From passing the EPS-TOPIK to actually holding an E-9 visa usually takes around 3 to 6 months. During that time, your home-country sending agency, the Korean employer, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the Ministry of Justice each get involved in turn, and the test, employment contract, and Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance follow one after another in a set order.
The Employment Permit System (EPS) is a scheme under which the Korean government allows nationals of sending countries — with which it has signed government-to-government (G2G) agreements — to be employed in small and medium-sized enterprises, agriculture and livestock, and similar sectors. The visa you receive through this route is the E-9 (Non-Professional Employment).
That said, visa and residence matters are a sensitive area where outcomes vary depending on nationality, occupation, timing, and individual circumstances. The information below is a reference to help you understand the general flow (as of 2026-06), so before you actually apply, be sure to check the latest criteria through official government channels. This is not legal or administrative advice.
What is the Employment Permit System (EPS)?
The EPS is a scheme that lets nationals of sending countries — with which the Korean government has signed government-to-government (G2G) agreements — be legally employed in small and medium-sized enterprises, agriculture and livestock, fisheries, and similar sectors where it is hard to find domestic workers. The key point is that recruitment and selection are managed by public institutions in both countries, not by private brokers.
- Visa issued: E-9 (Non-Professional Employment) — non-professional / simple-labor occupations in manufacturing, construction, agriculture and livestock, fisheries, forestry, and some service sectors
- Operating bodies: In Korea, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDKorea); in the home country, a government-designated sending agency
- Separate track: The H-2 (Working Visit) visa for overseas Koreans is operated differently from the EPS (this article focuses on the E-9)
EPS sending countries include Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Timor-Leste, Laos, China, and Tajikistan — 17 countries (as of 2026; Tajikistan's first arrivals came in October 2025) — and the addition of Kazakhstan is in progress. You can check whether your own country participates and the specific conditions at the EPS center in your home country (designated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor).
E-9 Application Steps (From the Worker's Perspective)
The overall flow is as follows. The exact names and documents may differ slightly by sending country.
| Step | Content | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Take the EPS-TOPIK | Take the Korean language test (EPS-TOPIK) in your home country | Focused on workplace communication. You must pass to move to the next step |
| 2. Skills and physical test | Some occupations add a skills test or interview | Varies by occupation and sending country |
| 3. Register on the jobseeker roster | Successful candidates register in the jobseeker pool through their home-country sending agency | HRDKorea manages the roster |
| 4. Employer selection | A Korean employer selects workers from the roster | Reflects scores, quotas, and industry demand |
| 5. Sign the standard labor contract | Draft and sign the standard labor contract (SLC) | Specifies wages and working conditions |
| 6. Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance | The Korean employer applies to the Ministry of Justice for the Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance | Only after this step is complete can the visa be applied for |
| 7. E-9 visa issuance | The E-9 visa is issued at the Korean consulate/embassy in your home country | Typically 2–4 weeks; may take longer depending on the sending country's situation |
| 8. Pre-employment training | Complete employment training before/after arrival | Commonly run as a live-in training program after arrival (about 2 nights / 3 days) |
The EPS-TOPIK is different from the academic TOPIK — it is a test focused on "workplace Korean." Follow your home-country EPS center's notices for the schedule and registration. Passing this test is effectively the starting point for the entire process.
After Arrival — Alien Registration and Settling In
Arriving isn't the end.
Foreigners staying 90 days or more must complete alien registration at the competent immigration office within 90 days of the date of entry (there are penalties for failing to register). E-9 workers usually go through the following steps.
- Complete employment training: Live-in employment training right after arrival (job orientation, safety, guidance on living in Korea, etc.)
- Health check-up: A check-up at a designated medical institution
- Apply for the Alien Registration Card (ARC): Apply with your passport, photo (3.5×4.5cm), application form, fee, health check-up results, employment-related documents, and so on. After applying, it can take usually a month or more to receive the card.
