{"id":291,"date":"2026-07-04T11:21:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T11:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/?post_type=visa-guides&#038;p=291"},"modified":"2026-07-04T11:44:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T11:44:21","slug":"e-9","status":"publish","type":"visa-guides","link":"https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/ko\/visa-guides\/e-9\/","title":{"rendered":"E-9 Non-Professional Employment (Employment Permit System \/ EPS)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- visa-guides:e-9 \u2014 generated by build-visa-html.mjs v2 (visa-guides.csv). \uc218\uc815\uc740 CSV\uc5d0\uc11c. -->\n<style>body.single-visa-guides .entry-header, body.single-visa-guides .entry-meta, body.single-visa-guides .ast-single-entry-banner, body.single-visa-guides [class*=\"ast-single-post-banner\"], body.single-visa-guides .post-navigation, body.single-visa-guides .ast-single-post-navigation-wrapper{ display:none !important; } body.single-visa-guides #content, body.single-visa-guides #primary, body.single-visa-guides .site-content, body.single-visa-guides .site-content > .ast-container, body.single-visa-guides .content-area, body.single-visa-guides .site-main, body.single-visa-guides .ast-article-single, body.single-visa-guides .entry-content{ padding:0 !important; margin:0 !important; max-width:100% !important; } body.single-visa-guides .ast-article-single{ background:transparent !important; border:none !important; box-shadow:none !important; } body.single-visa-guides .entry-content > p:empty{ display:none; } @import url(\"https:\/\/cdn.jsdelivr.net\/gh\/orioncactus\/pretendard@v1.3.9\/dist\/web\/variable\/pretendardvariable-dynamic-subset.min.css\"); .gk2{ --navy:#1D2A44; --navy-h:#2A3B5C; --red:#C60C30; --red-h:#A80A28; --base:#F8FAFC; --card:#FFFFFF; --border:#E2E8F0; --muted:#64748B; --tint:#EEF2F8; --on-brand-muted:#AEB8C9; --page:#DCE3EB; --r:16px; --r-lg:24px; --maxw:1120px; --shadow:0 1px 2px rgba(16,28,51,.04), 0 12px 28px -12px rgba(16,28,51,.18); --shadow-lg:0 24px 60px -20px rgba(16,28,51,.35); background:var(--page); color:var(--navy); line-height:1.6; font-family:\"Pretendard Variable\",Pretendard,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,\"Segoe UI\",Roboto,\"Noto Sans KR\",sans-serif; padding:18px; -webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased; width:auto; margin-left:calc(50% - 50vw); margin-right:calc(50% - 50vw); overflow-x:clip; } .gk2 *{ box-sizing:border-box; } .gk2 img{ display:block; max-width:100%; } .gk2 a{ color:inherit; text-decoration:none; } .gk2 h1, .gk2 h2, .gk2 h3{ line-height:1.2; margin:0; letter-spacing:-.02em; } .gk2 p{ margin:0; } .gk2-surface{ background:#fff; border-radius:28px; box-shadow:var(--shadow-lg); overflow:hidden; max-width:1200px; margin:0 auto; } .gk2 .seal{ display:inline-flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; width:30px; height:30px; border-radius:8px; background:var(--red); color:#fff; font-weight:800; font-size:13px; box-shadow:inset 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,.35); transform:rotate(-4deg); flex:none; } .gk2 .eyebrow{ display:inline-flex; align-items:center; gap:9px; font-size:.78rem; font-weight:800; letter-spacing:.14em; text-transform:uppercase; color:var(--red); margin-bottom:16px; } .gk2 .eyebrow .seal{ width:22px; height:22px; font-size:10px; border-radius:6px; } .gk2 .btn{ display:inline-flex; align-items:center; gap:8px; font-weight:700; border-radius:999px; padding:11px 20px; cursor:pointer; border:1px solid transparent; transition:transform .12s, background .15s, box-shadow .15s; font-size:.95rem; } .gk2 .btn:hover{ transform:translateY(-1px); } .gk2 .btn--red{ background:var(--red); color:#fff; } .gk2 .btn--red:hover{ background:var(--red-h); } .gk2 .btn--navy{ background:var(--navy); color:#fff; } .gk2 .btn--navy:hover{ background:var(--navy-h); } .gk2 .btn--ghost{ background:rgba(255,255,255,.12); color:#fff; border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.45); } .gk2 .btn--ghost:hover{ background:rgba(255,255,255,.2); } .gk2 .btn--white{ background:#fff; color:var(--navy); } .gk2 .btn--white:hover{ box-shadow:var(--shadow); } .gk2 .btn--outline{ background:#fff; color:var(--navy); border-color:var(--border); } .gk2 .btn--outline:hover{ border-color:var(--navy); } .gk2 .hero{ padding:18px; } .gk2 .hero__frame{ position:relative; border-radius:var(--r-lg); overflow:hidden; min-height:460px; display:flex; } .gk2 .hero__img{ position:absolute; inset:0; width:100%; height:100%; object-fit:cover; background:var(--navy); } .gk2 .hero__frame::after{ content:\"\"; position:absolute; inset:0; background:linear-gradient(105deg, rgba(13,21,40,.82) 0%, rgba(13,21,40,.45) 42%, rgba(13,21,40,.12) 70%, rgba(13,21,40,.05) 100%); } .gk2 .hero__glyph{ position:absolute; right:2%; bottom:-8%; font-size:min(34vw,420px); font-weight:900; line-height:.8; color:transparent; -webkit-text-stroke:2px rgba(255,255,255,.22); text-stroke:2px rgba(255,255,255,.22); pointer-events:none; z-index:1; user-select:none; } .gk2 .hero__content{ position:relative; z-index:2; align-self:center; padding:48px 8% 48px 7%; max-width:660px; color:#fff; } .gk2 .hero__kicker{ display:inline-flex; align-items:center; gap:9px; font-weight:700; font-size:.82rem; letter-spacing:.12em; text-transform:uppercase; color:#fff; background:rgba(255,255,255,.14); border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.25); padding:7px 14px; border-radius:999px; margin-bottom:20px; } .gk2 .hero h1{ font-size:clamp(2.4rem,5.2vw,4rem); font-weight:900; color:#fff; letter-spacing:-.03em; } .gk2 .hero h1 .accent{ position:relative; white-space:nowrap; } .gk2 .hero h1 .accent::after{ content:\"\"; position:absolute; left:0; right:0; bottom:.08em; height:.16em; background:var(--red); border-radius:3px; z-index:-1; } .gk2 .hero__sub{ margin:18px 0 28px; font-size:1.12rem; color:#E6EAF2; max-width:30em; } .gk2 .hero__cta{ display:flex; gap:12px; flex-wrap:wrap; } .gk2 .hero__trust{ margin-top:22px; font-size:.86rem; color:var(--on-brand-muted); display:flex; align-items:center; gap:8px; } .gk2 .subhero{ padding:18px; } .gk2 .subhero__frame{ position:relative; border-radius:var(--r-lg); overflow:hidden; min-height:330px; display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; text-align:center; } .gk2 .subhero__img{ position:absolute; inset:0; width:100%; height:100%; object-fit:cover; background:var(--navy); } .gk2 .subhero__frame::after{ content:\"\"; position:absolute; inset:0; background:linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(13,21,40,.55), rgba(13,21,40,.78)); } .gk2 .subhero__in{ position:relative; z-index:2; color:#fff; max-width:880px; padding:46px 28px; } .gk2 .subhero h1{ font-size:clamp(1.65rem,3vw,2.4rem); line-height:1.22; font-weight:900; color:#fff; letter-spacing:-.03em; } .gk2 .subhero__sub{ color:#E6EAF2; margin-top:14px; font-size:1.08rem; } .gk2 .subhero__cta{ margin-top:24px; display:flex; gap:12px; justify-content:center; flex-wrap:wrap; } .gk2 .subhero .eyebrow{ color:#fff; justify-content:center; } .gk2 .section{ padding:56px clamp(20px,5vw,64px); } .gk2 .section--tight{ padding-top:0; } .gk2 .prose{ max-width:760px; margin:0 auto; } .gk2 .prose h2{ font-size:clamp(1.4rem,2.4vw,1.8rem); margin:1.4em 