Hello. This is TAEKANG Law Firm.
To hire a foreigner currently residing in Korea, the applicant must either change their status to a work visa or already hold a visa with employment eligibility. As the demand for skilled professionals grows globally — such as foreign developers — more companies in Korea are turning their eyes overseas to recruit top talent. But what happens when the foreign national has never been to Korea and resides abroad? Let's explore the process for such cases.
💡 Employment Visa Process
👱🏻 Foreigner
- Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field
- Experience: 7 years of relevant work experience
- Note: No prior travel history to Korea
🏢 Company
- Industry: Lighting equipment company
- Employees: 3 Korean nationals
🔖 Occupation Code: Electrical Engineer (2341)
Since the foreign national was residing in Myanmar, documents issued within Myanmar could be prepared promptly. However, as he had no relatives or acquaintances in Korea, post-entry housing became a concern. Fortunately, the applicant sufficiently met the requirements for a skilled worker visa — including academic background, experience, and certifications. Nonetheless, because the company was relatively small and in a niche industry, we prepared the strongest possible documentation to clearly demonstrate to the immigration officer the necessity of this foreign hire.
All visa documents must be submitted as originals. Therefore, if the applicant has academic or work experience from overseas, documents such as diplomas or employment certificates must be issued in the home country and authenticated through the relevant embassy.
If the documents are issued in a country that is part of the Apostille Convention, obtaining an apostille is sufficient. If not, international certification or notarization through another official body is required for recognition.
What is an Apostille?
* An apostille is a form of certification that allows documents issued in one country to be legally recognized in another country.
* As of November 1, 2023, 126 countries or regions are members of the Apostille Convention.
