EPS-TOPIK 2026: The Korean Test for Working in Korea
EPS-TOPIK is the Korean language test for the Employment Permit System (EPS), the program that brings workers to Korea on the E-9 visa. It is run by HRD Korea together with the government agency of each sending country. Here is the 2026 format, eligibility, fees and dates for the main English-speaking countries.
EPS-TOPIK test format
| Section | Questions | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 20 | 25 min | 50 |
| Listening | 20 | 25 min | 50 |
| Total | 40 | 50 min | 100 |
- All questions are multiple choice with 4 options. They cover Korean language and culture as well as workplace safety.
- The test is taken on a computer (CBT) or tablet (UBT). Nepal and the Philippines use UBT in 2026.
- Minimum score: 60/100 for manufacturing and 45/100 for other industries. Passers are then ranked by score up to each country's quota.
Skills test and point-based selection
In the regular rounds, EPS-TOPIK is round 1 (together with a colour-vision check). About 1.1 times the quota moves on to round 2: a physical fitness test (grip and back strength plus a random task such as burpees or pushing a cart), an interview and basic job skills for the industry. Up to 5 extra points are given for work experience, training and qualifications. Candidates scoring under 60% of the skills test are eliminated.
Who can apply
- Age 18 to 39 (exact birth dates are set in each country's notice; the Philippines uses 18 to 38 in 2026).
- No criminal record (imprisonment or heavier) and never deported from Korea.
- Not banned from leaving your country.
- Has not stayed in Korea for 5 years or more on E-9/E-10 visas.
- Not colour-blind or colour-weak.
EPS-TOPIK 2026 dates and fees by country
| Country | Agency | 2026 round |
|---|---|---|
| Nepal | EPS Korea Section, Department of Foreign Employment (epsnepal.gov.np) | Registration 27 Jul – 5 Aug 2026 (extended). About 7,200 passers planned. Fee USD 28, paid in NPR. UBT test in Bhaisepati, Lalitpur. |
| Philippines | Department of Migrant Workers – DMW (eps.dmw.gov.ph) | Registration from 19–20 Sep to 29 Sep 2026. Test 10 Oct – 10 Nov, results 13 Nov, skills test 28–29 Nov, final results 9 Dec. Fee USD 24. |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment – SLBFE (slbfe.lk) | Special round: test 26 May 2026. Fee USD 28 (LKR 8,716.40). Next regular round: dates not announced yet. |
| Pakistan | Overseas Employment Corporation – OEC (oec.gov.pk) | 9th round registration 31 Mar – 8 Apr 2026 (Islamabad, Karachi). Test dates are published on the OEC website. |
| Bangladesh | BOESL, Dhaka | 13th round test 1 Sep – 26 Nov 2026. |
| Indonesia | KP2MI (formerly BP2MI) | 13th round (manufacturing): registration 10–12 Feb, tests from June, results 10 Sep 2026. |
| Myanmar | — | 8th round: registration 6–10 Aug, tests from 9 Sep, results 16 Oct 2026. |
Dates change often and are set by each country's agency. Always confirm on the official website before paying. The standard HRD Korea fee is USD 28; the Philippines charges USD 24.
EPS countries and the 2026 quota
In 2026 there are 18 EPS sending countries: the Philippines, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Cambodia, China, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Timor-Leste, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan (approved in August 2026, recruitment expected from 2028). Korea's E-9 quota for 2026 is 80,000 workers.
Passing EPS-TOPIK does not guarantee a job. Passers stay in the job-seeker roster for 2 years, and Korean employers choose workers from it. Anyone who asks for money to "guarantee" selection is a scammer — register only through your government agency.
How to prepare for EPS-TOPIK
- Learn Hangul and Korean pronunciation rules first.
- Study vocabulary by work topic: tools, safety signs, factory, farm, daily life.
- Listen to Korean at natural speed every day.
- Take timed mock tests to get used to the 50-minute format.
- Review every mistake and repeat weak topics.