How to Work in Korea Through EPS: Steps From the Exam to Your First Day
The full E-9 process under Korea's Employment Permit System: test, job-seeker list, contract, visa, training, alien registration and the insurance you must join.
Fact-checked against official sources on : Employment Permit System (EPS), HRD Korea, Korea Immigration Service, Korea.net
Key points
- The Employment Permit System (EPS) is run between governments. Korea and your country's public agency select and send workers, not private companies.
- The main steps are: EPS-TOPIK and skills test, job-seeker list, contract with an employer, visa, training, arrival, and alien registration within 90 days.
- E-9 workers can usually work up to 3 years, with one re-employment extension of less than 2 years, and must join two insurance plans paid by the worker.
Who this guide is for: Job seekers who passed or are preparing for EPS-TOPIK, and new E-9 workers who want to know what happens between the test and the first day at work.
Most foreign workers in Korean factories, farms, building sites and fishing boats come through the Employment Permit System (EPS) on the E-9 visa. From your home country, the process can feel slow. Friends tell different stories. Agents make promises. This guide puts the real steps in order, so you know what's next — and what you should never pay for.
How EPS works
The law behind EPS was passed in 2003, and the system started in 2004. Its job is to help small Korean businesses that can't find enough local workers.
HRD Korea says Korea signs a government-to-government agreement (an MOU) with each sending country. Then the public sector on both sides picks and sends workers. Korean ability and a health check are part of that choice.
Every year a government committee led by the Prime Minister decides three things: how many E-9 workers can come, which industries can hire them, and which countries can send them. For 2026, the government announced about 80,000 E-9 workers, with about 50,000 for manufacturing. The separate shipbuilding quota was folded into manufacturing.
Open industries include manufacturing, construction, farming and livestock, fishing, forestry, mining and a list of service jobs. Hotels and condos were added in 2024.
The route at a glance
Each step, explained
- Pass EPS-TOPIK and the skills test. The Korean test is round 1 and the skills test is round 2. Our EPS-TOPIK exam guide covers both.
- Join the job-seeker list. You send your job application through your country's sending agency. Your test result and health check go to Korea, and your name goes on the list.
- Wait for an employer. A Korean business with permission to hire looks at the list and picks people. Some wait weeks. Some wait months. Some are never picked.
- Read and sign the standard contract. Employers must use the contract form set by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Check the address, job, hours, wage and dates before you sign.
- Get your visa. After signing, the visa process starts. The employer side handles the visa issuance confirmation in Korea, and you get your E-9 visa through your country's process.
- Do the training before you leave. Your country runs it. It usually covers basic Korean, culture and what work is like.
- Land and finish employment training. New workers do training in Korea before starting. EPS records show it has been at least 16 hours since 2011. Topics include safety and health at work, labor law and immigration law.
- Start work and register. If you'll stay more than 90 days, you must apply for a residence card within 90 days of entry. See our residence card guide.
Before you sign your contract
- The workplace address matches the job I was told about.
- The job type and industry are written clearly.
- The monthly wage is at or above the minimum wage for the hours written.
- Working hours, breaks and rest days are written down.
- The contract period and start date are clear.
- Housing and meals are explained, including any money taken from my pay.
- I have a copy of the contract in a language I can read.
To check the wage line, use the calculator in our 2026 minimum wage guide. It takes about a minute.
Why the process sometimes stalls
Most delays have ordinary causes. Knowing them helps you stay calm and fix what you can.
- Nobody has picked you yet. Employers choose from the list, and they often look at test scores, skills results and the industry they need. You can't speed this up by paying anyone. What you can do is keep your details current with your sending agency and keep studying Korean.
- Your documents don't match. A different spelling of your name, an old passport number or a missing health check can hold things up. When you renew your passport, tell your sending agency straight away.
- Your health check has expired. Health results are valid only for a limited time. If you wait a long time on the list, you may be asked to do it again.
- You missed a message. Calls and emails about training dates or flights can come at short notice. Check your phone and email every day once you're on the list.
- The quota is full for now. Each year has a set number of workers, and each round has its own plan. Sometimes the answer is simply “not this round.”
If you're unsure where your application stands, ask your country's official sending agency. They can see your file. A friend in Korea, however kind, can't.
Four insurance plans just for E-9 workers
EPS has special insurance for foreign workers. The employer pays for two. You pay for two.
| Insurance | Who pays | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Departure guarantee insurance (출국만기보험) | Employer | Money set aside for your severance when you leave |
| Wage arrears guarantee insurance (임금체불 보증보험) | Employer | Covers part of unpaid wages if the employer can't pay |
| Return cost insurance (귀국비용보험) | Worker | Helps pay for your trip home at the end |
| Casualty insurance (상해보험) | Worker | Injury or illness that isn't caused by work |
These sit on top of Korea's national insurance, such as health insurance. Our health insurance guide explains what that covers and what it costs. Keep every insurance paper in one folder. You'll need them when you go home.
How long you can stay
HRD Korea's guide gives the basic E-9 stay as up to 3 years. If your employer re-employs you, you can extend once for less than 2 years. There's also a program that lets some workers come back after going home, if they meet extra conditions. Rules change, so check with 1350 well before your contract ends.
And watch your stay expiry date, not just your contract date. Even a few days of overstay can hurt your chances of coming back.
Changing workplace
You can't just quit and walk into another company. A change needs permission through the job center. Two points from the EPS history matter here. If the change isn't your fault, like the company closing, it doesn't count against your limit. And unfair treatment by the employer is an accepted reason.
Being treated badly? Write down what happened and when. Keep messages and pay slips. Then call 1350 before you leave the workplace.
Every step above is handled by public agencies: your country's official sending agency, HRD Korea and the Korean government. A broker who promises to “skip the list,” find a better company or speed up your visa for a fee is not part of EPS. Paying them is one of the most common ways workers lose money before they even arrive. If you're unsure, ask your sending agency or the EPS help line directly.
Your first weeks in Korea
- Keep your passport, contract and visa papers somewhere safe, with photos on your phone.
- Ask when and how you'll be paid. Check your first pay slip line by line.
- Apply for your residence card within 90 days and carry it with you.
- Save 1350 (work), 1345 (immigration), 119 (fire, ambulance) and 112 (police). Our help lines guide explains each one.
- Learn your workplace's safety rules. If you don't understand an instruction, ask again. Nobody should be angry about that.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change and your case may be different — see our Disclaimer and check with the official office listed below.
FAQ
Can I choose which company I work for under EPS?
Not at the start. Employers choose workers from the job-seeker list. Once you are in Korea, you can change workplaces only in the situations the law allows, and you must go through the job center process.
How long can I stay in Korea on the E-9 visa?
The basic period is up to 3 years from the date you enter. If your employer re-employs you, the stay can be extended once for less than 2 years. Some workers who meet extra conditions can re-enter later under the re-employment program.
Who pays for the employment training after I arrive?
The training is organized for newly arrived workers and generally paid for by the employer. Your notice and contract will explain any costs. Ask the training center if anything is unclear.
What is the phone number for EPS help in Korea?
The Ministry of Employment and Labor customer center is 1350. From abroad the EPS website lists +82-1350. Interpretation is available in several languages.