Coming to Korea for Work

The E-9 Visa and EPS: How Nepali Workers Legally Work in Korea

MOU since
2007
Initial stay
Up to 4 years 10 months
Program type
Government-to-government (G2G)
Typical timeline
6-12 months

What is the EPS?

The Employment Permit System (EPS) is how workers from Nepal can take up jobs in South Korea legally. It is a government-to-government (G2G) program run under an agreement (MOU) between Korea and Nepal that has been in place since 2007. On the Nepal side it is handled by the EPS Korea Section under DoFE (epsnepal.gov.np), and on the Korean side by HRD Korea (eps.go.kr).

Because the two governments run it directly, brokers and agents are not part of the system. Anyone who claims they can "arrange" an EPS job for a fee is acting illegally. You deal with the official offices only.

What is the E-9 visa?

The E-9 is a non-professional employment visa. It is the visa most Nepali EPS workers travel to Korea on. It lets you work in specific sectors that are open to foreign labor:

  • Manufacturing (factories)
  • Agriculture and livestock
  • Fishing
  • Construction
  • Some service sectors

How long can you stay?

An initial E-9 stay can last up to 4 years and 10 months. This is not the end of the road. There is a legal long-term path for workers who build skills and a good record:

  1. E-7-4 (skilled worker visa)
  2. F-2 (residence)
  3. F-5 (permanent residence)

Moving along this path depends on meeting Korea's requirements at each stage, but it means the E-9 can be the first step in a much longer future in Korea.

How does the whole thing work in brief?

The basic order is: pass the EPS-TOPIK Korean test → pass a skills test → register on the job-seeker roster → an employer selects you from that roster → sign a standard labor contract → receive the Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance → get your E-9 visa → complete pre-departure training → fly to Korea. Start to finish usually takes 6 to 12 months.

One point worth understanding early: you do not apply to individual companies yourself. Once you are on the roster, Korean employers pick workers from it. This is exactly why nobody can "guarantee" you a specific job for money.

Important note

Rules, quotas, sectors, and schedules can change with each recruitment announcement. Always confirm the current details on the official Nepal portal epsnepal.gov.np before you act, and treat any promise that skips these steps as a warning sign of a scam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a broker or agent to get an E-9 job in Korea?
No. EPS is run directly between the Nepali government (DoFE / EPS Korea Section) and HRD Korea in Korea. Brokers are unnecessary and illegal, and no agent can legitimately arrange an EPS job for you.
Can I stay in Korea permanently through the E-9 visa?
Not directly, but the E-9 can be a first step. The legal long-term path is E-9 to E-7-4 (skilled worker), then F-2 (residence), then F-5 (permanent residence), provided you meet Korea's requirements at each stage.
Which jobs can I do on an E-9 visa?
The E-9 covers manufacturing, agriculture and livestock, fishing, construction, and some service sectors. The exact sectors open in a given year are set by the official recruitment announcement.

Official sources

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This is general information, not legal advice. Rules and figures change each year — always confirm on the official portal epsnepal.gov.np before you act.