0 .4em; } .gk2 .prose h2:first-child{ margin-top:0; } .gk2 .prose h3{ font-size:1.12rem; margin:1.2em 0 .3em; } .gk2 .prose p{ color:var(--navy); margin-bottom:1em; } .gk2 .prose ul{ padding-left:1.2em; margin:0 0 1em; } .gk2 .prose li{ margin:.35em 0; color:var(--navy); } .gk2 .lead{ font-size:1.08rem; color:var(--muted); } .gk2 .center{ text-align:center; } .gk2 .sec-head{ text-align:center; max-width:640px; margin:0 auto 32px; } .gk2 .sec-head h2{ font-size:clamp(1.5rem,2.8vw,2.1rem); } .gk2 .sec-head p{ color:var(--muted); margin-top:10px; } .gk2 .note{ background:#fff; border:1px solid var(--border); border-left:4px solid var(--red); border-radius:10px; padding:16px 20px; margin:0 auto 28px; max-width:760px; font-size:.96rem; } .gk2 .cardgrid{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr); gap:18px; max-width:980px; margin:0 auto; } .gk2 .cardgrid--2{ grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr); } .gk2 .cardgrid--4{ grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr); } .gk2 .infocard{ background:#fff; border:1px solid var(--border); border-radius:var(--r); padding:24px; transition:transform .15s, box-shadow .15s; } .gk2 .infocard:hover{ transform:translateY(-3px); box-shadow:var(--shadow); } .gk2 .infocard h3{ font-size:1.08rem; margin-bottom:7px; } .gk2 .infocard p{ color:var(--muted); font-size:.92rem; } .gk2 .infocard a.link{ color:var(--red); font-weight:700; font-size:.92rem; display:inline-block; margin-top:12px; } .gk2 .infocard .soon{ display:inline-block; margin-top:12px; font-size:.82rem; font-weight:700; color:var(--muted); background:var(--tint); padding:3px 10px; border-radius:999px; } .gk2 .infocard__ic{ width:42px; height:42px; border-radius:12px; background:var(--navy); color:#fff; display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; margin-bottom:14px; } .gk2 .infocard__ic svg{ width:21px; height:21px; } .gk2 .why{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:1.05fr .95fr; gap:48px; padding:64px clamp(20px,6vw,8%) 56px; align-items:center; } .gk2 .why h2{ font-size:clamp(1.5rem,2.6vw,2rem); } .gk2 .why p.lead{ margin:16px 0 22px; } .gk2 .socials{ display:flex; gap:10px; } .gk2 .socials a{ width:40px; height:40px; border-radius:50%; background:var(--tint); display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; color:var(--navy); transition:background .15s,color .15s; } .gk2 .socials a:hover{ background:var(--navy); color:#fff; } .gk2 .featstack{ display:grid; gap:14px; } .gk2 .feat{ display:flex; gap:16px; padding:18px 20px; background:var(--tint); border:1px solid var(--border); border-radius:var(--r); transition:transform .15s, box-shadow .15s; } .gk2 .feat:hover{ transform:translateY(-2px); box-shadow:var(--shadow); } .gk2 .feat__ic{ width:44px; height:44px; flex:none; border-radius:12px; background:var(--navy); color:#fff; display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; } .gk2 .feat__ic svg{ width:22px; height:22px; } .gk2 .feat h3{ font-size:1.02rem; margin-bottom:4px; } .gk2 .feat p{ font-size:.9rem; color:var(--muted); } .gk2 .stats{ display:flex; justify-content:center; gap:64px; flex-wrap:wrap; padding:8px 8% 56px; } .gk2 .stat{ text-align:center; } .gk2 .stat__ic{ width:52px; height:52px; margin:0 auto 12px; border-radius:50%; background:#fff; border:1px solid var(--border); display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; color:var(--red); box-shadow:var(--shadow); } .gk2 .stat__ic svg{ width:24px; height:24px; } .gk2 .stat b{ font-size:1.7rem; font-weight:900; display:block; letter-spacing:-.02em; } .gk2 .stat span{ font-size:.85rem; color:var(--muted); } .gk2 .panel{ margin:0 18px 18px; background:var(--tint); border-radius:var(--r-lg); padding:40px clamp(20px,4vw,44px); } .gk2 .panel__head{ display:flex; align-items:flex-end; justify-content:space-between; gap:24px; margin-bottom:26px; } .gk2 .panel__head h2{ font-size:clamp(1.5rem,2.6vw,2rem); } .gk2 .panel__head p{ color:var(--muted); max-width:34em; margin-top:8px; font-size:.98rem; } .gk2 .uni-grid{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr); gap:18px; } .gk2 .uni{ position:relative; border-radius:var(--r); overflow:hidden; min-height:300px; display:flex; align-items:flex-end; color:#fff; box-shadow:var(--shadow); transition:transform .18s, box-shadow .18s; } .gk2 .uni:hover{ transform:translateY(-4px); box-shadow:var(--shadow-lg); } .gk2 .uni img{ position:absolute; inset:0; width:100%; height:100%; object-fit:cover; background:var(--navy); z-index:0; } .gk2 .uni::after{ content:\"\"; position:absolute; inset:0; background:linear-gradient(to top, rgba(13,21,40,.92) 6%, rgba(13,21,40,.4) 46%, rgba(13,21,40,.05) 78%); z-index:1; } .gk2 .uni__body{ position:relative; z-index:2; padding:16px; width:100%; } .gk2 .uni__badge{ position:absolute; top:14px; left:14px; z-index:2; background:rgba(255,255,255,.92); color:var(--navy); font-weight:800; font-size:.74rem; padding:5px 10px; border-radius:999px; box-shadow:var(--shadow); } .gk2 .uni h3{ font-size:1.04rem; color:#fff; } .gk2 .uni__loc{ font-size:.82rem; color:#E6EAF2; margin-top:3px; } .gk2 .uni__tags{ display:flex; gap:6px; flex-wrap:wrap; margin-top:11px; } .gk2 .tag{ font-size:.7rem; font-weight:700; padding:4px 9px; border-radius:999px; background:rgba(255,255,255,.16); border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.28); } .gk2 .tag--red{ background:var(--red); border-color:var(--red); } .gk2 .panel__foot{ display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:space-between; margin-top:24px; } .gk2 .carousel-nav{ display:flex; gap:10px; } .gk2 .carousel-nav button{ width:42px; height:42px; border-radius:50%; border:1px solid var(--border); background:#fff; color:var(--navy); cursor:pointer; font-size:1.1rem; transition:background .15s,color .15s; } .gk2 .carousel-nav button:hover{ background:var(--navy); color:#fff; } .gk2 .guides{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:1.15fr 1fr 1fr; gap:18px; padding:8px 18px 56px; } .gk2 .gcard{ border-radius:var(--r-lg); overflow:hidden; min-height:300px; display:flex; } .gk2 .gcard--navy{ background:var(--navy); color:#fff; flex-direction:column; justify-content:space-between; padding:30px; } .gk2 .gcard--navy h2{ color:#fff; font-size:1.5rem; } .gk2 .gcard--navy p{ color:var(--on-brand-muted); margin:12px 0 0; font-size:.96rem; } .gk2 .gcard--img{ position:relative; align-items:flex-end; color:#fff; box-shadow:var(--shadow); transition:transform .18s; } .gk2 .gcard--img:hover{ transform:translateY(-4px); } .gk2 .gcard--img img{ position:absolute; inset:0; width:100%; height:100%; object-fit:cover; background:var(--navy); z-index:0; } .gk2 .gcard--img::after{ content:\"\"; position:absolute; inset:0; background:linear-gradient(to top, rgba(13,21,40,.92), rgba(13,21,40,.2) 60%, rgba(13,21,40,0)); z-index:1; } .gk2 .gcard__body{ position:relative; z-index:2; padding:22px; } .gk2 .gcard__ic{ position:absolute; top:16px; left:16px; z-index:2; width:40px; height:40px; border-radius:50%; background:rgba(255,255,255,.92); color:var(--red); display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; } .gk2 .gcard__ic svg{ width:20px; height:20px; } .gk2 .gcard--img h3{ color:#fff; font-size:1.12rem; } .gk2 .gcard--img p{ color:#E6EAF2; font-size:.88rem; margin-top:6px; } .gk2 .steps{ padding:8px 8% 60px; text-align:center; } .gk2 .steps h2{ font-size:clamp(1.5rem,2.6vw,2rem); margin-bottom:8px; } .gk2 .steps>p{ color:var(--muted); margin-bottom:36px; } .gk2 .steprow{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr); gap:24px; } .gk2 .step{ text-align:left; padding:26px 24px; background:#fff; border:1px solid var(--border); border-radius:var(--r); } .gk2 .step__n{ font-size:2.4rem; font-weight:900; color:var(--tint); line-height:1; letter-spacing:-.04em; } .gk2 .step__n b{ color:var(--red); } .gk2 .step h3{ font-size:1.1rem; margin:6px 0 8px; } .gk2 .step p{ color:var(--muted); font-size:.92rem; } .gk2 .ctaband{ margin:0 18px 18px; border-radius:var(--r-lg); background:var(--red); color:#fff; padding:54px 8%; text-align:center; position:relative; overflow:hidden; } .gk2 .ctaband::before{ content:\"\u5370\"; position:absolute; right:4%; top:50%; transform:translateY(-50%) rotate(-6deg); font-size:13rem; font-weight:900; color:rgba(255,255,255,.08); pointer-events:none; } .gk2 .ctaband h2{ color:#fff; font-size:clamp(1.5rem,3vw,2.1rem); position:relative; } .gk2 .ctaband p{ color:rgba(255,255,255,.9); margin:14px auto 26px; max-width:34em; position:relative; } .gk2 .ctaband .btn{ position:relative; } .gk2 .formslot{ max-width:520px; margin:0 auto; } @media (max-width:980px){ .gk2 .why{ grid-template-columns:1fr; gap:32px; } .gk2 .uni-grid, .gk2 .cardgrid--4{ grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr); } .gk2 .guides{ grid-template-columns:1fr; } .gk2 .steprow, .gk2 .cardgrid{ grid-template-columns:1fr; } .gk2 .cardgrid--2{ grid-template-columns:1fr; } } @media (max-width:760px){ .gk2 .hero__content{ padding:36px 28px; } .gk2 .stats{ gap:36px; } .gk2 .uni-grid, .gk2 .cardgrid--4{ grid-template-columns:1fr; } } @media (prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){ .gk2 *{ transition:none !important; animation:none !important; } } .gk2 .subhero__frame--grad{ background: radial-gradient(1100px 480px at 88% 118%, rgba(198,12,48,.55), transparent 62%), linear-gradient(118deg, #141F36 0%, var(--navy) 52%, #35213A 100%); } .gk2 .subhero__frame--grad::after{ content:none; } .gk2 .subhero__frame--grad .hero__glyph{ right:-2%; bottom:-14%; font-size:min(30vw,340px); } .gk2 .vcode{ display:inline-flex; align-items:center; gap:12px; margin-bottom:14px; } .gk2 .vcode b{ font-size:clamp(2.6rem,6vw,3.6rem); font-weight:900; letter-spacing:-.02em; color:#fff; line-height:1; } .gk2 .vtags{ display:flex; gap:6px; flex-wrap:wrap; justify-content:center; margin-top:18px; } .gk2 .vtags .tag{ font-size:.7rem; padding:4px 11px; } .gk2 .vmeta{ margin-top:20px; font-size:.8rem; color:var(--on-brand-muted); } .gk2 .srcline{ text-align:center; font-size:.88rem; color:var(--muted); margin:-14px auto 28px; max-width:760px; } .gk2 .srcline a{ color:var(--red); font-weight:700; text-decoration:underline; text-underline-offset:2px; } .gk2 .infocard__k{ font-size:.72rem; font-weight:800; letter-spacing:.12em; text-transform:uppercase; color:var(--red); margin-bottom:8px; } .gk2 .infocard .big{ color:var(--navy); font-size:1.02rem; font-weight:700; margin-bottom:6px; } .gk2 .steprow--4{ grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr); max-width:980px; margin:0 auto; } .gk2 .step--dim{ opacity:.45; } .gk2 .checklist{ list-style:none; padding:0; margin:14px 0 0; display:grid; gap:10px; } .gk2 .checklist li{ display:flex; gap:11px; align-items:flex-start; color:var(--navy); font-size:.97rem; } .gk2 .checklist .ck{ flex:none; width:22px; height:22px; border-radius:50%; background:var(--tint); color:var(--red); font-weight:900; font-size:.78rem; display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; margin-top:2px; } .gk2 .howto{ list-style:none; counter-reset:hw; padding:0; margin:14px 0 0; display:grid; gap:12px; } .gk2 .howto li{ counter-increment:hw; position:relative; background:#fff; border:1px solid var(--border); border-radius:var(--r); padding:16px 18px 16px 58px; color:var(--navy); font-size:.96rem; } .gk2 .howto li::before{ content:counter(hw); position:absolute; left:16px; top:14px; width:28px; height:28px; border-radius:50%; background:var(--navy); color:#fff; font-weight:800; font-size:.85rem; display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; } .gk2 .howto li > strong{ display:block; margin-bottom:6px; color:var(--navy); } .gk2 .howto .checklist{ margin-top:8px; } .gk2 .howto .checklist li{ padding:0; border:none; background:none; font-size:.92rem; } .gk2 .howto .tick{ margin:8px 0 0; padding-left:0; } .gk2 .howto .tick li{ font-size:.92rem; margin:.3em 0; } .gk2 .vspec{ max-width:760px; margin:0 auto; background:#fff; border:1px solid var(--border); border-radius:var(--r); overflow:hidden; } .gk2 .vrow{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:190px 1fr; gap:16px; padding:16px 20px; border-bottom:1px solid var(--border); } .gk2 .vrow:last-child{ border-bottom:0; } .gk2 .vrow__k{ font-size:.72rem; font-weight:800; letter-spacing:.1em; text-transform:uppercase; color:var(--red); padding-top:3px; } .gk2 .vrow__v{ color:var(--navy); font-size:.94rem; } .gk2 .vrow__v p{ margin:0 0 .55em; } .gk2 .vrow__v p:last-child{ margin-bottom:0; } .gk2 .vpath{ display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:12px; margin:14px 0 0; } .gk2 .vpath__line{ display:flex; align-items:center; gap:8px; flex-wrap:wrap; } .gk2 .vpath__chip{ background:var(--tint); border:1px solid var(--border); border-radius:999px; padding:7px 14px; font-size:.88rem; font-weight:700; color:var(--navy); } .gk2 .vpath__chip b{ color:var(--red); } .gk2 .vpath__arr{ color:var(--red); font-weight:900; } .gk2 .vpath__note{ font-size:.86rem; color:var(--muted); } .gk2 .vpath--sm .vpath__chip{ padding:4px 10px; font-size:.76rem; } .gk2 .vtable-wrap{ max-width:760px; margin:0 auto; overflow-x:auto; } .gk2 .vtable{ width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:.94rem; font-variant-numeric:tabular-nums; background:#fff; border:1px solid var(--border); border-radius:var(--r); overflow:hidden; } .gk2 .vtable th,.gk2 .vtable td{ text-align:left; padding:12px 16px; border-bottom:1px solid var(--border); } .gk2 .vtable thead th{ background:var(--navy); color:#fff; font-size:.8rem; font-weight:700; letter-spacing:.04em; } .gk2 .vtable tbody tr:last-child td{ border-bottom:0; } .gk2 .vtable td:first-child{ font-weight:700; 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padding-left:22px; } .gk2 .prose ul.tick li::before{ content:\"\"; position:absolute; left:4px; top:.58em; width:7px; height:7px; border-radius:2px; background:var(--red); } @media (max-width:980px){ .gk2 .steprow--4{ grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr); } } @media (max-width:640px){ .gk2 .steprow--4{ grid-template-columns:1fr; } .gk2 .vrow{ grid-template-columns:1fr; gap:6px; } }<\/style>\n<div class=\"gk2\">\n  <div class=\"gk2-surface\">\n\n    <section class=\"subhero\">\n      <div class=\"subhero__frame subhero__frame--grad\">\n        <span class=\"hero__glyph\" aria-hidden=\"true\">E-9<\/span>\n        <div class=\"subhero__in\">\n          <span class=\"eyebrow\"><span class=\"seal\">\u5370<\/span> Visa Guides<\/span>\n          <div class=\"vcode\"><b>E-9<\/b><\/div>\n          <h1>Non-Professional Employment (Employment Permit System \/ EPS)<\/h1>\n          <p class=\"subhero__sub\">\ube44\uc804\ubb38\ucde8\uc5c5(E-9) &mdash; E-9 Work Visa (Employment Permit System \/ \uace0\uc6a9\ud5c8\uac00\uc81c, general EPS)<\/p>\n          <div class=\"vtags\">\n            <span class=\"tag tag--red\">&#9679; Active<\/span>\n            <span class=\"tag\">Category E<\/span>\n          <\/div>\n          <p class=\"vmeta\">Last updated 2026-07-04 \u00b7 Official Korean government sources<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n\n    <section class=\"section\">\n      <div class=\"note\"><strong>Note:<\/strong> This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change &mdash; always confirm on the official sources for your country.