Korea cuts E-9 visa quota to 80,000 for 2026

Korea will issue up to 80,000 new E-9 visas in 2026, marking a second consecutive year of reductions to the quota for foreign unskilled workers, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said Monday. The E-9 visa allows nationals from 17 countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Thailand, Bangladesh and Indonesia, to work in labor-intensive sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, construction, fisheries and services for up to three years. The stay can be extended by up to two addition