Overview of the Foreign Worker Employment Process – From Application to Entry

Table of Contents

1. How does the application for hiring foreign workers begin?
2. From Employment Permit Issuance to Worker Entry – The Full Process
3. Key Considerations During the Hiring Process
4. One-Line Summary

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1. How does the application for hiring foreign workers begin?

If you wish to hire a foreign worker, the first step is to submit a request for employment approval. The employer must file a job posting through the local employment labor office or WorkNet, and make recruitment efforts to hire domestic workers for at least 14 days. If hiring domestic workers is not possible, hiring foreign workers will then be permitted. For accurate information, please check the official government website below.

 

Basic requirements for employment approval:

• The business type must fall within the permitted sectors
• Must be enrolled in industrial accident insurance and have no recent serious accident history
• A designated person must be assigned for employment management

2. From Employment Permit Issuance to Worker Entry – The Full Process

 

Once employment is approved, the employer will be assigned a foreign worker. The next steps are as follows:

1. Worker Assignment: Selected workers from participating countries are matched via EPS
2. Signing a Standard Employment Contract: The employer must use the Ministry of Labor’s standard form
3. Visa Application: The worker applies for an E-9 visa at the local Korean embassy
4. Pre-job Training and Entry: The worker receives training and then enters Korea

After entry, the employer must also complete employment card registration and foreigner registration without omission.

3. Key Considerations During the Hiring Process

• Submitting false or fraudulent applications may result in penalties, so all documents must be accurate.
• As workers are assigned by the government through EPS, the employer cannot choose workers arbitrarily.
• When signing the contract, important terms like accommodation and meal cost responsibilities must be clearly stated.

4. One-Line Summary

 

Hiring foreign workers is not a simple recruitment process but a government-approved, procedure-based system. From application to entry, thorough management is essential.