relaxation of E-7 visa requirements for hiring foreign workers when Korean companies return from overseas
- If Korean companies that have expanded overseas return to Korea, the visa requirements for rehiring foreign workers locally will be relaxed.
◆ Current - Invitations allowed for product production managers who have worked for overseas corporations for more than 5 years
◆ Improvement - Relaxation of work experience requirements for overseas corporate workers in relevant fields with degrees (6 months for degree holders, 2 years for technical qualification certificate holders)
5. Relaxation of employment company criteria for hiring E-7 visa shipbuilding welding specialists
◆ Current - Only companies with an average annual revenue of over KRW 1 billion for the past 3 years and more than 10 permanent workers can employ them.
◆ Improvement - Relaxation to companies with an average annual revenue of over KRW 1 billion for the past year and more than 10 permanent workers.