💼 Guide to Preparing for Work in Japan and South Korea

Starting with how much your monthly pay is, and how much is left in your hand after tax and dormitory costs — from exams, documents, contracts, visas, entry, and settling in, this guide lays out step by step what to prepare and where to submit it.

📅 Reference date 2026-07-17

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⚠️ Please read this before you begin This page is procedural guidance, not legal advice. The required documents, fees, and institution names change by country, exam round, job type, and company situation, and they are revised often. Before you actually apply, always check the latest official notice from the official body linked in each section yourself.

The content was written by checking official sources as of 2026-07-17. Where a number could not be verified, it is left marked 「could not be verified — check the official source」 — we did not fill in numbers found floating around the internet.

No institution and no company can guarantee that a visa will be issued.

🔖 Bookmark the parts you need by tapping the 🔖 at the top-right of each item. Then tap the 🔖 button at the bottom-right of the screen to view only your bookmarked parts, all together.

💰 How much you earn, and how much is left in your hand

「How much is the monthly pay if I go to Japan?」 is the question people ask most. But a single number like 「○○ per month」 is not the answer. Taxes, insurance, and dormitory fees are taken out of that, and the money left over is what you actually hold in your hand.

The figures below are calculated based on official government statistics and legal rates. If the explanation you were given is different from this, ask what it is based on, and check with an official body before you sign or get paid.

First — there are three kinds of 「monthly pay」

Face amount / before tax (額面)	This is the amount written in the contract. This money does not arrive in your bank account. The 「○○ per month」 that a broker tells you is usually this one.
After deductions / after tax	The amount left after taxes and social insurance are taken out.
Take-home (手取り)	This is what is left after dormitory fees, food, water and utilities are also taken out — the money you actually hold in your hand. This is the number you need to know.

⚠️ 「The amount after only tax and social insurance」 and 「the amount after housing and food are also taken out」 are different — always ask about these two separately. The real deduction rate differs greatly from person to person and from contract to contract, depending on overtime, bonuses, dependents, age, whether you join insurance, the type of housing, whether meals are provided, whether pension is exempt, and more. That is why this page does not fix on one figure like 「take-home of ○○」.

Before you sign, always ask 「So how much will actually arrive in my bank account each month?」 as a number, and get the deduction items and their basis in writing.

🇯🇵 Japan

Actual wages by residence status — government statistics

This is the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省) 「Basic Survey on Wage Structure」 for Reiwa 7 (2025) (published 2026-03-24). ⚠️ These are all 「scheduled/contractual wage」 — that is, the monthly base pay before tax, excluding overtime pay and bonuses. In reality overtime is often added, so many people get more than this, and taxes, insurance, and dormitory fees come out of it.

Residence status	2025 survey	2024 survey	Change from previous year
Technical Intern Training (技能実習)	190,300 yen	182,700 yen	+4.2%
Specified Skilled Worker (Type 1 + Type 2)	221,400 yen	211,200 yen	+4.8%
Professional and technical fields (Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, etc.)	313,200 yen	292,000 yen	+7.3%
Average of all foreign workers	254,300 yen	242,700 yen	+4.8%
Average of all workers (including Japanese, for comparison)	340,600 yen	330,400 yen	+3.1%

The difference between Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker is about 30,000 yen per month (190,300 → 221,400). That is about 370,000 yen over a year, and about 1,860,000 yen over five years. On top of that, if you move up to Specified Skilled Worker (ii), Type 2 (特定技能2号), you can bring your family and renew without limit. That is why Specified Skilled Worker is the better choice if you can pass the two exams.

Minimum wage — it differs by region

As of July 17, 2026, the one in effect is the FY2025 (Reiwa 7) minimum wage (applied in stages from October to December 2025). Japan revises this around October every year.

National weighted average	1,121 yen
Fukuoka Prefecture	1,057 yen	In effect from 2025-11-16
Tokyo (highest)	1,226 yen	In effect from 2025-10-03
Kochi / Miyazaki / Okinawa (lowest)	1,023 yen	In effect from 2025-12-01

⏳ The revised amount for FY2026 (Reiwa 8, from October 2026) has not been decided yet. As of July 2026, the Central Minimum Wage Council is still deliberating. Labor and management have agreed that a raise is needed, but the amount has not been announced. If a place tells you 「next year it will be this much」, that has no basis.

What gets taken out and how much — legal rates

Below is your own share. For health insurance and employees' pension, the company pays half.

Item	Your own share	Notes
Health insurance	5.055%	Based on Fukuoka Prefecture (half of the total 10.11%). The rate differs by prefecture. From the March 2026 payment onward
Long-term care insurance (kaigo)	0.81%	Only for those aged 40 and over (half of the nationwide flat 1.62%)
Employees' pension (kosei nenkin)	9.15%	Half of the total 18.3%. Fixed since September 2017
Employment insurance	0.5%	Based on general businesses. FY2026
Income tax	Depends on the amount	Always submit the 「Dependent Deduction Declaration」. If you do not submit it, a much higher tax rate (Otsu column / 乙欄) is applied. From 2026, amounts under 105,000 yen per month have no withholding
Resident tax	0 yen in the first year	⚠️ See the warning below
Dormitory fee / food / water and utilities	Actual cost only	Adding profit is forbidden. See below

⚠️ Your pay suddenly drops in the second year — the resident tax trap In the first year of entry, resident tax is in principle 0 yen. This is because resident tax is based on your income from January to December of the previous year and is charged from June of the next year (there is an exception if you already had income in Japan the year before you entered).

So from June of your second year a new deduction appears and your take-home pay goes down. If you plan your living costs and remittances based only on your first-year take-home pay, things can go wrong in the second year. Many people do not know this and wrongly think 「the company is stealing my money」.

Dormitory fee — the rule is 「actual cost, at a reasonable amount」

For both Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker, dormitory fees, food, and water and utilities must be actual cost (実費) and a reasonable amount, and adding profit is forbidden. To deduct them from your pay, a written agreement made in advance is required (Labor Standards Act Article 24 — an exception to the principle of paying wages in full).

For rented housing, the standard given is that water and utility costs are divided by the number of people living together based on the actual bill, and rent is (monthly rent + shared management fee) divided by the number of people living together (key money, deposit, and agent fees cannot be included).

⚠️ But this is not a formula that applies in every case. Depending on the type of housing — company-owned housing, depreciation, shared spaces used by many people, how initial costs are handled — the basis for calculation can differ. Ask in writing for the basis of the calculation applied to your own housing.

Deducting a 「management fee」 with an unclear name is forbidden. If there is a deduction of unknown origin on your pay slip, demand the basis for it.

📌 Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker have different rule systems — Technical Intern Training is governed by the training plan, treatment standards, and the responsibility of the 監理団体 (supervising organisation), while Specified Skilled Worker is governed by the support plan, the employment contract standards, and a ban on passing support costs onto the worker. However, the principle of paying wages in full and the wage deduction agreement (Labor Standards Act) apply to both, and both point the same way — requiring actual cost, a reasonable amount, prior explanation, and consent.

Working it out — a rough example

⚠️ This is a rough calculation. Actual insurance premiums are calculated by the 「standard monthly remuneration」 grade, and income tax changes with the number of dependents, so it will differ from the real amount. This does not guarantee an amount — it is to give you a sense of 「about this share is taken out」.

Specified Skilled Worker — case of 221,400 yen before tax (first year, under age 40, Fukuoka)

Base pay before tax (statistical average, excluding overtime)221,400 yen

− Health insurance (5.055%)about 11,200 yen

− Employees' pension (9.15%)about 20,300 yen

− Employment insurance (0.5%)about 1,100 yen

− Income tax (0 dependents, rough)about 4,000 yen

− Resident tax (first year)0 yen

= After deductionsabout 184,800 yen

− Dormitory / water and utilities (unofficial estimate 20,000–30,000 yen)about 25,000 yen

= Money in handabout 160,000 yen

Technical Intern Training — case of 190,300 yen before tax (first year, under age 40, Fukuoka)

Base pay before tax (statistical average, excluding overtime)190,300 yen

− Health insurance (5.055%)about 9,600 yen

− Employees' pension (9.15%)about 17,400 yen

− Employment insurance (0.5%)about 950 yen

− Income tax (0 dependents, rough)about 2,300 yen

− Resident tax (first year)0 yen

= After deductionsabout 160,000 yen

− Dormitory / water and utilities (unofficial estimate 20,000–30,000 yen)about 25,000 yen

= Money in handabout 135,000 yen

⭐ Take-home pay from an actual survey — this is the most reliable number The calculation above is worked backward from a statistical average, but there is a survey that actually asked trainees.

JILPT (Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training) survey (published March 2026, 2,230 respondents) — take-home pay after taxes, social insurance, and even dormitory fees are all taken out:

• Average 148,615 yen per month
• Median 150,000 yen per month
• 83% are in the 100,000–200,000 yen per month range

A separate field survey by the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) (2022, 2,184 people) gave almost the same result, with an average monthly take-home of 149,146 yen.

So you can figure that the money a Technical Intern Trainee actually holds in hand is around 150,000 yen per month. With a lot of overtime you get more; with an expensive dormitory you get less.

🚨 Remember the money you paid before leaving In the same 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) survey (2022, 2,184 people), the money Technical Intern Trainees paid before coming to Japan was an average of 521,065 yen to the sending organisation and an average of 335,378 yen to brokers.

If someone with a monthly take-home of 150,000 yen comes carrying a debt of over 500,000 yen, it takes several months just to pay that debt off. This debt is the structure that pushes people into running away or being exploited.

Always calculate before you leave — 「How many months of pay will it take to pay off the money I paid?」

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Basic Survey on Wage Structure (by residence status)↗ Minimum wage special site (by prefecture)↗ 協会けんぽ (Japan Health Insurance Association) — insurance rates by prefecture↗ Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) — employees' pension premiums↗

🇰🇷 South Korea

Minimum wage — it applies to foreigners the same way

The Minimum Wage Act applies to E-9 and H-2 the same as to Korean nationals. Article 22 of the 「Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers」 forbids discrimination based on nationality.

2026 (currently applied)	Hourly 10,320 won	Monthly equivalent 2,156,880 won (based on 209 hours, including weekly holiday pay)
2027	Hourly 10,700 won (+3.7%)	Monthly equivalent 2,236,300 won

⏳ The 2027 minimum wage was decided by the Minimum Wage Commission on July 14, 2026, but as of today (2026-07-17) it has not yet been officially confirmed and announced (the legal deadline for the announcement is August 5). An objection procedure still remains, so do not treat this as a confirmed figure.

You must receive 100% of the minimum wage even during a probation period

There are cases where it is allowed to pay a probationary worker only 90% of the minimum wage, but 「simple labor workers」 are excluded. Since most E-9 workers are classified as simple labor, you must receive 100% of the minimum wage from the start, even during probation. If someone says 「it's 90% because you are on probation」, check it.

How much do E-9 workers actually get

Based on the Korea Data Agency (formerly Statistics Korea) 「2025 Survey on Immigrants' Residence and Employment」 (announced 2025-12-18).

Non-professional employment (E-9)	68.9% earn 2 to 3 million won per month
All foreign workers	2 to 3 million won 50.2% / 3 million won or more 36.9% / 1 to 2 million won 9.0% / under 1 million won 3.8%

The monthly equivalent of the minimum wage for E-9 is about 2,150,000 won, and the fact that 68.9% are in the 2 to 3 million won range means that most people earn around the minimum wage and raise it with overtime pay. ⚠️ But note that this survey is self-reported, and the original text does not clearly say whether the figures are before tax or take-home.

What gets taken out and how much — 2026 rates

Item	Your own share	Notes
National pension	4.75%	⚠️ From January 2026 it rises from 9%→9.5% (your share 4.5%→4.75%). It rises each year up to 13% by 2033. But for countries with reciprocity exemption it is 0 won — see below
Health insurance	3.595%	Half of the 2026 total of 7.19%
Long-term care insurance	13.14% of the health insurance premium	Half of the 2026 rate of 0.9448% (based on monthly remuneration)
Employment insurance	0.9% (if enrolled)	E-9 workers are voluntarily enrolled, and only the unemployment benefit part applies. If you do not enroll, it is 0 won
Industrial accident insurance	0 won	The employer pays the full amount. If this is taken from you, it is wrong
Income tax + local income tax	Simplified tax table	Same as for Korean nationals. See 「flat tax rate」 below
Housing and food costs	No fixed % cap	⭐ This is the item that cuts take-home pay the most, and it differs by contract. The standard changed from 2023-11-27 — see below

There are countries where you pay no national pension at all — reciprocity The national pension applies on a reciprocity basis, so nationals of countries that do not apply pension to Koreans are excluded from coverage. This means the pension deduction is 0 won, so your take-home pay is higher by that much.

• Excluded from coverage (no pension deduction): Nepal · Myanmar · Pakistan · Bangladesh · Timor-Leste
• Fully mandatory coverage: China · Philippines · Uzbekistan · Kyrgyzstan
• Mandatory only for workplace-based coverage: Vietnam · Cambodia · Thailand · Indonesia · Sri Lanka · Mongolia · Laos

Depending on which category your country falls into, around 100,000 won per month changes. For the exact full list, check directly with the National Pension Service (NPS, call 1355 with no area code).

⭐ Housing and food costs — the standard changed completely from November 27, 2023

🚨 The 「8–20% cap of ordinary wage」 that still circulates widely on the internet is an abolished standard. The Ministry of Employment and Labor abolished, as of November 27, 2023, the 2017 「Work Guidelines on Providing Housing/Food Information and Collecting Costs from Foreign Workers」 and replaced it with the 「Guideline on Housing for Foreign Workers under the Employment Permit System」 (original wording of the notice: 「the existing housing and food cost guidelines are abolished immediately upon enforcement of this guideline」).

So there is now no fixed % cap. If you were told 「by law they can take up to 20%」, that is outdated information. Instead, you and the employer agree based on the actual market price — which is why demanding 「show me the basis」 has become far more important.

Situation	How it is decided
When the actual transaction price can be confirmed	Agreed between the parties based on the actual transaction amount, etc.
When the actual transaction price is hard to confirm	Agreed between the parties based on the local market price, the type of housing, and the guideline set by the local labor office with jurisdiction.
Basis for the local market price	The monthly rent prices for detached and multi-family houses in that area published on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Real Estate Transaction Price Disclosure System.
When several people live together	The housing cost is divided by the number of people and shared (1/n) — one person must not bear the full rent.
Heating/cooling, electricity, gas, internet	Since these are charged according to usage, the rule is to settle afterward based on the actual amount used.
Food costs	The worker can choose whether to receive meals, and if they agree to be provided meals, it is decided by agreement within the range of actual cost.

