South Korea has expanded its Top-Tier visa program to include additional AI and science experts. The visa targets highly skilled professionals in these fields rather than general digital nomads.
As of June 1, 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Justice raised the quota for E-7-4 skilled foreign workers in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries to 50% of the workforce. The change is intended to address labor shortages in those rural sectors.
From June 2026, South Korea's Top-Tier Visa now covers professors and researchers in science and technology, following a joint announcement by the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Science and ICT on May 31, 2026. The visa had previously been restricted to employees at companies in eight high-tech industries including semiconductors.