Changing jobs in Korea on a work visa isn’t just a career move — it’s an immigration event. Whether you’re moving to a new employer voluntarily, your contract ended, or your company closed, you are legally required to notify Korean Immigration within a specific timeframe. Miss the deadline, and you face fines and complications at your next visa renewal.
This guide explains exactly what to do when you change jobs in Korea: when notification is required, what kind of process applies to your situation, what documents you need, and what happens if things go wrong.
📑 In this guide
- The Two Types of Job Change Process
- Which Process Applies to You
- The Notification Process (사후 신고): Step by Step
- The Pre-Approval Process (사전 허가): When Required
- Required Documents
- The Employer Consent Letter (원 근무처 동의서)
- Do You Also Need to Extend Your Visa?
- Special Cases: Fired, Laid Off, or Company Closed
- How to Do It on HiKorea
- Common Questions
For most professional visa holders (E-1 through E-7), the job change must be reported to your local immigration office within 15 days of the change occurring. The clock starts from the date your new employment begins — not the date you decided to leave, and not the date your old contract ended. Missing this window results in a fine (과태료).
1. The Two Types of Job Change Process
Depending on your situation, you’ll go through one of two very different processes:
| Process | Korean term | When it applies | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-change notification | 근무처변경 사후신고 | Normal job changes — contract ended, mutual agreement, employer closed/wage theft | Simple — notify within 15 days, submit documents |
| Pre-approval required | 근무처변경 사전허가 | Fired or resigned midterm WITHOUT original employer’s consent | More complex — must get approval before starting new job |
The key reform that created this system: since November 2010, professional visa holders (E-1 through E-7) were shifted from a “pre-approval” requirement to a “post-notification” system for most job changes. This means that in most normal situations, you can start your new job first and then notify immigration within 15 days — you don’t need to wait for approval before starting work.
2. Which Process Applies to You
Contract ended naturally on the agreed end date — worked through to the last day. Simplest case. Employer consent letter not required. Notify immigration within 15 days of starting new job.
Mutual agreement to part earlier than the contract end date — both you and your employer agreed to end the contract early. Employer consent letter required (이적동의서). Notify within 15 days.
Employer closed, went bankrupt, or had business suspended — company’s fault, not yours. Employer consent letter can be replaced with evidence of closure/suspension. Notify within 15 days.
Employer had wage theft or labor law violations — you left due to the employer’s violations. Employer consent letter can be replaced with supporting documentation. Notify within 15 days.
Fired (해고) for your own fault midterm, WITHOUT employer consent to transfer — you were let go for performance, conduct, or other reasons attributable to you, and the employer will not provide an 이적동의서. Must get pre-approval (사전허가) before starting new job.
Resigned midterm WITHOUT employer consent — you quit before the contract end date and the employer refuses to give consent. Must get pre-approval before starting new job. Starting work without approval is a visa violation.
Left your job and want to look for a new one — if you don’t yet have a new employer lined up, apply for D-10 (Job Seeker) status to remain in Korea legally while you search. See our D-10 complete guide →
3. The Notification Process (사후 신고): Step by Step
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1
Confirm your new job qualifies for your visa type
Before accepting a new role, verify that the position falls within the scope of your current visa. For E-7 holders: the new role must match one of the 91 designated E-7 occupation codes and ideally the same occupational category as your current E-7. If the new role requires a different visa type, you need a full visa status change — not just a workplace change notification.
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2
Prepare your documents before visiting immigration
Gather all required documents (see Section 5) before going to the immigration office. In-person submission is required — immigration needs to attach a notification sticker or stamp to your passport, which cannot be done online or by mail in most cases.
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3
Visit your local immigration office within 15 days
Go to the immigration office (출입국·외국인청/사무소/출장소) in your district. Bring all documents. The notification (신고) is processed at the counter — you submit documents and receive a stamped passport or notification sticker confirming the workplace change is on record.
Tip: Book an appointment online at HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) to avoid wait times. Walk-in is also accepted but can take 1–3 hours at busy offices.
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4
Emergency: FAX submission if the 15-day deadline is about to pass
If you’re running out of time before the 15-day deadline, the official manual allows advance submission by FAX to lock in the submission date. You must then visit the immigration office in person as soon as possible afterward to complete the passport sticker/stamp process. Call your immigration office first to confirm their fax number and that they accept this procedure.
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5
Check whether you also need a visa extension
The workplace change notification does not extend your visa. If your remaining visa period is shorter than your new employment contract period plus one month, you must also apply for a stay extension at the same visit. See Section 7 for the calculation.
