What work can and can't I do with a C-4 short-term employment visa?

With a C-4 visa, you can only do the short-term work you were approved for, within 90 days. You cannot do simple labor. You also cannot work at a place other than the one you were approved for.

Work you can do

Seasonal work (C-4-1~4)

• Growing and harvesting crops (including first-stage processing linked to growing and harvesting)
• First-stage processing of marine products

Short-term work other than seasonal work (C-4-5)

• Temporary performances, advertising and fashion modeling
• Lectures or talks you give after being invited by a Korean institution under a paid contract (if it is unpaid, it falls under Short-term Visit (C-3))
• Research and technical guidance
• Professional work under a contract with a Korean public or private institution (work at the level of E-1~E-7)
• Work you are sent to do under a service, purchase or business-order contract (installing and repairing imported machines, building and supervising ships and industrial facilities, etc.)
• Work in high-tech fields such as IT, biotechnology (BT), nanotechnology (NT) and new materials

Work you can't do

• Simple labor: It does not fall under C-4-5.
• Work outside what you were approved for: To do other work, you must first get approval for a change of workplace from Immigration (출입국). It is approved only if the two jobs are closely related and you meet the required qualifications.
• Seasonal workers adding more workplaces (근무처 추가): This is not allowed. Changing your workplace is allowed only for a valid reason. For example, the employer broke the conditions and did not fix them, or you cannot keep working through no fault of your own. In this case, you must get approval in advance. When you apply, you must go to Immigration together with a local government officer.
• Staying longer than 90 days: The maximum stay period you can get at one time is 90 days. An extension is made only as an exception, when you can prove it is truly necessary.

⚠️ Things to watch out for

If the same company keeps applying for short-term employment visas again and again, this will be restricted. If you plan to work for a long time, look into the right work visa (such as E-7) from the start. Doing other work without approval can be a violation of the Immigration Act (출입국관리법).

If you are not sure whether the work you want to do fits the scope above, check first with HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or the Foreigner Comprehensive Information Center (외국인종합안내센터) (1345).