E-9 Visa Korea: Non-Professional Employment Visa (비전문취업) (2026)
Korea's non-professional employment visa under the Employment Permit System (EPS).
Who this visa is for
Workers from EPS sending countries hired by Korean employers in non-professional sectors.
E-9 visa key facts
- →EPS (고용허가제) was established in 2003 and has 17 sending countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam
- →The 2026 E-9 visa quota is 80,000 workers, down from 165,000 in 2024
- →Initial E-9 stay is 3 years, extendable by 1 year and 10 months for a total of 4 years 10 months before mandatory exit
- →Workers can change jobs up to 3 times within their visa period under specific conditions
- →Re-entry is possible 6 months after exit if the employer requests the worker back
Read the full guide
E-9 Visa in Korea: The EPS Worker's Practical Guide
Your full guide to Korea's E-9 non-professional employment visa. The EPS process, your rights, wage protection, changing jobs, and claiming your pension refund on exit.
Continue to the full E-9 guideOther Korean visa codes
E-7
Skilled Professional Work Visa (특정활동)
E-7-M (K-CORE)
Manufacturing-track Skilled Visa (특정활동 (K-CORE))
E-2
Conversation Instructor Visa (회화지도)
H-1
Working Holiday Visa (관광취업)
D-2
Student Visa (유학)
D-10
Job Seeker Visa (구직)
F-1-D
Digital Nomad (Workation) Visa (원격근무 (워케이션))
F-2
Korean Resident Visa (거주)
F-3
Dependent Visa (동반)
F-4
Overseas Korean Visa (재외동포)
F-5
Permanent Residence Visa (영주)
F-6
Marriage Migrant Visa (결혼이민)
For the full reference on Korean visa categories, see all Seoulstart visa guides.