Last reviewed: October 20, 2026 · This guide is for Indonesians applying from Indonesia. Recruitment rounds are announced by KP2MI, so always check the latest notice there.
Quick answer
- There are two main routes. E-9 (Employment Permit System, EPS) is for non-professional work in manufacturing, fishery and other sectors. E-7 is for professional and skilled jobs with a Korean employer who sponsors you.
- E-9 from Indonesia runs government to government through KP2MI (Kementerian Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia, formerly BP2MI). You register in a KP2MI round, take the EPS-TOPIK and a skills test, and wait to be chosen by a Korean employer.
- In the 2026 round KP2MI recruited for manufacturing (1,000 places) and fishery (1,000 places), for ages 18 to 39, with a test fee of USD 28.
- For E-7, you need a job offer that matches an E-7 occupation and usually a related degree or experience. Indonesian STEM graduates aged 29 or under from a QS top-1,000 Indonesian university with TOPIK level 2 can have the experience requirement waived.
- Indonesia is on Korea’s list of high-risk tuberculosis countries, so you need a TB test certificate for any long-term visa, including E-9 and E-7.
E-9 or E-7: which route fits you?
| E-9 (EPS) | E-7 (professional / skilled) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical jobs | Factory production, fishing vessels and aquaculture, and other sectors opened in each round | Engineers, IT, technicians, designers, interpreters and other listed occupations |
| How you get in | KP2MI recruitment round, EPS-TOPIK, skills test, then employer selection | Direct job offer from a Korean employer who applies for your visa |
| Education | Junior high school (SLTP) or higher in the 2026 round | Usually a related degree, or long related experience |
| Korean language | EPS-TOPIK required | Not always required, but helps (TOPIK 2+ for the Indonesian STEM exception) |
| Stay | Up to 4 years 10 months under EPS | Renewable while you keep a qualifying job |
| Family | Cannot bring family on E-9 | Spouse and children can usually join on F-3 |
Many Indonesians start on E-9 and later move to E-7-4 (skilled worker points system) inside Korea. E-7-4 is not available from abroad. See E-9 to E-7-4 vs E-7-1.
E-9 through EPS: step by step
- Watch for the KP2MI announcement. Rounds are published on kp2mi.go.id under G to G Korea. Registration is online, on SISKOP2MI.
- Register and pay the test fee through the official channel in the notice.
- Take the EPS-TOPIK (Korean test). Compare it with the regular TOPIK in our TOPIK vs EPS-TOPIK guide.
- Pass the skills test (physical ability, interview and basic skills) and the health and psychological checks.
- Join the job-seeker roster. HRD Korea sends the roster to Korea, where employers choose workers.
- Sign the standard employment contract once an employer selects you. See E-9 employment contract.
- Visa and departure. The employer obtains a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance (CCVI), you get the E-9 visa, and you travel with your group.
- Employment training in Korea. Within 15 days of entry you complete at least 16 hours of training, paid for by the employer, before starting work.
What the 2026 KP2MI round looked like
The general registration for 2026 was announced on January 27, 2026, using a points system. It gives a good picture of what to expect in future rounds:
| Item | 2026 round |
|---|---|
| Sectors and places | Manufacturing 1,000 · Fishery 1,000 |
| Selection | Manufacturing: combined score of round 1 and round 2 · Fishery: round 2 score |
| Test format | UBT (tablet-based). Round 1: EPS-TOPIK reading 20 questions (25 min) and listening 20 questions (25 min), plus a color-blindness check. Round 2: skills test (physical, interview, basic ability) |
| Age | 18 to 39 (born between February 11, 1986 and February 10, 2008) |
| Education | SLTP (junior high school) or higher |
| Fee | USD 28 (paid in rupiah through BNI) |
| Registration | February 10 to 12, 2026, online |
| Fishery extra | BST STCW or BST STCW-F safety training certificate |
The notice also excluded applicants with color blindness, missing fingers or toes, a travel ban, a prison sentence, a deportation record from Korea, a history of TB, hepatitis, syphilis or HIV, or more than 5 years of past work in Korea on E-9 and E-10 combined. Submitting forged documents bans you from applying for 4 years.
