New visa regulations announced by the Justice Ministry in July are likely to mean foreign English language teachers – who are usually on low starting salaries – will struggle to settle in the country in the long term.
From December, Korea’s F-2-7 visa – which lasts for up to five years for those in highly skilled occupations and allows a change of jobs – will require applicants to achieve six times more “points” based on salaries than are currently required. To reach the maximum number of points, a teacher would need to be on 100 million won annually (£64,000), far above many entry-level teachers’ wages.
Applicants with just enough points for an F-2-7 will only get visas for one or two years. Younger applicants will also be penalised.
Currently, foreign teachers can upgrade from a short-term work visa for a specific job, the E-7-4 visa, to the F-2-7 while in Korea. Under the new rules, in nearly all cases, they will have to return to their home country and start their application for an F-2-7 from there.
