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31-4 · Study, training, teaching & research stays

E-3 Research Visa Invitation

Under Appended Table 1-2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, E-3 (Research) status is granted to foreign nationals invited by a Korean public institution or private organization to work at a research institute on research in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities or arts and sports, or on the research and development of advanced industrial technology; persons who qualify for E-1 (Professor) are excluded. When the inviting institution files an Application for Certificate of Visa Eligibility with the immigration office having jurisdiction over its address, the Minister of Justice reviews it and issues a confirmation number, which the foreign national uses to obtain a visa at a Korean diplomatic mission abroad. Under Appended Table 5 of the Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, the required attachments are documents on the establishment of the inviting institution, degree and career certificates, and the employment contract, and the maximum period of stay granted at one time is 5 years. The review looks at whether the assigned work is genuine research and development, the applicant's degree and research experience, and whether the inviting institution actually conducts research.

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🌐 E-3 Research Visa Requirements and Invitation Documents
01

Procedure

Procedure

  1. 01

    Confirm eligibility: First check whether the assigned work is research and development performed at a research institute. If the job is not research, such as production management or sales support, consider another status such as E-7 (Specific Activities); if the person will teach as a professor at a university, consider E-1.

  2. 02

    Check degree and research experience: The standard is a doctoral degree, or a master's degree plus research experience in the field. Detailed criteria may differ by type of inviting institution, so confirm them against the Ministry of Justice visa guidelines. Prepare apostilles or consular legalization and translations of degree and career certificates issued abroad in advance.

  3. 03

    Prepare the inviting institution's documents: Gather the business registration certificate or corporate registry certificate, proof of research institute status such as a corporate research institute recognition certificate, and an employment contract stating the research duties, period and pay, and set out the reason for the invitation and the research plan in writing.

  4. 04

    Apply for the Certificate of Visa Eligibility: The inviting institution submits the application and attachments to the immigration office having jurisdiction over its address. The office checks the issuance criteria and forwards the file with its opinion to the Minister of Justice, and once approved the inviting institution is notified of the confirmation number.

  5. 05

    Visa issuance and alien registration: The foreign national enters the confirmation number on the visa application, obtains the E-3 visa at a Korean diplomatic mission and enters Korea, then completes alien registration at the immigration office for the place of stay within 90 days of entry.

  6. 06

    Management during the stay: Apply for an extension before the period of stay expires, attaching the employment contract and business registration certificate. Changing or adding a workplace requires prior permission, but persons meeting the requirements in the Ministry of Justice notice may report within 15 days of the change; the employing institution must report a resignation, dismissal or material change to the employment contract within 15 days.

02

Filing route

Filing route

Immigration office having jurisdiction over the inviting institution's address (Certificate of Visa Eligibility); immigration office for the place of stay (alien registration, extension of stay, change of workplace); the visa itself is issued by the Korean diplomatic mission in the applicant's country of residence

Confirm the current filing office, jurisdiction, and online availability on the official website.

Official check
Actual processing agencyCompetent Immigration Office
Statutory and policy authorityCompetent Korean authority or official service
Online routeHiKorea
03

Deadlines & processing notes

Deadlines & processing notes

Check deadlines and next steps against the notice, filing date, and any request for additional documents.Official check
04

Basic documents

Basic documents

Basic documents0 / 8

Employing a foreign national who has not obtained permission to change workplace violates Article 21(2) of the Immigration Act, so a researcher moving from another institution should start work only after the permission or report has been completed.

Scope of services

Scope of services

Hwang Yunsang Administrative Agent Office prepares and translates documents for administrative agencies, submits them on your behalf, and guides you through permit, application, and notification procedures. Services that require the principal’s personal appearance, principal’s application, or electronic signature may be limited in delegation.