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1st Step: Prior Effort to Recruit Domestic Workers
Business owners who wish to employ foreign workers must first make efforts to recruit domestic personnel.
Application method: Visit the local employment center or apply for job seekers through Worknet (www.work.go.kr)
Recruitment period: In principle, efforts to recruit domestic workers must continue for 7 days. (However, it can be exceptionally shortened to 3 days if combined with media advertisements such as newspapers and broadcasts)
2nd Step: Application for Foreign Employment Permit and Qualification Review
If unable to recruit personnel despite efforts to recruit domestic workers, an application for a foreign employment permit can be made.
Application deadline: Within 3 days after the end of the domestic recruitment effort period
Business Qualification Requirements
- Must be in an industry permitted for foreign workers and an eligible business/workplace for employment
- Despite efforts to recruit domestic workers for a certain period, must not have hired all or some of the domestic workers who applied for recruitment
- Must not have caused domestic workers to resign through employment adjustment from 2 months before the date of domestic recruitment application until the issuance of the employment permit
- Must not have had wage arrears from 5 months before the date of recruitment application until the issuance of the employment permit
- Must be enrolled in employment insurance and workers' compensation insurance as of the application date (excluding non-applicable workplaces)
3rd Step: Selection of Qualified Candidates and Issuance of Employment Permit
The employment center refers three times the number of requested recruits as foreign job seekers to the business owner.
Selection method: The business owner directly selects qualified candidates from those referred by visiting the employment center or through the system (www.eps.go.kr).
Result: Receives employment permits from the local employment center for the selected personnel.
4th Step: Conclusion of Standard Employment Contract
Simultaneously with the issuance of the employment permit, the standard employment contract is proceeded.
Contract process: When the Korea Industry Manpower Agency sends the contract to the sending country, the local sending institution confirms the worker's intent and finalizes the contract. The contract is completed when the electronically confirmed contract is resent.
5th Step: Application and Issuance of Visa Issuance Certificate
After the employment contract is concluded, the business owner or agency proceeds with the visa (Visa) procedures for the worker's entry into Korea.
Application place: Ministry of Justice Immigration Office
Required documents: Visa issuance recognition application form, copy of employment permit, copy of standard employment contract, business registration certificate, etc.
6th Step: Entry and Completion of Foreign Employment Education
The worker who has received the visa enters the country and receives mandatory education before being deployed to the workplace.
Education content: Completion of 16 hours of employment education (Korean culture, industrial safety, etc.) and health checkup
Cost burden: The employer bears the education costs for general foreign workers, and the employment contract takes effect from the day of entry.
7th Step: Deployment to Workplace and Residency Support
The worker who has completed the education is deployed to the corresponding workplace and begins work.
Aftercare: The business owner can receive grievance counseling and interpretation services through the Korea Industry Manpower Agency, etc.
Rights protection: Foreign workers are also protected under the Labor Standards Act like domestic workers, and in case of unfair treatment, they can apply for rights relief through the Ministry of Employment and Labor or related agencies.