Korea Work Visa by Nationality — Which Country, Which Path

India is not an EPS sending country, so Indian nationals cannot work in Korea on the E-9 labor visa. The skilled routes are the way in.

The main path is the E-7-1 professional visa. IT developers, engineers and researchers are frequently hired into Pangyo Techno Valley or Gangnam tech firms. Under the Korea–India CEPA, Indians can work in 163 occupations including software roles.

Talent in semiconductors or biotech can target the Top-Tier visa, which shortens permanent residence (F-5) to three years, and studying on a D-2 then converting to employment is a well-worn route.

The route depends heavily on background. Ethnic Koreans (Joseonjok) rely on the F-4 overseas-Korean visa. From 12 Feb 2026 the visitor-worker H-2 stopped being newly issued and was merged into F-4, so even those without local ties can apply for F-4 directly once they meet the education, certificate or Korean-language conditions.

Non-ethnic-Korean Chinese most often come to study (D-2) — the Chinese student population in Korea is large. Professionals use E-7, and because China is an EPS sending country, factory and farm work on E-9 is also possible.

Those married to a Korean citizen have the F-6 marriage-migration route.

Vietnam is a top country for both labor and study links with Korea. As a leading EPS (E-9) sending country, many Vietnamese work in manufacturing, farming and fishing.

Short-term rural labor also arrives on the E-8 seasonal visa (up to 8 months). On the study side, Vietnam is among the largest sources of international students, with active D-4 language training and D-2 degree tracks.

After entering on E-9 and working legally for four-plus years, one can convert to the E-7-4 skilled-worker (points) visa, opening long-term stay and family accompaniment.

Nepal, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Laos and Timor-Leste are all EPS sending countries. For their nationals the main path is the E-9 permit, working in manufacturing, farming, fishing and construction.

Selection runs through the EPS-TOPIK Korean test and a points-based roster. Short-term farm and fishing demand is also met by the E-8 seasonal visa.

Stay is up to 4 years 10 months, extendable via re-employment or the sincere-worker track to a maximum of 9 years 8 months.

Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are all EPS sending countries. Tajikistan was named the 17th sending country in October 2025, when its first workers arrived. The default route for their nationals is the E-9 permit.

This region is also home to many Koryo-saram (descendants of forcibly relocated Koreans). Proving Korean ancestry through a grandparent or great-grandparent can secure the F-4 overseas-Korean visa, allowing settled residence beyond manual labor.

So for the same nationality, the path splits between E-9 (labor) and F-4 (heritage) depending on Koryo-saram descent.

Mongolia is an EPS sending country, so factory and farm work runs through the E-9 permit as the default route.

At the same time Mongolia sends many students to Korea. Entering on a D-4 language course or a D-2 degree program and then converting to a professional E-7 after graduation is a clear pattern.

Nationals of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and similar countries are outside EPS; the professional E-7 is the headline route.

Distinctive for English speakers is the E-2 conversation-instruction visa — working as a language teacher at academies or schools.

Beyond that, study (D-2)/exchange and the workation (digital-nomad) visa for remote workers are options. Exact eligibility varies by country and role, so confirm with the official sources.