- South Korea opened applications for the revamped metropolitan visa system for the 2027–2028 program.
- The new rules cut the total quota from 6,790 to 3,000 and tighten local allocations.
- Local governments must now survey hiring needs before approval, while E-7 spouses can work in the same region.
South Korea's Ministry of Justice opened applications Monday for a revamped metropolitan visa system, setting August 24 through November 10, 2026 for the 2027–2028 program. The redesign is meant to track foreign labor demand more closely. It starts now.
Minister Jung Sung-ho said the overhaul has to balance labor shortages against pressure on pay and local communities. He drew a line.
“While leveraging foreign talent is necessary to resolve labor shortages in local industries, we must also examine potential impacts on people's jobs and wages and on local communities,” adding, “This overhaul aims to more precisely select the talent local industries need and to improve the system so it responsibly connects study, employment, accompanying family members, local settlement, and consumption.”
The move follows a two-year pilot that began in March 2024. It ran in 15 of South Korea's 17 metropolitan local governments, with Daejeon and Sejong left out. Two cities stayed out.
Under the rewrite, local governments can design both D-2 student visas and E-7 work visas together instead of choosing one category. The student side will become a local talent growth visa tied to industry demand. That widens the brief.
Officials will require local governments to survey actual hiring needs before quota approval and to gather input from businesses and other stakeholders. Spouses of E-7 holders will also be allowed to work in the same region. Family rules loosen too.
The quotas shrink sharply. The ceiling falls from 6,790 to 3,000, and the local range narrows from 60–1,000 to 50–200 people. Jeonnam-Gwangju gets a separate ceiling.
| Measure | New figure |
|---|---|
| Total program quota | 3,000 |
| Metropolitan local government quota | 50–200 people |
| Jeonnam-Gwangju integrated special city | up to 250 people |
Student admissions now hinge on school ties and job demand
The student track now ties majors to industries with clear worker shortages. Eligibility in the first year will be limited to D-4-1 Korean language training visa holders and foreign nationals who attended Korean high school from first year. The path narrows early.
International students who enter Korea for university will need one or two semesters and an evaluation that covers academic performance and Korean-language proficiency before they can qualify. The system now favors students who can move into local jobs. Graduation still matters.
E-7 approvals tilt toward graduates already inside the system
For E-7 work visas, priority will go to international graduates of Korean universities, while applicants who arrive directly from abroad must complete job training and meet minimum Korean-language requirements. More occupations will qualify. Settlement support widens too.
The ministry's own evaluation said businesses and local governments found the pilot helpful in filling labor shortages, but many stakeholders wanted the system redesigned rather than kept as-is. That feedback shaped the new round. The window closes in November.