Each local labor office prepares a regional guideline through a rights protection council and updates it every half-year. If you want to know the standard for your area, ask the local labor office with jurisdiction or the Ministry of Employment and Labor 1350.
To deduct from pay in advance, there must be consent given by the worker's free will, and the consent form is only valid if it is in the worker's own native language. A one-sided deduction without consent is illegal.
⭐ Even after you first consent to a pre-deduction, you must give consent again at intervals of no more than one year. 「You signed at the start, so we keep deducting」 is not allowed.
The deduction amount must be stated in the employment contract. If there is no number, or it says 「to be discussed later」, check it before signing.

💡 In practice the most important question is this — 「What is this housing's actual transaction price and local market price, how many people share it, and what is the basis for the amount I pay?」 Since the % cap is gone, the right to demand the basis is the key point. If you are not convinced, ask 1350 before signing.

Foreigner flat tax rate 19% — for most people it is actually worse

A foreign worker can choose a 19% flat tax rate (20.9% including local income tax) (Restriction of Special Taxation Act Article 18-2, within 20 years from the first day of work).

But for E-9 workers it is usually worse. If you choose the flat rate, you must give up all tax exemptions, income deductions, and tax credits, but for income in the 2 to 3 million won range per month, the tax is already very low if you take deductions the normal way. Do not be fooled by 「19% is cheap」 — it is a system that benefits high earners.

Working it out — a rough example

⚠️ This is a rough calculation. Income tax changes with the number of dependents, and premiums change with the actual monthly remuneration. It is to give you a sense of 「about this share is taken out」. If you work overtime, the before-tax amount goes up, so your take-home goes up too.

E-9 — case of receiving only the minimum wage (2,156,880 won per month) · through tax and the four major insurances

Before tax (2026 minimum wage, monthly equivalent)2,156,880 won

− National pension (4.75%)about 102,500 won

− Health insurance (3.595%)about 77,500 won

− Long-term care insuranceabout 10,200 won

− Employment insurance (0.9%, if voluntarily enrolled)about 19,400 won

− Income tax + local income tax (rough)about 25,000 won

− Industrial accident insurance0 won (employer pays in full)

= After tax and insurance deductionsabout 1,922,000 won

− Housing and food costsDiffers by contract — see below

Subtracting the housing and food costs from here gives you the money you actually hold in hand. But because housing and food costs have no fixed % cap and differ by contract, this page cannot fix on one figure like 「take-home of ○○」. Subtract the housing and food cost from your own contract from the 1,922,000 won above — that is your take-home pay.

Note that if you are from a pension-exempt country (Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste), about 100,000 won more is left. And in reality most people have overtime pay added, so their before-tax pay becomes 2 to 3 million won, which means take-home also rises above this.

Departure Guarantee Insurance — in effect it is severance pay

The employer sets aside 8.3% of the ordinary wage each month (「Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers」 Article 13). This is not a deduction taken from your pay but a cost borne by the employer, and you receive it later as a lump sum.

Duty to enroll: if one year or more of work activity period remains, within 15 days from the day the employment contract takes effect
Payment: in principle within 14 days from the date of departure
You can also receive it inside the country before departure — if you apply to the insurer from one month before to at least 7 days before your scheduled departure date, it is paid to a domestic account (⚠️ this application period could not be verified — check with the insurer)
If the insurance amount is less than your severance pay, the employer must pay the difference — if the amount you received feels too small, check it
If the employer fails to enroll, a fine of up to 5 million won; if payment is 3 or more times overdue, an administrative fine of up to 5 million won

Minimum Wage Commission↗ Ministry of Employment and Labor — work guidelines on collecting housing and food costs↗ National Health Insurance Service↗ National Pension Service (check reciprocity)↗ 📞 Ministry of Employment and Labor 1350 (wage consultation)↗

🏪 How much does living cost

To be honest — there are no official statistics on the living costs of foreign workers who live in dormitories. Below are the things you can refer to and their limits, written as they are. The 「living cost in Japan is ○○ per month」 that goes around the internet is mostly baseless or based on ordinary residents.

🇯🇵 Japan

Item	Amount	Limits and cautions
Ministry of Internal Affairs Household Survey — spending of single-person households	about 191,300 yen per month (2025 annual average, published 2026-02). Food is the largest at about 45,800 yen	⚠️ This is based on all ordinary Japanese single-person households (including the elderly and students). It is completely different from a foreign worker living in a dormitory — these people pay rent at market rates. Do not apply it directly
Dormitory fee (unofficial estimate)	20,000–30,000 yen per month / water and utilities 5,000–10,000 yen	⚠️ This is not official statistics. These are estimates from private recruitment agents and cooperative materials. The real amount differs greatly by region, company, and number of people sharing
⭐ The most realistic standard	Trainees' average take-home 148,615 yen per month (JILPT, 2026)	This is the money left after even the dormitory fee is taken out. From this you spend on food, communications, and daily necessities and send money home

🇰🇷 South Korea

Item	Amount	Limits and cautions
Actual amount collected for housing and food (unofficial)	Around 150,000–300,000 won per month	⚠️ This is based on media reports, not official statistics. There is no fixed % cap (abolished 2023-11-27) — it is agreed based on the actual transaction price and local market price
Housing conditions	Over 70% of migrant workers in agriculture and livestock live in temporary makeshift buildings such as containers and vinyl greenhouses	⚠️ Based on media reports citing a 2021 Ministry of Employment and Labor research contract. The original report was not confirmed. Ask for photos and the address of the housing before you sign the contract
The practice of pre-deducting housing and food costs	About 77.4% of employers deduct in advance from pay	⚠️ Based on media and human rights group surveys, not official statistics. Deduction without written consent in your native language is illegal, and consent must be renewed at intervals of no more than one year

The surest way to save on living costs is to check the deduction items and their basis from the very start. Since November 2023, Korea sets these by agreement based on the actual transaction price and local market price, with no fixed % cap, so before signing the contract ask 「What is the type, address, and actual transaction price of the housing, how many people share it, and what is the basis for the amount I pay?」 Japan is also on the actual-cost principle, so the same question works there.

🕐 Can I do a part-time job (side job)?

Specified Skilled Worker, Technical Intern Training, and Korea's E-9 — none of them can.

This is not a matter of 「you probably won't get caught」 — it is a ground for deportation. You lose, in one moment, a status that was hard to obtain. Even 「just a little on weekends」 is not allowed.

🇯🇵 Japan

Residence status	Side job possible?	Basis / conditions
🇯🇵 Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 · Type 2 (特定技能1号·2号)	Not possible	Not possible. It is entirely excluded from the scope of permission for activities outside status. Working at two companies at once is also not possible (full-time, exclusive principle). The 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) official FAQ states 「できません (you cannot)」.
🇯🇵 Technical Intern Training (技能実習)	Not possible	Not possible. Only activities within the scope of the approved training plan are allowed. It is excluded from permission for activities outside status.
🇯🇵 Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services	Conditional	Possible if you get individual permission. It must not interfere with your main job, and forbidden industries such as the adult entertainment business are excluded. Self-employment is outside the scope. The company's work rules may also separately forbid it.
🇯🇵 Student (留学)	Conditional	If you get permission for activities outside status, up to 28 hours per week. During the school's long vacations, up to 8 hours per day.

🇰🇷 South Korea

Residence status	Side job possible?	Basis / conditions
🇰🇷 E-9 Employment Permit System	Not possible	Not possible. Working anywhere other than the designated workplace written on your employment permit is completely forbidden. The very idea of a legal 「side job」 does not exist. The only legal way to change where you work is the 「workplace change」 procedure.
🇰🇷 Student (D-2)	Conditional	If you get part-time work permission, undergraduates up to 20 hours per week / master's and doctoral students up to 30 hours per week. During vacations, weekends, and public holidays there is no time limit. A Korean language ability requirement + confirmation from the school's international office are needed.
🇰🇷 E-7	Could not be verified — check the official source	Whether a separate rule exists could not be verified. Ask HiKorea directly.

🚨 What happens if you get caught

🇯🇵 Japan — worker	Imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 3 million yen + deportation. (Additional violations such as a student exceeding their hours: up to 1 year or up to 2 million yen.)
🇯🇵 Japan — employer (crime of promoting illegal work)	Currently imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 3 million yen (both can be imposed). ⚠️ From April 1, 2027, this is to be raised to 5 years / 5 million yen (along with the start of the Employment for Skill Development / 育成就労 system).
🇰🇷 South Korea — worker	Imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30 million won + deportation.
🇰🇷 South Korea — employer	Can be punished the same way. In addition, a 3-year restriction on being issued a new E-9 employment permit.

⚠️ In both Japan and Korea, the employer is punished too. A company that says 「we'll take care of it, so come in on the weekend」 is pushing you into the risk of deportation. Refuse and ask a consultation service.

So how do I earn more?

Overtime pay — this is the normal, legal way to increase your income. But check on your pay slip that the overtime pay is calculated correctly.
Move to a better status — in Japan, Technical Intern Training → Specified Skilled Worker (about 30,000 yen per month difference); in Korea, E-9 → E-7-4. This is the surest 「income increase」.
Reduce your deductions — submit the 「Dependent Deduction Declaration」 (Japan), check the type of housing (Korea). This is faster than increasing what you earn.
Choose a field where you can move up to Type 2 (Japan) — in the long run your wages rise and you can live with your family.

📖 Start with the terms — what is a COE?

When you first meet this information, you get stuck on the words. Especially, if you mistake the COE and the visa for the same thing, you will get your whole schedule wrong. Once you understand just the points below, the rest becomes readable.

COE在留資格認定証明書 (Certificate of Eligibility)

Japan. This is not a visa. It is a certificate where the Japanese government confirms in advance that 「this person meets the requirements for a residence status」. Usually the employer / accepting organisation, or a qualified agent (lawyer, administrative scrivener, etc.) applies for it inside Japan. You must get this before you can apply for a visa at the Japanese embassy in your home country. It is free, and the validity period is in principle 3 months from the date it is issued. Since 2023, an electronic COE received by email is possible, so you can do the visa application and immigration inspection with the screen on your smartphone or the email you were sent.
⚠️ A COE does not guarantee entry. If circumstances change afterward, or a reason to refuse landing is found, entry may not be permitted.

Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance / confirmation number査証発給認定書

Korea. This plays the same role as the COE. It is proof that the Ministry of Justice has examined the residence status requirements in advance, and the employer (sponsor) applies for it. It is valid for 3 months and can be used once.
⚠️ Submitting it may simplify the visa review at the consulate, but it does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. The consulate may do extra checks on identity, documents, and entry restriction reasons, or may refuse to issue the visa.

Visa (査証 / VISA)

This is the permission to enter that you get from an embassy or consulate. It is different from a COE or a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance. 「I got a visa」 and 「I got a COE」 are completely different steps. Even if you have the confirmation certificate, the visa is reviewed separately.

Residence status (在留資格)

Japan. This is the status that decides what you can do in Japan. 「特定技能1号 (Specified Skilled Worker (i))」 and 「技能実習 2号 (Technical Intern Training (ii))」 are names of residence statuses. It is often confused with a visa, but it is a different concept.

Residence card (在留カード)

Japan. This is the ID card for mid- to long-term residents. You get it at the airport or it comes by mail. You must always carry it, and it is illegal for the company to keep it.

Alien Registration Card (ARC)

Korea. This is the equivalent of Japan's residence card. You must apply in person at an immigration office within 90 days of the date you enter, and the fee is 35,000 won.

Sending organisation (送出機関)

This is the organisation in your home country that handles recruiting, training, and departure procedures. Whether it is government-approved is everything. In Japan, OTIT publishes the list, and in Korea, each country's government publishes the list of designated organisations. If it is not on the list, do not proceed.

Supervising organisation (監理団体)

Japan, technical intern training. This is a non-profit body that supervises, guides, and protects the interns. It is not your employer — your employment contract is with the implementing organisation (the company). From April 2027, its name and requirements will change to supervising support organisation.

Implementing organisation (実習実施者)

Japan, technical intern training. This is the Japanese company that actually employs you. It is your employment contract partner and your employer under labour law. Wage problems are its responsibility.

Registered support organisation (登録支援機関)

Japan, specified skilled worker. This is the organisation the company outsources its support plan to. The 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) publishes the full list as an Excel file (11,448 as of 2026-07-09). Check the name yourself.

OTIT外国人技能実習機構 (Organization for Technical Intern Training)

Japan. This is the government body that approves and supervises technical intern training plans. It provides a supervising organisation search and a list of approved sending organisations by country for free, and also runs free consultation in your own language.

EPSEmployment Permit System (고용허가제)

Korea. This is a foreign employment system run government-to-government (G2G). It is not built in a way that lets brokers get involved.

EPS-TOPIK

Korea. This is a Korean language test only for EPS. It is different from the regular TOPIK. It is out of 100 points, the passing line is different for each industry, and it is graded on a curve.

Jobseeker roster

Korea. This is the roster you are put on after passing the EPS-TOPIK. Being on this list does not mean your job is confirmed — you only go if a Korean employer picks you.

Apostille

This is the procedure that proves internationally that a public document like a degree or work record is genuine. Between member countries of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille can, in principle, replace the authentication of a public document. For non-member countries, or documents that are not covered by the apostille, you may need consular confirmation from the issuing country's foreign ministry and authentication by the other country's mission.
⚠️ The order of translation and notarisation is different depending on the country and the type of document, and the procedure is also different for public documents and private documents. Sometimes authentication is waived by an agreement. Check the guidance of the receiving organisation first — if you do the steps in the wrong order, you will have to start over.

JFT-Basic国際交流基金日本語基礎テスト (Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese)

Japan. This is the Japanese language test for specified skilled worker. You pass if you get 200 points or more out of 250 (CEFR A2). It is held more often than the JLPT.

MOC協力覚書 (Memorandum of Cooperation)

This is a memorandum of cooperation between the governments of Japan and the sending country. The MOC for technical intern training does not carry over automatically to employment for skill development — a new one must be signed.

🗾 Which country and which status are you preparing for?

Click each status to expand it, and it shows step by step what to prepare, who submits it, and where.

🔧 特定技能1号·2号 (Specified Skilled Worker i·ii) Currently in operation ▼

This is a status where you pass an exam yourself and sign an employment contract directly with a Japanese company. Unlike technical intern training, it is not a structure where you must go through a sending organisation or supervising organisation, so you hold the initiative in preparing.

