South Korea Work Visa Salary Requirements for Indians (2026)

All figures here are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. The Ministry states the thresholds in Korean won only. It publishes no rupee equivalent, and this page does not invent one because exchange rates move.

What is the 2026 minimum salary for each E-7 category?

The E-7 (Specific Activities) visa is Korea's main employer-sponsored route for skilled foreign workers. The notice splits it into four groups, each with its own annual floor.

The thresholds run from 1 February to 31 December 2026. Until 31 January 2026 the previous standards applied. Note that the E-7-4 floor is a round KRW 26 million, slightly above the E-7-2 and E-7-3 figure.

Does every occupation follow these four numbers?

No. The notice says occupations for which the Minister of Justice has set a different wage standard, for example to protect jobs for Korean nationals, follow that standard instead. The 2026 notice does not list those occupation-specific exceptions.

So the table is the general rule, not the final word for your job code. Before you sign, ask the Korean employer in writing which E-7 sub-type and which wage standard your position falls under. The full notice is on the Korea Immigration Service website.

Is it your Indian salary or your Korean salary that counts?

The threshold is a minimum annual wage for the E-7 job. It is the pay in your Korean job offer that matters, not what you earn in India today. A modest Indian CTC does not count against you on this test if the Korean contract meets the floor, and a high Indian salary does not help if the Korean offer falls short.

Read the contract figure carefully. The notice speaks of annual wages in won, so compare the annual amount in the contract with the table, not a monthly figure multiplied in your head.

Three checks before you accept an offer:

• The contract names your E-7 sub-type (E-7-1, E-7-2, E-7-3 or E-7-4).
• The annual wage in won is at or above the 2026 floor for that sub-type, or the employer confirms in writing that a separate Ministry standard applies to your occupation.
• The start date falls inside the period the notice covers, 1 February to 31 December 2026, or you know which year's standard will apply.

What does the KVAC ask for once you have a visa issuance number?

Indians on this route apply in India only after the employer side in Korea produces a visa issuance number. The Chennai/Bengaluru KVAC checklist for a long-term visa with a visa issuance number (2026) lists:

• Passport valid for more than 6 months
• 2 recent colour photographs
• The online visa application form (e-Form printed from the Korea Visa Portal)
• Original TB test report from a designated lab
• Health Condition Form
• Relationship proof for any accompanying family member
• The visa issuance number from Korea
• For research visas: an apostilled copy of your latest degree certificate

A small group can skip the centre. The Visa Portal issues e-Visas to E-7 experts who hold a Gold Card employment recommendation, and to their F-3 family members. Everyone else fills the e-Form and submits in person.

How much will the E-7 visa cost you in rupees?

The INR 5,400 long-term fee follows the Embassy of Korea's notice of 13 July 2026, effective 1 August 2026. Express fees are not returned if the visa is refused.

How long does processing take at Indian centres?

Chennai and Bengaluru figures exclude the day of submission. We could not locate published processing times for the New Delhi and Kolkata centres, so confirm with the KVAC there. Since 21 September 2026, the Mumbai-jurisdiction centres accept applications only if your travel date is within one month of submission.

What if the offer does not meet the E-7 floor?

Other Korean visas exist, but they serve different purposes and are not a way around the wage rule:

• D-10-1 job seeker: for people seeking E-1 to E-7 type work who meet one eligibility test, such as at least 1 year in the last 3 years at a Fortune Global 500 company. It asks for 6 months' bank statements with sufficient balance; no amount is stated.
• F-1-D digital nomad: for remote workers employed by a foreign company. Local employment is not allowed. The Chennai consulate's May 2024 notice put the income test at KRW 84.96 million a year.
• C-4-5 short-term employment: for assignments of less than 90 days; normal fee Rs. 3600.

Compare routes, fees and centres on our South Korea visa page for Indians.

Need a flight reservation, hotel booking, itinerary or cover letter for a Korean file? Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares these, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Do the 2026 E-7 wage thresholds apply from 1 January 2026?

No. Ministry of Justice Notice 2025-406 applies from 1 February to 31 December 2026. Until 31 January 2026 the previous wage standards applied.

Is there an official rupee figure for the Korean E-7 minimum salary?

No. The Ministry of Justice states the E-7 minimum annual wage in Korean won only. Compare the annual won figure in your contract with the threshold for your E-7 sub-type.

Do Indians need a TB test for a Korean work visa?

Yes. The Chennai/Bengaluru KVAC checklist for a long-term visa with a visa issuance number asks for an original TB test report from a designated lab, along with a Health Condition Form.

Will the consulate explain a Korean work visa refusal?

The Chennai consulate's KVAC page says grant or refusal is at the consulate's sole discretion and no reason is disclosed for non-issuance. After a refusal you may reapply only after three months.