South Korea Issues First E-7-3 Skilled Worker Visas for Slaughterhouse Technicians – 12 Foreign Workers Enter Under New Program
Updated: Jul 14
SEOUL — July 14, 2026 — The Ministry of Justice has announced that 12 foreign workers have entered South Korea under the E-7-3 skilled worker visa, specifically designated for slaughterhouse technicians. This marks the first time non-citizens have been formally deployed in the Korean slaughterhouse industry through an official visa channel.
The development is part of South Korea's broader efforts to address chronic labour shortages in key sectors, including food processing and agriculture, by attracting skilled foreign talent.
Quick Facts: South Korea's E-7-3 Slaughterhouse Visa 2026
Feature | Details |
Visa Type | E-7-3 General Skilled Worker Visa (Slaughterer Category) |
First Entrants | 12 workers (all from Mongolia) |
Entry Date | July 14, 2026 |
Pilot Period | January 2026 – December 2027 |
Annual Quota | 150 workers |
Two-Year Target | 300 slaughterhouse workers |
Key Requirement | Employment recommendation from Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs |
Experience Required | 3+ years of work experience + training/certification |
Employer Cap | Up to 20% of domestic workforce (previously capped at 2 per company) |
Program Status | Two-year pilot program |
Background on the E-7-3 Visa
The E-7-3 visa is a specialised subcategory of the E-7 skilled worker visa, designed for occupations facing acute labour shortages. It allows foreign nationals with relevant technical skills and experience to work in Korea for extended periods, subject to strict eligibility criteria and employer sponsorship.
Key Features of the E-7-3 Visa:
Targeted at specific high-demand technical roles — including slaughterhouse technicians, shipbuilding welders, aircraft maintenance workers, and more
Requires proof of qualifications, work experience, and in some cases, Korean language proficiency
Tied to a particular employer and occupation
Renewable, with pathways to longer-term residence in some cases
Wage requirements apply — 2026 minimum annual salary for E-7-3: KRW 25.89 million
Significance of the Slaughterhouse Technician Visas
The introduction of foreign technicians in slaughterhouses is a notable step for South Korea, where the meat processing industry has struggled with labour shortages due to challenging working conditions, an ageing workforce, and low local interest in the sector.
For years, slaughterhouses have faced challenges in attracting young Korean workers because of the physically demanding labor, harsh working conditions, and the job's negative social image. As the workforce in the sector aged rapidly amid the nation's persistently low birthrate, business owners have called for the introduction of skilled foreign labour in recent years.
All 12 workers are from Mongolia, a country with a strong tradition in livestock and meat processing industries.
How the E-7-3 Slaughterhouse Visa Works
Eligibility Requirements for Applicants
Under the new system, applicants for the visa must meet the following criteria:
Requirement | Details |
Employment Recommendation | Must obtain a recommendation from the livestock distribution team at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs |
Training or Certification | Must have completed training at a relevant training institution or hold a related certification |
Work Experience | At least 3 years of work experience in the field |
Employer Registration | Hiring companies must be officially registered as slaughterhouse operators |
Employer Compliance | Should not have documented any employee departures in the last year |
Employer Requirements
Companies must be officially registered as slaughterhouse operators
Must not have recorded any worker departures within the past year
Previously limited to hiring a maximum of two foreign workers regardless of size
Under revised rules, firms may now employ more than two foreign workers, with those seeking to hire more allowed to do so up to 20 percent of their Korean workforce
Government's Broader Strategy
Pilot Program Details
Launched: January 2026
Pilot Period: Through December 2027
Annual Quota: 150 workers
Two-Year Target: 300 slaughterhouse workers
First Entrants: 12 Mongolian workers
Minister's Statement
Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho emphasized the significance of the policy:
"The entry of these slaughterhouse workers represents a policy that not only addresses the industry's long-standing labour shortages but also helps safeguard the nation's food supply, supporting both the sector and people's livelihoods."
"We will continue to incorporate feedback from the field into immigration policy and work to deliver measures that people can genuinely feel in their daily lives."
Broader Policy Framework
South Korea has been actively expanding skilled worker visa pathways to address demographic challenges and labour market gaps. The E-7-3 visa forms part of a larger policy framework that includes:
Easing requirements for certain technical occupations
Strengthening vocational training and integration programs for foreign workers
Balancing labour needs with public concerns about immigration
Related Policy Actions:
The government established the E-7-3 slaughter worker occupation after a meeting of the "Visa and Residency Policy Consultation Council" in September 2025
The Ministry of Justice added slaughterhouses to the list of businesses allowed to employ migrant workers on the E-7-3 visa in September 2025
In September 2025, the government also introduced a new visa category specifically for slaughterhouse workers
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the E-7-3 visa?
The E-7-3 is a General Skilled Worker visa for foreign nationals with technical skills in specific high-demand occupations in South Korea. It now includes a slaughterhouse technician category.
Q2: How many foreign slaughterhouse workers have entered South Korea?
12 workers have entered under the E-7-3 visa on July 14, 2026. They are all from Mongolia.
Q3: What are the requirements for the E-7-3 slaughterhouse visa?
Applicants must obtain an employment recommendation from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, complete relevant training or hold certification, and have at least 3 years of work experience.
Q4: What is the quota for the pilot program?
The pilot program has an annual quota of 150 workers and runs through December 2027. The two-year target is 300 workers.
Q5: How many foreign workers can a slaughterhouse employ?
Previously capped at 2 per company, businesses may now hire up to 20% of their domestic workforce.
Q6: Why did South Korea introduce this visa?
Due to severe labour shortages in the slaughterhouse industry caused by demanding physical labour, harsh working conditions, negative social perceptions, and an ageing workforce.
Q7: What is the minimum salary for E-7-3 visa holders?
The 2026 minimum annual salary requirement for E-7-3 (General Skilled Personnel) is KRW 25.89 million.
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