Republic of Korea Formalizes Visa Quota Pre-Announcement System

• South Korea’s Ministry of Justice has enacted new regulations formalizing its Visa Issuance Quota Pre-Announcement System, establishing a framework to set annual visa quotas based on labor market, economic and immigration data. 

Visa Quota Pre-Announcement System 

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) of South Korea announced that the Regulations on the Operation of the Visa Issuance Quota Pre-Announcement System took effect on 1 July 2026. The regulations establish a formal framework for setting and announcing annual visa quotas using economic, employment and immigration data. 

The new rules are intended to support the systematic management of foreign national inflows and provide a stable legal and operational framework for the Visa Issuance Quota Pre-Announcement System, which was first introduced in 2024. 

What Is the Visa Issuance Quota Pre-Announcement System? 

The system enables the government to: 

• Analyze projected medium- and long-term labor shortages; 
• Assess the impact of foreign national inflows on the labor market and broader economy; 
• Establish annual visa issuance quotas by visa category; and 
• Publicly announce quota levels in advance for the following year. 

According to the MOJ, the goal is to create a more data-driven and predictable approach to managing foreign worker admissions. 

Definition of Visa Quotas 

The regulations define “visa quotas” as the annual number of visas determined by the Minister of Justice for visa categories where foreign national inflows may affect: 

• Employment opportunities for Korean nationals; 
• Wages; 
• Social integration; 
• Local communities; and 
• Regional economic conditions. 

Formalized Decision-Making Process 

The regulations establish a structured process for determining visa quotas: 

• Research and surveys; 
• Consultation with relevant ministries; 
• Expert review and consultation; 
• Determination of visa quotas; and 
• Public announcement of quota levels. 
• Research activities may include: 
• Estimating medium- and long-term labor shortages; 
• Assessing labor conditions in key industries; and 
• Analyzing the effects of foreign national inflows. 

Enhanced Monitoring and Adjustments 

The regulations also establish a monitoring framework to evaluate: 

• Immigration policy and immigration management impacts; 
• Effects on employment and wages for Korean nationals; 
• Changes in labor demand; and 
• Actual foreign national arrivals compared with announced visa quotas. 

The MOJ may adjust visa quotas when warranted by economic conditions or other significant developments.

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