The company must demonstrate efforts to hire domestic workers but failed to employ Korean nationals (partially or fully) within a certain period.

There must be no layoffs or employment adjustments involving Korean nationals due to resignation or relocation from two months before the foreign worker recruitment application date to the issuance of the employment permit.

The company must not have a record of unpaid wages from five months prior to the job application date to the issuance of the employment permit.

The company must be enrolled in employment and industrial accident insurance as of the application date (companies exempt from insurance requirements are excluded)

The company must also be enrolled in Departure Guarantee Insurance and Guarantee Insurance if it employs foreign workers.

E-9 workers can only be hired through the Employment Permit System (EPS) operated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Applications can be submitted four times a year (January, April, July, and October). Check the EPS website for specific application periods and schedules.

Starting in 2024, a point-based system will be implemented (prior to 2024, applications were processed on a first-come-first-served basis). Higher scores will improve the likelihood of successful recruitment. For more details, refer to the Employment Permit Issuance page in the recruitment procedures menu.