Period of stay

Type 1 = up to 5 years in total (renewed in units of 1 year, 6 months, or 4 months)

Bringing family

Type 1 = not allowed as a rule / Type 2 = spouse and children allowed

Switching to Type 2

Type 2 has no upper limit on period of stay — you can keep staying by renewing

Required exams

Japanese language exam + field-specific skills exam (2 exams)

Who applies for the COE

Not you, but the Japanese company (or an administrative scrivener acting on its behalf)

Exam exemption

Partial exemption if you completed Technical Intern Training (ii) in good standing

Food service 特定技能1号 — check whether the issuing of new overseas COEs is temporarily suspended From 2026-04-13, the issuing of new COEs was temporarily suspended for 特定技能1号 in the food service field (COE applications received after April 13 will not be issued). This is because the acceptance cap for this field (50,000 people over 5 years) is expected to be reached (about 46,000 people at the end of February 2026).

This does NOT mean 「all food service jobs are blocked」. Understand the difference below.

🚫 New 特定技能1号 food service COEs applied for from abroad — suspended
⚠️ Changing from another status inside Japan to food service Specified Skilled Worker — not allowed as a rule, but exceptions exist
✅ Renewal for existing food service Specified Skilled Workers — allowed
✅ Changing jobs within the food service field — still being examined
🕐 Applications received before 2026-04-13 — examined in order
❓ 特定技能2号 food service — needs to be checked separately

In short, starting fresh preparation from abroad now aiming for food service is risky. If you have received an offer saying 「we will send you for food service」, check whether they know about this measure and what route they are talking about.

This measure can change, so always check the latest notice from the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) yourself.

From 2026-07-01, the visa (査証) fee went up 5 times The visa fee paid at embassies and consulates was raised to single-entry 3,000 yen → 15,000 yen and multiple-entry 6,000 yen → 30,000 yen (Cabinet decision on 2026-06-19, effective 2026-07-01). Include this in your budget. This is the visa fee paid at the embassy, and it is separate from the change or renewal of residence status fee paid inside Japan.

What you do at each step

Decide your field and job type

WhoYou

First you must decide which field you will go into. Each field has a different exam, so if you do not decide the field, you cannot start studying. It is not enough to just take any exam.

Choose the field you will go into from the 「16 fields」 table below
Check whether that field has 特定技能2号 — in fields with no Type 2, the path to keep working after 5 years becomes narrow
Check whether that field's exam is held in your country (it differs by field, and forestry has no overseas exam at all)

⚠️ Common mistakes — Many people study only Japanese for a year without deciding their field. You cannot get Specified Skilled Worker status with the Japanese exam alone.

Pass the Japanese language exam

WhoYou WhereJFT-Basic or JLPT test site (can be taken in your home country) PeriodSeveral months to 1 year of preparation

You only need to pass one of the two. You do not need to take both.

JFT-Basic — you pass with 200 points or more out of 250 (CEFR A2 level). Held several times a year, computer-based test
JLPT N4 or higher — held twice a year (July and December) in Japan and some overseas cities, but depending on the country and city it may be held only once a year. Check the schedule for the city where you will take it
Only the 介護 (nursing care) field is an exception — in addition to the exam above, you must also pass the 介護日本語評価試験 (nursing care Japanese assessment test). The pass line is 73% or more of the total score, and the test fee is about 2,000 yen

⚠️ Common mistakes — JLPT has few chances to sit — if you fail, you may wait half a year until the next session, or a year depending on the city. If you are in a hurry, JFT-Basic, which is usually held more often, is better.

ℹ️ From August 2026, JFT-Basic will use a more detailed grading method. Whether the pass line for Specified Skilled Worker (200 points) stays the same could not be verified — check the official source. Check the Japan Foundation's official notice before taking it.

Pass the field-specific skills exam

WhoYou WhereThe designated test body for each field (see the 「Field-specific exams」 table below) PeriodSeveral months of preparation

The body that runs the exam is different for each field. There is no single exam called the 「Specified Skilled Worker exam」. You must apply directly on the website of the test body for your field.

Check the schedule and countries on the test body's website for your field
If it is not held in your home country → check whether you can take it inside Japan or in a third country
Always keep your pass certificate (certificate of passing) — you submit it when applying for the COE

⚠️ Common mistakes — There are cases of people paying the test fee to fake websites pretending to be the test body. Always apply through the official body in the table below.

Find a Japanese company and have an interview

WhoYou / hiring company PeriodA few weeks to a few months

For Specified Skilled Worker, you can apply to companies directly yourself. But in practice, it is often done through recruitment agencies or registered support organisations.

Get the employment conditions in writing — a spoken promise is not proof
Check that the pay is equal to or higher than a Japanese worker's (a legal requirement)
Check how much is deducted from your wage for dormitory, food, and utility (water, gas, electricity) costs
Check whether that company has joined the field-specific council — if it has not joined, the COE will not be issued

⚠️ Common mistakes — Avoid places that say 「once you come, everything will be sorted out」 and do not give you the conditions in writing.

Sign the employment contract and make a support plan

WhoHiring company (+ registered support organisation)

A company that accepts 特定技能1号 workers has a duty to make and carry out a 「Support Plan for Type 1 Specified Skilled Foreign Nationals」. The company does it itself or entrusts it to a registered support organisation. This plan is submitted together with the COE application.

Check that the 10 mandatory items of the support plan (see below) are actually provided
Making you pay these support costs is prohibited — if a 「support fee」 is deducted from your wage, it may be illegal

⚠️ Common mistakes — A contract that takes money from your wage every month as a 「support fee」 or 「management fee」 is a problem. Ask before you sign.

Apply for the COE (Certificate of Eligibility)

WhoUsually the hiring company / accepting organisation or a qualified representative (lawyer, administrative scrivener, etc.). The applicant themselves or their legal representative may also be involved WhereThe Regional Immigration Services Bureau (地方出入国在留管理局) with jurisdiction over your planned residence or the accepting organisation's location (8 nationwide) or online PeriodStandard processing time 1–3 months CostFree (0 yen)

The COE is not a visa. It is a certificate in which the Japanese government recognises in advance that 「this person meets the requirements for residence status」. You must get this to be able to apply for a visa at the embassy. Even if you are abroad, the application is processed in Japan.

Send the documents you prepared (pass certificate, health check certificate, passport copy, etc.) to the company
The company or representative submits them to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau with jurisdiction
It can be completed by online application, and since March 2023 you can receive the COE by email (electronic COE). Without a paper original, you can apply for a visa and go through immigration inspection using your smartphone screen or the email you were sent

⚠️ Common mistakes — The 1–3 month standard processing time is a target, not a guarantee. If documents are missing, it takes longer. Do not book your plane ticket in advance.

ℹ️ As a rule, you must apply to land in Japan within 3 months of the COE's issue date. Once you get it, start your visa application right away.
However, special extension measures for certain nationalities or situations may be applied (for example, some Myanmar employment COEs are extended to a conditional 6 months, taking into account delays in OWIC issuance, etc.). Check the notices from the mission (embassy/consulate).
⚠️ Also, the COE does not guarantee entry. If circumstances change later or a reason to refuse landing is found, entry may not be permitted.

Apply for the visa at the embassy or consulate

WhoYou WhereThe Japanese embassy or consulate-general in your home country PeriodDiffers by mission CostSingle-entry 15,000 yen / multiple-entry 30,000 yen (raised 2026-07-01)

You go to the embassy yourself with the original COE (or the COE you received by email). Only here does the visa get issued.

Prepare the COE, passport, visa application form, and photos
Additional documents (health certificate, criminal record certificate, etc.) differ by mission — always check that mission's website

⚠️ Common mistakes — Getting the COE does not mean the visa is issued automatically. But with the COE, the examination is greatly simplified.

Enter Japan and receive your residence card

WhoYou WhereAirport (Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, New Chitose, Kobe, Hiroshima, Fukuoka) PeriodOn the day of entry

If you enter through the 8 airports above, you receive your residence card (在留カード) on the spot. If you enter through another airport or port, it is mailed to you later after you register your address.

You must carry your residence card at all times (a legal duty)
It is illegal for the company to hold your residence card or passport — never hand them over

WhoYou WhereYour local city / ward / town / village office (市区町村役場) PeriodWithin 14 days of deciding your residence (a legal deadline) CostFree

You must do this before everything else (insurance, pension, My Number, bank) becomes possible. Do this first.

Go to the city / ward / town / village office with your residence card
When you file a move-in notification (転入届), your address is written on the back of your residence card
After that, a My Number (individual number) notice is mailed to your registered address (takes a few weeks)

⚠️ Common mistakes — 14 days is a legal deadline. Even if the company says it will do it for you, check yourself that it was actually done.

Set up insurance, pension, bank, and mobile phone

WhoYou (+ company) WhereCompany / city-ward-town-village office / bank / telecom carrier PeriodA few weeks after entry

If you are regularly employed by the company, the company handles the enrolment procedure for social insurance (health insurance + employees' pension). If social insurance does not apply, you must enrol in National Health Insurance yourself at the city / ward / town / village office — it is not automatic.

The smooth practical order is ①residence registration → ②mobile phone → ③bank account (because banks require a residence card showing your address and a contact number)
Banks usually require a residence card + passport + proof of address

16 fields — be sure to check whether there is a Type 2

As of 2026-07-17 there are 16 fields. By a Cabinet decision in January 2026, 3 fields — linen supply, logistics warehousing, and resource recycling — were added, with the goal of starting new acceptance in April 2027 (in preparation).

Field	Korean	Type 2	Notes
介護	Nursing care / caregiving	None	No Type 2 (there is a separate residence status 「介護」)
ビルクリーニング	Building cleaning	Possible
工業製品製造業	Industrial product manufacturing	Possible	The former 3 fields 「materials, industrial machinery, electrical/electronics」 were merged and renamed
建設	Construction	Possible
造船・舶用工業	Shipbuilding and marine industry	Possible
自動車整備	Automobile maintenance	Possible
航空	Aviation	Possible
宿泊	Accommodation (hotels)	Possible
農業	Agriculture	Possible
漁業	Fishery	Possible	Type 2 requires JLPT N3 or higher
飲食料品製造業	Food and beverage manufacturing	Possible
外食業	Food service	Possible	🚫 From 2026-04-13, issuing of new overseas COEs temporarily suspended (renewal and job change within the field still allowed) · Type 2 requires JLPT N3 or higher
自動車運送業	Automobile transport	None	Newly created in 2024 · Type 1 only
鉄道	Railway	None	Newly created in 2024 · Type 1 only
林業	Forestry	None	Newly created in 2024 · Type 1 only · no overseas exam
木材産業	Timber industry	None	Newly created in 2024 · Type 1 only · overseas exam only in Indonesia

Skills exams by field — the managing bodies are different

These are the bodies that run each field's exam. The countries where they are held abroad differ between sources and change often, so always check the latest schedule on each body's official website. The countries listed below are for reference only.

Field	Exam managing body	Countries where held overseas (for reference)
介護	Prometric	Philippines, Cambodia, Nepal, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, etc.
ビルクリーニング	National Building Maintenance Association (JBMA)	Myanmar, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia
工業製品製造業	Japan Association for Industrial-product Manufacturing skilled personnel (JAIM)	Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, etc.
建設	Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC)	Indonesia, Philippines, etc.
造船・舶用工業	Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK)	Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia
自動車整備	Japan Automobile Service Promotion Association Federation (JASPA)	Philippines, Vietnam
航空	Japan Aeronautical Engineers' Association (JAEA)	Philippines, Nepal, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mongolia
宿泊	Accommodation Industry Skills Test Center (CAIPT)	India, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand
農業	National Chamber of Agriculture	Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Pakistan
漁業	Greater Japan Fisheries Association	Indonesia, Philippines
飲食料品製造業	Organization for Technical Skill Assessment of Foreign Workers in the Food Industry (OTAFF)	could not be verified — check the official source
外食業	OTAFF	🚫 Issuing of new overseas COEs is temporarily suspended
自動車運送業	ClassNK	India, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Philippines, Myanmar, Mongolia, etc.
鉄道	The body differs by specific job type (JRCEA, JRMA, JTOA, etc.)	could not be verified — check the official source
林業	Forestry Skills Improvement Center	No overseas exam
木材産業	National Federation of Timber Cooperatives	Indonesia only

Eligibility requirements

18 years or older
Pass the field-specific skills exam
Pass the Japanese language exam — JFT-Basic 200 points or more (out of 250) or JLPT N4 or higher
Sign a proper employment contract with a Japanese company
You must not have signed a deposit or penalty contract
Pay at a level equal to or higher than a Japanese worker's
You must be in good enough health to do the work

If you switch from Technical Intern Training (ii) — if you 「completed Technical Intern Training (ii) in good standing」 (completed 2 years and 10 months or more as planned), the Japanese exam is waived regardless of your job type. Furthermore, if a connection is recognised between the work you want to do and the job/task of your Technical Intern Training (ii), the skills exam is also waived. The 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) publishes an official correspondence table of which job types connect to which fields, so be sure to check against it.

The 10 mandatory items of the support plan

A company that accepts 特定技能1号 workers (or the registered support organisation it entrusts) must provide the following. If they 「said they would do it but do not」, you have the right to demand it.

Providing advance guidance
Escort at entry and departure (airport pick-up and send-off)
Help securing housing and with contracts needed for daily life (bank, mobile phone, etc.)
Living orientation (8 hours or more)
Accompanying you for official procedures (city hall, bank, etc.)
Providing opportunities to learn Japanese
Handling consultations and complaints
Promoting exchange with Japanese people
Support for changing jobs (if the contract is cancelled due to the company's circumstances, such as layoffs or bankruptcy)
Regular interviews and reports to government bodies

🚫 Making the foreign worker pay these support costs is prohibited. This is stated clearly in the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) official Q&A — not directly and not indirectly. If your pay slip has a 「support fee」 or 「management fee」, always ask for the basis for it.

