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South Korea work visa · Kochi, Kerala

South Korea Work Visa (E-7 and E-series) from Kerala

Korean shipyards, electronics and IT companies, universities and research institutes now hire professionals from Kerala. Your employer in Korea sponsors the visa – usually by obtaining a Visa Issuance Confirmation from Korean Immigration – and you then submit at the Korea Visa Application Centre in Chennai with apostilled degrees, a police clearance and a TB test. Visa Xpert, Kochi prepares your side of the file.

Submission at KVAC Chennai

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South Korea work visa at a glance

  • Government feeLong-term single-entry fee set in US dollars (US$60), collected by KVAC in rupees – about ₹5,400 on our last check. KVAC service charge about ₹1,600.
  • Processing timeAt least 25 working days at KVAC Chennai (27 at Bengaluru) for long-term visas; faster when the employer has a Visa Issuance Confirmation.
  • Stay and validityGranted for the contract period, usually 1–3 years, extended in Korea. Family can follow on the F-3 dependant visa.
  • Where you apply from KeralaNo Kochi centre. Submit at KVAC Chennai (Egmore) or Bengaluru; decided by the Consulate General of Korea, Chennai.

Quick answer

Yes – professionals from Kerala with a Korean job offer apply for an E-series work visa (most often E-7 for engineers, welders and skilled technicians, E-1/E-3 for academics and researchers) at the Korea Visa Application Centre in Chennai. The employer first obtains a Visa Issuance Confirmation from Korean Immigration in most cases; you then submit your passport, the confirmation number, apostilled qualification certificates, a police clearance certificate and a TB test. The fee is about ₹5,400 (US$60) plus a KVAC charge of about ₹1,600; processing takes at least 25 working days. Visa Xpert’s service charge is quoted per case.

South Korea work visa: key facts

ItemDetails
Official visaE-series long-term work visas: E-7 (specially designated activities – engineers, IT, skilled trades such as welding and painting in shipyards), E-1 professor, E-3 researcher, E-4 technical instructor, E-5 professional, E-6 arts and entertainment, E-10 crew. Indian citizens are not part of the E-9 (EPS) scheme.
Who it is forEngineers and IT professionals, shipbuilding and manufacturing technicians, nurses and caregivers under specific programmes, professors, researchers and performers with a signed Korean employment contract.
Government feeSet in US dollars – US$60 for a single-entry visa over 90 days; KVAC collects about ₹5,400 in rupees on our last check. Check the current fee. Non-refundable.
Centre / VFS feeKVAC (VFS Global) service charge about ₹1,600; courier to Kerala extra.
Visa Xpert service chargeAsk us for a quote – call or WhatsApp +91 89211 53604. Government and KVAC fees are paid separately. Employers sometimes reimburse visa costs – check your contract.
Standard processing timeKVAC’s minimum for long-term visas is 25 working days at Chennai and 27 at Bengaluru. Files with a Visa Issuance Confirmation are usually simpler; the Consulate can still take longer to verify qualifications.
Stay / validityIssued for the employment contract period (commonly 1–3 years), single entry; after arrival you register and receive a residence card, and extend in Korea. Spouse and children can apply for F-3.
Where you apply from KeralaNo Korean visa centre in Kochi
Kerala is under the Consulate General of Korea, Chennai. Submit in person at KVAC Chennai (Fagun Towers, Egmore) or Bengaluru.
Form / portalPaper application form at KVAC with the employer’s Visa Issuance Confirmation number (issued on the Korea Visa Portal, visa.go.kr) and your supporting documents. Without a confirmation, the full employer document set is required.
Checked on4 November 2026

Plain words: Visa Issuance Confirmation is a pre-approval your employer obtains from Korean Immigration so the Consulate only has to check you. E-7 is the most common professional visa for Indians. Apostille is the MEA stamp making Indian certificates valid in Korea.

South Korea work visa documents

Your employer handles the Korean side (confirmation, business documents). Your side is identity, qualifications, character and health – all apostilled or certified, in order.

Forms and identity

  • Visa application form, signed; one photo 35 × 45 mm, white background
  • Passport valid 6+ months beyond the contract start, plus copies and old passports
  • Copy of Aadhaar or PAN

Employment

  • Visa Issuance Confirmation number (or certificate) from Korean Immigration – obtained by the employer
  • Signed employment contract and offer letter
  • Employer’s business registration certificate and invitation letter (required when there is no confirmation)

Qualifications and experience

  • Degree or diploma certificate – apostilled by the MEA
  • Mark sheets / transcripts
  • Experience certificates from previous employers (E-7 often requires 1–5 years depending on the role)
  • Skill certificates for trades (welding, painting, etc.) where applicable

Character and health

  • Police Clearance Certificate from the Regional Passport Office, apostilled – required for most E-series visas
  • Tuberculosis test certificate from a Korean-Embassy-designated hospital
  • Medical certificate if the employer or Consulate asks

Good to know

  • Apostille and PCC together take 2–4 weeks – start before the confirmation arrives
  • Nurses and caregivers: Korea runs specific programmes; the visa code depends on the programme – ask us
  • E-9 (Employment Permit System) is not open to Indian citizens; be cautious of agents offering “EPS Korea” jobs
  • Family joins later on F-3 once you have your residence card

Step by step: Korea work visa from Kochi

Six steps.