Korea set its overall 2026 E-9 quota at 80,000 workers across all sending countries, down from 130,000 in 2025 (Foreign Workforce Policy Committee, December 2025, as reported by Korean media). Fewer places mean more competition at the employer-selection stage.
E-9 visa documents and arrival
Under the MOJ visa manual, E-9 visas are issued only through a CCVI, applied for by the employer in Korea. Workers follow the sending agency’s instructions for health checks and enter Korea in groups on the set date. Workers must also submit:
- a criminal record certificate covering the whole country, issued within 3 months of the visa application (in Indonesia, the police certificate, SKCK, is the usual document);
- a self-declared health statement;
- a TB test certificate (see below).
After arrival you get your ARC, enroll in the mandatory E-9 insurances and start work. Wages follow at least the Korean minimum wage.
E-7 from Indonesia
E-7 is a sponsored visa. The Korean employer must offer a job in one of the designated E-7 occupations and meet the salary rules. For E-7-1 professional jobs, the general rule is one of:
- a related master’s degree or higher;
- a related bachelor’s degree plus at least 1 year of related experience;
- at least 5 years of related experience.
How it works in practice:
- Find an employer willing to sponsor you. Our E-7 sponsor guide explains what Korean employers look for.
- The employer usually applies for a CCVI in Korea, or you apply for the visa at the Korea Visa Application Center in Jakarta with the employer’s documents.
- Prepare your degree and experience certificates with English or Korean translations and an apostille, plus your TB certificate.
The full process is in applying for E-7 from outside Korea.
TB certificate and apostille
- Tuberculosis: Indonesia is one of 35 countries on the MOJ high-risk TB list. Applicants for long-term visas (more than 90 days) must submit a TB test certificate from a designated hospital.
- Apostille: Indonesia joined the Apostille Convention, effective June 4, 2022. Key foreign documents such as degrees and experience certificates need an apostille (or consular legalisation) and a Korean or English translation.
Indonesians in Korea: the numbers
MOJ statistics for July 31, 2026 show 72,468 Indonesians staying in Korea. The largest groups were E-9 (43,958), E-10 crew members (10,050), E-7 (5,508) and D-2 students (2,179). In other words, most Indonesians work in Korea on E-9, and about one in thirteen holds E-7.
Avoiding scams
- E-9 recruitment from Indonesia goes through KP2MI and HRD Korea. Check every announcement on the official KP2MI site, not on social media pages.
- Pay fees only through the official channel named in the notice. The 2026 test fee was USD 28.
- Be careful with anyone who promises a guaranteed job, a faster roster place or an E-9 “visa” for a large fee. Employers choose workers through the official system.
- For E-7, a real offer comes from an identifiable Korean company with a written contract. Our visa denial guide lists common problems.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs the EPS program in Indonesia now, BP2MI or KP2MI?
KP2MI, the Ministry for Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, created in late 2024. BP2MI continues as an agency under it, which is why official pages show both names.
What is the age limit for E-9 from Indonesia?
18 to 39 in the 2026 round. Check the date-of-birth range in each new KP2MI notice.
Which sectors are open for Indonesians?
The 2026 general round covered manufacturing and fishery. Other sectors depend on each round, so read the latest KP2MI announcement.
Does passing EPS-TOPIK mean I will go to Korea?
No. You join the job-seeker roster, and a Korean employer must select you. Many applicants wait or are never selected.
Can I get an E-7 visa with a diploma (D3) only?
The general E-7-1 rule asks for a related degree with experience, or about 5 years of related experience. Some E-7 occupations have their own requirements, so check the occupation list and talk to the employer.
Can I move from E-9 to E-7 later?
Yes, through E-7-4 (skilled worker points system) after working in Korea, if you meet the points, salary and employer conditions.
Related guides
Official references
- KP2MI (G to G Korea announcements)
- EPS (Employment Permit System)
- HiKorea: MOJ visa manual by status (revised August 7, 2026)
- Korea Visa Portal
Information notice: This guide gives general information based on MOJ manuals, the KP2MI 2026 announcement and MOJ statistics checked October 20, 2026. Recruitment rounds, quotas and requirements change every year. Follow the latest KP2MI notice and your employer’s or the embassy’s instructions. This is not legal advice.