E-9 visa (EPS) — non-professional work in Korea: complete 2026 guide

1. What E-9 (EPS) is, and who it is for

EPS is a program run under agreements between the Korean government and sending countries, admitting non-professional workers within an annual quota. Workers do not job-hunt freely; they are matched with employers through the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea). E-9 suits workers without a professional degree who want to work legally with a stable income in Korea — and it is the starting point for a long-term settlement path.

2. Partner countries, sectors & the 2026 quota

EPS currently applies to nationals of 16 partner countries, including Vietnam. The main hiring sectors are manufacturing, agriculture, fishing, construction, and some service industries. The 2026 quota is 80,000 — down sharply from 130,000 (2025) and 165,000 (2024), so competition to be matched keeps rising.

3. The EPS process, step by step

1. Take the EPS-TOPIK: a Korean (reading & listening) + basic-aptitude test held in your home country (scored out of 200). Passing is only the floor to join the candidate roster — it does not guarantee a job. Because the quota is limited and there are many candidates, the score you actually need to be matched with an employer is much higher than the pass mark: typically around 100–140 points depending on the sector, and to be picked in the first round (especially manufacturing) you usually need ~130 or more. The exact cutoff varies by round, sector, and year.
2. Roster & job matching: HRD Korea places those who qualify on a waiting roster; Korean employers select based on scores and needs.
3. Sign the standard labor contract (표준근로계약서): it sets your wage, hours, sector, and accommodation.
4. Visa issuance: the employer obtains the Confirmation of Visa Issuance (CVI) plus an invitation; you complete the E-9 visa and enter Korea.

4. Wages, contract & length of stay

E-9 workers are paid at least the statutory minimum wage. For 2026 the minimum wage is ₩10,320 per hour, equal to ₩2,156,880 per month (based on 209 hours). The maximum stay on E-9 is 4 years 10 months: an initial 3 years plus up to 1 year 10 months of extension if the employer requests re-employment before you leave. After that, the worker must depart Korea.

5. Changing workplaces

E-9 workers cannot freely change workplaces. A change is allowed only on specific grounds: employer bankruptcy, factory closure, wage arrears (임금체불), abuse, contract expiry, or hazardous working conditions. The number of changes is also limited: up to 3 times in the first 3 years + 2 times during the extension (5 in total), with prior EPS approval. (The government is reviewing whether to allow voluntary changes after 1–2 years, but as of early 2026 this had not been enacted.)

6. Sincere-worker re-entry & rights

A worker who completes the full term with the same employer without violations qualifies for the Sincere Worker (성실근로자) re-entry track: they can return to Korea after just 1 month (instead of the usual 3-month wait), with the EPS-TOPIK waived and simplified visa processing. On rights, E-9 workers are enrolled in the four major insurances and receive severance pay (퇴직금) after one or more continuous years (30 days of average wage × years of service).

7. The path to E-7-4 & common tips

After gaining experience, an E-9 worker can move up to the skilled-worker E-7-4 visa: it requires 5+ years of legal work, a 2-year-or-longer contract with an annual salary of at least ₩26,000,000, and at least 50 income points AND 50 Korean-language points (both required). This is the most important long-term settlement path for non-professional workers.

• Never abscond or overstay illegally — you lose all rights and face fines and an entry ban.
• Keep your contract and pay slips carefully to prove your record for E-7-4 later.
• Aim for a high EPS-TOPIK score and study Korean from the start — it helps with good matching and with the Korean-language points for E-7-4.