Cultivated Technical Talent (K-CORE)
육성형 전문기술인재 (K-CORE, 특정활동 E-7-M) — E-7-M Cultivated Technical Talent (K-CORE) — PILOT (2026-2027)
At a glance
International students who graduate (or are about to graduate) from a designated ‘Training-type Professional Technical Department’ (육성형 전문기술학과) at one of the pilot…
Not yet published for E-7-M specifically.
During study (D-2 phase at a designated department): part-time work up to 35 hours/week is allowed, and a final-semester internship at a company related to the major is…
For E-7-M visa issuance: KIIP (Social Integration Program) level 4 or higher, roughly equivalent to TOPIK level 5.
Where this fits in your journey
Before arrival
Get admitted, prepare documents, apply.
During study
ARC, extensions, permits while in Korea.
After graduation
Job-seeking and work visas.
Settlement
Long-term residence and PR.
Who can apply
- ✓International students who graduate (or are about to graduate) from a designated ‘Training-type Professional Technical Department’ (육성형 전문기술학과) at one of the pilot junior colleges, in a MANUFACTURING-related major only (e.g. automobile manufacturing, precision machinery — humanities, social science, arts/PE, service and shipbuilding fields are excluded).
- ✓To obtain the E-7-M visa the graduate must (1) reach KIIP level 4 or higher (about TOPIK level 5) and (2) sign an employment contract of at least 1 year (annual salary >= KRW 26,000,000) with a company related to their major.
- ✓NOTE: still a pilot — the E-7-M visa itself is issued only after the first cohort graduates, so actual issuance is expected around 2028.
Documents you'll need
- An official document checklist specific to E-7-M has not yet been published on HiKorea (the visa is not yet being issued). Based on the announced requirements, applicants will need: proof of graduation from the designated Training-type Professional Technical Department (육성형 전문기술학과) (diploma/graduation certificate)
- evidence of Korean ability (Social Integration Program Level 4 completion certificate or TOPIK Level 5+ certificate)
- an employment/labor contract with a major-related company showing annual starting salary of 26,000,000 KRW or more
- passport and standard integrated application form (통합신청서) with photo
- and the employer’s business registration and supporting company documents. (Exact list unverified — confirm on HiKorea once E-7-M guidance is issued.)
How to apply
- Domestic change-of-status (국내 체류자격변경) from D-2 for graduates of Ministry of Justice-designated Training-type Professional Technical Departments (육성형 전문기술학과) (junior-college technical programs).
- Pilot/announced only — the E-7-M visa is ‘to be newly established’ and not yet being issued (first issuance expected ~2028).
- This is delivered as an integrated ‘admission – education – employment – settlement’ track for junior-college international students.
- A student first studies on a D-2 (study) visa in a designated department, then changes status to E-7-M after graduation upon meeting the Korean-language and employment-contract conditions, and may later move to F-2 (residence).
- As of mid-2026 the pilot is in the study/education phase — 16 departments were designated on 2026-02-05 and students are enrolling; the E-7-M change-of-status step is not yet operational because no cohort has graduated.
- Verify the current status directly with HiKorea / the local immigration office before relying on this for an actual application.
Stay & extension
Not yet published for E-7-M specifically. As a sub-category of E-7, the standard maximum period of stay per grant under E-7 rules (up to 3 years, commonly tied to the employment contract) would be expected to apply, but the exact figure for E-7-M is (unverified) until official E-7-M guidance is released.
(announced, not yet in force)
Not yet published for E-7-M. Under the announced design, holding E-7-M and working for 5 or more years — or working 3 or more years continuously at the same company located in a population-decline area (인구감소지역) — makes the person eligible to apply for F-2 (residence) status.
Extension mechanics within the E-7 framework would apply, but exact rules are (unverified) pending official guidance.
Working on this visa
During study (D-2 phase at a designated department): part-time work up to 35 hours/week is allowed, and a final-semester internship at a company related to the major is permitted with prior immigration-office approval. On E-7-M: full-time employment in the major-related manufacturing field.
Requirements in detail
For E-7-M visa issuance: KIIP (Social Integration Program) level 4 or higher, roughly equivalent to TOPIK level 5. For admission to the training department on a D-2 student visa: TOPIK or KIIP level 3.
Employment contract with annual salary >= KRW 26,000,000 (1 year or more) with a major-related company, required to convert to E-7-M.
Financial-ability (재정능력) requirement waived for D-2 students at a designated Training-type Professional Technical Department (육성형 전문기술학과) during the pilot. The E-7-M route substitutes a cultivated-department pathway (manufacturing major + KIIP4/TOPIK5 + job contract) for the usual professional experience requirements.
Sub-types
Pilot pool: 22 junior colleges certified in the 2024 education-internationalization assessment are eligible to apply; 16 departments were designated as Training-type Professional Technical Departments (육성형 전문기술학과) for the pilot. Manufacturing majors only.
Mobile Residence Card (외국인등록증) (available since 2025-01-10 to registered residents 14+ with a self-owned smartphone, IC-chip card) would apply once E-7-M is actually issued; not yet operational.
2025–2026 policy updates
- E-7-M / K-CORE visa PILOT, run 2026-01 to 2027-12-31 (2 years); Ministry of Justice Public Notice No. 2025-379 (법무부 공고 제2025-379호) recruited junior-college ‘Training-type Professional Technical Departments’ (육성형 전문기술학과), and 16 departments were designated (press release 2026, announced around January 2026).
- During the pilot, D-2 students at a designated department get their financial-ability requirement WAIVED for the D-2 visa and for status change/extension, may transfer/change major, and D-4 language trainees may change to D-2.
- The E-7-M visa is granted to graduates who meet KIIP 4 (TOPIK 5) + a 1-year contract (>= KRW 26M); first issuance expected ~2028 after the first cohort graduates.
- Expansion to non-certified/general universities is under review.
- (announced/pilot — not a permanent visa yet)
Common mistakes
- Assuming the E-7-M visa can be applied for now — it cannot; it is announced/planned and no cohort has yet graduated (expected first issuance ~2028).
- Assuming any junior-college major qualifies — only Ministry of Justice-designated Training-type Professional Technical Departments (육성형 전문기술학과) (manufacturing-related, one per each of the 16 pilot colleges) count.
- Confusing the D-2 study-stage benefits (35-hour work, TOPIK 3 for financial-proof waiver) with the E-7-M visa requirements (KIIP Level 4 / TOPIK 5+, 26,000,000 KRW/yr job).
- Assuming immediate F-2 — residence status requires 5 years of work (or 3 years in a population-decline area) first.
- Relying on study-abroad agency (유학원)/administrative scrivener (행정사) blog figures instead of confirming on HiKorea, since detailed E-7-M rules are not yet officially published.
Where this leads
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