What work can and can't I do with an E-9 (Non-professional Employment) visa?

With an E-9 visa, you can only do work in the allowed industries, at a workplace that has an employment permit. You must not change your workplace freely or take on extra work.

✅ What you can do

• You can work at a workplace with an employment permit. You can stay up to 4 years and 10 months.¹
• The allowed industries are as follows.²
• Manufacturing (E-9-1): Companies with fewer than 300 regular employees or capital of 8 billion won or less
• Construction (E-9-2): Construction work (some large plant sites are excluded)
• Agriculture and livestock (E-9-3): Growing crops, livestock farming, and related services
• Fishery (E-9-4): Coastal and offshore fishing, aquaculture, sun-dried salt production
• Service industry (E-9-5): Some industries such as construction waste processing, inland refrigerated and frozen warehouses, recycling material collection, and publishing
• You can change your workplace if there is a reason such as temporary or permanent business closure, end of contract, or violation of working conditions.¹³

🚫 What you must not do

• Working somewhere else without permission: Activities outside your status of stay, such as side jobs or part-time work, are generally not permitted.¹
• Professional jobs: You cannot do professional jobs that require certain qualifications or experience with an E-9.²
• Moving to another workplace without permission: To change your workplace, you must get permission for a change of workplace (근무처 변경허가). In the first 3 years, you can generally change up to 3 times, and up to 2 times during the extended period. However, moves for reasons that are not your fault do not count.¹³
• Missing deadlines: When your labor contract ends, you must apply for a workplace change at the Employment Center (고용센터) within 1 month. You must also get permission for a change of workplace within 3 months from the day you applied. If you miss these deadlines, you must leave Korea.³

⚠️ Things to be careful about

The industry list above is based on older data. The detailed industries may have changed. Working without permission can be a violation of your stay. For final confirmation, check HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or call the Foreigner Comprehensive Information Center (외국인종합안내센터) at 1345. If you already have a problem, get a consultation from the K-VISA AI Administrative Agent.