E-7 Food Service Manager (1522) Visa Guide – D-10 to E-7 Change Process 2025

 

E-7 Food Service Manager (1522) – Is It Possible for Foreigners?

This article reflects the latest immigration guidelines as of December 2025.

If you received a job offer to oversee restaurant operations or manage a franchise brand in Korea, you may wonder whether you qualify for an E-7 visa.

Food Service Manager (1522) refers to professionals responsible for managing restaurant or franchise business operations at a strategic level. Immigration authorities evaluate managerial authority rather than cooking skills alone.

Here is what foreign job seekers must understand.

1. Scope of the Position

1. Franchise or restaurant brand management
2. Revenue and cost structure supervision
3. Store operation standardization
4. Menu and brand strategy planning
5. Workforce and service quality management

Chefs and kitchen staff do not qualify under this category.

2. Applicable Visa Category

1. E-7 (Professional / Specific Activities)
2. Change of status: D-10 → E-7
3. Advantage for global franchise experience

Managerial responsibility is strictly reviewed.

3. Core Approval Requirements (Checklist)

Category	Requirement	Check
Education	Degree in hospitality, F&B management, business or equivalent experience	☐
Experience	Proven food service organization management experience	☐
Position Level	Business-level operational authority	☐
Salary	Generally above national income benchmark	☐
Company Status	Legally operating entity with employment insurance	☐
Necessity	Clear justification for hiring foreign manager	☐

4. E-7 Hiring & Change of Status Process

Step	Procedure	Key Point
01	Job offer confirmed	Official hiring decision
02	Employment contract signed	Salary & job scope clearly stated
03	Job description prepared	Detailed managerial responsibilities
04	Organizational authority defined	Clear franchise management scope
05	Salary review	Meets GNI benchmark
06	Corporate eligibility check	Financial stability & insurance
07	Justification prepared	Strategic necessity explained
08	Documents prepared	Degree & experience verification
09	Change of status applied	D-10 → E-7 submission
10	Immigration review	Approval & ARC update

Practical Tips

• Emphasize franchise strategy and revenue management.
• Provide data on store numbers and expansion plans.
• Ensure salary reflects management level.
• Demonstrate global brand or cross-border business experience.

Final Advice

E-7 Food Service Manager (1522) is legally possible, but approval depends on demonstrating strategic business leadership.

Before applying, confirm:

• Scope of authority
• Salary level
• Brand scale
• Strategic necessity

WorkOn VisaHub provides:

Eligibility assessment → Job description strategy → Visa change support

Start preparing today.

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