Who handles what

Category	Body
Residence status and COE examination	出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) (8 Regional Immigration Bureaus nationwide — Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Takamatsu, Fukuoka)
Hiring company	Specified Skilled Worker affiliation organisation (受入れ機関, accepting organisation)
Living and employment support	Registered support organisation, or the hiring company itself
Field-specific exam	Each field's competent ministry and designated test body
Field-specific council	Competent ministry — membership is mandatory, and without it the COE is not issued
Overseas sending procedures	The home country's government or a government-recognised body
Visa issuance	The Japanese embassy or consulate-general in your country
Consultation on working conditions	Labour Standards Inspection Office · Hello Work · Foreign Workers' Consultation Corner

Documents to prepare — including where to obtain them

Documents you prepare yourself

Document	Where it is issued	Caution
Passport	Your home country's passport authority	Check the remaining validity. Do not hand it to the company
ID photo	—	The size requirements differ by mission and by application
Résumé (CV)	Written by you
Certificates of education and work history	School you graduated from / former employer	Translation needed. Depending on the country, an apostille or consular authentication is needed
Japanese exam pass certificate	JFT-Basic or JLPT	Reissuing is troublesome, so keep the original
Field-specific skills exam pass certificate	Field-specific test body
Health check certificate	Designated hospital (differs by country)	The validity is often short — mind the timing of issuance
Employment contract / statement of employment conditions	Hiring company	Before signing, be sure to get a copy in a language you can read
Home country address and family relationship information	Home country government office
Certificate that the home country sending procedures are complete	Home country government / recognised body	Needed depending on the country
Statement of costs paid	—	Record who you paid and how much. Keep the receipts
A written confirmation that there is no deposit or penalty contract	—	A legal requirement
Documents proving completion of technical intern training	Former 監理団体 (supervising organisation) / OTIT	If switching from technical intern training. Includes the evaluation record

Documents the Japanese hiring company prepares

Document	Where it is issued	Caution
Application form for issuance of the Certificate of Eligibility (COE)	Company
Specified Skilled Worker employment contract	Company
Statement of employment conditions / explanation of pay	Company
Job description document	Company
Support Plan for Type 1 Specified Skilled Foreign Nationals	Company or registered support organisation
Documents on the support manager and support staff	Company
Contract entrusting the registered support organisation	Company ↔ registered support organisation	If you entrust it
Company registration certificate	Legal Affairs Bureau
Financial statements and business performance documents	Company
Tax payment certificate	Tax office / local government
Documents related to social insurance and labour insurance	Company
Documents confirming membership of the field-specific council	Council	If not a member, the COE is not issued

The documents actually required change according to the company's size, the application type, the industry, and your current residence status. The list of required documents and the operational guidelines keep being revised (last revised June 2026), so always check against the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) official list at the time you apply.

Points you must know

特定技能1号 workers cannot bring their family. If you need to bring a spouse or children, check from the start whether the field allows switching to Type 2. In fields with no Type 2 (nursing care, automobile transport, railway, forestry, timber), your options after 5 years become narrow. However, nursing care has a separate residence status 「介護」.
There is a public list of registered support organisations. The 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) publishes the full list as an Excel file (11,448 organisations as of 2026-07-09). Do not just trust the claim 「we are a registered organisation」 — look up the name yourself in the list.
The fee to change or renew residence status is, from 2025-04-01, 6,000 yen (at the counter) / 5,500 yen (online) (previously 4,000 yen). However, a proposal to raise it by a larger amount from 2026-10-01 is under discussion (in the public comment stage of July–August 2026, not yet confirmed). Since it is not yet confirmed, the amount currently in effect is 6,000 yen / 5,500 yen.
Exception to the 5-year total — if a special reason is recognised, such as scoring 80% or more on the 特定技能2号 exam but still not passing, it can be extended to 6 years.

Official links

出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) — Specified Skilled Worker overview↗ Specified Skilled Worker official Q&A (exam exemption, bringing family, etc.)↗ Registered support organisations register (Excel download)↗ Online system for residence applications↗ List of Regional Immigration Bureau locations↗ JFT-Basic (Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese)↗ JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test)↗

🎓 技能実習1号·2号·3号 (Technical Intern Training i·ii·iii) Until March 2027 ▼

Technical intern training is not a structure where you freely apply to companies yourself. Most of it is the supervising type, going through a recognised sending organisation in your home country → a 監理団体 (supervising organisation) in Japan → the training implementer (company). If you do not understand this structure, you will not know where to ask what.

Who your employment contract is with

The training implementer (Japanese company) — not the 監理団体 (supervising organisation)

Period

Type 1 = 1 year + Type 2 = 2 years + Type 3 = 2 years = up to 5 years

Bringing family

Not allowed

Exam before entry

None (you go through the sending organisation's screening and training)

Changing employer (転籍)

Not allowed as a rule — only when there are 「unavoidable circumstances」

System change

Replaced by the 育成就労 (Employment for Skill Development) system from 2027-04-01

The system changes from 2027-04-01 The 育成就労 (Employment for Skill Development) system that replaces technical intern training takes effect on 2027-04-01. The law already passed the Diet on 2024-06-14, and the effective date is confirmed by government ordinance. This is not a 「it will probably happen」 — it is a confirmed schedule.

✅ Technical intern trainees already staying in Japan as of 2027-04-01 can continue under their existing plan (they will not be forcibly switched to Employment for Skill Development).

⚠️ However, moving from Technical Intern Training (ii) to (iii) has the condition that 「you are already active as Type 2 for 1 year or more as of 2027-04-01」. If you do not meet this condition, you may not be able to move to Type 3.

If you are starting your preparation now, be sure to get confirmation in writing from your sending organisation and 監理団体 (supervising organisation) about where your planned entry date falls, before or after April 2027, and which system applies to you.

What you do at each step

Check the recognised sending organisation in your home country

WhoYou WhereCheck directly in the public OTIT list

This is the most important step. If you pick the wrong sending organisation, everything afterward goes wrong. The Japanese government (OTIT) publishes a list of government-recognised sending organisations by country.

Open the sending organisation list (PDF) for your country on the OTIT site
Check whether the company you are in contact with is actually on that list
If it is not on the list → it is not a government-recognised body. Do not proceed
Get an itemised statement of how much the fee is and what it is for

⚠️ Common mistakes — The most common harm is paying money trusting only the claim 「we are recognised」 and later finding out it is not on the list. The list is free and anyone can view it.

Apply to the recruitment and go through screening

WhoYou / sending organisation WhereSending organisation

You go through screening of aptitude, health, education, and identity.

Health examination
Preparing education and work-history documents
Criminal record and background check (requirements differ by country)

Receive Japanese language and basic training (before departure)

WhoYou WhereSending organisation's training facility PeriodSeveral months

You receive pre-departure training. If, within 6 months before departure, you complete a classroom course abroad of 1 month or more and 160 hours or more, the post-entry training is cut in half.

Interview with the Japanese 監理団体 (supervising organisation) and training company

WhoYou / 監理団体 (supervising organisation) / company

The 監理団体 (supervising organisation) and the training company select candidates through an interview.

The party you sign the employment contract with is the training implementer (Japanese company), not the 監理団体 (supervising organisation) — knowing this lets you know who is responsible when a problem arises later
The 監理団体 (supervising organisation)'s role is supervision, guidance, and protection, and it receives a supervision fee from the company

Make the technical intern training plan and get OTIT approval

WhoThe training implementer (company) — a separate application for each trainee WhereOrganization for Technical Intern Training (OTIT / 外国人技能実習機構) Periodcould not be verified — check the official source (no official standard processing time published) Cost3,900 yen per case (per person)

Technical intern training only starts once the government individually approves a plan of 「we will have this person do this training」.

⚠️ Common mistakes — The 「about 1–2 months」 processing time that circulates on private blogs is unofficial. No official standard processing time has been confirmed.

COE application → visa application → pre-departure training

WhoCompany / 監理団体 (supervising organisation) / you WhereRegional Immigration Bureau / Japanese embassy PeriodCOE standard processing 1–3 months

Same flow as Specified Skilled Worker. The COE is free, and the visa fee is single-entry 15,000 yen from 2026-07-01.

Receive training after entering Japan

WhoYou Where監理団体 (supervising organisation) facility Period1/6 or more of the planned first-year training hours (shortened to 1/12 or more if you completed 160 hours or more before departure)

You do not work right after entering; you first receive training. During this period the employment contract has not yet taken effect, so there is no wage. Instead, a training allowance (講習手当) is paid — it is a legal duty, and in the supervising type it is usually paid by the 監理団体 (supervising organisation).

4 required subjects: ①Japanese ②general knowledge of life in Japan ③information needed for the legal protection of technical intern trainees (lecture by an outside expert) ④knowledge useful for acquiring skills
Be sure to attend lecture ③ — this is where you are told your rights and where to report

⚠️ Common mistakes — If you come not knowing there is no wage during the training period, you will be caught off guard. If the training allowance is not paid, you can demand it from the 監理団体 (supervising organisation).

Placement at the company → Technical Intern Training (i) (1 year)

WhoYou WhereTraining implementer (company) Period1 year

From here the employment contract takes effect and you get a wage. Japanese labour laws such as the Labour Standards Act apply fully.

Basic-grade skills test → Type 2 (2 years)

WhoYou WhereSkills test site Period2 years

To move from Type 1 to Type 2, you must pass the basic-grade (基礎級) skills test (written + practical).

On-demand grade-3 (随時3級) → Type 3 (2 years) or switch to Specified Skilled Worker

WhoYou Period2 years

To go from Type 2 to Type 3, you must pass the on-demand grade-3 (随時3級) practical exam, and additionally the 監理団体 (supervising organisation) and training implementer must have received 「excellent」 certification. In a place that is not certified excellent, you cannot go to Type 3.

Instead of Type 3, there is also the path of switching to 特定技能1号 — if you completed Type 2 in good standing, the Japanese exam is waived
Going to Specified Skilled Worker opens the possibility of bringing family (Type 2) and long-term stay

ℹ️ ⚠️ You can go to Type 3 only if, as of 2027-04-01, you are already active as Type 2 for 1 year or more.

Your rights guaranteed by law

Below are prohibitions written explicitly in the Technical Intern Training Act. They are law, not custom. Violation means up to 6 months' imprisonment or a fine of up to 300,000 yen (Article 111).

Article 47(1)	Contracts that set penalty or damages amounts in advance are prohibited — this is prohibited not only against you but also against your spouse and relatives
Article 47(2)	Forced savings contracts are prohibited
Article 48(1)	Holding your passport or residence card is prohibited — neither the company nor the 監理団体 (supervising organisation) can take your passport
Article 48(2)	Unfair restriction of your private life, such as communication and going out, is prohibited — confiscating your phone, banning you from going out, etc.

No article that explicitly says 「holding your bankbook is prohibited」 has been confirmed. But it appears to be handled through the interpretation of the articles above and administrative guidance. If you are asked to hand over your bankbook, contact a consultation service.

Countries that have recognised sending organisations (countries with an MOC signed)

OTIT publishes the list of recognised sending organisations from countries that have signed a bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC). As of July 2026 there are 17 countries (in order of signing).

Vietnam (2017-06-06)CambodiaIndiaPhilippinesLaosMongoliaBangladeshSri LankaMyanmarBhutanUzbekistanPakistanThailandIndonesiaNepal (2024)Timor-Leste (2024-10-08)Fiji (2025-11-13)

China is not on this list.

Who handles what

Category	Body
Approval and supervision of the technical intern training plan	Organization for Technical Intern Training (OTIT / 外国人技能実習機構)
Japanese-side management and supervision	Licensed 監理団体 (supervising organisation) (non-profit corporation)
Actual employment and training	Training implementer = Japanese company (the party your employment contract is with)
Home country recruitment and training	Foreign government-recognised sending organisation
COE and residence status	出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency)
Visa	Japanese embassy or consulate-general
Native-language consultation and reporting	OTIT native-language consultation (8 foreign languages + Japanese, free)
Unpaid wages and working conditions	Labour Standards Inspection Office

Documents to prepare — including where to obtain them

Documents you prepare yourself

Document	Where it is issued	Caution
Passport or ID documents for getting a passport	Home country passport authority	Never hand it over to anyone
ID photo	—
Résumé (CV)	Written by you
Education certificate	School you graduated from	Translation needed
Work-history certificate	Former employer
Family relationship and birth documents	Home country government office
Health check certificate	Designated hospital	Mind the validity period
Criminal record or background check certificate	Home country police / government office	Requirements differ by country
Sending organisation application form	Sending organisation
Technical intern training consent form	Sending organisation	Be sure to understand the contents before signing
Confirmation of employment and training conditions	Company / 監理団体 (supervising organisation)	Check wages, working hours, and deduction items
Pre-departure training completion certificate	Sending organisation	If 160 hours or more, the post-entry training is shortened
Home country government approval / overseas employment permit	Home country government
Statement of costs and fees	Sending organisation	Always keep the receipts
Confirmation that there is no deposit or penalty	—	A legal requirement

Points you must know

You must not choose a sending organisation by name alone. Even the same company is completely different depending on whether it is 「currently government-recognised」, 「renewing its recognition」, 「stopped new recruitment」, 「a former recognised body」, or has 「a history of administrative penalty or cancellation」. Some are limited in the fields and regions they handle. Check directly in the OTIT list.
The list of recognised sending organisations for technical intern training cannot be used as-is for Employment for Skill Development. Employment for Skill Development requires signing a separate new MOC, and as of July 2026 the only countries that have signed a dedicated Employment for Skill Development MOC are Thailand (2026-06-02) and Uzbekistan (2026-06-29). The Employment for Skill Development sending organisation lists for other countries are still 「provisional」.
Changing employer (転籍) is, as a rule, not possible. It is possible only when there are 「unavoidable circumstances」 — human rights violations (assault, harassment), serious/malicious legal violations (unpaid wages, etc.), serious/malicious breach of contract, cancellation of the training approval, or company bankruptcy. The 2024-11-01 revision clarified these criteria; it did not create a new right to move based on your wishes alone.
The major easing of 「you can change employer by your own wish after working for a certain period」 applies only to the Employment for Skill Development system (from 2027-04-01). It does not apply to those currently on technical intern training status.
Figures about fee caps (for example, 3,600 US dollars for a 3-year Vietnamese contract) circulate on the internet, but they are not confirmed by the home government's primary sources. Treat them as reference only and check your home country's Ministry of Labour official notice.

Official links

OTIT Organization for Technical Intern Training (has a Korean-language page)↗ 🔍 Search 監理団体 (supervising organisations) — check the name yourself↗ 🔍 List of recognised sending organisations by country (for technical intern training)↗ 🔍 List of sending organisations for Employment for Skill Development (provisional)↗ 📞 OTIT native-language consultation (free · 8 languages)↗ Countries that have signed a bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC)↗

🌱 Employment for Skill Development system (育成就労) Confirmed to take effect 2027-04-01 ▼

This is a new system replacing technical intern training. Whereas technical intern training's stated aim was 「international contribution and skill transfer」, Employment for Skill Development sets out securing workers and developing Specified Skilled Worker talent as its clear purpose. The law has already passed and the effective date is confirmed.

Law enacted

Passed the Diet on 2024-06-14 · promulgated on 2024-06-21

Effective date

2027-04-01 — confirmed by government ordinance

Target fields

17 fields (Cabinet decision on 2026-01-23)

Acceptance cap

Cumulative total for 2027–2029 including Specified Skilled Worker: 1,231,900 people

Destination

The premise is transition to 特定技能1号

Changing employer (転籍)

Possible under conditions after working 1–2 years depending on the field

Distinguish what is confirmed from what is not yet decided Confirmed — law enacted (2024-06-14), effective date (2027-04-01), 17 target fields, the supervising-support organisation system, the Japanese language requirement, the 1–2 year employer-change restriction period.

