Who can go to work in South Korea? Requirements announced for Kazakhstanis

Tengrinews.kz — Kazakhstanis have been told who will be eligible to apply for jobs in South Korea under the official Employment Permit System (EPS) and how the selection process will work, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.

Who will be eligible to work in South Korea

Kazakhstanis aged 18 to 39 will be eligible to participate in the program.

Applicants must have no criminal record, no entry ban or history of deportation from South Korea, and no restrictions on leaving Kazakhstan.

Education, work experience and professional certificates will also be taken into account during the selection process. Candidates will need a valid passport and will have to undergo a medical examination.

How the selection process will work

The practical selection process will begin after the EPS Center opens in Almaty. Candidates will have to pass the EPS-TOPIK Korean-language exam and undergo a professional skills assessment.

Workers will be selected using a points-based system. Those who successfully complete the required stages will be included in an official list of job seekers.

Each candidate’s profile will include information about their education, work experience, professional certificates, test results and preferred working conditions.

However, according to the Labor Ministry, passing the exam and being included in the list does not guarantee employment. The final decision will be made by an employer in South Korea, who will select workers from among the registered candidates.

The number of Kazakhstanis who will be able to find employment will also depend on quotas set by the South Korean side.

What happens after selection

If an employer selects a candidate, the applicant will receive an employment contract. Before signing it, the worker must be informed about the working conditions, duties and schedule. After signing, the employee will receive the original contract.

The worker will then have to complete mandatory pre-departure training at the EPS Center in Almaty. After that, a work visa will be issued, allowing the person to travel to South Korea.

How long workers can stay in South Korea

The employment period under the EPS program may last up to three years. In some cases, it can be extended for up to an additional one year and 10 months.

Those who complete their permitted employment period and voluntarily return to Kazakhstan will be offered more favorable conditions if they later wish to return to South Korea for work.

No intermediaries are needed

The Labor Ministry separately warned Kazakhstanis not to hand over documents or money to private intermediaries promising guaranteed employment, accelerated selection or inclusion in the candidate list.

Intermediaries cannot guarantee a job, as the final decision will always remain with the South Korean employer.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection said it will announce the exact registration dates, application procedure and EPS-TOPIK exam dates separately.

Context

Earlier, it was announced that Kazakhstan had officially been included among the countries participating in South Korea’s EPS program. Kazakhstan will become the 18th country to join the E-9 program. Actual recruitment of Kazakh workers is expected to begin in 2028. Before then, the two sides must complete organizational preparations, including opening an EPS Center in Almaty.

Kazakhstan has been working to join the EPS since 2023. In January 2026, a delegation of South Korean experts visited Kazakhstan to assess the country’s readiness to launch the program. The specialists reviewed plans for establishing an EPS Center, language testing, professional skills assessments, medical examinations and informing citizens about the requirements of South Korean law.