Gyeonggi-do Issues Recommendation Letters for Skilled Foreign Workers Eligible for Long-Term Stay

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Gyeonggi Province will implement a governor’s additional points recommendation system for issuing visas to foreign skilled workers (E-7-4).

On the 25th, Gyeonggi Province announced that to alleviate labor shortages in manufacturing, agriculture, and livestock industries, it will introduce a system where the governor of Gyeonggi Province recommends foreign skilled workers who wish to convert to a long-term employment visa (E-7-4).

Foreign workers who entered the country with simple labor visas (E-9, H-2, E-10) can stay long-term and invite their families if they convert to a skilled worker visa (E-7-4). Additionally, if they meet certain conditions later, they can obtain residence status (F-2) or permanent residency (F-5).

In response to the labor difficulties faced by small and medium-sized enterprises, Gyeonggi Province requested the Ministry of Justice in May to expand the quota and relax requirements for skilled foreign workers. Recently, the Ministry of Justice implemented an expansion of skilled worker quotas (K-point E74) reflecting opinions from local governments and industry sites and established a metropolitan government additional points recommendation system.

Gyeonggi Province has the largest quota, with 2,088 spots, accounting for 38% of the nationwide total of 5,500.

Applications for conversion and issuance of the skilled worker (E-7-4) visa can be submitted by the foreign worker themselves through the Ministry of Justice’s civil service website HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr). Foreigners requiring a governor’s recommendation letter must submit their application to the relevant city or county department by December 20.

Eligibility for the Gyeonggi Province governor’s additional points recommendation requires meeting the Ministry of Justice’s expanded skilled worker (K-point E74) conversion criteria and having worked for more than one year at a company located in Gyeonggi Province as of the application date. Among foreigners scoring 170?199 points on the self-assessment score sheet, those with volunteer service records, awards, recommendations from foreigner welfare center directors, or recommendations from mayors or county heads are eligible.

Geum Cheol-wan, Director of the Labor Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, “Converting to a skilled worker visa allows foreigners to reside longer in Korea and invite their families, which is beneficial. From the companies’ perspective, it is advantageous to secure skilled workers needed by the local community. We plan to continue efforts to improve various systems so that foreigners residing in Gyeonggi Province and local businesses can coexist.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.