The ARC (Alien Registration Card) is the ID issued to foreigners staying in Korea for 90 days or more, and it is a separate system from the Domestic Residence Report Card for overseas Koreans (F-4, etc.). Check the procedure that matches your own residence status.
Period of Stay and Changing Workplaces
- Initial stay: The E-9 typically starts at 3 years.
- Re-employment extension: If re-employed by an existing or new employer, you can add 1 year and 10 months → up to a maximum of 4 years and 10 months.
- Changing workplaces: There are limits on the reasons and the number of times. Around late 2025 to early 2026, there were reports that the government was discussing easing the requirements for changing workplaces (for example, allowing a move after a certain period of employment), but whether this is confirmed and in force changes over time, so be sure to verify through official Ministry of Employment and Labor announcements.
The annual intake quota (for example, the number of new E-9 admissions) is set each year according to the government's plan for introducing and managing foreign workers, and it fluctuates widely. Because the specific numbers vary depending on when they are cited, we won't state a figure here — check the official materials from the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the EPS portal.
Where to Check the Exact Details (Official Channels)
| Channel | Purpose |
|---|---|
| EPS Employment Permit System Portal (eps.go.kr) | EPS-TOPIK, sending countries, and procedure guidance (multilingual) |
| HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) | Visa, alien registration, and residence-related services |
| Foreigner Information Center 1345 | Multilingual phone consultation (general residence and visa matters) |
| Ministry of Employment and Labor Customer Service Center 1350 | Employment permit and labor matters (for visa/residence, call 1345) |
Visa, residence, and labor rules change frequently, and even within the same system, outcomes vary by nationality, occupation, and personal history. That's why the official channels above should always come first.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Are the EPS and the E-9 visa the same thing? A. The EPS is a system (the Employment Permit System), and the E-9 is the visa (Non-Professional Employment) you receive through that system. As a rule, the E-9 is issued by going through the EPS process.
Q2. Once I pass the EPS-TOPIK, can I work in Korea right away? A. No. Passing is just the starting point — there are still the steps of registering on the jobseeker roster → employer selection → labor contract → Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance → visa issuance. The whole timeline is usually around 3 to 6 months.
Q3. Can I freely change workplaces on an E-9? A. There are limits on the reasons and the number of times. Easing the requirements has been discussed, but whether it is in force varies over time, so be sure to check the current criteria with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and HiKorea.
Q4. What is the first administrative step to take after arrival? A. The key is to go through employment training and a health check-up and complete your alien registration (ARC application) within 90 days of entry.
Q5. My sending agency (broker) asked me for a large sum of money — is that normal? A. Under the EPS, recruitment and selection are managed by public institutions. Demands for excessive fees can be a warning sign, so check with official channels such as your home-country EPS center or 1345.
After Arriving in Korea, Prepare Your Travel and Payments in Advance
When you enter Korea through the EPS, you usually spend a few days on employment training and a health check-up, and then apply for your Alien Registration Card (ARC). It typically takes a month or more before the card is in your hands. In the meantime, you can easily end up in a gap where you have to travel from the airport to your workplace or training site and pay for meals and transport without a Korean phone number or a Korean bank account.
You can fill this gap with LACHA. LACHA is a service designed so that no separate identity verification is required as part of the standard process, so you can use it even without a Korean bank account or phone verification — making it easy to plan your route from the airport all the way to a regional worksite in one go. The multilingual interface keeps things low-stress even in the early days when Korean is still unfamiliar.
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Note: This article is for general information as of June 2026 and is not legal or administrative advice. EPS and E-9 procedures, documents, quotas, and fees vary by nationality, occupation, and timing, and change frequently. Before applying, be sure to confirm your own case through official government channels such as the EPS portal (eps.go.kr), HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr), the Immigration Contact Center (☎1345), and the Ministry of Employment and Labor customer service center (☎1350). LACHA is a transport booking and payment app; it does not handle visa or administrative procedures on your behalf.