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"sec-head\"><h2>At a glance<\/h2><\/div>\n      <div class=\"cardgrid\"><div class=\"infocard\"><div class=\"infocard__k\">Who it&#39;s for<\/div><p>Foreign nationals from countries that have signed an EPS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea, who are hired to do so-called &#8216;non-professional&#8217;\u2026<\/p><\/div>\n        <div class=\"infocard\"><div class=\"infocard__k\">Length of stay<\/div><p>Initial stay is granted in line with the labor contract, up to 3 years.<\/p><\/div>\n        <div class=\"infocard\"><div class=\"infocard__k\">Can you work?<\/div><p>Yes &#8211; E-9 is a work visa, but only for the specific employer and sector allowed under the employment permit and the Standard Labor Contract.<\/p><\/div>\n        <div class=\"infocard\"><div class=\"infocard__k\">Korean needed?<\/div><p>Yes &#8211; passing EPS-TOPIK (the Employment Permit System Korean-language proficiency test, run by HRD Korea in the sending country) is a mandatory entry gate before an\u2026<\/p><\/div>\n        <div class=\"infocard\"><div class=\"infocard__k\">Fee &amp; time<\/div><p>Fee: E-9 visa issuance at a Korean embassy\/consulate is typically around USD 60 (single entry); alien registration in Korea is about KRW 30,000. Most other EPS costs (test fees, roster\/administration, part of transport and insurance) are handled through the EPS program and vary by sending country. Fees change periodically &#8211; confirm current amounts on eps.go.kr and with the sending-country agency. (unverified for exact per-country breakdown) \u00b7 Time: Varies widely by country and by how long it takes an employer to select a worker from\u2026<\/p><\/div>\n        <div class=\"infocard\"><div class=\"infocard__k\">Leads to<\/div><div class=\"vpath vpath--sm\"><div class=\"vpath__line\"><a class=\"vpath__chip\" href=\"\/visa-guides\/e-9\/\"><b>E-9<\/b><\/a><span class=\"vpath__arr\">\u2192<\/span><a class=\"vpath__chip\" href=\"\/visa-guides\/e-7-4\/\"><b>E-7-4<\/b> (Skilled Technical Personnel \/ \uc219\ub828\uae30\ub2a5\uc778\ub825, points system): a long-term route out of &#8216;non-professional&#8217; status<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n    <\/section>\n\n<section class=\"section section--tight\"><div class=\"prose\"><h2>Who can apply<\/h2><ul class=\"checklist\"><li><span class=\"ck\">\u2713<\/span><span>Foreign nationals from countries that have signed an EPS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea, who are hired to do so-called &#8216;non-professional&#8217; (manual\/low-skilled) work in Korea&#8217;s allowed EPS sectors: manufacturing, agriculture and livestock, fishery, construction, shipbuilding, and (a growing list of) services.<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ck\">\u2713<\/span><span>Applicants apply from their home country, not usually from inside Korea.<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ck\">\u2713<\/span><span>They must first pass the EPS-TOPIK Korean-language test, pass a health check, register as a job seeker, and then be selected by a Korean employer from the official job-seeker roster.<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ck\">\u2713<\/span><span>Applicants are generally aged about 18 to 39, with no serious criminal record and no record of past illegal stay\/deportation from Korea.<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ck\">\u2713<\/span><span>This is a state-to-state labor program run by the Ministry of Employment and Labor (\uace0\uc6a9\ub178\ub3d9\ubd80) and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea \/ \ud55c\uad6d\uc0b0\uc5c5\uc778\ub825\uacf5\ub2e8).<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"section section--tight\"><div class=\"prose\"><h2>Documents you&#39;ll need<\/h2><ul class=\"tick\"><li>Passport<\/li><li>completed visa application form with photo<\/li><li>the Standard Labor Contract (\ud45c\uc900\uadfc\ub85c\uacc4\uc57d\uc11c) signed with the Korean employer<\/li><li>the Certificate of Visa Issuance \/ Confirmation (\uc0ac\uc99d\ubc1c\uae09\uc778\uc815\uc11c) that the Korean employer obtained from immigration<\/li><li>EPS-TOPIK pass result<\/li><li>health examination result<\/li><li>and other papers required by the sending country&#8217;s dispatch agency. Most of the paperwork is handled through the EPS system by the sending-country agency and the Korean employer rather than by the worker individually. Confirm the exact list on eps.go.kr and with the sending agency before departure.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"section section--tight\"><div class=\"prose\"><h2>How to apply<\/h2><ul class=\"tick\"><li>Via the Employment Permit System (\uace0\uc6a9\ud5c8\uac00\uc81c\/EPS), a state-to-state bilateral program: applicant&#8217;s country signs an EPS MOU with Korea, worker passes EPS-TOPIK and health check, is placed on the job-seeker roster, and a Korean employer (who first failed to hire a Korean) selects the worker.<\/li><li>The employer then obtains a Certificate of Visa Issuance (\uc0ac\uc99d\ubc1c\uae09\uc778\uc815\uc11c) from immigration, and the worker receives the E-9 visa at a Korean mission abroad.<\/li><li>Administered by MOEL (\uace0\uc6a9\ub178\ub3d9\ubd80) and HRD Korea (\ud55c\uad6d\uc0b0\uc5c5\uc778\ub825\uacf5\ub2e8) via eps.go.kr &#8211; not an open job-market visa.<\/li><li>EPS (\uc77c\ubc18\uace0\uc6a9\ud5c8\uac00\uc81c) is a bilateral, government-run process, not an ordinary open job market.<\/li><li>Typical steps:<\/li><\/ul><ol class=\"howto\"><li><strong>the worker&#8217;s country and Korea sign\/maintain an EPS MOU;<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>the applicant passes EPS-TOPIK (\uace0\uc6a9\ud5c8\uac00\uc81c \ud55c\uad6d\uc5b4\ub2a5\ub825\uc2dc\ud5d8) run by HRD Korea in their country;<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>passers who clear a health check submit a job application and are placed on a job-seeker roster (\uad6c\uc9c1\uc790 \uba85\ubd80) that the sending agency sends to HRD Korea, which verifies and registers it;<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>a Korean employer who first tried and failed to hire a Korean worker gets an employment permit and selects a worker from the roster;<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>the Standard Labor Contract is signed;<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>the employer obtains a Certificate of Visa Issuance from immigration;<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>the worker receives the E-9 visa at a Korean embassy\/consulate, enters Korea, completes job\/employment training, and starts work.