Skip to content

GOV.KR Services for Foreigners GOV.KR for Foreigners

language

Foreign Workers Employment guide

Special Employment Permit System

The Special Employment Permit System relates to the issuance of Work and Visit Visas (H-2) to overseas Koreans with foreign nationality who are aged 18 or more and reside in China, the Commonwealth of Independent States, etc.
Overseas Koreans with foreign nationality who have been issued a Work and Visit Visa (H-2) may freely enter or leave Korea and conduct employment activities for the duration of their visa validity period.

The Special Employment Permit System applies to foreign workers holding a Work and Visit Visa (H-2).

Go to Service Details
Industries eligible for the Special Employment Permit System
  • Manufacturing: Less than 300 full-time workers or capital of KRW 8 billion or less (even if these criteria are not met, businesses may be eligible if they are able to submit a “certificate of small and medium-sized business”)
  • Construction: All construction businesses (excluding construction companies involved in the construction of power plants, steel mills, petrochemical plants, etc. and whose construction permits are related to industrial environmental facilities)
  • Services: Sewage, wastewater, human and animal waste treatment services (37); waste collection, treatment, and disposal activities and materials recovery businesses (38); household goods wholesalers (464); machinery, equipment, and supply wholesalers (465); retail sellers of other household equipment (475); retail sellers of other goods in specialized stores (478); retail sellers not in stores (479); passenger land transport businesses, with the except of railway transport (492); inns (55102); Korean food restaurants (5611); foreign food restaurants (5612); other dining establishments (5619); maintenance of business facilities (7410); businesses for the cleaning of building and industrial facilities (7421); travel agencies, tour operators, and tourist assistance businesses (752); social work organizations (87); general repair services for motor vehicles (95211); repair services specializing in motor vehicle parts (95212); services for the maintenance and repair motorcycles (9522); Turkish baths, saunas, steam baths, and solariums (96121); industrial laundry services (96911); private nursing and similar services (96993); households acting as employers of domestic personnel (97); hotels (excluding the hotel business under the Tourism Promotion Act) (55101); wholesalers of materials for recycling (46791); refrigerated and frozen warehouses (inland) (52102); book and magazine publishers and other publishing activities (581); music and sound recording and publishing (59201)
  • Fishery: Littoral fishing businesses (03112); aquaculture businesses (0321); salt extraction businesses (07220)
  • Agriculture and stockbreeding: Crop growing businesses (011); animal production businesses (012); services related to the growing of crops and the raising of animals (014)

* For more information on the industries that can recruit foreign workers in 2020, please refer to the Employment Permit System website (https://www.eps.go.kr)

Employment procedure for foreign workers under the Special Employment Permit System
  • ① Acquisition of the Work and Visit Visa (H-2)
    • When residing overseas, eligible workers can receive their Work and Visit Visa (H-2) from the diplomatic mission abroad and then enter Korea.
    • When residing in Korea, eligible workers can change their status of stay to Work and Visit (H-2) through the competent immigration service.
  • ② Completion of employment training and filing of application for employment
    • Workers complete employment training through the Human Resources Development Service of Korea.
    • After completing employment training, workers can then submit an application for employment to the competent employment center (the application may also be submitted by the employment training institution).

      For detailed information of employment training, please refer to http://eps.hrdkorea.or.kr/h2/

  • ③ Conclusion of employment contract
    • Workers seek employment based on recommendations by the employment center or seek employment on their own.
    • Foreign workers with a valid Work and Visit Visa (H-2) may engage in job-seeking either via the employment center or on their own.
  • ④ Declaration of the commencement of work
    • The employer must declare the commencement of work to the employment center within 14 days of commencement.
    • Foreign workers with a Work and Visit Visa (H-2) who secure a job in the construction industry must declare his/her employment to an immigration office within 14 days of work commencement.
Integrated declaration of commencement of labor and employment and change of place of business by foreign workers with a Work and Visit (H-2) visa

Foreign workers with a valid Work and Visit (H-2) visa must report any changes to their employment or place of business within 14 days of the start of employment or the date of the change.

  • Processing agency
    Competent immigration service or its branch office, employment service center
  • Application
    In-person applicationReserve
    • Visit the competent immigration service or branch office, employment service center
    • ① Visit and reserve an appointment -> ② Visit the immigration office or its branch office at the reserved date -> ③ Apply -> ④ Receive -> ⑤ Process
    Online applicationApply
    • Hi KOREA e-Application (① File an e-Application→ ② Attach documents for submission→ ③ Submit application→ ④ Processing→ ⑤ Confirmation of processing results)
  • Required documents
    • Application
    • Passport or foreigner entry permit
    • Certificate of alien registration
    • By relevant cause (commencement of employment or change of a place of employment)
    • Standard employment contract
    • Confirmation of employing business under special cases
    • Copy of business registration certificate (a copy of employer’s ID in case of caregiver or housework assistant)
  • Fee
    None
  • Business hours
    • Reserving an appointment : Available 24 hours at the Hi Korea website
    • Online application : 07:00–22:00 on weekdays (excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)
  • Processing period
    Within 3 days of receipt
  • Inquiries
    Immigration Contact Center (1345, without area code)