Government-Backed · Pilot 2026–2027

Study, work,
and stay
in Korea.

The Korean government just designated 24 universities to train foreign caregivers. Study for 2 years, get licensed, and build a life in South Korea. This program is brand new — and Filipinos are the top priority nationality.

116K

Caregivers needed
in Korea by 2028

Designated
universities

2 Yrs

Study to
employment

PR Path

E-7-2 → F-2
residency route

Enroll at a designated Korean university

D-2 student visa · Korean language included

↓

Complete 320-hour caregiver training

Theory + field practice at nursing facilities

↓

Pass the National Caregiver Exam

TOPIK Level 3 Korean required for work visa

↓

Get your E-7-2 Caregiver Visa

Work at certified elderly care facilities

↓

Build toward permanent residency

E-7-2 earns points toward F-2-7 long-term residency

Why This Program Matters

Korea has a crisis. You could be the solution.

South Korea became a "super-aged society" in 2025 — meaning more than 20% of the population is over 65. They do not have enough caregivers. The government is now opening its doors to foreign workers in a structured, legal, government-backed way.

21.2%

Of Korea's population is now over 65 years old. As of 2025, that's 10.84 million people needing care.

116,000

Foreign caregivers needed by 2028. The government cannot fill this with local workers alone.

Universities just designated by the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health and Welfare — starting first semester 2026.

E-7-2

Specialized visa category — unlike factory worker E-9 visas, E-7 gives you a pathway to long-term residency and family invitation rights.

F-2-7

Long-term residency is the end goal. E-7-2 employment earns points toward the F-2 visa — a real permanent residency path.

2026

This is brand new. The pilot just launched. No established Filipino pipeline exists yet. Being early means being first in line.

Step by Step

Your complete journey to Korea.

From the Philippines to a Korean nursing facility — here is exactly how it works, step by step.

🎓

Enroll at University

Apply to one of the 24 designated Korean universities. Arrive on a D-2 student visa. Korean language education is included in the program.

D-2 Student Visa

📚

Study and Train

Complete the 2-year associate degree in caregiving. Complete the required 320 hours of on-site field practice at a certified nursing facility.

320 Hours Field Practice

📋

Pass the National Exam

Take and pass the Korean National Caregiver Certification Exam. Also reach TOPIK Level 3 Korean proficiency — this is required for your work visa.

TOPIK Level 3 Required

🛂

Get Your E-7-2 Visa

With your caregiver certificate and an employment contract from a certified elderly care facility, you apply for the E-7-2 Caregiver specialized visa.

E-7-2 Caregiver Visa

🏠

Work and Build Residency

Work legally at a Korean nursing home or elderly welfare facility. Accumulate points toward the F-2-7 long-term residency visa. Invite family later.

F-2-7 Residency Path

Requirements

Who can apply?

These are the requirements based on the official Korean government guidelines for the 2026 pilot program.

🇵🇭

Filipino Citizen

Valid Philippine passport required. Filipinos are among the priority nationalities for this program.

🎓

High School Graduate (Minimum)

You must hold at least a high school diploma to enroll in the 2-year associate degree program at a Korean university.

🗣️

Korean Language — TOPIK Level 3

Required for the E-7-2 work visa after graduation. Korean language training is included in your university program, but you should start preparing early.

📋

National Caregiver Certificate

You must pass the Korean National Caregiver Certification Exam after completing the required 320 hours of training. This unlocks your work visa.

🏥

Employment at a Certified Facility

Your employer must be a certified nursing home or elderly medical welfare facility as defined under Korea's Senior Citizens Welfare Act.

✅

Clean Background

NBI clearance and equivalent Korean background check will be required during the visa application process.

About TOPIK — Korean Language Proficiency Test

TOPIK is the official Korean language exam. Level 3 is the minimum required for the E-7-2 work visa. Your university program will include Korean language training — Level 3 is achievable within 12 to 18 months of dedicated study.

TOPIK Levels

Red = Required · Gold = Stronger profile

The 24 Universities

Government-designated universities.

These are the 24 universities officially designated by Korea's Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health and Welfare for the 2026–2027 pilot. Priority universities already have foreign student pipelines in place.

Visa Roadmap

From student to resident.

This is what makes the Korea Caregiver program different from a regular work visa. There is a clear legal path from student to long-term resident — and eventually to family invitation rights.

🎓

D-2

Student Visa

You arrive in Korea on a D-2 student visa. This covers your entire 2-year study period at the designated university. Korean language and caregiver training are both done under this visa.

Active during 2-year study

🏥

E-7-2

Caregiver Specialized Visa

After graduation and passing the national exam, you apply for the E-7-2. This is a specialized professional visa — not a factory worker visa. Requirements: Caregiver Certificate + TOPIK Level 3 + employment contract with a certified elderly care facility.