<\/strong><p style=\"margin:.4em 0 0\">Selection on EPS-TOPIK is relative (graded on a curve) up to the planned intake number per sector.<\/p><\/li><\/ol><\/div><\/section>\n\n    <section class=\"section section--tight\">\n      <div class=\"sec-head\"><h2>Stay &amp; extension<\/h2><\/div>\n      <div class=\"cardgrid cardgrid--2\" style=\"max-width:760px\"><div class=\"infocard\"><div class=\"infocard__k\">How long you can stay<\/div><p>Initial stay is granted in line with the labor contract, up to 3 years. It is generally a single status; the worker cannot freely change jobs (workplace changes are limited and need approval, usually only for reasons not the worker&#8217;s fault, such as business closure).<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"infocard\"><div class=\"infocard__k\">Extending your stay<\/div><p>After the first period, if the employer applies for re-employment (\uc7ac\uace0\uc6a9) and it is approved, the worker can extend by up to a further 1 year and 10 months &#8211; a maximum of about 4 years and 10 months of continuous work in Korea on one entry. Workers who completed that period faithfully at the same workplace and left voluntarily may re-enter under the Committed\/Re-entry Worker special program (\uc7ac\uc785\uad6d \ucde8\uc5c5 \ud2b9\ub840, formerly the Committed Worker Re-entry System, \uc131\uc2e4\uadfc\ub85c\uc790 \uc7ac\uc785\uad6d\uc81c\ub3c4), applying through the local employment center within a set window before departure.<\/p><p>Stay-extension applications for the worker&#8217;s residence status are filed at an immigration office (booked via HiKorea).<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n    <\/section>\n\n    <section class=\"section section--tight\"><div class=\"prose\"><h2>Working on this visa<\/h2><p>Yes &#8211; E-9 is a work visa, but only for the specific employer and sector allowed under the employment permit and the Standard Labor Contract. The holder may not freely take a second job or move to a different employer\/sector without going through the limited, approval-based change-of-workplace procedure.<\/p><p>Working outside the permitted terms can lead to loss of status.<\/p><\/div><\/section>\n\n    <section class=\"section section--tight\">\n      <div class=\"sec-head\"><h2>Requirements in detail<\/h2><\/div>\n      <div class=\"vspec\"><div class=\"vrow\"><div class=\"vrow__k\">Korean language<\/div><div class=\"vrow__v\"><p>Yes &#8211; passing EPS-TOPIK (the Employment Permit System Korean-language proficiency test, run by HRD Korea in the sending country) is a mandatory entry gate before an applicant can be placed on the job-seeker roster. It tests basic Korean plus understanding of Korean workplace safety and daily life.<\/p><p>There is no separate general TOPIK level required, but a higher EPS-TOPIK score improves selection chances.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"vrow\"><div class=\"vrow__k\">Money to show<\/div><div class=\"vrow__v\"><p>No fixed salary floor to enter; the standard labor contract must guarantee at least the Korean statutory minimum wage for the sector\/hours worked.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"vrow\"><div class=\"vrow__k\">Annual quota<\/div><div class=\"vrow__v\"><p>2026: 80,000 total (sector allocation (\uc5c5\uc885\ubcc4 \ubc30\uc815) 70,000 + flexible allocation (\ud0c4\ub825\ubc30\uc815) 10,000). Officially confirmed by the Foreign Workforce Policy Committee (\uc678\uad6d\uc778\ub825\uc815\ucc45\uc704\uc6d0\ud68c) (2025-12-22).<\/p><p>Sector breakdown: manufacturing (\uc81c\uc870\uc5c5) 50,000, agriculture\/livestock (\ub18d\ucd95\uc0b0\uc5c5) 10,000 \u2014 both explicitly stated in the official press release. Fishery (\uc5b4\uc5c5) 7,000, construction (\uac74\uc124\uc5c5) 2,000, services (\uc11c\ube44\uc2a4\uc5c5) 1,000 are the widely-reported figures that sum exactly to the official 70,000 sector total, but the official press-release text only itemizes manufacturing 50,000 and agriculture\/livestock 10,000 (\uc81c\uc870\uc5c5 5\ub9cc\u00b7\ub18d\ucd95\uc0b0\uc5c5 1\ub9cc), with an &#8216;etc.&#8217; (\ub4f1); the fishery\/construction\/services sub-figures are cross-checked from multiple news reports of the same meeting (treat as near-official).<\/p><p>Shipbuilding (\uc870\uc120\uc5c5): NO separate quota in 2026 \u2014 the temporary separate shipbuilding quota (\uc870\uc120\uc5c5 \ubcc4\ub3c4 \ucffc\ud130) (Apr 2023\u20132025) was abolished and folded back into manufacturing. For reference, 2025 quota was 130,000 (2026 is a ~50,000 reduction).<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"vrow\"><div class=\"vrow__k\">Ministry endorsement<\/div><div class=\"vrow__v\"><p>Yes &#8211; Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL\/\uace0\uc6a9\ub178\ub3d9\ubd80) runs EPS with HRD Korea; sector policy and quotas set by the Foreign Workforce Policy Committee. Sector authorities (e.g.<\/p><p>MAFRA for agriculture, MOF for fishery) participate in allocation. Employer needs an employment permit before selecting a worker.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"vrow\"><div class=\"vrow__k\">Waivers \/ special<\/div><div class=\"vrow__v\"><p>E-9 -&gt; E-7-4 (Skilled Technical Personnel, points system): normally ~5 years of legal E-9 (or H-2\/E-10) work within the last 10 years (some cases 4 years with KIIP stage 3+); job offer with expected annual salary &gt;= ~KRW 26 million (relaxed to ~KRW 25 million for agriculture\/livestock and fishery\/coastal-shipping); Korean at TOPIK 2 or equivalent KIIP stage (since 2025 obtainable within 2 years after conversion); and &gt;= ~200 of the 300-point skilled-worker scale. E-7-4R region-specific track (shortened non-capital stay ~3 years) now includes E-9 holders.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n    <\/section>\n\n    <section class=\"section section--tight\">\n      <div class=\"sec-head\"><h2>Sub-types<\/h2><\/div>\n      <div class=\"prose\"><p>Not split into lettered sub-codes. Organized by allowed sector under EPS: manufacturing (\uc81c\uc870\uc5c5), agriculture\/livestock (\ub18d\ucd95\uc0b0\uc5c5), fishery (\uc5b4\uc5c5), construction (\uac74\uc124\uc5c5), shipbuilding (\uc870\uc120\uc5c5), services (\uc11c\ube44\uc2a4\uc5c5, most fluid &#8211; e.g. hotel\/condo cleaning &amp; kitchen, restaurant kitchen\/hall-serving, parcel sorting).<\/p><\/div>\n      \n    <\/section>\n<section class=\"section section--tight\"><div class=\"cardgrid cardgrid--2\" style=\"max-width:760px\"><div class=\"infocard\"><div class=\"infocard__k\">Family<\/div><p>Generally not allowed. E-9 carries no accompanying-family (F-3) entitlement; workers come without dependents.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"infocard\"><div class=\"infocard__k\">Mobile ARC<\/div><p>Mobile alien registration card (\uc678\uad6d\uc778\ub4f1\ub85d\uc99d) launched in 2025 for registered foreign residents; E-9 holders who complete alien registration can in principle use it. E-9-specific rollout details not separately confirmed (unverified).