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E-1 — Professor Visa (E-1)
South KoreaSouth Korea•Asia
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E-1 — Professor Visa (E-1)

Work PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

3–4 weeks

Estimated Cost

KRW ₩120,000

Stay Duration

5 years

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

Dependents allowed

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

Job offer required

Work

Remote not required

Official Information

Overview

Work visa for professors, researchers, and lecturers at Korean universities, typically requires a doctoral or master's degree with specialized experience, renewable up to 5 years.

The E-1 Professor Visa is a work visa for foreign nationals teaching or conducting research at accredited Korean universities. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree or master's degree with extensive experience in specialized technical fields. The visa is tied to faculty positions such as lecturer or professor, distinct from the E-2 language-teaching visa.

Applicants may stay up to five years with renewal available. The visa fee is KRW 120,000 (~$90 USD). Dependents obtain an F-3 visa for spouse and unmarried minor children. Processing takes 3–4 weeks (21–28 days). Spouses have restricted work rights but may apply for independent authorization if qualified. The visa provides a pathway to permanent residency.

This visa is ideal for academics and researchers with doctoral credentials seeking stable, long-term employment in Korean higher education.

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant5 years

Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

F-2-7 — Long-term Residency Visa (F-2)
South Korea flagSouth Korea

F-2-7 — Long-term Residency Visa (F-2)

Validity3 years
Processing1–2 months
View Visa Details
F-5 — Permanent Residence (F-5)
South Korea flagSouth Korea

F-5 — Permanent Residence (F-5)

ValidityIndefinite
Processing2–3 months
View Visa Details

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Employment contract with Korean university

Doctoral degree or equivalent academic credential

Official transcript

Certificate of employment

Criminal background check

KEY CRITERIA

Education

doctorate or higher

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Visa application form

Passport

Recent passport-sized photograph

Employment contract or confirmation of appointment

Certificate of career/employment history

Apostilled or authenticated PhD/degree certificate

Official degree transcript

Academic curriculum vitae (CV)

Criminal background check (apostilled)

Copy of the institution's business registration or accreditation confirmation

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

  • Pathway to permanent residency (F-2, F-5) after successful teaching tenure
  • Long-term renewable visas—up to 5 years per renewal cycle
  • Work authorization included; no separate employment permit needed
  • Spouse and unmarried children can join on F-3 dependent visa
  • Dual intent allowed—can pursue PR while employed as professor
  • Prestigious academic role with job security through university employment
  • Korean government employer sponsorship (reduced administrative burden)

Worth Knowing

  • Requires doctoral degree or equivalent academic credential for qualification
  • Processing takes 3-4 weeks (21-28 days); plan accordingly with employer
  • Remote work not permitted; must teach in-person at Korean institution
  • Spouse's work rights restricted; career opportunities limited for dependents
  • Job offer from accredited Korean university is mandatory—visa tied entirely to employment
  • Minors: dependents capped at age 18; adult children cannot obtain F-3 visas

Application Process

1

University job offer

Appointment letter from Korean university

2

University petition

University submits employment approval

3

Visa application

At Korean embassy

4

Visa processing

3-4 weeks

5

Visa issuance

Professor work visa

Application Forms

E-1 Professor Visa Application—

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