What EPS / E-9 Really Costs: A Low-Cost G2G Program

The core idea: EPS is deliberately low-cost

EPS is a government-to-government (G2G) program built to be affordable for ordinary workers. That is the whole point of running it between the two governments instead of through private agents. The real costs are small and official. If the numbers you are being asked to pay are large, something is wrong.

The genuine costs

Here are the real, official-type expenses you should expect:

• EPS-TOPIK exam fee: roughly USD 24-28
• DoFE orientation fee: roughly NPR 700
• Airfare: arranged by HRD Korea and then deducted from your wages in Korea, rather than a huge sum you pay up front to a middleman
• Ordinary personal costs such as your health check and passport

That is the shape of it: modest official fees, plus airfare that is handled through the system and repaid from your salary.

The rule that protects you

Large "placement fees" do not exist in the EPS system. There is no legitimate fee to "get you on the roster," "guarantee a job," or "connect you to an employer." Employers select workers from the roster; no one can sell you a spot.

So treat this as a simple test:

If someone asks for a big lump sum to place you in a Korean job, it is a scam, no matter how official they sound or how many photos and "success stories" they show.

Why the scam is so damaging

Workers who pay large illegal fees often lose their savings, sometimes take on debt, and end up with nothing, because the payment was never part of any real process. Paying an illegal fee can also entangle you in fraud. The affordable, official route is not just cheaper; it is the only route that actually leads to a legal E-9 visa.

How to keep your costs clean

• Pay only official fees through official channels, and keep every receipt.
• Be suspicious of any cost that is not on the official list.
• Remember that airfare is handled by HRD Korea and deducted from wages, so you should not be paying a middleman a large travel "package" fee.

Important note

Exact fee amounts and how airfare is handled can change between recruitment cycles. Confirm current figures on epsnepal.gov.np before paying anything, and report anyone demanding large placement fees to DoFE.