Changing workplace on a work visa in Korea usually requires permission from Immigration before you make the move, not just a report after the fact. This applies whether you are switching employers entirely or adding a second workplace while keeping your first one.
This guide explains who needs this permission, the criteria Immigration checks before granting it, when in the process you need to apply, and which visa statuses use a different reporting process instead. It also sets out what the employee and the employer each need to keep in mind so the move stays inside the boundaries of the existing visa status.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who it applies to | Foreigners on visa statuses that allow employment (C-4, E-1 to E-10, H-1) and statuses treated as similar to employment (D-7, D-8, D-9) |
| What it covers | Changing to a new workplace, or adding an extra workplace, within your current staying status |
| Deadline | Permission must be reviewed and granted by the local Immigration Office in advance, before the change or addition happens |
| Where to apply | The local Immigration Office |
| Who submits the application | The principal (the foreign employee) or an assigned agent |
| Extra workplaces allowed | No more than two workplaces in addition to your main workplace |
| Different process | D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, D-5, D-6, D-7, D-8, D-9 organization or workplace changes can fall under Change in status of Foreigner Registration or a separate employee report instead |
Who Needs Permission Before Changing Workplace on a Work Visa in Korea
"Workplace" has a specific meaning here. It is the designated location where an employed foreigner works, but it also includes any place the employer is allowed to assign the foreigner to, as long as that assignment stays within the boundaries of the employment contract.
This permission applies to foreigners whose visa status allows employment, and separately to a few visa statuses that Immigration treats as similar to employment.
- Visa statuses that allow employment: Temporary Employment (C-4), Professorship (E-1), Foreign Language Instructor (E-2), Research (E-3), Technology Transfer (E-4), Professional Employment (E-5), Cultural Arts (E-6), Special Occupation (E-7), Employed Trainee (E-8), Non-professional Employment (E-9), Vessel Crew (E-10), and Working Holiday (H-1)
- Visa statuses treated as similar to employment: Supervisory Intra-company Transfer (D-7), Corporate Investment (D-8), and Trade Management (D-9)
⚠️ A handful of other D visa statuses are not covered by this permission at all – see the section below on when a different report applies instead.
Steps for Changing Workplace on a Work Visa in Korea
The official guide is clear that any change or addition to a foreigner’s workplace must be reviewed and granted in advance by the local Immigration Office. That means you need approval before you start at the new or additional workplace, not afterward.
- Check that the new or added workplace matches the staying purpose stated in your employment contract.
- Gather the documents required for your specific visa status.
- Have the principal (you) or an assigned agent submit the documents to the local Immigration Office.
- Wait for Immigration to review and grant permission before starting work at the new or added workplace.
⚠️ The exact documents required depend on your visa status, so confirm the list for your case on the official page before you apply.
Criteria That Decide If Your Change or Addition Is Approved
Immigration does not automatically approve every request. Several conditions can lead to denial or restriction, and they apply whether you are fully changing workplace or adding a second one.
| Situation | What Immigration does |
|---|---|
| The change or addition differs from the staying purpose stated in your employment contract | Permission is denied |
| You have worked at too many workplaces, or changed jobs too often without a consistent pattern | Your case is evaluated; poor work conduct or actions against Korea’s national interest can restrict future changes or additions |
| The added workplace offers longer work hours or a higher salary than your original workplace | Addition of that workplace is restricted |
| You try to add more than two workplaces besides your main workplace | This is prohibited |
These criteria apply together, so even a technically eligible request can be denied or restricted if it fails one of them.
What Employers and Employees Each Have to Do
On the paperwork side, the official guide places the responsibility on the individual: the principal or an assigned agent submits the required documents to the local Immigration Office. Immigration does not describe a separate application filed directly by the employer.
On the employer side, the key point is the definition of workplace itself. Because it covers any location the employer can lawfully assign the employee to, an employer can only move a foreign employee within the boundaries the existing employment contract already allows without triggering this permission process.
- Employee (principal) or an assigned agent: prepares the required documents and submits them to the local Immigration Office, in advance of the change or addition.
- Employer: keeps any new assignment within the boundaries of the current employment contract, and understands that a workplace outside that boundary needs a formal change or addition of workplace, not a simple reassignment.
When a Different Report Applies Instead
Several visa statuses fall outside the Permission for Changing or Adding Workplace and are handled through other processes instead.
| Visa status | What applies |
|---|---|
| Cultural Arts (D-1), Overseas Study (D-2), General Training (D-4) | Changes to the organization the foreigner belongs to, including name changes, fall under Change in status of Foreigner Registration |
| Journalism (D-5), Religious Affairs (D-6) | Changes to the organization or group the foreigner belongs to, including name changes, fall under Change in status of Foreigner Registration |
| Supervisory Intra-company Transfer (D-7), Corporate Investment (D-8), Trade Management (D-9) | Changing or adding a workplace itself uses this permission, but a change to the organization or group’s name is reported separately under Change in status of Foreigner Registration |
| Industrial Training (D-3) | A change in workplace must be reported by the employee, separately from this permission |
⚠️ D-7, D-8, and D-9 appear in two places: they can apply for permission to change or add a workplace, and their organization or group name changes are reported separately. Check which situation matches what you are actually changing.
Common Mistakes and What Depends on Your Case
Most problems with this process come from timing or from misreading which rule applies to a particular visa status.
- Starting work at a new or added workplace before Immigration grants permission, instead of applying and waiting for approval first.
- Assuming extra hours or higher pay at the new workplace is fine – Immigration restricts additions where the new workplace offers longer hours or a higher salary than the original.
- Trying to add a third additional workplace – only up to two workplaces besides your main workplace are allowed.
- Confusing a workplace change under an employment visa with an organization or group change under a non-employment status like D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, D-5, D-6, D-7, D-8, or D-9, which can follow a different process.
⚠️ The required documents and processing details depend on your visa status and local Immigration office, so confirm the current requirements for your case on the official page before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need permission before changing workplace on a work visa in Korea, or can I report it afterward?
You need permission in advance. The official guide states any change or addition to a foreigner’s workplace must be reviewed and granted by the local Immigration Office before it happens, not reported afterward.
Can I add a second job while keeping my main workplace?
In principle yes, but Immigration restricts it if the added workplace offers longer work hours or a higher salary than your main workplace, and you cannot add more than two workplaces besides your main one.
Who submits the application – me or my employer?
The official guide states the principal, meaning the foreign employee, or an assigned agent submits the required documents to the local Immigration Office.
Does this permission apply to D-7, D-8, and D-9 visa holders?
Yes, these statuses are treated as similar to employment for this permission. However, a change to the organization or group’s name for these statuses is reported separately under Change in status of Foreigner Registration.
What if I’m on a D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, D-5, or D-6 visa?
These are not covered by the Permission for Changing or Adding Workplace. D-3 workplace changes must be reported by the employee, while D-1, D-2, D-4, D-5, and D-6 changes to the organization the foreigner belongs to fall under Change in status of Foreigner Registration.
Changing workplace on a work visa in Korea always starts with checking whether your visa status needs this permission or a different report. Confirm the required documents and processing details for your specific visa status on the official page before you apply, since these details vary by case.
Last checked: September 23, 2026. Rules, fees and required documents in Korea change often, and some depend on your visa type and district office. Always confirm the current details on the official pages below before you go.