The Government of South Korea has established a new visa scheme called E-7-4 Visa. The purpose of this visa is to solve the labor shortages in the sectors of Manufacturing, fishing and agriculture. Interested applicants can start submitting application on August 1, 2017. As a part of the demo program, the Ministry of Justice will issue 300 visas under this category. The quota for E-7-4 visa for next year is yet to be decided by the ministries involve in this program.

What exactly is E-7-4 Visa?

It’s a point based skilled workers’ Visa. The existing visa for non professional skilled workers is E9 Visa, and based on the required skills, E9 visa holders are the primary target of this kind of Visa. Those who have been working in manufacturing, fishing and agriculture for four years and more can get the chance to change the visa into E-7-4 considering the experience, skills and the amount of money they acquired from the current job.

What are the benefits of E-7-4 Visa?

When you have E-7-4 Visa, you don’t need to take another Korean Language test in the Philippines and go through the exam permit system again to go back to Korea because this visa can be extend every two years.With E-7-4 visa, you can have the opportunity to live and work in Korea continuously as long as you meet requirements based on points.

And Speaking of Points!

Since this is a point based visa, you must at least get 50 points out of the available 180 points. The breakdown of the points and its bases are as follows:

1. Technical points

Annual salary of 33 million won or more : 20 points

Annual salary is over 30 million won : 15 points

Salary over 26 million won : 10 points

Note: You must receive the above salary for two years.

2. Education points

University graduate or  higher : 20 points

College graduate : 10 points

High School graduate : 5 points

3. Age points

~ 24 years: 20 points

~ 29 years old: 10 points

~ 34 years: 5 points

~ 39 years old: 2 points

4. Korean Language ability

Topik 4, KIIP 4 or higher: 20 points

Topik level 3, KIIP level 3 : 15 points

Topik Level 2, KIIP Level 2 : 10 points

Topik Level 1, KIIP Level 1 : 5 points

5. Property points

More than 100 million savings: 15 points

More than 80 million won in savings: 10 points

More than 30 million won in savings: 5 points

Assets more than 100 million in Korea: 20 points

Assets more than 80 million won in Korea : 15 points

Assets more than 10 million won in Korea :10 points

The total savings must have been accumulated for more than two years.

If you have 100 million won in savings account and live in a house worth 100 million won, you get 35 points

6. Work experience points

Roots(ppuri) Industrial work experience more than 6 years: 15 points

More than 4 years of working experience in roots industry: 10 points

More than 6 years of working experience outside roots industry: 10 points

More than 4 years of working experience: 5 points

Working outside the root industry refers to agriculture, fishery, livestock industry, manufacturing, and construction.

7. Education in Korea points

University degree or higher in Korea: 10 points

College degree in Korea : 5 points

Language center in Korea 1 year or more: 5 points

Domestic center in Korea 1 year or more: 3 points

8. Addition

University or higher center in Korea: 10 points

College graduate center in Korea: 5 points

Government recommendation letter: 10 points

Work experience in province area: 10 points

Awards: 5 points

Volunteer activity: 3 points

Tax payment results: 1 ~ 5 points

From the 8 categories above, try to give yourself a point and see if you can get 50 points or more. If you think you have the chance, why not try to change your E9 visa to E-7-4 Visa.