How to apply for and receive a work visa to South Korea

Pros of working in South Korea

Why is South Korea attractive for immigrants? This country is considered one of the world leaders in the field of information technology, the production of mobile phones, cars, and every year shows an excellent example of rapid economic development. The unemployment rate there is 3.8%. If you believe the statistics, South Korea is constantly seeing an increase in the flow of immigrants who are not only willing to work, but also to live there. Another undeniable advantage of the work is the fact that, compared to other European countries, there is no negative attitude towards foreigners. Managers of firms and enterprises treat visiting specialists as their colleagues, and not just hired labor.

South Korea is considered one of the few countries where it is quite easy to find any kind of manufacturing job. This is due to the fact that a huge number of factories are concentrated on its territory, which naturally creates a demand for labor. The suburbs of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province are especially popular, as this is where a large number of jobs are located.

Jobs in South Korea for Russians, Ukrainians and Kazakhstanis

Blue-collar jobs are considered the most in demand in South Korea. Most immigrants find employment in small or medium-sized businesses, where the total number of employees does not exceed 100 people.

In the country, it is quite easy for almost any person to get a job without having any qualifications. Men get jobs in factories or factories producing furniture, plastic, sewing jeans, etc. In addition, there are jobs as packers or harvesters on farms.

Women or girls can get a job in a confectionery shop, a garment factory, or as sorters of fish and seafood. In general, the work is not particularly difficult, since the enterprises have implemented a conveyor system.

Features of work in South Korea:

• Overtime work is paid additionally.
• On average, the working day lasts 10 hours a day.
• The schedule at some enterprises may be flexible.
• Night shifts are possible.
• There are no fixed days off.

As for wages, at first it will be minimal - about $600 per month, but over time this figure will increase. Jobs in low-skilled fields can pay up to $1,000 a month.

Women, on average, have lower earnings than men:

• Women – 660-700 dollars.
• Men – 750-800 dollars.

Quite often, the employer provides its visiting employees with housing and food. Of course, you shouldn’t count on luxurious conditions, however, a portable house or container (trailer) with a refrigerator, washing machine and wi-fi is also quite good.

For visitors who have a higher education, an opportunity for career growth opens up directly in the capital itself, where the income level is an order of magnitude higher than in the suburbs. In Seoul you can get a job as a programmer, engineer, biologist or chemist. In this case, you definitely need to have a master's degree.

Applying for a work visa: procedure

To legally get a job in a Korean company, you need to apply for a work visa before traveling. For this purpose, the requirements of Korean legislation are taken into account. There are 12 different visas available in the country, two of which are intended for Koreans living in other countries.

The basis for obtaining a visa is an official contract drawn up with the company where you plan to conduct work. The procedure for obtaining a document can be completed independently; to do this, you should contact the Korean Embassy in Russia, or you can use the services of agencies.

If you plan to obtain a permit yourself, then follow these steps:

1. First you need to contact the diplomatic mission located in Moscow, so if a Russian lives in another city, he will have to come to the capital.
2. Then a package of documents is prepared, which includes an application on the form of representation, a passport, educational documents, a resume, a certificate confirming that the person has found work in Korea, photographs, a receipt for payment of the registration fee, as well as a medical certificate.
3. Additionally, a certificate is required confirming that the person is not under investigation and has no criminal record.

If you use the help of an agent, you will have to pay for his services. It is important to contact trusted specialists so as not to stumble upon scammers.

Types of work visas

Even a pensioner has the opportunity to get a job or move to South Korea. If you plan to find official employment, you need to find a house or apartment to live in, and also apply for a visa. There are several visas that differ in validity period, price and other parameters.

The specific type of visa chosen depends on the person's education, skills, and place of employment. Advice: before moving, it is better to decide in advance on the field of activity and the company, and also resolve the issue of housing. This will help you quickly settle into a new place.

Requirements for applicants

The visa is only issued to foreigners who meet the requirements. These include:

• availability of a place of employment, which must be confirmed by official documents received from the Korean employer;
• absence of any infectious diseases;
• availability of the optimal amount of funds to pay for housing and food in the new country;
• no criminal record;
• knowledge of English or Korean;
• sometimes – having a higher education, thanks to which a person can get a job in any district of the country.

Sometimes compliance with other conditions may be required; you need to find out about them directly at the consulate. You need to apply for a visa only after an organization in Korea has been found in which the person plans to work. The employer sends an invitation and documents to the company. They are the basis for obtaining a visa.

Documents for obtaining a visa

To apply for a visa you need to prepare the following documentation:

• a foreign passport, and it must be valid for the entire period for which the permit is issued;
• application form, the form of which can be obtained from the consulate;
• two photographs measuring 35x45 mm;
• invitation from the employer;
• work permit;
• educational documents;
• a copy of the employment contract;
• certification number assigned by the Korean Migration Service based on documents received from the employer;
• a receipt for payment of the fee, which ranges from $80 to $120;
• medical certificate.

You need to look for a job before directly applying for a work permit. A visa is issued within 30 days after submitting the papers.

Where to apply

You can get a visa in different ways. To do this, you can contact the South Korean consulate in Russia in person, submit documents by mail or online by contacting the migration service directly. But this method is suitable for applying for an E-5 visa.

