E-3 eligibility check

Research at a Korean research institute, university or corporate R&D centre.

Who it is for

• Doctorate holder A doctorate carries no experience requirement: holding it, or being about to be awarded it, is the qualification.
• Master's with three years of experience Three years or more of research experience alongside the master's.
• Master's, with the experience requirement waived Three categories are exempt from the three-year rule: a master's from a Korean university, a master's from a university in the TIMES world top 200 or QS world top 500, and authorship of a paper...

What the check asks

The check asks 7 questions, for example: Where are you applying from, Where will you be doing the research, What is your highest degree, Does any of these apply to you. Your answers are never stored.

Documents a result can list

The result lists the documents for your route. Depending on your answers, they include:

• Application form, passport, a standard photo and the fee
• Degree certificate
• Employment contract or research agreement with the institution
• The institution's registration documents
• Application form (No. 34), passport, one standard photo, and the fee
• Employment contract (original and copy), or an appointment-confirmation letter
• Career certificate with your degree certificate attached
• The institution's establishment documents
• Integrated report form (No. 34), passport and residence card: no fee
• Business registration, corporate register, or research-institution evidence

Source: 법무부 출입국·외국인정책본부「사증민원·체류민원 자격별 안내 매뉴얼」(2026. 7.), pages 사증 152-158. An estimate. Immigration officers decide.