Work guide for foreigners
Check by visa
whether you can work
Foreigners can work too. But the law decides what work you can do based on your visa (status of stay), so please tell us your nationality and visa type when you apply. We only introduce work that fits your status of stay.
Work at the site is done in Korean, so you need to be able to speak everyday Korean to work.
As of October 2026
You can do most work
These statuses of stay have almost no limits on work.
F-5Permanent Resident
No limits on work.
F-6Marriage Migrant
No limits on work.
F-2Resident
Mostly no limits. Some sub-types can only work in the field they worked in before, so this needs to be checked.
Depends on the type of work
Some work is allowed and some is not, so the branch will look at the site work and check it for you.
F-4Overseas Korean
Some simple labor jobs are not allowed. A new standard has applied since February 12, 2026, and some work such as loading and unloading is now allowed, but parcel delivery, delivery and cleaning are still limited. There may be exceptions if you live in a population decline area.
Hard to do this work
These statuses of stay only allow work at a set workplace or need a separate permit.
H-2Working Visit
Since February 2026 it is no longer newly issued and has been changed to Overseas Korean (F-4). If you have H-2 now, you can only work in allowed industries, and you must report the start of employment within 15 days of starting work.
E-9Non-professional Employment (Employment Permit System)
You can only work at the workplace that received the employment permit. Changing workplaces is only possible in cases set by law.
D-2·D-4Study Abroad / Language Training
Only part-time work confirmed by your school and permitted by immigration is allowed, and your working hours are limited.
C-3, etc.Short-term Visit / Tourism
You cannot work.
E-7, etc.Professional employment such as Special Activities
You can only work at the permitted workplace and in the permitted job.
If you want to know exactly whether you can work with your visa
- Immigration Contact Center 1345Call 1345 (from abroad +82-1345). Help is available in many languages.
- HiKoreaGuides by status of stay, applications for part-time work and activities outside your status of stay
- Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of JusticeOriginal notice on employment restrictions for Overseas Koreans (F-4)
This page is a general guide as of October 2026. Laws and standards can change, and conditions can differ from person to person even with the same visa. Get the final decision from an immigration office.
Sources
- Ministry of Justice Notice No. 2026-65: Employment restrictions for Overseas Koreans (F-4) (Korean)
- New employment restriction standard for Overseas Koreans (F-4) takes effect - Korea Multicultural News (Korean)
- Easy Manual for Foreign Nationals of Korean Descent, February 2026 (Korean)
- Work allowed by status of stay (2026) - lacha (Korean)
- Ministry of Justice Visa Navigator (Korean)
Checked your visa? Apply by text
Write your nationality and visa type in the text, and the branch manager will guide you to a suitable site.