Not decided — the specific application procedure for changing employer is stated by the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) as 「to be announced later」. The detailed enforcement rules for the 3 new fields are also still being prepared.

Detailed operational guidelines will keep coming out until it takes effect. The content of this page will also become outdated over time — always check the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) official Q&A yourself.

What you do at each step

Check the recognised sending organisation for Employment for Skill Development in your home country

WhoYou WhereOTIT Employment for Skill Development sending organisation list

This is where people are deceived most. Even a sending organisation recognised for technical intern training must be recognised again for Employment for Skill Development. Do not just trust the claim 「we are already a recognised body」.

Check whether your home country has signed a dedicated Employment for Skill Development MOC — as of July 2026, only Thailand and Uzbekistan
The lists for other countries are still 「provisional」

⚠️ Common mistakes — As of 2026, most offers saying 「we will send you under Employment for Skill Development」 have no basis yet. Check the MOC first.

Supervising-support organisation · employment contract

WhoCompany / supervising-support organisation

The existing 監理団体 (supervising organisation) is renamed the supervising-support organisation (監理支援機関), and requirements are strengthened. This includes making an external auditor mandatory, banning a deficit (excess-liabilities) state, tightening standards for placing full-time staff, limiting personal ties with the accepting company, and regulating fees.

Meet the Japanese language requirement at entry

WhoYou

At the point of entry, N5 equivalent (JFT-Basic A1) is required. However, passing the exam is not an absolute condition; it can be replaced by completing 100 hours or more of training.

At entry: N5 equivalent or 100 hours or more of training
One year after starting work: those who have not passed must take the N5-equivalent exam
At the point of transition to 特定技能1号: you must pass the N4 equivalent (A2)
The 介護 field adds the nursing care Japanese assessment test

Approval of the Employment for Skill Development plan → COE → visa → entry

WhoCompany / you

A flow similar to technical intern training. After April 2027, this work is scheduled to be transferred from OTIT to the newly created Organization for Foreign Employment and Skill Development (外国人育成就労機構).

Build up Japanese and skills while working

WhoYou WhereHiring company

This step is the core of the system. The goal is transition to 特定技能1号.

Transition to 特定技能1号

WhoYou

It is not automatic. You must pass both the skills exam (grade-3 skills test, etc., or the 特定技能1号 assessment exam) and the Japanese exam (N4 equivalent).

If you fail, a stay extension of up to 1 year is possible to retake the exam

⚠️ Common mistakes — The claim 「if you come under Employment for Skill Development you automatically become Specified Skilled Worker」 is not true. You must pass two exams.

Changing employer (転籍) — the biggest change from technical intern training

The most-criticised part of technical intern training was the ban on changing employer. Under Employment for Skill Development it opens up under conditions.

Restriction period	It is set between 1 and 2 years depending on the field. It differs by field.
Can be shortened	Even if the field's policy sets it beyond 1 year, the accepting organisation can voluntarily shorten it to 1 year. But it must be accompanied by measures that improve treatment (wage increases, etc.).
Conditions	You can only change employer within the same work category · you must reach the field's skill and Japanese level · you cannot use for-profit job placement agencies (a formal procedure is required) · the accepting side must have received an 「excellent」 evaluation
Not decided	The specific application procedure has not yet been announced. The 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) stated 「to be announced later」.

There is information that 「the proportion of workers who change employer is limited to within 1/3 of the accepting company's total workforce」, but this is not sufficiently confirmed. Do not take it as confirmed information.

⏳ The most important question for people preparing now — transitional measures

✅ Confirmed	Technical intern trainees already staying in Japan as of 2027-04-01 can continue under their existing approved plan. They will not be forcibly switched to Employment for Skill Development.
✅ Confirmed	Moving from Technical Intern Training (ii) to (iii) has the condition that 「as of 2027-04-01 you had already been active as Type 2 for 1 year or more」. If you fall short, entry to Type 3 may be blocked.
⚠️ Provisional	A specific deadline is mentioned that 「if the plan approval application is received by 2027-03-31 and training begins within 3 months of the effective date, the old system applies」, but the same wording could not be re-confirmed in the official original text. Before making a plan that depends on dates, always check yourself.
❌ No basis	Descriptions on some blogs like a 「3-year coexistence period」 are not confirmed in official sources.

Points you must know

Employment for Skill Development does not automatically inherit the technical intern training MOCs. A new dedicated Employment for Skill Development MOC must be signed with each sending country. Thailand signed first on 2026-06-02, followed by Uzbekistan on 2026-06-29. Indonesia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Laos have not yet signed.
After April 2027, work related to sending organisations and MOCs is scheduled to be transferred from OTIT to the newly created Organization for Foreign Employment and Skill Development (外国人育成就労機構).
This system has not yet taken effect. Detailed operational guidelines keep coming out, so the content here may change too. Before making an important decision, always check the official Q&A yourself.

Official links

出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) — overview of the Employment for Skill Development system↗ 🔍 Employment for Skill Development official Q&A (the most important primary source)↗ Laws and ordinances related to Employment for Skill Development↗ Sending organisation list for Employment for Skill Development (provisional)↗

Other Japanese residence statuses related to work

Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services — this is a status for jobs such as office work, technical work, and interpreting/translation, based on a college degree or higher, or on work experience.
Skilled Labor — this covers work that requires skilled techniques (cooking, construction, etc.).
介護 (Nursing Care) — this is a separate residence status for the nursing care field. Since specified skilled worker nursing care has no Type 2, this status exists instead.
Switching to work after study — this is the route where you finish a school in Japan and then change to a work status.

🏭 E-9 Employment Permit System (Non-professional Employment) Government-to-Government agreement (G2G) ▼

E-9 runs on a government-to-government (G2G) agreement. It is not a system where private recruiters freely hire, like Japan's Specified Skilled Worker program. As a rule, it goes through your home country's government-designated sending organisation and the Korean government system (EPS). It was designed this way to remove the broker corruption seen in the old Industrial Trainee program.

Length of stay

3 years + 1 year 10 months if re-employed = usually 4 years 10 months

Family accompaniment

Not allowed

Required exam

EPS-TOPIK (Korean language) + skills and physical fitness test

Age limit

18 to 39 years old

Who applies

The Korean employer applies for both the employment permit and the pre-approval certificate (사증발급인정서)

2026 quota

80,000 people total (70,000 by industry + 10,000 flexible allocation)

EPS is a system that needs no broker EPS is a government-to-government system. Apart from the official costs (job training, Korean language education, exam fees), there is no reason to pay a broker any placement fee. Claims like "I will connect you to an employer" or "I will get you picked from the list" are structurally impossible — the choice is made by the Korean employer through the EPS computer system.

Home-country government bodies also warn about this repeatedly. If someone asks you for money, first check with your country's official EPS agency.

What you do at each step

Check the official announcement from your country's sending organisation

WhoYourself WhereYour home government's official EPS agency

EPS operates through MOUs with 17 sending countries. Check the official announcement to see whether your country is included and whether there is recruitment in this round.

Check the announcement directly from your country's official EPS government agency (not a private academy's notice)
Each recruitment round has different industries, numbers, and requirements

⚠️ Common mistakes — People often mistake a private academy or broker saying "they are recruiting this time" for an official announcement.

Pass the EPS-TOPIK (Korean language test)

WhoYourself WhereA test centre in your home country — run by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea) PeriodSeveral months of preparation

It is a computer/tablet-based (CBT/UBT) test. 20 reading questions (50 points) + 20 listening questions (50 points) = 100 points total, multiple choice with 4 options.

⚠️ The minimum score and the final selection standard change with each country, industry, and recruitment round announcement. There is no single fixed pass mark for the whole world — you must check the announcement for the exact round you are taking.
Besides the language test, a skills test, job ability assessment, work experience, and physical fitness test may also be combined
Eligibility: 18 to 39 years old · no criminal record of imprisonment or worse · no record of deportation or forced departure

⚠️ Common mistakes — Even if you pass the minimum score, you may not be placed on the jobseeker list, depending on the number to be selected and your total score. Any place that flatly says "you just need to pass ○○ points" is not accurate.

ℹ️ A figure of "2 years" is widely circulated online for the validity period of an EPS-TOPIK pass, but this could not be verified in any official source with an explicit rule. Check the exact validity period directly with your home country's EPS centre or HRD Korea.

Take the skills, physical fitness, and experience assessments and a health check

WhoYourself WhereDesignated agency in your home country

EPS does not select by the Korean language test alone. It is a two-stage combined selection that also includes a skills test, job ability assessment, and so on.

ℹ️ The detailed point table for each item in the selection point system could not be verified in any official source. Point figures circulating online have low reliability, so use your home country's official announcement as the standard.

Apply for work → get placed on the jobseeker list

WhoYourself / home-country sending organisation WhereEPS computer system

Once you pass and clear the health check, you apply for work, and after certification by HRD Korea you are placed on the jobseeker list.

This is as far as you can go on your own. After this, the Korean employer decides.

⚠️ Common mistakes — Being on the list does not mean your employment is confirmed. If you are not chosen, you cannot go to Korea. Be careful of brokers who hide this fact and say "if you pass, you will go."

ℹ️ The validity period of the jobseeker list could not be verified because the enforcement decree has no numerical clause. No basis could be found for either "1 year" or "2 years" — check directly with HRD Korea or the Ministry of Employment and Labor (1350).

The Korean employer picks a worker from the list

WhoKorean employer WhereLocal employment center / eps.go.kr

The employer must first make an effort to recruit local Korean workers, and if no one is hired, they apply to the employment center for a permit to hire a foreign worker. The head of the employment center refers at least 3 times the number of positions from the list, and the employer chooses from among them.

ℹ️ Under the text of the law the local recruitment effort period is 7 days for all industries (amended 2024-01-10), but some official pages still show the old law's "14 days," so this needs to be verified in practice.

Sign the standard labor contract

WhoYourself / employer WhereEPS computer system (via the sending organisation)

Once the employer chooses you, the standard labor contract is sent to the sending organisation, and if you agree it is returned through the system.

Be sure to check the wage, working hours, and food/lodging deduction terms
The first contract is for 3 years
If there is a clause you cannot understand, ask before signing

⚠️ Common mistakes — If you sign without knowing how much the food and lodging deduction is, your take-home pay may be very different from what you expect.

The employer applies for the pre-approval certificate (사증발급인정서)

WhoKorean employer (the inviter) WhereThe immigration office (출입국·외국인청/사무소) with jurisdiction over the employer's location PeriodCould not be verified — official processing time not published

The pre-approval certificate (사증발급인정서 / pre-approval number) is not a visa. It is proof that the Korean Ministry of Justice has reviewed the residence-status requirements in advance. Submitting it can simplify the visa review at the overseas mission, but it does not automatically guarantee that a visa will be issued.

The validity period is 3 months from the date of issue, and it is valid for one visa issuance only
The mission may additionally check whether the passport matches the applicant, whether there are false documents, grounds for entry ban, and any changes in circumstances after the application, and it may also refuse to issue the visa

Get the E-9 visa at the embassy

WhoYourself WhereThe Korean embassy or consulate in your home country CostAbout 60 US dollars (for stays of 91 days or more)

You go to the embassy yourself with the pre-approval number.

Passport (with 6 months or more remaining), photo, visa application form
Tuberculosis certificate, health confirmation form
Criminal record certificate (requirements differ by country)
Required documents and processing time differ by mission, so always check the website of that embassy.

ℹ️ The only place where processing time is officially confirmed is the Korean Embassy in Vietnam (7 working days). Other countries do not publish it.

Enter Korea as a group on the assigned schedule

WhoYourself

With E-9, you do not go on a date you choose. You enter as a group on an assigned schedule.

Take employment training after entry

WhoYourself WhereHRD Korea or a training institution designated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor Period16 hours or more (usually 3 days / 2 nights) · within 15 days of entry CostPaid by the employer

This training is after entry (not before departure). You must finish it before you are placed at a workplace.

ℹ️ H-2 (foreign nationals of Korean descent) is the opposite — paid by the worker — so it is easy to confuse. For E-9, the employer pays.

WhoYourself WhereThe immigration office (출입국·외국인청/사무소/출장소) with jurisdiction — visit required PeriodWithin 90 days of entry (legal deadline) Cost35,000 won (raised on 2025-01-01, previously 30,000 won)

You must go in person because you have to provide biometric information. This is where you receive your Alien Registration Card (ARC).

Application form, passport (including a copy), color photo 3.5×4.5cm
Proof of residence (lease contract, etc.)
Fee 35,000 won (cash)
⚠️ A health certificate or drug test documents may be additionally required — it varies by residence status, industry, nationality, and the immigration office with jurisdiction. Always check the appointment booking screen and the latest document list of the office with jurisdiction.

⚠️ Common mistakes — If you miss the deadline, there is a fine of up to 1,000,000 won depending on how long you are over. Failure to register is grounds for deportation and carries imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine of up to 10,000,000 won.

Permitted industries

Manufacturing	Fewer than 300 regular employees / capital of 8 billion won or less
Construction	Excluding construction of power plants, steel mills, and petrochemical plants
Agriculture and livestock
Fisheries	Coastal/offshore, aquaculture, solar salt
Some services	Waste treatment, cold/frozen warehousing (inland), lodging (some areas), restaurants (pilot areas), building cleaning, cargo handling

What changed recently

Shipbuilding — a separate temporary quota was run from April 2023, but from 2026 the separate quota is abolished and merged into the manufacturing quota.
Restaurants — first introduced in April 2024 for Korean restaurants (kitchen assistant), and in May 2025 the job scope was expanded to include hall serving.
Hotel and condominium business — newly introduced in April 2024 (starting with 4 areas: Seoul, Gangwon, Jeju, Busan).
Parcel delivery — loading/unloading in September 2023, expanded to sorting work in May 2025.

⚠️ The "Regional Vitality Small Business Foreign Employment Special Case" planned for May 2026 (including restaurants in population-declining areas) is not E-9 but a separate program under the Ministry of Justice's F-2-R visa. Never confuse it with E-9 restaurants (Ministry of Employment and Labor, April 2024).

Insurance — who pays matters

Besides the usual four major insurances, E-9 has 4 separate insurances for foreign workers. The law sets who is obliged to enroll.