<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"section section--tight\"><div class=\"prose\"><h2>2025&ndash;2026 policy updates<\/h2><ul class=\"tick\"><li>2025 EPS (E-9) intake plan (decided by the Foreign Workforce Policy Committee on 2024-12-20, for 2025): total 130,000 &#8211; down about 21% from 2024&#8217;s 165,000.<\/li><li>Reported new sector allocation of about 98,000 within that total: manufacturing 72,000; agriculture\/livestock 10,000; fishery 8,500; services 3,000; shipbuilding 2,500; construction 2,000 (remainder held as flexible allocation).<\/li><li>Sending countries expanded from 16 to 17 with the addition of Tajikistan (from 2025).<\/li><li>Service-sector expansion: hotel and condominium (\ud638\ud154\u00b7\ucf58\ub3c4\uc5c5) added on a pilot basis for cleaner and kitchen-assistant roles in the main tourism regions of Seoul, Busan, Gangwon, and Jeju; the restaurant (\uc74c\uc2dd\uc810\uc5c5) pilot was widened nationwide and to more cuisine types (including Chinese and Japanese food), with hall-serving (\ud640\uc11c\ube59) tasks added to the earlier kitchen-assistant role; parcel\/delivery (\ud0dd\ubc30) sorting and loading tasks allowed as simple-labor roles. 2026 EPS (E-9) intake plan: total 80,000 (about 70,000 by sector + about 10,000 flexible) &#8211; manufacturing about 50,000; agriculture\/livestock about 10,000; fishery about 7,000; construction about 2,000; services about 1,000.<\/li><li>For 2026, restaurant hall-serving was formally added nationwide, and non-capital-region manufacturers&#8217; extra foreign-hiring cap was raised (about 20% to 30%) with the previous 50-worker add-on limit removed.<\/li><li>Exact effective dates for individual service-sector items are set in the underlying notices &#8211; confirm on eps.go.kr \/ moel.go.kr.<\/li><li>(some sub-item effective dates unverified)<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"section section--tight\"><div class=\"prose\"><h2>Common mistakes<\/h2><ul class=\"tick\"><li>Assuming E-9 is a normal open work visa that a student in Korea can switch into &#8211; it is not; it is a from-abroad, government-to-government EPS program tied to your home country&#8217;s MOU and roster.<\/li><li>Thinking you can freely change employers or take side jobs &#8211; workplace change is tightly limited.<\/li><li>Overstaying the 3-year \/ 4-years-10-months limits, or expecting automatic renewal.<\/li><li>Skipping or underestimating EPS-TOPIK.<\/li><li>Using outdated quota or sector lists (the numbers and allowed services change every year).<\/li><li>Confusing E-9 with E-7 (skilled\/professional) or with the E-7-4 skilled-worker conversion route.<\/li><\/ul>\n<h2>Where this leads<\/h2><div class=\"vpath\"><div class=\"vpath__line\"><a class=\"vpath__chip\" href=\"\/visa-guides\/e-9\/\"><b>E-9<\/b><\/a><span class=\"vpath__arr\">\u2192<\/span><a class=\"vpath__chip\" href=\"\/visa-guides\/e-7-4\/\"><b>E-7-4<\/b> (Skilled Technical Personnel \/ \uc219\ub828\uae30\ub2a5\uc778\ub825, points system): a long-term route out of &#8216;non-professional&#8217; status<\/a><\/div><div class=\"vpath__note\">Core conditions (per immigration guidance, subject to change): normally about 5 years of legal E-9 (or H-2\/E-10) work in Korea within the last 10 years (some cases 4 years if KIIP stage 3+ completed).<\/div><div class=\"vpath__note\">a job offer with expected annual salary at or above about KRW 26 million (relaxed to about KRW 25 million for agriculture\/livestock, fishery, coastal shipping).<\/div><div class=\"vpath__note\">Korean ability of about TOPIK level 2 or the equivalent Social Integration Program (\uc0ac\ud68c\ud1b5\ud569\ud504\ub85c\uadf8\ub7a8, KIIP) stage.<\/div><div class=\"vpath__note\">and reaching the required score on the 300-point skilled-worker points system (commonly cited threshold about 200 points, with minimum sub-scores on income and Korean).<\/div><div class=\"vpath__note\">Once on E-7-4, holders can later aim for F-2 (residence) and eventually F-5 (permanent residence).<\/div><div class=\"vpath__note\">The annual E-7-4 conversion quota is set separately (about 35,000 for 2025.<\/div><div class=\"vpath__note\">about 33,000 planned for 2026 &#8211; confirm current figures).<\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"margin-top:20px\"><a class=\"btn btn--red\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eps.go.kr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Official source &#8599;<\/a>\n        &nbsp;<a class=\"btn btn--outline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eps.go.kr\/eo\/EmployPerSystem.eo?tabGb=02\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Official manual &#8599;<\/a><\/p><\/div><div class=\"note\" style=\"margin-top:20px\"><strong>If you break the rules:<\/strong> Under the Immigration Act: overstay\/unlawful stay leads to penalty surcharges (up to KRW 30 million), deportation and re-entry ban. Unauthorized workplace change, taking side jobs, or absconding voids status. Employers who breach the permit face permit cancellation and restrictions on future foreign hiring.<\/div><\/section>\n\n    <section class=\"ctaband\">\n      <h2>Get visa updates by email<\/h2>\n      <p>Join GoKorea Insider for clear updates on visas and key dates.<\/p>\n      <a class=\"btn btn--white\" href=\"\/gokorea-insider\/\">Join Insider &mdash; Free<\/a>\n    <\/section>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":332,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"unboxed","site-sidebar-style":"unboxed","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"rank_math_title":"E-9 Visa Korea: EPS Work Guide | GoKorea Study","rank_math_description":"The E-9 visa under the Employment Permit System (EPS) is for workers from MOU countries in Korea's key sectors. Requirements, documents and 2026 updates.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"e-9 eps work visa korea","rank_math_robots":[]},"visa_category":[32],"journey_stage":[],"class_list":["post-291","visa-guides","type-visa-guides","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","visa_category-e"],"acf":{"visa_code":"E-9","visa_name_en":"Non-Professional Employment (Employment Permit System \/ EPS)","visa_name_kr":"\ube44\uc804\ubb38\ucde8\uc5c5(E-9)","guide_type":"visa","status":"active","visa_type":"E-9 Work Visa (Employment Permit System \/ \uace0\uc6a9\ud5c8\uac00\uc81c, general EPS)","eligible_applicants":"Foreign nationals from countries that have signed an EPS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea, who are hired to do so-called 'non-professional' (manual\/low-skilled) work in Korea's allowed EPS sectors: manufacturing, agriculture and livestock, fishery, construction, shipbuilding, and (a growing list of) services. Applicants apply from their home country, not usually from inside Korea. They must first pass the EPS-TOPIK Korean-language test, pass a health check, register as a job seeker, and then be selected by a Korean employer from the official job-seeker roster. Applicants are generally aged about 18 to 39, with no serious criminal record and no record of past illegal stay\/deportation from Korea. This is a state-to-state labor program run by the Ministry of Employment and Labor (\uace0\uc6a9\ub178\ub3d9\ubd80) and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea \/ \ud55c\uad6d\uc0b0\uc5c5\uc778\ub825\uacf5\ub2e8).","required_documents":"Passport; completed visa application form