  1. Contract and confirmationYour employer applies for the Visa Issuance Confirmation at Korean Immigration (or sends the full employer document set). We tell you what to ask them for.
  2. PCC, apostille and TB testPolice clearance from the Passport Office, MEA apostille of degree and PCC, TB test at a designated hospital – all arranged from Kochi.
  3. Forms and fileApplication form, photo, contract, qualifications and certificates arranged in KVAC order.
  4. Submit at KVAC ChennaiIn person at Fagun Towers, Egmore (or Bengaluru). Pay about ₹5,400 plus the KVAC charge.
  5. Consulate decisionAt least 25 working days. We track the status and respond to any request for extra documents.
  6. Fly and registerCollect the passport, travel, register at Immigration within 90 days for your residence card, and start work.

How Visa Xpert helps professionals going to Korea

The Consulate General of Korea decides; we never promise a visa. We make sure your qualification, character and health documents are complete and correctly apostilled so a good job offer is not delayed.

  1. Employer coordinationWe explain the Visa Issuance Confirmation to your HR contact and check what they send.
  2. PCC and apostille handlingPassport Office PCC, MEA apostille of degree and PCC, translations – from Kochi.
  3. Complete KVAC fileForms, photo, contract and certificates checked against the Consulate list before you travel to Chennai.
  4. Tracking and family planningStatus follow-up, and a plan for your spouse and children to join on F-3.

2026 notes for Korea work visas from Kerala

What to expect this year

  • Shipyard and manufacturing E-7 roles continue to recruit from Kerala; skill certificates and experience letters matter as much as the degree.
  • Visa Issuance Confirmation first: most employers obtain it; without it the Consulate needs the full employer set and takes longer.
  • PCC and apostille: both are standard for E-series visas; the PCC itself must be apostilled.
  • Processing: at least 25 working days at KVAC Chennai – tell your employer not to fix a joining date before the visa.
  • Family: F-3 dependants apply after you register in Korea; the sponsor’s income proof is the key document.
  • Beware of fake EPS offers: India is not an EPS (E-9) country; genuine offers come with a Korean company contract and a Visa Issuance Confirmation.

South Korea work visa: frequently asked questions

Which Korean work visa do Indian professionals usually get?

Most receive the E-7 (specially designated activities) visa – for engineers, IT specialists and skilled trades such as shipyard welders and painters. Academics get E-1 (professor) or E-3 (researcher); technical instructors E-4; performers E-6.

What is a Visa Issuance Confirmation and do I need one?

It is a pre-approval your Korean employer obtains from the Immigration office in Korea. It is not always mandatory, but with it the Consulate only checks your personal documents, which makes the file simpler and usually faster. Most employers obtain it.

How much does the Korea work visa cost from Kerala?

The fee is set in US dollars (US$60 for a single-entry long-term visa) and collected by KVAC in rupees – about ₹5,400 on our last check – plus a KVAC service charge of about ₹1,600. Visa Xpert quotes its service charge per case. PCC, apostille and TB test are separate costs.

How long does the work visa take?

KVAC requires at least 25 working days at Chennai (27 at Bengaluru) for long-term visas. Add 2–4 weeks before that for the PCC, apostille and TB test. Plan 2 months from job offer to departure.

Do I need a police clearance certificate?

Yes, for most E-series visas: a PCC from the Regional Passport Office, apostilled by the MEA. We guide the application in Kochi.

Can Indians apply for the E-9 EPS visa?

No. India is not one of the countries in Korea’s Employment Permit System, so E-9 is not available to Indian citizens. Genuine jobs for Indians come through E-7 and other professional visas with a Korean employer’s sponsorship.

Can my family come with me?

Yes. Your spouse and unmarried minor children apply for the F-3 dependant visa, usually after you receive your residence card in Korea; they need apostilled marriage or birth certificates and your income proof.

Is Visa Xpert part of KVAC or the Korean Consulate?

No. Visa Xpert is an independent consultancy in Kochi since 2015. The Consulate decides; KVAC (VFS) receives the file. We prepare and track your application – no guarantees.

Official sources

Last checked: 4 November 2026. Government fees, exchange rates and processing times change; we confirm the latest before you pay anything.

Related South Korea visa pages

Korean job offer in hand?

WhatsApp your contract and the employer’s confirmation (if issued). We will send a dated checklist – PCC, apostille, TB test, KVAC – and a quote the same day.

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