E-7-4 Extension Documents: 12+ Down to 7 or Fewer? What's Changing 🧾

🧭 What exactly is changing?

The announcement has two main threads. First, helping companies and foreign workers easily understand the documents and procedures. Second, giving an advantage to people who have worked at one company for a long time. The Ministry of Justice said this improvement is not meant to increase the number of foreign workers coming in, but to help those who have already worked faithfully for a long time settle down stably.

The announcement date is October 22, 2026, and the content is that they "will push ahead with improvements." The original text does not give a specific implementation date. So please don't think everything has already changed right now, and check the original text or 1345 for the detailed timing. 💡

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E-9 worker

Has the way to apply changed right away because of this announcement?

Kabi · K-VISA AI

The announcement says the system improvement will be "pursued," and the original text does not include a specific implementation date. If you are applying now, first check the criteria currently in effect. For details, check the original text or 1345.

📄 Extension documents are shrinking a lot

The documents required when applying to extend your stay period are expected to be greatly simplified, from the current 12 or more to 7 or fewer. The Ministry of Justice said this will improve access to information and convenience for applicants.

For reference, under the current manual, extensions list your own documents, such as the integrated application form, a copy of your passport, the E-7-4 standard labor contract, and a certificate of income amount, along with company documents such as the 4 major insurance workplace subscriber list, the employer's recommendation letter, and a letter of guarantee. The original text does not say specifically which documents will be removed, so be sure to check the changed list in the official guidance. 📄

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E-9 worker

Can I find out which documents will be removed?

Kabi · K-VISA AI

The original text only gives the numbers "from 12 or more to 7 or fewer" and does not include a list of removed documents. Check the confirmed list in HiKorea notices or at 1345.

🖥️ What is the Work Visa Guide?

The 「Work Visa Guide」 is an online guidance service scheduled to be piloted through HiKorea. It has menus for finding occupations, checking your own eligibility, a points calculator, a pre-application checklist, and FAQs (25 Q&As). If you enter your education, work experience, and salary, you can look up the occupations you may apply for, and the checklist can be printed out.

It is said you can use it right in your browser, with no program installation or sign-up. However, the access path is to be decided later, and the guidance is for reference only and has no legal effect. Whether you are actually approved is decided by an individual review at the immigration office (출입국·외국인관서). ✅

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E-9 worker

If the points calculator shows I pass the cutoff, is approval guaranteed?

Kabi · K-VISA AI

No. The guidance from this service is for reference only and has no legal effect. Actual approval is decided by an individual review at the immigration office with jurisdiction.

🪜 Working longer gives you an advantage

People who have worked at the same company for a long time are expected to receive more long-term service bonus points, depending on length of service, when switching to E-7-4. An incentive that shortens the stay period required when you later switch to Residence (F-2) is also being prepared.

In addition, the path from Non-professional Employment (E-9) or Seafarer Employment (E-10) → Skilled Workers (E-7-4) → Residence (F-2) → Permanent Residence (F-5) will be clearly set out in a related public notice (고시). The original text does not say how many bonus points there will be or by how many years the stay period will be shortened. For details, check the original text or 1345. 😮

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E-9 worker

By how many years will the period from E-7-4 to F-2 be shortened?

Kabi · K-VISA AI

The original text only says it will be "eased" and gives no specific period. The criteria are expected once the public notice is made, so check the original text or 1345 for details.

📊 Here are the difficulties people faced on the ground

In June 2026, the Ministry of Justice surveyed 470 businesses and 316 foreign workers. Both companies and workers named "complicated immigration administrative procedures" and "Korean language requirements" as the biggest difficulties. Foreign workers answered with earning a Korean score (53.5%) first, followed by complicated procedures (18.7%).

As of September 2026, 52,648 people are staying under E-7-4 status. This improvement reflects voices from the field like these. This announcement does not say the Korean language requirement itself will change, so please don't get that wrong. 🙂

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E-9 worker

Will the Korean language requirement become easier too?

Kabi · K-VISA AI

Easing the Korean language requirement was not mentioned in this announcement. Only the survey result showing Korean was named as a difficulty is included. For details, check the original text or 1345.

✅ What to do now, step by step

1. 1Check the HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) notices to see whether the pilot announcement for the 「Work Visa Guide」 is posted.
2. 2If you have an extension or change coming up now, check the currently required document list in HiKorea guidance and at 1345.
3. 3Organize your length of service at your workplace and your contract.
4. 4Prepare in advance how you will prove your Korean ability (TOPIK, etc.).
5. 5Once the public notice is out, check the bonus points and F-2 switching criteria in the original text or at 1345.