How to Apply for EPS Korea: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
- Route: Government-to-government (G2G). You apply through your own country’s sending agency, not through a private broker.
- Order: EPS-TOPIK → roster → employer selects you → visa (E-9) → arrive → training.
- Age: generally 18–39 (some countries cap at 38).
- Cost: only the official, published fees. No one can “buy” you a faster place.
- Countries: 17 official sending countries.
How EPS works (overview)
The Employment Permit System (EPS) is the legal way for most non-professional foreign workers to work in Korea on an E-9 visa. It is run country-to-country: Korea signs an agreement with each sending country, and your national agency handles registration, the language test and your paperwork. There is no private middleman in the official process — that single fact protects you from most scams.
Are you eligible?
- Age generally 18–39 at the time of application (a few countries cap at 38).
- From one of the 17 sending countries.
- No record that disqualifies you (certain criminal records, prior immigration violations, deportation history).
- Physically fit for the sector (a health check is part of the process).
- Not previously removed from EPS for a disqualifying reason.
The full application process, step by step
- Learn Korean and take EPS-TOPIK through your sending agency.
- Pass any sector skills test (manufacturing, fishing, construction, agriculture as required).
- Get on the jobseeker roster once you clear the cut-off.
- Wait to be selected by a Korean employer (you cannot choose the employer yourself).
- Sign the standard labour contract issued through EPS.
- Complete pre-departure training and a medical check.
- Receive the E-9 visa and travel to Korea.
- Attend post-arrival employment training and start work.
Documents checklist
| Stage | Typical documents |
|---|---|
| Registration | Passport, application form, EPS-TOPIK result, photos |
| Selection | Standard labour contract, health check result |
| Visa (E-9) | Passport, visa application, contract, certificate of confirmation of visa issuance (issued via the employer/HiKorea) |
| Pre-departure | Training certificate, insurance enrolment, air ticket |
Exact documents vary by country — your sending agency gives the definitive list. Never hand your original passport to a private broker.
Training and the insurances you must have
EPS workers are covered by four foreign-worker insurances plus general Korean social insurance. Knowing these protects your money:
| Insurance (Korean) | Who pays | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Departure guarantee (출국만기보험) | Employer | A severance-style payout when you leave — like retirement pay |
| Guarantee insurance (보증보험) | Employer | Covers unpaid wages if the employer defaults |
| Return cost (꺦국비용보험) | Worker | Pays your flight home at the end |
| Casualty (상해보험) | Worker | Covers injury/death outside work |
On top of these you get industrial accident insurance (산재) for work injuries, national health insurance and national pension. Keep every enrolment paper — the departure guarantee and return-cost payouts are real money you claim when you leave.
What it should cost (and what should not)
The official costs are modest and published: the exam fee, training, medical check, insurances and your air ticket. That is it. Warning signs of a scam: a “guaranteed” job for a large fee, a request to hold your passport, pressure to pay cash to an individual, or an offer to skip the exam or the queue. The EPS process cannot be bought.
How long does it take?
From passing EPS-TOPIK to arriving in Korea can take anywhere from a few months to over a year, because you must wait for an employer to select you and for the quota to allow it. Sectors with high demand move faster. There is no way to legally speed this up by paying more.
Scams and how to avoid them
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Pay us and skip the exam” | Broker fraud | Only the official G2G process exists — walk away |
| Asked to hand over passport | Control/extortion tactic | Never give your original passport to an individual |
| “Guaranteed” job before arrival | No one can guarantee employer choice | Treat guarantees as red flags |
| Large cash fee to a person | Off-book payment | Pay only official fees to the agency |
What changed in 2026?
Annual quotas and which sectors open are updated each year, and some countries have moved more of the process online. The 2026 minimum wage is 10,320 KRW/hour (2025: 10,030). None of the 2026 residence-visa changes (for example the H-2 working-visit visa being merged into F-4 for ethnic Koreans) change the E-9 application route. Confirm the current round with your national agency.
FAQ
Can I apply directly to a Korean company?
No. Under EPS you register through your country’s agency and employers select from the roster.
Do I need to speak Korean first?
Yes — you must take EPS-TOPIK before anything else.
Can a broker get me in faster?
No. Anyone who says so is running a scam.
Can I choose my employer or city?
Not directly. Employers choose you; you can indicate a sector.
What happens right after I land?
You attend employment training, enrol in insurances, and start with the employer who selected you.
Is a medical check required?
Yes, both before departure and typically after arrival.
What if my contract details differ on arrival?
Contact the labour hotline 1350 or a foreign-worker support centre — do not sign anything you do not understand.
Can I bring my family?
E-9 itself does not grant family visas. Long-term routes (E-7-4) can change this later.
How much can I earn?
At least the minimum wage; a full month at 209 hours is about 2,156,880 KRW before deductions and overtime.
Where is the official information?
eps.go.kr and your national sending agency — see the sources below.
Jobs by sector: Manufacturing Jobs in Korea (E-9/EPS): The Complete 2026 Guide · Agriculture & Farm Jobs in Korea (E-9/EPS): 2026 Guide · Fishing Jobs in Korea (E-9/EPS): The Honest 2026 Guide · Construction Jobs in Korea (E-9/EPS): The Complete 2026 Guide
Official sources
Related guides: E-9 / EPS hub · EPS-TOPIK · How to apply · Visa comparison · E-9 → E-7-4 · Wages & living · Find a job.
Official sources: EPS / HRD Korea, HiKorea, Ministry of Employment and Labor, National Pension, National Health Insurance. Information current as of 2026 and subject to change — verify before you act. After arriving in Korea, find jobs in English on 114114AI.