with photo; the Standard Labor Contract (\ud45c\uc900\uadfc\ub85c\uacc4\uc57d\uc11c) signed with the Korean employer; the Certificate of Visa Issuance \/ Confirmation (\uc0ac\uc99d\ubc1c\uae09\uc778\uc815\uc11c) that the Korean employer obtained from immigration; EPS-TOPIK pass result; health examination result; and other papers required by the sending country's dispatch agency. Most of the paperwork is handled through the EPS system by the sending-country agency and the Korean employer rather than by the worker individually. Confirm the exact list on eps.go.kr and with the sending agency before departure.","processing_notes":"EPS (\uc77c\ubc18\uace0\uc6a9\ud5c8\uac00\uc81c) is a bilateral, government-run process, not an ordinary open job market. Typical steps: (1) the worker's country and Korea sign\/maintain an EPS MOU; (2) the applicant passes EPS-TOPIK (\uace0\uc6a9\ud5c8\uac00\uc81c \ud55c\uad6d\uc5b4\ub2a5\ub825\uc2dc\ud5d8) run by HRD Korea in their country; (3) passers who clear a health check submit a job application and are placed on a job-seeker roster (\uad6c\uc9c1\uc790 \uba85\ubd80) that the sending agency sends to HRD Korea, which verifies and registers it; (4) a Korean employer who first tried and failed to hire a Korean worker gets an employment permit and selects a worker from the roster; (5) the Standard Labor Contract is signed; (6) the employer obtains a Certificate of Visa Issuance from immigration; (7) the worker receives the E-9 visa at a Korean embassy\/consulate, enters Korea, completes job\/employment training, and starts work. Selection on EPS-TOPIK is relative (graded on a curve) up to the planned intake number per sector.","duration_of_stay":"Initial stay is granted in line with the labor contract, up to 3 years. It is generally a single status; the worker cannot freely change jobs (workplace changes are limited and need approval, usually only for reasons not the worker's fault, such as business closure).","extension_rules":"After the first period, if the employer applies for re-employment (\uc7ac\uace0\uc6a9) and it is approved, the worker can extend by up to a further 1 year and 10 months - a maximum of about 4 years and 10 months of continuous work in Korea on one entry. Workers who completed that period faithfully at the same workplace and left voluntarily may re-enter under the Committed\/Re-entry Worker special program (\uc7ac\uc785\uad6d \ucde8\uc5c5 \ud2b9\ub840, formerly the Committed Worker Re-entry System, \uc131\uc2e4\uadfc\ub85c\uc790 \uc7ac\uc785\uad6d\uc81c\ub3c4), applying through the local employment center within a set window before departure. Stay-extension applications for the worker's residence status are filed at an immigration office (booked via HiKorea).","work_permission":"Yes - E-9 is a work visa, but only for the specific employer and sector allowed under the employment permit and the Standard Labor Contract. The holder may not freely take a second job or move to a different employer\/sector without going through the limited, approval-based change-of-workplace procedure. Working outside the permitted terms can lead to loss of status.","korean_requirement":"Yes - passing EPS-TOPIK (the Employment Permit System Korean-language proficiency test, run by HRD Korea in the sending country) is a mandatory entry gate before an applicant can be placed on the job-seeker roster. It tests basic Korean plus understanding of Korean workplace safety and daily life. There is no separate general TOPIK level required, but a higher EPS-TOPIK score improves selection chances.","path_to":"E-9 -> E-7-4 (Skilled Technical Personnel \/ \uc219\ub828\uae30\ub2a5\uc778\ub825, points system): a long-term route out of 'non-professional' status. Core conditions (per immigration guidance, subject to change): normally about 5 years of legal E-9 (or H-2\/E-10) work in Korea within the last 10 years (some cases 4 years if KIIP stage 3+ completed); a job offer with expected annual salary at or above about KRW 26 million (relaxed to about KRW 25 million for agriculture\/livestock, fishery, coastal shipping); Korean ability of about TOPIK level 2 or the equivalent Social Integration Program (\uc0ac\ud68c\ud1b5\ud569\ud504\ub85c\uadf8\ub7a8, KIIP) stage; and reaching the required score on the 300-point skilled-worker points system (commonly cited threshold about 200 points, with minimum sub-scores on income and Korean). Once on E-7-4, holders can later aim for F-2 (residence) and eventually F-5 (permanent residence). The annual E-7-4 conversion quota is set separately (about 35,000 for 2025; about 33,000 planned for 2026 - confirm current figures).","application_fee":"E-9 visa issuance at a Korean embassy\/consulate is typically around USD 60 (single entry); alien registration in Korea is about KRW 30,000. Most other EPS costs (test fees, roster\/administration, part of transport and insurance) are handled through the EPS program and vary by sending country. Fees change periodically - confirm current amounts on eps.go.kr and with the sending-country agency. (unverified for exact per-country breakdown)","processing_time":"Varies widely by country and by how long it takes an employer to select a worker from the roster - often several months from passing EPS-TOPIK to actually entering Korea. The immigration Certificate of Visa Issuance review and the embassy visa step each take additional time. There is no single fixed processing time. (unverified)","policy_updates_2025_2026":"2025 EPS (E-9) intake plan (decided by the Foreign Workforce Policy Committee on 2024-12-20, for 2025): total 130,000 - down about 21% from 2024's 165,000. Reported new sector allocation of about 98,000 within that total: manufacturing 72,000; agriculture\/livestock 10,000; fishery 8,500; services 3,000; shipbuilding 2,500; construction 2,000 (remainder held as flexible allocation). Sending countries expanded from 16 to 17 with the addition of Tajikistan (from 2025). Service-sector expansion: hotel and condominium (\ud638\ud154\u00b7\ucf58\ub3c4\uc5c5) added on a pilot basis for cleaner and kitchen-assistant roles in the main tourism regions of Seoul, Busan, Gangwon, and Jeju; the restaurant (\uc74c\uc2dd\uc810\uc5c5) pilot was widened nationwide and to more cuisine types (including Chinese and Japanese food), with hall-serving (\ud640\uc11c\ube59) tasks added to the earlier kitchen-assistant role; parcel\/delivery (\ud0dd\ubc30) sorting and loading tasks allowed as simple-labor roles. 