How to Get an E-7 Visa as a System Software Developer (2222) in Korea

System Software Developer (Occupation Code 2222) is one of the most eligible IT positions for the E-7 (Professional) visa in Korea. Roles such as OS development, firmware programming, embedded systems, and kernel engineering are classified as high-skilled technical positions.

If you are currently holding a D-10 (Job Seeking) visa, you may change to E-7 after securing a qualified job offer and meeting immigration standards.

Job Scope for 2222 – System Software Developer

Eligible roles include:

• Operating System (OS) architecture development

• Firmware programming

• Embedded system software design

• Device driver development

• Real-time OS (RTOS) development

• Low-level system performance optimization

⚠ Web publishing or simple maintenance coding may not qualify as E-7 professional work.

E-7 Visa Approval Checklist

Category	Requirement	Key Point
Education	Bachelor’s degree or above	Major must align (CS, EE, etc.)
Experience	May substitute education	Must prove relevance
Job Relevance	Direct match	Detailed system-level tasks required
Salary	Meets GNI-based threshold	Annual income ratio compliance
Employer	Justifiable hiring need	Cannot easily replace with local hire
Employment Type	Full-time	4 Social Insurances required

Process: How to Change D-10 to E-7

Step	Procedure	Key Checkpoint
Step 1	Sign employment contract	Clearly state “System Software Development”
Step 2	Employer document preparation	Business registration, tax records
Step 3	Qualification documentation	Degree & career certificates
Step 4	Immigration application	Apply before D-10 expiry
Step 5	Review process	Submit technical job description

✔ Practical Tip

Include specific technical keywords such as “Kernel module development” or “Firmware architecture design” in your Job Description to strengthen your application.

Common Rejection Reasons

• Work classified as low-skilled maintenance
  → Must prove advanced system-level engineering responsibility

• Major mismatch with no sufficient experience
  → Must prove technical competency through projects

• Salary below required threshold
  → Must meet GNI-based income criteria

• Employer fails to justify foreign hire necessity
  → Must demonstrate non-replaceability by local workforce

Final Advice

System Software Developers have strong approval potential under E-7 (Professional). However, approval depends on structured documentation proving advanced expertise, salary compliance, and employer eligibility.

If you are planning to switch from D-10 to E-7, timing and documentation strategy are critical.

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