Arts and Performances (Entertainment)

Who can apply

Foreign nationals coming to Korea to earn income through activities in music, fine arts, literature, entertainment, broadcasting, advertising, fashion modeling, or professional sports under a contract, and those who direct or supervise such activities. Split into three sub-codes: E-6-1 (arts/music and professional creative or artistic performance such as musicians, artists, orchestra members, directors); E-6-2 (hotel-entertainment / adult entertainment (유흥) — performers such as singers and dancers at tourist hotels and designated entertainment venues, subject to much stricter screening); E-6-3 (professional sports — athletes, coaches, and their trainers/managers).

Documents you'll need

• Visa application form and passport-size photo
• passport
• employment or performance contract
• career certificate and/or proof of qualification (e.g. awards, portfolio, professional record)
• inviting organization’s business registration certificate
• for overseas applications a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서) obtained by the Korean sponsor at the immigration office
• for E-6-2 a performance recommendation (공연추천서) issued by the Korea Media Rating Board (영상물등급위원회, KMRB)
• additional documents such as health/medical certificate and criminal record check may be required depending on nationality and sub-code

How to apply

• Overseas embassy visa (사증) issued via a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서): the Korean sponsor applies at the jurisdictional immigration office, then the applicant collects the visa at a Korean embassy/consulate.
• E-6-2 (adult entertainment (유흥)) additionally requires a KMRB performance recommendation (공연추천서) before issuance.
• In-country change of status is also possible in limited cases.
• Most E-6 cases are filed by the Korean sponsor through the Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서) route at the jurisdictional immigration office, then the applicant collects the visa at a Korean embassy/consulate abroad.
• E-6-2 additionally requires a KMRB performance recommendation before the visa can be issued, and applicants from countries with high overstay/illegal-employment rates face reinforced screening.
• Trainees or students without an actual performance/broadcast contract generally cannot get E-6.

Working on this visa

Employment is limited to the sponsoring organization/venue and activity specified in the permit. E-6-2 holders may not perform at venues not listed in their recommendation/permit.

Changing or adding a workplace requires prior permission from immigration.

2025–2026 policy updates

• No E-6-specific rule change with a 2025-2026 effective date was confirmed from official sources during this research.
• Adjacent changes that can affect E-6 holders: (1) Korea’s annual GNI income benchmark used for points-based/residence transitions was updated to 52,416,000 KRW, reported effective 2026-04-01 (unverified for direct E-6 applicability).
• (2) Mandatory online reporting of foreign-employee matters via HiKorea began 2026-01-02, with a pilot allowing both online and paper filing through June 2026 and online-only filing from the second half of 2026 (unverified for direct E-6 applicability).
• The major E-6-specific anti-trafficking reforms (abolition of proxy filing, 6-month E-6-2 stay periods, mandatory trafficking-victim indicators) took effect 2020-01-01, not in 2025-2026.

Common mistakes

Assuming E-6 can be used for training/study without a real performance or broadcast contract; performing at a venue not listed in the E-6-2 recommendation/permit; confusing E-6-1 (creative arts) with E-6-2 (hotel-entertainment/adult entertainment (유흥)); expecting E-6-2 stay to be granted for a full year (it is managed in ~6-month periods); letting a promoter file extensions for E-6-2 (the performer must file directly); mixing up E-6 with C-4 short-term performance for engagements under 90 days.

Where this leads

Official source ↗  Official manual ↗