How do I go to Korea for work through EPS?
इपिएस कोरिया कसरी जाने?
Korea's Employment Permit System hires Nepali workers government to government. EPS-TOPIK, eligibility, the 2026 quota and the steps after you pass.
- Cost
- USD 28
- EPS-TOPIK fee, paid in rupees at the Nepal Rastra Bank rate.
- How long
- Months
- Passing the test only puts you on the roster. The wait for an employer varies.
- Where
- EPS Korea Section, Department of Foreign Employment
- Last checked
- 8 Oct 2026
- Awaiting official confirmation
What it is
The Employment Permit System (EPS) is Korea's government-to-government programme for hiring workers from Nepal and other countries. It's run in Nepal by the EPS Korea Section of the Department of Foreign Employment together with HRD Korea, the Korean agency that sets and marks the language test.
Every applicant has to pass the EPS-TOPIK, a Korean language test, then a skill test and a job capacity assessment. Passing puts you on a roster that Korean employers pick from. The 2026 first phase had places for 5,000 workers in manufacturing, 2,000 in agriculture and livestock and 100 each in services and forestry.
Because it's a government scheme, the costs are low and fixed. Anyone asking for lakhs to "guarantee" a Korea job is running a scam.
Who needs it
- Nepali citizens aged 18 to 39 who want to work in Korea in manufacturing, agriculture and livestock, services or forestry.
- EPS is a government-to-government scheme. You don't go through a manpower agency, and you shouldn't pay one.
What you need
- Official
Nepali citizenship and a valid passport
- Official
Age 18 to 39 on the cut-off date in the notice
For the 2026 first phase, applicants had to be born between 28 July 1986 and 27 July 2008.
- Official
No criminal conviction and no ban on leaving Nepal
- Official
Never deported from Korea for illegal stay
- Official
Not already worked five years or more in Korea on an E-9 or E-10 visa
- Official
No colour blindness or colour weakness
- Official
The EPS-TOPIK fee, USD 28 paid in rupees
How it works
- 1
Watch for the notice
The EPS Korea Section of the Department of Foreign Employment, in Gwarko, Lalitpur, publishes the application window and quota. In 2026 the first-phase window was 27 July to 2 August for an estimated 7,200 successful candidates.
- 2
Apply online
Apply on the EPS Nepal online application system during the window and pay the fee, USD 28 converted at Nepal Rastra Bank's rate on the day.
- 3
Sit the EPS-TOPIK
A computer-based Korean test at the UBT centre in Bhaisepati, Lalitpur, with 20 reading and 20 listening questions in 50 minutes, worth 100 marks.
- 4
Pass the skill test and job capacity assessment
Candidates who pass the language test then take a skill test and a job capacity assessment for their sector.
- 5
Wait for an employer
Successful candidates go into the job seekers' roster. A Korean employer has to choose you and sign a labour contract before you can go.
- 6
Prepare to leave
After the contract, you complete the medical test, pre-departure orientation and labour permit through the EPS Korea Section before flying.
Where to go
EPS Korea Section, Department of Foreign Employment
Gwarko, Lalitpur. 01-5186349, 01-5186350
epsnepal.gov.npHRD Korea EPS Center, Nepal
Runs the test with the Department of Foreign Employment
Cost and time
- Official fee
- USD 28
- EPS-TOPIK fee, paid in rupees at the Nepal Rastra Bank rate.
- Processing time
- Months
- Passing the test only puts you on the roster. The wait for an employer varies.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| EPS-TOPIK application2026 first phase | USD 28 |
| Skill test and job capacity assessment | Set in each notice |
Common problems
Someone says they can get me to Korea faster for money.
EPS has no private route. Applications, tests and placement are run by the Nepali and Korean governments. Report anyone selling EPS places to the Department of Foreign Employment on 1140.
I'm 40. Can I still apply?
Not for the regular EPS-TOPIK. The age limit for the 2026 first phase was 18 to 39.
I passed but nobody has picked me.
Being on the roster doesn't guarantee a job. Employers choose from the roster, and your profile stays valid only for the period set in the notice.
Where do I find results and notices?
On the EPS Korea Section's website. It also lists flight schedules and labour contract updates for selected workers.
Real experiences
Been through this recently? Tell the next person which office you went to and what they asked for. Reports are published as community notes, apart from the official information.
Share your experienceSources
- EPS Korea Section, Department of Foreign Employmentepsnepal.gov.np
- CollegeNP: EPS-TOPIK 2026 first-phase application notice (July 2026)collegenp.com
Written from the sources above and last checked on 8 Oct 2026. Some details aren't confirmed against an official page yet, so check fees and documents with the office before you go.
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