When using the Internet, you will have to send scans of all documents and receipts for payment of the fee.

Rules for filling out the form

When using any method of obtaining a visa, you will have to fill out the application form correctly. The filling rules include:

• one document is drawn up in English, and the other is filled out in Korean, so sometimes a translator will be needed;
• the applicant's full name, gender, date of birth, nationality, home address and telephone number are indicated;
• information from the international passport and the chosen place of employment are provided;
• marital status and information about children and spouses are recorded;
• the purpose of the trip and the period for which the applicant plans to stay in Korea are indicated;
• the address of the house or apartment in Korea where the foreigner will live is given;
• previous trips to this country are described;
• lists other states that were visited by the citizen within 5 years.

If the trip is paid for by a sponsor, then his details, degree of relationship and other information are indicated. At the end, the form is signed and dated.

The people in Korea are friendly and calm, so moving rarely brings negative emotions.

Possible reasons for refusal

Direct travel to Korea is only possible with a visa. It is the work permit that serves as the basis for migration, but any Russian may face a refusal to receive this document. This is usually due to the following reasons:

• lack of necessary documents;
• the presence of errors in the application or other papers;
• providing false data;
• violation of the visa regime during previous trips.

If the violation is eliminated, you can resubmit the documents, again paying the consular fee.

What to expect without knowing the language

In South Korea, lack of language proficiency can be a significant problem for many immigrants. However, some representatives of companies that offer this or that vacancy claim that there is a large percentage of Russian speakers there. However, in reality everything is a little different. Business managers prefer to communicate in their native language. As a last resort, the employee is expected to know at least English.

The main requirement for qualified specialists is knowledge of English at a sufficient level. If a foreigner also speaks Korean, finding a high-paying job will be much easier.

Summarizing

If you don't know how to get a job in Korea in 2021, contact a specialized agency. You can independently select a vacancy on numerous virtual labor exchanges.

Working conditions in South Korea for foreigners directly depend on the employer, but you will always be provided with housing, food, and breaks. For work at night and overtime they are paid extra and bonuses are provided.

Many people are interested in how a Russian, Ukrainian or Belarusian can work in Korea without knowing the language. Such labor migrants can only rely on low-skilled labor. If you are interested in a prestigious job, learn Korean and English.

For experienced labor migrants, one trip for 1–2 months to a Korean city to work can bring in net income of $1,500 or more.

Ways to search for vacancies

The best way to search for work in South Korea is to use the Internet. Nowadays, to obtain information about all vacancies, you can use specialized sites.

The most famous sites in South Korea:

• jobkorea.co.kr
• saramin.co.kr
• global.seoul.go.kr

You can use international resources for employment:

• careerjet.co.kr
• kr.indeed.com
• learn4good.com

You can also find current information about work through the local media Korea Herald and The Korea Times, which have an electronic version.

Searching for a job on your own is hard work. To do this, first of all, you need knowledge of English or Korean. If such a search turns out to be unsuccessful, it is best to contact specialized agencies that offer a full range of employment services - from finding the desired job to completing all the necessary documents.

Filling out the application form

If you are applying for a long-term visa, you need to fill out an application form - one copy of the form must be completed in English, and the second in Korean. The information provided is identical:

• full surname and patronymic - this is points 1 and 2, there is no need to register the patronymic;
• Points 3 and 4 – you need to select the applicant’s gender – male or female;
• Date of Birth;
• nationality;
• the country in which the applicant was born;
• the address where he lives;
• 9, 10 and 11 points – contact information – current phone number, valid email address, other information;
• in paragraph 12, the nationality of the applicant must be duplicated again;
• 13 – 17 points – details of a foreign passport;
• 18 – 20 points – information about the place of work;
• marital status – you need to choose the right item;
• if the applicant is officially married, all information about the spouse is entered in paragraphs 22 – 25;
• Point 26 – purpose of the trip to South Korea;
• the time period during which the migrant expects to stay in Korea;
• date of entry into the country;
• if the applicant has previously entered Korea before this point, you must indicate when this happened;
• the address at which the visitor will reside in the country;
• contact details in Korea;
• a list of countries that the visitor has visited over the past 5 years;
• in paragraph 34 you must provide information about all family members who will accompany the applicant on his trip to Korea;
• if the person entering has a sponsor who bears all the costs of staying and living in Korea, then in paragraph 35 you need to indicate all the information about this person.

After all the points have been filled out, the applicant must carefully check the specified data again and compare it with the documents. Only after this is the date for filling out the form and the personal signature of the applicant.

How to get a visa and work permit in South Korea

In order to go to South Korea to work, you need to obtain a work visa.

The country's immigration system provides for 36 types of visas. Let's look at the most common ones:

• D-7 - issued to those employees who work for foreign enterprises that are investing in the Korean economy, as well as to qualified specialists holding positions in branches or representative offices of foreign companies.
• C-4 – issued for short-term employment (up to 3 months). This visa does not impose any special restrictions on the type of activity.
• E-3, E-4, E-5, E-7 – long-term type of visas. Issued for qualified foreign workers for the purpose of employment in South Korean companies. For example, this type of work visa must be obtained by lawyers, doctors, and technical specialists.