4. The Pre-Approval Process (사전 허가): When Required
If you were fired midterm for your own fault, or resigned midterm and the original employer will not provide consent, you cannot use the simple notification process. You need formal pre-approval (근무처변경 사전허가) before starting the new job.
| Item | Pre-approval details |
|---|---|
| When to apply | Before you start work at the new employer — not after. Starting work without approval is a visa violation. |
| Where to apply | Your local immigration office — same as the notification process |
| Processing time | Varies — typically 1–3 weeks. Plan accordingly before your new job start date. |
| Documents required | Same base documents as notification, plus: written explanation of why you left the previous employer, any documentation of the employment dispute or termination |
| Can I appeal if the original employer refuses consent? | Yes — if the original employer’s refusal to give consent is unreasonable (e.g., wage theft, contract violations on their part), you can provide evidence of the employer’s violations as a substitute for the consent letter. Immigration has discretion to accept this. |
5. Required Documents
| Document | Details | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| 통합신청서 (Application form, 별지 제34호) | Download from HiKorea or get at the immigration office counter. Fill out completely before arriving. | ✅ Always |
| Passport (여권) | Original — immigration needs to attach the notification sticker or add a stamp | ✅ Always |
| Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) | Original ARC | ✅ Always |
| New employer’s business registration certificate (사업자등록증) | Copy — confirms the new employer is a registered business | ✅ Always |
| New employment contract (고용계약서) | Signed contract with new employer — specifying role, salary, start date, duration | ✅ Always |
| Original employer’s consent letter (원 근무처 장의 동의서 / 이적동의서) | Written consent from your previous employer to transfer to the new employer. See Section 6 for when this is waived. | ⚠️ Conditional |
| Application fee (수수료) | Approximately KRW 30,000–60,000 for workplace change notification. No fee for some categories — confirm at the office. | ⚠️ Usually yes |
6. The Employer Consent Letter (원 근무처 동의서)
This document — a written statement from your previous employer agreeing to your transfer — is one of the most commonly misunderstood requirements. Here’s exactly when it’s needed and when it’s waived:
- Contract ended on the agreed last day — you worked through to the contract’s natural end date. No consent needed.
- Employer’s business closed, suspended, or went bankrupt — submit evidence of closure (폐업/휴업 확인서) instead of consent letter.
- Employer committed wage theft or labor violations — submit supporting documentation (labor authority records, etc.) instead of consent letter.
- You resigned before the contract end date with the employer’s agreement to let you go early
- You were fired midterm and the employer is willing to provide consent (이적동의서)
- You want to add a second employer (근무처 추가) while keeping your current job
- Fired midterm for your own fault, and employer refuses to provide consent
- Resigned midterm without employer agreement, and employer refuses to provide consent
- → In these cases, you must apply for 사전 허가 (pre-approval) and cannot start the new job until approved
7. Do You Also Need to Extend Your Visa?
The workplace change notification does NOT automatically extend your visa. You need a separate stay extension if:
Example: Your ARC shows 6 months remaining. Your new contract is for 1 year. Since 6 months < (12 months + 1 month), you need to extend your stay at the same visit.
| Scenario | What to do |
|---|---|
| Remaining visa > new contract + 1 month | Workplace change notification only. No extension needed now. |
| Remaining visa < new contract + 1 month | Workplace change notification + stay extension application at the same visit. Bring extension documents too. |
| Remaining visa > new contract (but less than + 1 month) | Immigration may shorten your visa period to match the new contract + 1 month. Don’t be alarmed if your remaining stay is adjusted. |
8. Special Cases: Fired, Laid Off, or Company Closed
9. How to Do It on HiKorea
While the official rule requires in-person reporting (for passport sticker attachment), HiKorea provides supporting resources:
| What HiKorea offers | How to access |
|---|---|
| Appointment booking for immigration office visit | hikorea.go.kr → 전자민원 → 방문예약. Highly recommended — walk-in waits can be 1–3 hours at busy offices. Book at least 1 week in advance. |
| Application form (통합신청서, 별지 제34호) download | hikorea.go.kr → 서식자료실 → 통합신청서 검색 |
| Check your immigration history (출입국사실증명서) | hikorea.go.kr → 전자민원 → 증명발급 — useful for verifying your own record before the visit |
| Find your local immigration office | hikorea.go.kr → 기타조회서비스 → 관할 출입국·외국인관서 조회 |
| Online submission (some categories) | Some workplace change notifications can be submitted online — check the specific category on HiKorea. However, passport sticker attachment still typically requires an in-person visit at some point. |
10. Common Questions
- ☐ Confirm new role qualifies for your current visa category
- ☐ Determine which process applies (notification vs. pre-approval)
- ☐ Gather documents: 통합신청서, passport, ARC, 사업자등록증, 고용계약서
- ☐ Obtain employer consent letter (이적동의서) if required — or substitute evidence if waived
- ☐ Book immigration office appointment on HiKorea
- ☐ Visit immigration office within 15 days of new employment start date
- ☐ Check if visa extension is also needed at the same visit
- ☐ Keep the stamped passport/notification sticker as proof
Related: D-10 Job Seeker Visa: If You Need Time to Find a New Job →
Related: Korea Salary Guide for Foreigners 2026 →
Related: Complete Guide: Working in Korea as a Foreigner →