In short
- What: The Employment Permit System (고용허가제) is the government-to-government program that brings non-professional workers to Korea on the E-9 visa — factories, farms, fisheries, construction, some services.
- No brokers, no placement fees. Everything runs through your country's official EPS agency and Korea's HRD Korea (eps.go.kr). Anyone charging you a "placement fee" is not legitimate.
- You apply from your home country — you cannot enter as a tourist and get an E-9 inside Korea.
- Key gate: pass the EPS-TOPIK Korean test (min 80/200), then wait to be selected by an employer.
The EPS is how most low- and mid-skilled foreign workers legally come to Korea. It was built in 2004 specifically to replace a broker-driven system that exploited workers — so the whole point is that recruitment is handled by official agencies on both sides, with written contracts and the same labor-law protections Korean workers get. If someone offers to "arrange" an E-9 job for a fee, walk away.
Who can apply
- You must be a citizen of one of the partner countries that signed an agreement with Korea — including Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Laos, Timor-Leste, and (added recently) Tajikistan.
- Typically aged 18–39 (some countries cap at 38)
- Pass the EPS-TOPIK and a medical exam
- No record of deportation or overstay from Korea, and no disqualifying criminal convictions
How the process works
Register & pass the EPS-TOPIK
Sign up through your country's designated EPS agency (for the Philippines, that's DMW; for Pakistan, OEC; etc.). Take the EPS-TOPIK — a paper-based Korean reading/listening test focused on workplace situations and safety. Minimum score is 80/200; scores are valid for 2 years.
Go onto the job-seeker roster
After passing, submit your documents (passport, health certificate, criminal-record check). Your profile joins the HRD Korea roster that Korean employers browse. A higher score helps, but there's no guaranteed timeline — the wait for a job offer can be several months to over a year.
Get selected & sign the contract
A Korean employer picks you from the roster and offers a job. You both sign the Standard Labor Contract (표준근로계약서), which sets your wage, hours, sector and housing. Keep a signed copy — it's your legal protection.
Pre-departure training
Complete about 1–2.5 weeks of basic training at a center in your home country before you leave.
Get your E-9 visa & enter Korea
Your sending agency helps you apply for the E-9 visa (it's employer-specific). After arriving, remember you still must get your ARC within 90 days — see the ARC guide.
Pay and conditions
E-9 workers are covered by the same Labor Standards Act, Minimum Wage Act and safety laws as Korean workers. Your contract must pay at least the Korean minimum wage, and employers must provide accommodation or an allowance. Working hours are capped (52 hours/week), and you're entitled to the same protections against workplace accidents. If your employer breaks the contract or doesn't pay, you have real legal recourse (see below).
How long you can stay
The E-9 runs an initial 3 years, extendable to a maximum of 4 years and 10 months if your employer requests re-employment before you leave. After that you must depart. Workers who complete the full term at the same employer without violations may qualify for the Sincere Worker (성실근로자) re-entry track, which shortens the wait to return. Long-term E-9 workers may also become eligible to upgrade to the skilled E-7-4 visa. Important limits to know: you cannot bring family (spouse/children) on E-9, and there's no direct path to permanent residency through E-9 itself.
Changing employers
You're tied to your registered employer and sector. You can change workplaces, but only under specific conditions — business closure, contract violations, injury, or end of contract — and with approval. After your contract ends you have 1 month to file a workplace-change application at the employment center, and you must find new work within 3 months or leave Korea. Unauthorized departure from your employer can cancel your visa, so never just walk away — use the proper process.
If something goes wrong
If your working conditions differ from your contract, your employer withholds pay, or you face abuse, you have options. Call the Ministry of Employment and Labor support line 1350 (multilingual), or contact HRD Korea. You can file a wage-theft complaint (임금체불 신고) while keeping your visa. Don't abandon your job first — get advice, because leaving the wrong way can cost you your status.
Common questions
Do I pay a broker or agency fee?
No. EPS is government-to-government precisely to eliminate broker fees. You pay only official registration charges to your country's EPS agency. Anyone demanding a large "placement fee" is a scam.
Can I bring my spouse or children?
No. E-9 does not allow dependents. Family must remain in your home country.
Can I pick my job or city?
Not really — employers select you from the roster, and you're tied to that employer and sector. You can refuse a contract offer once, but refusing more than once can bar you from applying for a year.
Is there a path to staying long-term?
Not through E-9 directly. But long-term E-9 workers who meet salary, employer-recommendation and points requirements may upgrade to the skilled E-7-4 visa, which does open longer-term options.
Sources: HRD Korea EPS (eps.go.kr), Ministry of Employment and Labor (moel.go.kr), Korea Immigration Service, gov.kr foreigner service. Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers.
Last verified: July 2026. Country lists, quotas, wages and rules change every year — always confirm current details at eps.go.kr or call 1350 before acting. General information, not legal advice.
On EPS or thinking about it?
Ask workers who've been through the process — post in the community and tag it Jobs.