It all starts with the fact that the applicant must submit an application to the Korean Consulate at his place of residence. But he can do this only after an employment contract has been concluded with the future employer. In turn, an employer who intends to hire a specialist from abroad is obliged to obtain a certificate according to which the legality of such employment will be confirmed. This is where the difficulties begin, since not all employers want to spend their time on this procedure. It should be noted that unofficial work in the country risks not only a hefty fine and deportation, but also a ban on entry into South Korea.

Documents required to obtain a work visa:

• Statement.
• Visa application form.
• International passport.
• Color photo.
• Autobiography.
• Diploma of education.
• Certificate of employment agreement.
• Certificate of no criminal record.
• Medical insurance.

Documents are submitted personally by the applicant or through 3 persons without a power of attorney (sent by mail are not accepted). There are times when a visa specialist may ask for other documents. In this case, the applicant is obliged to provide them. All papers must be translated into Korean and notarized.

Obtaining a work visa occurs within a month. First, the document is issued for a period of 1 year with the right to extend only if the employer does not change. Upon arrival in the state, you must obtain a residence permit within 90 days. To do this, you need to contact the immigration service.

Work permit

Applying for a work permit is a mandatory step in obtaining a work visa to Korea. The employing company is responsible for preparing the document. To do this, the following package of documents must be submitted to a special department of the country’s government:

• international passport of a potential employee;
• resume of a foreign specialist;
• copies of educational diplomas, certificates and business licenses translated into English.

On average, obtaining a permit can take up to two months, depending on the specifics of the vacancy.

Hostess work, vacancies and salaries

For women or girls in South Korea, the most popular job is as a hostess. This job does not require any special qualifications, however, knowledge of a language other than English will be very useful. There are several areas in which girls (women) can work in this area: meeting guests, serving guests, managing waiters.

Such vacancies are most often open in entertainment establishments such as bars, restaurants, clubs or karaoke. In such a position, girls (women) can earn about $2,500 per month (this amount does not include tips).

For those who come to the country to work as hostesses, the employer provides housing. Basically, this is a residential block or room (apartment) directly next to the club or not far from the restaurant. Several people (girls or women) live in a living room at once. In addition, the housing is equipped with everything necessary: ​​shower, kitchen, washing machine, etc.

Shift work

Quite often, work on a rotational basis is in demand, which involves traveling to South Korea for a certain period of time (mostly from 2 months). As a rule, vacancies are available in agriculture - harvester, auxiliary worker, vegetable grower, etc.

Housing and food are provided at the expense of the employer. Weekends - in rainy or windy weather, and if weather conditions are favorable, you can take one day a week at the request of the employee. Such work is paid from $90 per day.

Work in factories and industries, labor as laborers

It also happens that Russian citizens go to South Korea without obtaining a work visa. This is possible if the period of stay in the country does not exceed 60 days. In this case, employment occurs in the so-called “arbeit” - low-paid work that does not require qualifications.

A foreigner in Korea with a similar status is provided with housing by the employer and is sent daily to a site where he performs certain work (the activities of a general worker may vary). Most often, foreigners do auxiliary work, helping in the kitchen, harvesting crops, etc. The pay for such work is not high - 50-100 dollars a day. A working day can last more than 10 hours.

Immigrants who go to South Korea and already know that they will work at a specific enterprise (factory) have their advantages over those who, for example, go to work in the fields. In particular, the advantage lies in the housing that the employer provides for such employees. On average, a working day for people employed in factories lasts up to 9 hours, and as for wages, a person can receive from $70 per day.

Economic relations with Russia

Foreign trade activities of the Republic of Korea in relation to Russia are focused mainly on increasing the volume of exports of goods and technologies for industrial and agricultural production. South Korean goods, as a rule, are not inferior in quality to European ones, but are much cheaper even taking into account logistics. In most cases, comparisons with Chinese goods do not make any sense - they are completely different in quality and approach to design.

Most of the cargo is delivered to Russia by sea, logistics have been established for a long time, and there are no difficulties with delivery today. Interests in the field of imports from Russia lie in the energy sector and the supply of raw materials to supply industry.

The development of trade and economic ties between South Korea and Russia in recent years has been largely facilitated by China's commodity expansion into competitive markets: Southeast Asia, the USA, and Europe.

The Russian market is very attractive not only for large South Korean companies that have long been firmly established in Russia, localizing their production here, but also for medium and small ones. Thanks to government support, any South Korean company has the opportunity to find partners in Russia without spending its own money on marketing.

Job Opportunities for Married Couples

In South Korea, there are vacancies for which married couples are invited to work. The most common option is to work on the country's sea farms. The workers' responsibilities include a variety of tasks: from tying knots and lifting buoys to growing shells and seaweed.

This kind of work requires physical effort, so a number of requirements are put forward for future candidates and mainly there is an age limit. Such work involves performing duties both on land and in water. Days off are considered to be those days when the weather is windy or rainy.

As a rule, married couples are provided with free housing and food. Payment for such labor is estimated at approximately $1,376.