The four general social insurances

Insurance	Enrolment	Who pays
Health insurance	Mandatory enrollment (workplace subscriber)	Premiums 50% each by employer and worker
Industrial accident insurance	Mandatory enrollment	Fully paid by the employer
Employment insurance	Employment stability and job-skill development schemes are mandatory; unemployment benefits and the like are optional if the employer applies	The explanation that it is "all optional" is inaccurate
National pension	Mandatory in principle, but there are reciprocity-exempt countries	Exempt: Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste / Automatically applied: China, Philippines, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan / Workplace enrollment only automatically applied: Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Laos

Four insurance types for foreigners only

Insurance	Details	Who must enrol
Departure guarantee insurance/trust	Nature of severance pay (paid on departure after 1 year or more of work)	Enrolled by the employer (8.3% of ordinary wage set aside monthly)
Return cost insurance/trust	Cost of returning home	Enrolled by the worker
Casualty insurance	Death or disability from a non-work accident	Enrolled by the worker (the law has no explicit rule on who actually pays the premium)
Guarantee insurance	Covers the employer's failure to pay wages	Enrolled by the employer (the law has no explicit rule on who actually pays the premium)

Changing workplace — the widely spread "3 times" is inaccurate

It is commonly believed to be "3 times total," but that is not accurate. Under Article 25(4) of the law:

During the initial employment period (3 years)	3 times
During the re-employment extension period (1 year 10 months)	2 more times
Total	A structure allowing up to 5 times
Excluded from the count	Changes caused by the employer's fault (business closure, unpaid wages, unfair treatment, etc.) are not counted

Keep to the deadlines

Application deadline	Apply for the workplace change within 1 month of the labor contract end date
Permit deadline	You must obtain permission for the change of workplace within 3 months of the application date
Exceptions	For unavoidable reasons such as a work-related accident, pregnancy, or childbirth, the period can be recalculated or extended
If you go over	In principle you may become subject to departure. The specific action depends on the case, so consult the Ministry of Employment and Labor at 1350 or the immigration office with jurisdiction before the deadline passes.

Re-entry special case (sincere workers)

As a rule re-employment is barred for 6 months after departure, but if you meet all the conditions below it is shortened to 3 months.

You did not change workplace during your employment period (however, if the change was not the worker's fault and you signed a contract of 1 year or more with a new employer, it is recognized)
You are working in an industry or workplace where it is hard to hire local Koreans
The employer applied in advance for the post-re-entry employment permit before you left when your work period expired
Re-entry employment is limited to one time
After re-entry you can, in principle, work an additional 3 years + 1 year 10 months

Who handles what

Category	Body
Policy oversight	Ministry of Employment and Labor
Foreign worker employment permit	Local employment center
Exams, introduction, training	Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea)
Employment procedure system	EPS foreign worker management system
Pre-approval, residence, foreign resident registration	Ministry of Justice immigration office (출입국·외국인청)
Visa issuance	The Korean embassy in your home country
Home-country work	Each country's government-designated sending organisation
Consultation after entry	Foreign Workers' Support Center · employment center · Ministry of Employment and Labor 1350

Documents to prepare — including where to obtain them

Documents you prepare yourself

Document	Where it is issued	Caution
Passport	Home-country passport authority	6 months or more remaining
Resident registration card / national ID	Home-country government office
ID photo	—	For foreign resident registration, 3.5×4.5cm color
EPS-TOPIK application form / pass result	HRD Korea / home-country testing body
Skills test / selection documents	Home-country designated agency
Education, work experience, certificates	School attended / former workplace
Job application form	Via the sending organisation
Health certificate	Designated hospital
Tuberculosis / infectious disease test results	Designated hospital	A report from an embassy-designated hospital is often needed
Criminal record or identity verification documents	Home-country police / government office	The name differs by country (e.g. Philippines NBI clearance)
Standard labor contract	EPS system → sending organisation	Check the deduction items before signing
Pre-approval number	Delivered by the Korean employer	For submission to the embassy
Proof of residence	Lease contract, etc.	Needed for foreign resident registration
Health certificate / drug test documents	Designated hospital (if required)	⚠️ These are not common documents everyone always needs — they may be required depending on residence status, industry, nationality, and the office with jurisdiction. Check the guidance of the immigration office with jurisdiction

Procedures on the Korean employer's side

Document	Where it is issued	Caution
Local recruitment effort	Work-Net	7 days for all industries by law
Foreign worker employment permit application	Local employment center	Within 3 months after the recruitment effort ends
Worker selection	Employment center / eps.go.kr	Choose from the 3x referrals
Signing the standard labor contract	EPS system
Pre-approval certificate application	Immigration office with jurisdiction	Valid for 3 months
Receiving at the employment training institution	—
Placement at the workplace	—

Points you must know

Passing the EPS-TOPIK does not confirm employment in Korea. Even if you are registered on the jobseeker list, you cannot go if no employer chooses you. Be careful of placement agencies that do not tell you this clearly.
If a private broker claims "we guarantee your pass, job, or visa," always be suspicious. The employer's choice is made in the EPS computer system, so there is no room for a broker to intervene.
The 2026 E-9 intake is 80,000 people total (70,000 by industry + 10,000 flexible allocation, decided by the Foreign Workforce Policy Committee on December 22, 2025). This reflects the stabilization of demand that surged after COVID, and it is smaller than in recent years.
The current confirmed amount of the EPS-TOPIK exam fee could not be verified in any official source. Check each country's announcement (PDF in the local language).
There is a separate Special Korean Language Test — only for re-entry candidates who returned home voluntarily before their stay expired. The pass line is set by each country's number to be selected among those scoring 120 points or more out of 200 (reading 100 + listening 100), with extra points (5 to 25) for things like completing resettlement support education.

Official links

EPS foreign worker management system (multilingual)↗ EPS-TOPIK official (HRD Korea)↗ HiKorea — residence and visa information (multilingual)↗ Ministry of Employment and Labor↗ 📞 Ministry of Employment and Labor Customer Service Center 1350↗

🌾 E-8 Seasonal Work Based on local government MOU ▼

This is a program to work during a specific season in agriculture and fisheries. Whether you can join is decided not at the national level but by an MOU between a Korean local government and a foreign local government. Even if your country is included, if your city is not included you cannot go.

Length of stay

Basic 5 months (up to 8 months with extension)

Visa issuance

Once a year (as an exception, twice a year if a C-4 holder is recommended again)

Key condition

Whether your home city/region has signed an MOU with a Korean local government

Who applies

The local government applies to bring workers in → pre-approval certificate (사증발급인정서)

Review

Agriculture = Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs / Fisheries = Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries / final visa by the Ministry of Justice

Broker involvement is subject to criminal punishment from 2026 The Immigration Act was amended so that from January 23, 2026, it is prohibited for anyone other than the state, local governments, and specialized agencies to intervene in the selection, brokering, or recruitment of seasonal workers and receive money or goods for it. Violation carries imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30,000,000 won.

From April 2026, over 3 months, the Ministry of Justice carried out a joint inspection of human rights violations (skimming and non-payment of wages) targeting 27 cities and counties that had problems with broker involvement.

There is a repeated pattern of workers coming after taking on high-interest debt from brokers, and then leaving without permission because of that debt. If you are asked for money, do not comply — check directly with the local government.

What you do at each step

Check whether your region is covered by an MOU

WhoYourself WhereYour local government / the Korean local government

Most of it is decided at this stage. It is by region, not by country.

⚠️ Common mistakes — There are cases where someone prepares after only hearing "I'm going to Korea for seasonal work," but cannot go because their own region is not covered by an MOU.

The local government applies to bring workers in

WhoKorean local government

A Korean city or county applies, saying "we need this many people in our area."

Pre-entry review → allocation confirmed

WhoRelevant agencies WhereAllocation review council

The relevant agencies' allocation review council allocates the number of people.

Pre-approval certificate application and issuance

WhoLocal government, etc. (within Korea) WhereImmigration office (출입국·외국인청)

The pre-approval certificate is issued first within Korea.

Apply for the visa at the embassy

WhoYourself WhereThe Korean embassy or consulate in your home country (or the visa portal visa.go.kr)

You apply yourself with the pre-approval certificate number.

Visa application form (with the certificate number and issue date)
Original passport + 1 photo + a copy of the personal information page
Health certificate (within 6 months · including AIDS, syphilis, drug tests)
Chest X-ray for tuberculosis and a report from an embassy-designated hospital
Criminal record certificate (e.g. for the Philippines, NBI clearance issued within 3 months)
Fee (e.g. for the Philippines, E-8 is 3,000 pesos)

ℹ️ Required documents differ by country. Always check the notice of the Korean embassy or consulate in your country.

Enter Korea → work

WhoYourself WhereThe assigned local government / farm

The local government and the employer manage employment and daily life.

Entry routes — divided by visa sub-codes

E-8-1	Agriculture · local government MOU method — a foreign local government with an MOU with a Korean local government recommends its residents
E-8-2	Agriculture · marriage immigrant invitation — an immigrant who married a Korean and received F-6 recommends a relative living abroad within the 4th degree of kinship
E-8-3	Fisheries · local government MOU method
E-8-4	Fisheries · marriage immigrant invitation method

"Other routes" besides these two have not been officially confirmed. Be suspicious if you are offered another route.

Who handles what

Category	Body
Worker recruitment and bringing in	Korean local government
Overseas recruitment	MOU partner local government or designated agency
Number allocation	Relevant agencies' allocation review council
Pre-approval	Immigration office (출입국·외국인청)
Visa	Korean embassy / consulate general
Employment and daily-life management	Local government · employer
Agriculture-sector review	Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and local agricultural agencies
Fisheries-sector review	Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and local fisheries agencies

Documents to prepare — including where to obtain them

Main documents

Document	Where it is issued	Caution
Passport	Home-country passport authority
Visa application form	Embassy / visa.go.kr	Certificate number stated
ID photo	—
Pre-approval certificate or pre-approval number	Delivered by the Korean local government
Labor contract	Employer
Local government recommendation / selection documents	Foreign local government
Proof of residence / farmer or fisher status abroad	Home-country local government	MOU route
Family relation certificate	Home-country government office	Marriage immigrant family route
Health certificate	Designated hospital	Within 6 months · including AIDS, syphilis, drug tests
Tuberculosis chest X-ray report	Embassy-designated hospital
Criminal record certificate	Home-country police	Often must be issued within 3 months
Departure/return consent or guarantee documents	—
Housing and workplace information	Local government / employer
Insurance enrollment documents	—
Flight information	—

Points you must know

The length of stay is under discussion. The current standard is a basic 5 months + 3 months extension = up to 8 months. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is pushing a plan to expand it to 10 months considering each crop's growing cycle, but the Ministry of Justice wants to keep the current rule, so as of July 2026 no conclusion has been reached. Check the latest notice on HiKorea.
If you stay beyond the allowed period, you will face disadvantages when applying for other statuses later. Seasonal work is a program with a set period.
The rules for skipping a season and rejoining in the next season could not be clearly verified in any official source — check with the local government.

Official links

HiKorea — Seasonal Work (E-8) information↗ Korea Visa Portal↗ Ministry of Justice Korea Immigration Service↗

💼 E-7 Professional and Skilled Workers Direct hiring by companies ▼

E-7 is not a single procedure that goes through a national sending organisation like E-9. It is a method where a Korean company directly hires a qualified foreigner and applies for a pre-approval certificate (사증발급인정서). And for people already working in Korea, E-7-4 is in effect the most realistic route to long-term residence.

Sub-categories

E-7-1 professional / E-7-2 semi-professional / E-7-3 general skilled / E-7-4 skilled worker (point system)

E-7-4 target

Long-term residence conversion for people already working on E-9, E-10, or H-2

Family accompaniment

Allowed

Who applies

The Korean company applies for the pre-approval certificate

Key point

Whether your education and work experience connect to the relevant occupation

If you are working on E-9 — E-7-4 is the only long-term route E-9 ends at a maximum of 4 years 10 months. If you want to stay in Korea longer than that and live with your family, converting to E-7-4 (skilled worker point system) is in effect the only legal route.

From the moment you enter Korea on E-9, it is to your advantage to keep this route in mind and manage your income records, Korean language study, and continuous employment at the same company. It is too late to start preparing after 4 years have passed.

What you do at each step

Check whether your education and experience match an E-7 permitted occupation

WhoYourself WhereHiKorea (occupation notice)

E-7 has a set list of permitted occupations. Whether your education and experience connect to that occupation is the core of the review.

⚠️ Common mistakes — There are many cases of applying for an occupation unrelated to one's major and being refused.

Receive a job offer from a Korean company and sign a contract

WhoYourself / company

E-7-1 in principle requires a related bachelor's degree or above, or related experience. However, there are many exceptions — those with a bachelor's degree from a Korean university (or expected) are exempt from experience regardless of major; those with 1 year or more of professional experience at a Fortune Global 500 company are exempt from both education and experience; graduates of world top universities are exempt from the experience requirement, and so on.

Wage requirement: in principle 80% or more of the previous year's per-capita GNI. For SMEs, venture companies, or companies outside the capital region, this is eased to 70% or more if requirements are met
GNI is updated every year, so check the absolute amount on the HiKorea notice at the time of application

Get an apostille or consular authentication on your documents

WhoYourself WhereHome-country issuing body → apostille issuing body or embassy PeriodThis takes the longest — start it first

Degree and experience documents often cannot just be submitted. You must prove internationally that they are genuine.

Between countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, in principle an apostille can replace the authentication of a public document
For documents from a non-member country or documents not covered by the apostille, you may need consular authentication by the issuing country's foreign ministry and authentication by the other country's mission
⚠️ The order of translation and notarization differs by country and document type. Sometimes notarized translation is needed before authentication, sometimes after. Check the guidance of the receiving body first.
The procedure differs for public and private documents, and authentication may be waived by an agreement between the two countries
The list of member countries changes every year — check with the Overseas Koreans Agency or the official Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) website

⚠️ Common mistakes — There are many cases of having to start over from the beginning because the order was done wrong. Do not start thinking "I'll just do the translation first" — first ask the receiving body which documents you need and the order of authentication. It is also common for people to fail to meet their start date because they did not account for the time authentication takes.

The company applies for the pre-approval certificate (사증발급인정서)

WhoKorean company WhereImmigration office with jurisdiction

They review the qualifications, wage, and company requirements, and a pre-approval number is issued.

Visa at the embassy → entry → foreign resident registration

WhoYourself WhereEmbassy → immigration office

You must register as a foreign resident within 90 days of entry.

E-7-4 skilled worker point system — requirements

Residence / experience	Within the last 10 years, 4 years or more of residence on E-9, E-10, or H-2 and currently working normally at your current workplace
Income	There is an average annual income standard for the last 2 years. Always check the original HiKorea notice because the exact amount changes every year (it could not be confirmed because sources vary between 25,000,000 won and 26,000,000 won)
Korean language	TOPIK level 2 or completion of stage 2 of the Social Integration Program
Points	200 points or more out of 300. However, the "average income" and "Korean language ability" items each require at least 50 points
Recommendation	A recommendation from the employer at your current workplace (worked 1 year or more) is required
Application	Online submission on HiKorea · closes early when the quota runs out

❓ The annual quota (TO) varies greatly between sources, so it is not stated on this page. Media reports (33,000 per year) and some government page figures (2,500 per year) conflict; the latter may be a specific sub-track or an old cache. Always check the original PDF of the "Skilled Worker (K-point E74) Selection Plan" in HiKorea notices yourself.