2026 EPS (E-9) intake plan: total 80,000 (about 70,000 by sector + about 10,000 flexible) - manufacturing about 50,000; agriculture\/livestock about 10,000; fishery about 7,000; construction about 2,000; services about 1,000. For 2026, restaurant hall-serving was formally added nationwide, and non-capital-region manufacturers' extra foreign-hiring cap was raised (about 20% to 30%) with the previous 50-worker add-on limit removed. Exact effective dates for individual service-sector items are set in the underlying notices - confirm on eps.go.kr \/ moel.go.kr. (some sub-item effective dates unverified)","subtypes_note":"E-9 is not split into lettered sub-codes; it is organized by ALLOWED SECTOR under the Employment Permit System: manufacturing (\uc81c\uc870\uc5c5), agriculture and livestock (\ub18d\ucd95\uc0b0\uc5c5), fishery (\uc5b4\uc5c5), construction (\uac74\uc124\uc5c5), shipbuilding (\uc870\uc120\uc5c5), and services (\uc11c\ube44\uc2a4\uc5c5). The service category is the most fluid - it has been expanded step by step (e.g., waste collection, some social-welfare\/care support, hotel and condominium cleaning\/kitchen roles, restaurant kitchen and hall serving, parcel sorting). The sector determines where the worker may be employed and the specific tasks allowed. Note: E-10 (\ub0b4\ud56d\uc120\uc6d0, seafarers) and H-2 (\ubc29\ubb38\ucde8\uc5c5, Korean-heritage) are separate work statuses, not E-9.","common_mistakes":"Assuming E-9 is a normal open work visa that a student in Korea can switch into - it is not; it is a from-abroad, government-to-government EPS program tied to your home country's MOU and roster. Thinking you can freely change employers or take side jobs - workplace change is tightly limited. Overstaying the 3-year \/ 4-years-10-months limits, or expecting automatic renewal. Skipping or underestimating EPS-TOPIK. Using outdated quota or sector lists (the numbers and allowed services change every year). Confusing E-9 with E-7 (skilled\/professional) or with the E-7-4 skilled-worker conversion route.","official_link":"https:\/\/www.eps.go.kr","official_manual_url":"https:\/\/www.eps.go.kr\/eo\/EmployPerSystem.eo?tabGb=02","issuance_route":"Via the Employment Permit System (\uace0\uc6a9\ud5c8\uac00\uc81c\/EPS), a state-to-state bilateral program: applicant's country signs an EPS MOU with Korea, worker passes EPS-TOPIK and health check, is placed on the job-seeker roster, and a Korean employer (who first failed to hire a Korean) selects the worker. The employer then obtains a Certificate of Visa Issuance (\uc0ac\uc99d\ubc1c\uae09\uc778\uc815\uc11c) from immigration, and the worker receives the E-9 visa at a Korean mission abroad. Administered by MOEL (\uace0\uc6a9\ub178\ub3d9\ubd80) and HRD Korea (\ud55c\uad6d\uc0b0\uc5c5\uc778\ub825\uacf5\ub2e8) via eps.go.kr - not an open job-market visa.","keta_required":"","annual_quota":"2026: 80,000 total (sector allocation (\uc5c5\uc885\ubcc4 \ubc30\uc815) 70,000 + flexible allocation (\ud0c4\ub825\ubc30\uc815) 10,000). Officially confirmed by the Foreign Workforce Policy Committee (\uc678\uad6d\uc778\ub825\uc815\ucc45\uc704\uc6d0\ud68c) (2025-12-22). Sector breakdown: manufacturing (\uc81c\uc870\uc5c5) 50,000, agriculture\/livestock (\ub18d\ucd95\uc0b0\uc5c5) 10,000 \u2014 both explicitly stated in the official press release. Fishery (\uc5b4\uc5c5) 7,000, construction (\uac74\uc124\uc5c5) 2,000, services (\uc11c\ube44\uc2a4\uc5c5) 1,000 are the widely-reported figures that sum exactly to the official 70,000 sector total, but the official press-release text only itemizes manufacturing 50,000 and agriculture\/livestock 10,000 (\uc81c\uc870\uc5c5 5\ub9cc\u00b7\ub18d\ucd95\uc0b0\uc5c5 1\ub9cc), with an 'etc.' (\ub4f1); the fishery\/construction\/services sub-figures are cross-checked from multiple news reports of the same meeting (treat as near-official). Shipbuilding (\uc870\uc120\uc5c5): NO separate quota in 2026 \u2014 the temporary separate shipbuilding quota (\uc870\uc120\uc5c5 \ubcc4\ub3c4 \ucffc\ud130) (Apr 2023\u20132025) was abolished and folded back into manufacturing. For reference, 2025 quota was 130,000 (2026 is a ~50,000 reduction).","income_threshold":"No fixed salary floor to enter; the standard labor contract must guarantee at least the Korean statutory minimum wage for the sector\/hours worked.","points_system_summary":"","subtype_table":"Not split into lettered sub-codes. Organized by allowed sector under EPS: manufacturing (\uc81c\uc870\uc5c5), agriculture\/livestock (\ub18d\ucd95\uc0b0\uc5c5), fishery (\uc5b4\uc5c5), construction (\uac74\uc124\uc5c5), shipbuilding (\uc870\uc120\uc5c5), services (\uc11c\ube44\uc2a4\uc5c5, most fluid - e.g. hotel\/condo cleaning & kitchen, restaurant kitchen\/hall-serving, parcel sorting).","family_accompaniment":"Generally not allowed. E-9 carries no accompanying-family (F-3) entitlement; workers come without dependents.","competent_ministry_endorsement":"Yes - Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL\/\uace0\uc6a9\ub178\ub3d9\ubd80) runs EPS with HRD Korea; sector policy and quotas set by the Foreign Workforce Policy Committee. Sector authorities (e.g. MAFRA for agriculture, MOF for fishery) participate in allocation. Employer needs an employment permit before selecting a worker.","mobile_residence_card":"Mobile alien registration card (\uc678\uad6d\uc778\ub4f1\ub85d\uc99d) launched in 2025 for registered foreign residents; E-9 holders who complete alien registration can in principle use it. E-9-specific rollout details not separately confirmed (unverified).","penalties":"Under the Immigration Act: overstay\/unlawful stay leads to penalty surcharges (up to KRW 30 million), deportation and re-entry ban. Unauthorized workplace change, taking side jobs, or absconding voids status. Employers who breach the permit face permit cancellation and restrictions on future foreign hiring.","experience_waiver_conditions":"E-9 -> E-7-4 (Skilled Technical Personnel, points system): normally ~5 years of legal E-9 (or H-2\/E-10) work within the last 10 years (some cases 4 years with KIIP stage 3+); job offer with expected annual salary >= ~KRW 26 million (relaxed to ~KRW 25 million for agriculture\/livestock and fishery\/coastal-shipping); Korean at TOPIK 2 or equivalent KIIP stage (since 2025 obtainable within 2 years after conversion); and >= ~200 of the 300-point skilled-worker scale. E-7-4R region-specific track (shortened non-capital stay ~3 years) now includes E-9 holders.","last_updated_date":"2026-07-04"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/korea-visa-passports.jpg",1600,2000,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/korea-visa-passports-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/korea-visa-passports-240x300.jpg",240,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/korea-visa-passports-768x960.jpg",768,960,true],"large":["https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/korea-visa-passports-819x1024.jpg",819,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/korea-visa-passports-1229x1536.jpg",1229,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/korea-visa-passports.jpg",1600,2000,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/korea-visa-passports-10x12.jpg",10,12,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/ko\/author\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"E-9 \u5370 Visa Guides E-9 Non-Professional Employment (Employment Permit System \/ EPS) \ube44\uc804\ubb38\ucde8\uc5c5(E-9) &mdash; E-9 Work Visa (Employment Permit System [&hellip;]","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/visa-guides\/291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/visa-guides"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/visa-guides"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"visa_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/visa_category?post=291"},{"taxonomy":"journey_stage","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gokoreastudy.com\/ko\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/journey_stage?post=291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}