Key milestone — this is the goal

🏠

F-2-7

Long-Term Residency (Points-Based)

Working under the E-7-2 visa earns you points toward the F-2-7 long-term residency visa. Unlike E-9 (factory/labor) visa holders, E-7 holders have a recognized path to this status. F-2-7 gives you the right to work in any field in Korea.

Points accumulate during E-7-2 employment

👨‍👩‍👧

Family Rights

Invite Family to Korea

Under certain E-7 conditions, you may be eligible to invite immediate family members to join you in Korea. This is a right that E-9 labor visa holders do not have — it is one of the key advantages of the E-7-2 route.

Available under E-7 category conditions

Our Honest Take

The real picture — good and challenging.

We will always be straight with you. Here is what makes this program exciting — and what you need to go in with eyes open about.

✅ Why This Is a Real Opportunity

🏛️

Government-backed and officially designated — this is not a private agency program. The Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health and Welfare are directly behind it.

🛂

E-7-2 is a professional visa — not a factory visa. It gives you real rights and a path to long-term residency that E-9 workers don't have.

👨‍👩‍👧

Family invitation rights are possible under E-7 conditions — something you cannot do on an E-9 labor visa.

🇵🇭

Filipinos are among the priority nationalities. Korea's health authorities specifically identified Filipino nurses and caregivers as the target workforce.

⏰

This is brand new in 2026. Being early means being first in line with the universities and the system before it gets crowded.

⚠️ What You Need to Know Before Applying

🗣️

Korean language is hard and takes time. TOPIK Level 3 is not achievable in a few weeks. Expect 12 to 18 months of serious study. Your university will help, but you need to commit.

🔬

This is a 2-year pilot (2026–2027). The government will evaluate semester by semester. Poor-performing universities can be removed. The program could change.

📍

Most designated universities are in regional cities outside Seoul — not the capital. You may be living in a smaller city for your first 2 years.

💰

Tuition and living costs in Korea are real. We do not yet have confirmed cost figures for all universities. We will publish them as we get them.

📋

The full detailed process for Filipino applicants is still being finalized. We are working with our Korean contacts to get the exact step-by-step for Filipinos.

🇵🇭 Be among the first Filipinos to register for this program. We'll notify you the moment applications open.

I want to study and work in Korea.

Leave your details and we'll contact you directly when this program opens for Filipino applications. No fees. No commitment. Just your spot in line.

Full Name

Age

Email Address

Facebook Profile

Current Profession

Korean Language Level

Any questions or message for us? (Optional)

You're registered! 🇰🇷 We'll reach out to you personally as soon as the Korea Caregiver Studies program opens for Filipino applications. Watch your Facebook messages and email. 🐾

FAQ

Questions about Korea.

Is this program open to Filipinos right now?

The 24 universities were officially designated in early 2026 and are now authorized to begin recruiting foreign students starting first semester 2026. The process for Filipino applicants is still being finalized. Register your interest now and we will contact you the moment it is officially open.

Do I need to speak Korean before I apply?

You do not need Korean before enrollment — Korean language training is included in the university program. However, you will need to reach TOPIK Level 3 before you can get your E-7-2 work visa after graduation. The earlier you start studying Korean, the better your chances of passing the exam on time.

How is this different from going to Korea as a factory worker (E-9 visa)?

Very different. The E-9 is a labor visa with strict limitations — you are tied to one employer, you cannot freely change jobs, and you have no path to long-term residency. The E-7-2 caregiver visa is a specialized professional visa. It earns points toward the F-2-7 long-term residency visa, and under certain conditions allows you to invite family members. It is a completely different category with significantly more rights.

What is the cost of studying at these universities?

We are still gathering confirmed tuition and living cost figures from the 24 designated universities. Korean university tuition for associate degree programs is generally lower than private universities. We will publish specific cost breakdowns as soon as we confirm them with our Korean partners. Register your interest and we will share cost details directly with you.

Is this a permanent program or could it be cancelled?

This is currently a 2-year government pilot running from 2026 to 2027. The Korean government will evaluate each university semester by semester. Universities that perform well could have their programs expanded. Universities that underperform could be removed. The program could be extended, modified, or formalized after the pilot. This is a real risk to be aware of — which is why we always advise not building your entire plan around one program alone.

I am already a registered nurse in the Philippines. Does that help?

Yes, significantly. A nursing background means you already understand caregiving practice, anatomy, and patient care. This will make the 320-hour training and the national exam considerably easier. Your Philippine nursing license does not automatically transfer to Korea, but your background is a genuine advantage in the application and the program itself.

Study, work,and stayin Korea.