Who handles what

Category	Body
Pre-approval, residence	Ministry of Justice immigration office (출입국·외국인청)
Visa issuance	Korean embassy / consulate general in your home country
Employment recommendation by occupation	The relevant ministry and related agencies
Apostille	Home-country apostille issuing body / for Korean documents, the Overseas Koreans Agency

Documents to prepare — including where to obtain them

Documents you prepare yourself

Document	Where it is issued	Caution
Passport / photo	Home-country passport authority
Degree certificate	The university you graduated from	Apostille or consular authentication required
Transcript	The university you graduated from
Experience certificate	Former workplace	Apostille or consular authentication required
National / technical qualification	Home-country qualification body
Criminal record certificate	Home-country police
Employment contract	Korean company
Job description	Korean company
Translation	Notarized translation	Notarization required
Additional proof by occupation	—	Varies by occupation

Documents the Korean company prepares

Document	Where it is issued	Caution
Business registration certificate	Tax office
Corporate registration certificate	Registry office
Tax payment certificate	Tax office
Financial statements	Company	Review of ability to pay wages
Employment contract · statement of reason for hiring	Company
Job content statement	Company
Domestic employment status	Company	National employment protection review standard
Recommendation letter by occupation or employment recommendation documents	The relevant ministry

Points you must know

The apostille / consular authentication is the bottleneck. Start on degree and experience documents first. You have to begin by obtaining the originals in your home country, so if you are already in Korea you must ask family back home or look into a proxy issuance procedure.
The national employment protection review standard in principle does not apply to professional workers (E-7-1) (except the wage requirement), but it does apply as an exception to some occupations where there is concern about excessive invitations.
The absolute amount of the E-7-1 wage requirement changes each year with the GNI update. The Ministry of Justice announces that if the previous year's GNI is not yet published at the time of application, the GNI from two years prior is applied.
There are reports that a temporary waiver of the Korean language requirement was in place in 2026, but this has not been cross-verified. Check directly on the HiKorea notice.

Official links

HiKorea — E-7 and skilled worker notices↗ Ministry of Justice Korea Immigration Service↗ Overseas Koreans Agency Apostille↗ Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) — check member countries↗

Other Korean residence statuses related to work

E-10 Vessel Crew — this is for foreign crew who work on ships. It is also covered by the E-7-4 points system.
D-2 / D-4 switching to work after study — this is the route where you attend or graduate from a school in Korea and then change to a work status.
H-2 Working Visit — this is for ethnic Koreans with foreign nationality. It is also covered by the E-7-4 points system. (Unlike E-9, the employment training is paid by yourself.)
F-2-R Regionally Specialised Skilled Talent — this is for skilled people who settle in areas with a declining population. Do not confuse it with the E-9 restaurant industry — it is a separate system.

🌏 Parts that differ by home country

Even for the same status, the steps you must go through in your home country are different. Institution names and fees change often, so check your home country's official notice as well.

🇻🇳 Vietnam ▼

🇯🇵 Japan

Check directly in the OTIT list whether it is a sending organisation approved by the Vietnamese government (Vietnam was the first country to sign an MOC — 2017-06-06)
When applying for specified skilled worker, check whether you are subject to the sending procedure on the Vietnam side
Registration and sending contract for overseas workers
Statement of sending costs — always keep the receipts
Japanese language / skills test
Health check
Criminal record and identity documents
Employment contract with a Japanese company
COE and Japanese visa

🇰🇷 South Korea

Check Vietnam's official EPS sending organisation announcement
EPS-TOPIK
Selection assessment / health check
Registration on the jobseeker roster
Standard labour contract
Pre-departure training
E-9 visa
Group entry according to the assigned schedule

Employment for skill development (from 2027) does not yet have an MOC signed with Vietnam. The list of sending organisations for employment for skill development is in a 「provisional」 state. Bodies under Vietnam's Ministry of Labour have also repeatedly warned about EPS-related fraud — do not pay any extra money to a broker beyond the regular costs (vocational training, Korean language education, test fees).

🇮🇩 Indonesia ▼

🇯🇵 Japan

Check for a sending organisation approved by the Indonesian government (OTIT list)
Japanese language / field test — Indonesia is the only country outside Japan where the test for the wood industry field is held
Employment contract
Home country sending procedure
COE / visa
Check home country social security procedures such as BPJS and overseas work procedures

🇰🇷 South Korea

EPS registration through an official Indonesian sending organisation
EPS-TOPIK
Health / skills assessment
Jobseeker roster
Contract / pre-departure training
E-9 issuance

The MOC for employment for skill development has not yet been signed. For the Korean National Pension, only workplace-based coverage is mandatory for Indonesian nationals.

🇵🇭 Philippines ▼

The Philippines is a country with relatively strong procedures to protect overseas workers and verify contracts. Whether you go to Japan or Korea, check the following in common.

Items to check for both Japan and South Korea

Registration with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW)
Check whether the recruitment agency is licensed
Employment contract verification
Exit permit such as the Overseas Employment Certificate
Pre-departure orientation
Insurance / welfare fund
In the contract, who pays for wages, housing, and airfare
Criminal record certificate = NBI clearance (for the Korean visa, one issued within 3 months is required)

For the Korean National Pension, full mandatory coverage applies to Philippine nationals. Many fields of the Japan specified skilled worker test are held in the Philippines (nursing care, construction, shipbuilding, automobile maintenance, aviation, accommodation, etc.).

🇳🇵 Nepal ▼

Items to check for both Japan and South Korea

Approval by Nepal's labour, employment, and social security bodies
Overseas employment permit
Designated body for health check
Payment of insurance / welfare fund
Pre-departure orientation
Japan specified skilled worker test or Korea EPS-TOPIK
Check the sending costs and receipts

Nepal signed the Japan MOC in 2024 (relatively recently). For the Korean National Pension, Nepalese nationals are exempted on a reciprocity basis — pension is not deducted.

🇹🇭 Thailand ▼

Items to check for both Japan and South Korea

A body approved by Thailand's Ministry of Labour or a government procedure
Overseas work approval
Health check
Employment contract registration
Japan specified skilled worker / technical intern training sending procedure
Korea EPS registration, training, and departure procedure

🌱 Thailand is the first country in the world to sign an MOC specifically for employment for skill development (2026-06-02). This means it is one of the most ready countries for when the employment for skill development system starts in April 2027. For the Korean National Pension, only workplace-based coverage is mandatory for Thai nationals.

🇺🇿 Uzbekistan ▼

Items to check for both Japan and South Korea

Check for a sending organisation approved by the Uzbek government
Japan specified skilled worker test (held in fields such as agriculture and automobile transport)
Korea EPS-TOPIK
Health check / criminal record

🌱 It is the second country to sign an MOC specifically for employment for skill development (2026-06-29). For the Korean National Pension, full mandatory coverage applies to Uzbek nationals.

Other countries

Cambodia · Myanmar · Mongolia · Sri Lanka · Bangladesh · Kyrgyzstan · Pakistan · Laos · Timor-Leste · China · India · Bhutan · Fiji · Tajikistan

There are 17 countries that have signed a Japan technical intern training MOC (China is not included). There are 17 countries that send workers under the Korea EPS (in October 2024, Tajikistan was added, going from 16 to 17). The two lists are different from each other.

💴 Where money is spent

The amounts change often. Below, only what was confirmed as of 17 July 2026 is written. Items that could not be confirmed are marked 「could not be verified — check the official source」 — do not just believe the numbers floating around on the internet.

🇯🇵 Japan

Item	Amount	Notes
COE (Certificate of Eligibility)	Free (0 yen)	✅ Confirmed
Visa — single entry (査証)	15,000 yen	⚠️ Increased 5 times from 2026-07-01 (was 3,000 yen)
Visa — multiple entry (査証)	30,000 yen	⚠️ Increased 5 times from 2026-07-01 (was 6,000 yen)
Permission to change residence status	6,000 yen (counter) / 5,500 yen (online)	From 2025-04-01 (was 4,000 yen)
Permission to renew period of stay	6,000 yen (counter) / 5,500 yen (online)	From 2025-04-01
Approval of technical intern training plan	3,900 yen per person	Paid by the company
介護日本語評価試験 (Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test)	About 2,000 yen	Nursing care field only
Resident registration (moving-in notification)	Free
Support plan cost (specified skilled worker)	You must not pay this yourself	🚫 Prohibited by law — deducting it from wages may be illegal

⚠️ A plan to greatly raise the fees for changing and renewing residence status from 1 October 2026 is under discussion (public comment stage in July–August 2026). It is not yet decided. The amounts currently in effect are the 6,000 yen / 5,500 yen above.

🇰🇷 South Korea

Item	Amount	Notes
E-9 visa	About 60 US dollars	Based on a stay of 91 days or more (90 days or less is 40 dollars)
Alien Registration Card (ARC)	35,000 won	From 2025-01-01 (was 30,000 won)
Employment training (16 hours)	Paid by the employer	Based on E-9 · H-2 is paid by yourself
EPS-TOPIK test fee	Could not be verified — check the official source	❓ Official fixed amount not confirmed — check each country's announcement
E-8 visa (e.g. Philippines)	3,000 pesos	Differs by consulate
Apostille / consular confirmation (documents issued in Korea)	1,000 won per copy	Overseas Koreans Agency

The amount actually charged at each overseas mission may be different. Confirm the final amount on the website of the Korean mission in your home country.

✅ Personal checklist

Do the common items first, then look at the list for the country you plan to go to. The common list is split into 「things you can do now / things to prepare after checking whether they are required / things to prepare at the time of application」 — this is because if you obtain a document too early, its validity period will pass and you will have to obtain it again. What you check is saved only in this browser and is not sent to any server.

🌏 Common ① Things you can do right now

Progress 0 / 7

📄Check your passport validity (if you don't have one, start by getting it) 🎓Check whether your education and career documents are in your own hands (where the originals are, whether they can be reissued) 📝Prepare for tests (Japanese / Korean / skills test by field) 🔍Check directly whether the organisation you are in contact with is on the government's official list 💰Organise and keep the receipts and statements for the money you have paid so far 🛂Check that you have not handed your passport over to anyone 📞Save the phone numbers for consultation and reporting on your phone

🌏 Common ② Things to prepare only after you confirm they are required

⚠️ The items below are not documents that everyone always needs. They differ by status, country, job type, and consulate, and if you get them too early they can hit the issue-date limit and you have to get them again. 「Let's just prepare everything」 actually costs you. First check whether it is needed and the required format.

Progress 0 / 4

👮Criminal record certificate — there may be an issue-date limit (e.g. issued within 3 months) 👪Family relationship certificate 🌐Apostille / consular confirmation — only for the documents that need it. Many documents do not need an apostille 🔤Translation and notarisation — the order of original, translation, and authentication is different for each country and each type of document. Check the guidance of the receiving organisation first

🌏 Common ③ Things to prepare at the time you apply

The items below have a short validity period. If you prepare them early, they expire and you have to do them again.

Progress 0 / 5

🏥Health certificate — the validity period is short, and the consulate may require a designated hospital and designated format 📷ID photos (the size is different for each application) 📋Check the labour contract terms (wages, working hours, the deduction items and their basis) 💴Balance certificate / recently issued tax or income documents (if required) ✈️Flights — do not book before you get the COE / Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance

🚨 These offers are warning signs

If even one of the below applies, ask an official body before you pay any money or sign anything. Most of these are acts banned by law.

🌏 Common — whichever country you prepare for

💸

They demand excessive sending fees or charges

There is a basis for the fees in a normal procedure. Ask for the amounts and items in a statement, and always keep the receipts. The moment you take on high-interest debt to pay the fees, that debt pushes you into running away without permission or into exploitation — this is a structure that has been pointed out again and again in both countries.

✅

They say 「we guarantee your job, passing the test, or the visa issuance」

It is structurally impossible. For the Korean EPS the employer picks directly through the computer system, for the Japanese COE the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) reviews it, and the visa is reviewed separately by the overseas mission. There is no party that can guarantee it. This kind of talk can be a warning sign of fraud or illegal brokering — check with the official bodies before you sign or pay.

🛂

They tell you to hand over your passport

You keep your own passport. Neither the company, nor the supervising organisation, nor the sending organisation can take it. In Japan, Article 48(1) of the Technical Intern Training Act expressly prohibits keeping your passport or residence card, and a violation is up to 6 months in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen. If you have already handed it over, contact the consultation service below.

📄

They do not give you the contract or do not explain its contents

Before you sign, ask for a copy in a language you can read. 「We'll give it to you later」 or 「just sign for now」 are dangerous. In particular, check the deduction items (dormitory fee, food, utilities, management fee) — this is what decides your take-home pay.

🏢

They will not confirm whether it is a government-approved organisation

Ask for the approval number and validity period and check them directly against the government's official list. Anyone can see the list for free (in Japan, OTIT and the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency); in Korea, your home country's government body). If it differs from the official records, or they cannot show a basis, check with the government body before you sign or pay.
⚠️ On the other hand, saying it is 「government-approved」 does not guarantee that the organisation is safe — approval is only the minimum condition.

🇯🇵 If you are preparing for Japan

🍚

They say 「we'll send you in the restaurant industry」

From 13 April 2026, new acceptance for 特定技能1号 (Specified Skilled Worker (i)) in the restaurant industry has in principle been suspended. A proposal to have you prepare tests and pay costs aiming for the restaurant industry now means they either don't know this fact, or know it and are hiding it. Always check the latest notice from the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) as well.

🔒

They demand a deposit or a penalty contract

Article 47(1) of the Technical Intern Training Act expressly prohibits contracts that set a penalty or a fixed amount of damages — this is prohibited not only against you but also against your spouse or relatives. For specified skilled worker too, 「there must be no deposit or penalty contract」 is a legal requirement. A violation is up to 6 months in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen. Paragraph 2 of the same article also prohibits forced savings.

📵

They take your phone or forbid you from going out

Under Article 48(2) of the Technical Intern Training Act, unjust restrictions on private life such as communication and going out are prohibited. It is not allowed even if it is called 「dormitory rules」.

💼

They deduct the specified skilled worker 「support fee」 from your wages

The official Q&A of the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) clearly states that making the foreign national bear the support cost is not permitted. It is prohibited whether direct or indirect. If there is a 「support fee」 or 「management fee」 on your pay slip, ask for the basis.

