What can and can't I do with an E-6 Arts and Entertainment visa?

With an E-6 visa, you can only do art and entertainment activities that earn income. If you want to do work different from your approved activity, you first need permission from Immigration.

What you can do

• Create works as an artist, such as a composer, painter, sculptor, craftsperson, writer, or photographer.
• Teach or coach music, art, dance, film, sports, and similar fields (for example, a professional or amateur sports coach, or an orchestra conductor).
• Appear for income in entertainment, music performances, plays, sports games, advertisements, or fashion modeling (for example, professional or amateur athletes).
• Accompany performers, such as a makeup artist or a manager.

The activity field is different for each sub-status.

• E-6-1 (arts and entertainment): artist, performer or conductor, model, baduk (Go) player, broadcaster, theater performer, makeup artist
• E-6-2 (hotel and entertainment venues): performances at hotel facilities, entertainment venues, and similar places (singers, musicians, acrobats, magicians)
• E-6-3 (sports): professional athlete, professional team coach, manager

⚠️ What you can't do / what needs permission

• You can't work in a field you were not approved for. For example, if you hold E-6-1, you must not perform at hotels or entertainment venues (an E-6-2 activity).
• If you change or add a workplace or affiliation, you must follow the procedure.
• E-6-1 and E-6-3 holders who meet the requirements can report after moving. This does not apply if you were fired or left midway through your own fault and did not get your original employer's consent to transfer.
• E-6-2 holders (hotel and entertainment venue entertainers) must get permission in advance if the employer changes.
• If an E-6-2 holder changes only the performance venue without changing employer, they must report within 15 days of the change. In principle, you can't change the performance venue within 6 months after entering Korea.
• E-6-2 activities are excluded from permission for activities outside the status of sojourn. Changing to another status is also restricted.

💡 Good to know

• Appearing temporarily (one time, not consecutive) as a guest on terrestrial broadcasting for a non-profit purpose does not need separate permission. You may receive actual-cost payment such as meal and transport expenses.
• A person staying legally under another status who wants to do broadcasting, film, or modeling work needs permission for activities outside the status of sojourn. You submit an employment contract and a performance recommendation letter (recommended by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Korea Communications Commission), among other documents.
• The maximum period of stay granted at one time is 2 years.

The exact scope differs for each sub-status (E-6-1, E-6-2, E-6-3). Please check again for your own status at HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or the Foreigner Support Center (1345).