E-3 Research Visa Requirements and Invitation Documents — Hiring Foreign Researchers at Research Institutions and Corporate Research Institutes

Procedure

1. 1. Check whether E-3 applies

   First check whether the work to be assigned is actual research and development. If the work is not research, such as production management or sales support, consider another status such as E-7 (Specific Activities) instead of E-3.

2. 2. Check the degree and experience standards

   In general, the standard is a doctoral degree, or a master's degree with 3 years or more of research experience in the relevant field. The standard may differ depending on the type of inviting organization, so confirm it against the Ministry of Justice visa guidance.

3. 3. Prepare the inviting organization's documents

   The inviting organization prepares the employment contract, a statement of reasons for invitation, a document setting out the research content and the plan for its use, and the organization's certificate of recognition as a research institute or documents showing the basis of its establishment. The foreign national prepares the degree certificate and certificates of experience.

4. 4. Apply for the Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance

   The inviting organization applies for the Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance at the immigration office having jurisdiction. Once it is issued, the foreign national obtains a visa at a Korean diplomatic mission abroad and enters Korea. The foreign national completes foreigner registration within 90 days after entry.

5. 5. Management during the stay

   To change or add a workplace, permission must in principle be obtained in advance. Where the requirements in the Ministry of Justice public notice are met, it can be handled by a report filed within 15 days from the date of the change or addition.

Required documents

• Application for Confirmation of Visa Issuance, copy of passport, photograph
• Employment contract (stating the research duties, period and remuneration)
• Statement of reasons for invitation, and plan for the research content and its use
• Degree certificate and certificate of research experience (documents issued abroad need the verification procedure and a translation)
• Documents of the inviting organization, such as its business registration certificate and certificate of recognition as a research institute

Fees

Agency fees for an E-3 Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance application generally run in the industry from several hundred thousand won to the 1,000,000 won range, and vary with the document verification procedure and the number of people invited. Government fees are charged separately. We will advise after a consultation, based on the invitation plan.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, attached Table 1-2, item 16
• Immigration Act, Article 21
• Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Article 26-2

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-02

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• Degree and experience documents issued abroad often require an apostille or consular legalization, so allow plenty of time for preparation.

Frequently asked questions