🌱

They say 「we'll send you now under employment for skill development」

As of July 2026, the only countries that have signed an MOC specifically for employment for skill development are Thailand and Uzbekistan. The list of sending organisations for employment for skill development in other countries is still 「provisional」. Technical intern training approval does not carry over automatically to employment for skill development — 「we are already an approved body」 is not a valid basis.

🇰🇷 If you are preparing for Korea

🏭

It is EPS but a broker demands a placement fee

EPS is a government-to-government (G2G) system. It was designed this way to get rid of the broker corruption of the old industrial trainee system. Beyond the regular costs (vocational training, Korean language education, test fee), there is no money to pay a broker. Your home country's government bodies also warn about this again and again.

📋

They say 「we'll get you picked from the jobseeker roster」

It is impossible. The employer picks directly from the job centre and the EPS computer system (choosing from a list of 3 times the number of positions). There is simply no point where a broker can get involved. This kind of talk can be a warning sign of fraud or illegal brokering.

🌾

They demand money to arrange seasonal work (E-8)

From 23 January 2026, this is subject to criminal punishment. If someone other than the state, a local government, or a specialised body gets involved in selecting, arranging, or hiring seasonal workers and receives money or goods, it is up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 30,000,000 won (Immigration Control Act Article 94, item 11-2). From April 2026, the Ministry of Justice carried out an all-out inspection of 27 cities and counties that had trouble with broker involvement.

✈️ What to have in hand at immigration (entering Japan)

Immigration officers will ask for these. If you don't have them, or they're buried in your bag, entry can be delayed — keep them in your hand or tucked in your passport, ready to show.

Passport Physical required

Physical copy required. Check the remaining validity beforehand.

COE (Certificate of Eligibility) Electronic / print / physical all OK

Electronic COE (email screen) · printout · physical copy — any is fine. Since 2023 you may show a COE received by email on your phone screen.

Visit Japan Web QR code or Disembarkation (入国記録) card Electronic / print / physical all OK

QR on screen · printout, or a paper card — any is fine. Registering on Visit Japan Web in advance gets you through quickly by QR. If you didn't, you fill out a paper card on the plane or at the airport.
📄 How to fill it out: Japan Entry Guide (Visit Japan Web · entry card) · Entry card sample

Permission for activity outside status (students only) Physical required

Physical copy required. The official name is 資格外活動許可 (permission to engage in activity outside your status). It comes as a seal (証印シール) affixed in your passport or a 資格外活動許可書 (permission document). You must have it to work part-time. You can apply for and receive it on the spot right after landing permission at the airport (except the 3-month status).
🖨️ Print it and fill it out in advance to save time — 資格外活動許可申請書 (for newly entering students · Excel, official MOJ)

📄 A separate guide on how to fill out the Disembarkation card is in preparation. ⚠️ Note: if you are coming to work or study, the Purpose of visit is not tourism but your residence status (Specified Skilled Worker, Technical Intern Training, Student, etc.); the Intended length of stay is the period on your COE (usually 1 year); and for your contact / address in Japan you write your company or school name.

🏠 Things to do after entering the country

Getting the visa is not the end. There are procedures with fixed deadlines, and missing them leads to a fine or deportation.

🇯🇵 After entering Japan

Get the residence card at the airport

At 8 airports — Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, New Chitose, Kobe, Hiroshima, Fukuoka — it is issued immediately on entry. If you come in through another airport or port, it is mailed later after you report your address.

Within 14 days, resident registration (転入届)

The legal deadline is within 14 days from the day you decide your address. Take your residence card to the city/ward/town/village office. It is free. When you report, your address is written on the back of the residence card. You have to do this before everything else falls into place.

My Number (individual number)

It is not given just by the residence card. You must do the moving-in notification and be put on the basic resident register for the number to be assigned, and the notification is mailed to your registered address (takes a few weeks).

Health insurance / pension

If you are regularly employed by the company and meet the requirements, the company handles social insurance (health insurance + employees' pension). If you do not qualify, you must join the National Health Insurance yourself at the city/ward/town/village office — it is not automatic.

In the order of phone → bank

Banks often require a residence card with the address written on it and a contact number, so the order of ① resident registration → ② phone → ③ bank account goes smoothly. Some banks set a condition of 「period of stay of 6 months or more」.

⚠️ Lump-sum withdrawal payment of pension — the rule changed from 1 April 2026 There is a lump-sum withdrawal payment (脱退一時金) system where, when you leave Japan, you get back part of the pension you paid. You must have been enrolled in the employees' pension for 6 months or more, and you must claim it within 2 years from the day you no longer have an address in Japan.

From 1 April 2026, while a re-entry permit (or a deemed re-entry permit) is still valid, you can no longer claim the lump-sum withdrawal payment, regardless of whether you filed a moving-out notification. If you return home temporarily with a re-entry permit, be careful about the timing of your claim.

🇰🇷 After entering Korea

Employment training (16 hours or more)

You take it within 15 days of the date of entry, before being assigned to the workplace. For E-9 it is paid by the employer.

Within 90 days, alien registration

The legal deadline is within 90 days from the date of entry. You must go in person to the immigration office (branch office) with jurisdiction (you provide biometric information). The fee is 35,000 won (cash).
Basic items to bring: application form · passport (including a copy) · colour photo 3.5×4.5cm · document proving your place of stay (lease contract, etc.).
⚠️ Documents related to a health certificate and drug test may be required in addition, depending on the residence status, industry, nationality, and the office with jurisdiction. These are not common documents that everyone always needs, so check the visit reservation screen and the latest list of documents to prepare from the office with jurisdiction.
If you miss the deadline, up to 1,000,000 won in fines; failing to register makes you subject to deportation + up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to 10,000,000 won.

Health insurance

After alien registration, those employed at a workplace are enrolled as workplace subscribers. Those not employed can join as regional subscribers after 6 months of residence in the country.

Bank account / phone

The basics are the Alien Registration Card (ARC) + original passport + a Korean phone number (for OTP verification). Work visas often require an employment certificate and a labour contract.

💼 Things you need to know while working

How to read a pay slip — always check the deduction itemsOvertime pay calculationHow to apply for sick leave and holidaysConsultation on workplace harassmentReporting unpaid wagesConditions for changing workplace / transferring jobsRenewal of period of stay (Japan) / extension of period of stay (Korea)Switch to specified skilled worker (Japan) / switch to E-7-4 (Korea)Whether you can invite familyLump-sum withdrawal payment of pension (Japan) / departure guarantee insurance (Korea)

📞 When a problem happens — contact these

If you were not paid your wages, or were assaulted or harassed, or had your passport taken, do not put up with it alone. The following are official channels, and consultation is free. You can consult without telling the company.

🇯🇵 Japan

Foreign workers consultation corner

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Support in English, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Burmese, Nepali, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, Khmer, Mongolian, etc. It is a channel at each regional labour bureau, and the days and times differ, so check your own region at the link below.

Official site ↗

OTIT consultation in your own language

Organization for Technical Intern Training

This is only for technical intern trainees. It is free and you can consult in various native languages. Specified skilled worker and general work visas may not be covered, so use the labour bureau channel above.

Official site ↗

Labour Standards Inspection Office

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Report unpaid wages and illegal working conditions here. Technical intern trainees are also covered by the Labour Standards Act just the same.

Official site ↗

🇰🇷 South Korea

1350 — Ministry of Employment and Labor customer consultation centre

Ministry of Employment and Labor

Dial 1350 with no area code (call charge applies). Weekdays 09:00–18:00. On the ARS, option 4 is labour consultation (labour standards, industrial safety). It provides foreign-language consultation in English and Chinese. At night and on weekends, the duty office is 052-701-5300 (limited).

Official site ↗

1644-0644 — Foreign Workers Support Call Center

Under the Ministry of Employment and Labor

This is a multilingual support call centre. It is widely announced as free and 24 hours, but the operating hours and language list could not be confirmed in the official source, so confirm after connecting.

1577-0071 — Foreign Workers Support Center

9 locations nationwide

This is the main phone number.

Substitute payment of unpaid wages

Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service

This is a system where the state pays instead when an employer cannot pay wages. Online is the labour portal; in person is the local employment and labour office with jurisdiction.

Official site ↗

Free legal aid

Korea Legal Aid Corporation

Workers whose average wage over the last 3 months is less than 4,000,000 won can get consultation and litigation representation for free.

Official site ↗

❓ Frequently asked questions

Q1 If I get a COE, does that mean I got a visa? ▼

No. A COE (Certificate of Eligibility) is only a certificate where the Japanese government confirms in advance that 「this person meets the requirements」. With this, you must go to the Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country and apply for the visa separately. Korea's Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance is the same. That said, if you have the COE/confirmation certificate, the embassy review is greatly simplified.

Q2 How long is a COE valid? ▼

It is known to be 3 months from the date it is issued (we could not directly confirm the official source, so we recommend you check). Korea's Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance is 3 months from the date of issue, single use. Either way, as soon as you get it, start the visa application. If you let time pass, you have to start over.

Q3 If I pass the EPS-TOPIK, can I go to Korea? ▼

No. Passing → health check → job application → being put on the jobseeker roster is all you can do yourself. After that, a Korean employer picks from the roster. If you are not picked, you cannot go. On top of that, the EPS-TOPIK is graded on a curve, so even if you pass the line (manufacturing 60 points / others 45 points), you can still fail.

Q4 For the Japanese language test, should I take the JFT-Basic or the JLPT? ▼

You only need to pass one of the two. For the JFT-Basic, you pass with 200 points or more out of 250. For the JLPT, N4 or above is enough.

The difference is the chances to take it. The JLPT is held twice a year (July, December) in Japan and some overseas cities, but depending on the country or city, it may only be held once a year. The JFT-Basic is generally offered more often. If you are in a hurry, the JFT-Basic is advantageous, but check the actual schedule of the city where you will take it before deciding.

But for the nursing care (介護) field, on top of this you must also pass the 介護日本語評価試験 (Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test).

Q5 Is it okay to prepare for Japan restaurant industry specified skilled worker now? ▼

We do not recommend it. From 13 April 2026, new residence permits for 特定技能1号 (Specified Skilled Worker (i)) in the restaurant industry have in principle been suspended. This is because the acceptance cap (50,000 people over 5 years) is expected to be reached. For those already working in the restaurant industry, renewals and job changes within the restaurant industry are not affected. But this measure can change, so check the latest notice from the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency).

Q6 Should I go as a technical intern trainee, or as a specified skilled worker? ▼

If possible, specified skilled worker has many advantages. You contract with the company directly, changing jobs is relatively free, and if you go to Type 2 you can bring family and renew indefinitely. Technical intern training in principle does not allow job changes and ends after 5 years, and from April 2027 the system itself changes to employment for skill development. That said, specified skilled worker has an entry hurdle because you must first pass two tests (Japanese + skills).

Q7 If I finish Technical Intern Training (ii), am I exempt from the specified skilled worker test? ▼

The Japanese language test is exempted — if you 「completed Technical Intern Training (ii) well」 (2 years 10 months or more as planned), you are exempt regardless of your job type. The skills test is conditionally exempted — you are exempt only if a connection is recognised between the work you want to do and the job type/task of your Technical Intern Training (ii). The 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency) publishes an official correspondence table, so be sure to check it. Even if you failed the practical of the Grade 3 skills test, if you prove with an evaluation report that you reached the target skill level, it can be recognised as a 「good completion」.

Q8 When employment for skill development starts in 2027, what happens to people who are currently in technical intern training? ▼

If you are already staying in Japan as of 1 April 2027, you can continue with your existing plan. You will not be forcibly switched to employment for skill development. However, moving from Type 2 to Type 3 comes with the condition of 「already being active in Type 2 for 1 year or more as of 1 April 2027」. If you fall short, you may not be able to move to Type 3. If your schedule falls on this boundary, get confirmation from the supervising organisation in writing.

Q9 When my 4 years and 10 months on Korea's E-9 is up, is that the end? ▼

There are two paths. ① Re-entry special case (sincere worker) — if you did not change workplace and the employer applied for the re-entry employment permit in advance before you left, you can come back after only 3 months after departure (shortened from the usual 6 months). But it is limited to once. ② Switch to E-7-4 — if you want long-term stay and to bring family, this is basically the only path. There are requirements such as 4 years or more of stay on E-9/E-10/H-2, so from the day you enter, manage your income, Korean, and length of service.

Q10 Can I change workplace (company)? ▼

Korea E-9 — 3 times during the first 3 years, and a separate 2 times during the re-employment extension period (1 year 10 months) (the commonly said 「3 times total」 is inaccurate). Changes due to the employer's fault (closure, unpaid wages, unfair treatment) are not counted toward the number of times. You must apply within 1 month of the contract end date, and get approval within 3 months of the application date; if you go over, you must leave the country.
Japan technical intern training — in principle not possible. It is only possible when there are 「unavoidable circumstances」 such as human rights violations, unpaid wages, or bankruptcy.
Japan specified skilled worker — changing jobs within the same field is possible.
Japan employment for skill development (from 2027) — it becomes conditionally possible after working 1 to 2 years by field.

Q11 The company says it will keep my passport. Is that normal? ▼

It is illegal. In Japan, Article 48(1) of the Technical Intern Training Act expressly prohibits keeping your passport or residence card, and a violation is up to 6 months in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen. Taking your phone or forbidding you from going out also violates Article 48(2). If you have already handed it over, contact the consultation service at the bottom of this page — it is free and you can consult in your own language.

Q12 Can I get back the pension I paid in Japan? ▼

There is a lump-sum withdrawal payment (脱退一時金) system. You must have been enrolled in the employees' pension for 6 months or more, and you must claim it within 2 years from the day you no longer have an address in Japan. ⚠️ From 1 April 2026, you can no longer claim it while a re-entry permit is still valid. If you return home temporarily with a re-entry permit, be careful about the timing.

Q13 I heard the visa cost went up? ▼

That's right. The visa fee paid at the Japanese embassy or consulate went up 5 times from 1 July 2026, from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen for single entry, and from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen for multiple entry. This is the visa fee, and it is separate from the residence status change/renewal fee paid inside Japan (currently 6,000 yen / online 5,500 yen). For the latter, a proposal for a further increase from October 2026 is under discussion (not decided).

Q14 Can I bring my family? ▼

Japan 特定技能1号 (Specified Skilled Worker (i)) — in principle not possible. Specified skilled worker Type 2 is possible (spouse, children). That is why choosing a field that has Type 2 is important for the long term. The fields without Type 2 are nursing care, automobile transport, railway, forestry, and wood industry (nursing care has a separate residence status, 「介護」). Technical intern training — not possible. Korea E-9 — not possible, and it becomes possible if you switch to E-7.

🤝 Ask people who came before you

You can find out about what people from the same country, the same job type, and the same region actually went through in the local community.

Open the local community →