Good news comes out for the Pakistani skilled workers. The pre-registration for the E 9 visa has been started. South Korea has an agreement with the Pakistani government to recruit skilled people from Pakistan for its labor market for different fields. So this year too, South Korea is going to start the work visa registration from Pakistan through OEC. The registration will remain open from 31 May 2021 to 7 June 2021. The JSR quota has been set as 2,488 for 2021.
You can check here the Announcement of EPS-TOPIK-2021 ( Test Date )
Please do note that the pre-registration deadline has passed and OEC is not accepting any more applications online.
Important information
- Pre-registration: 31 May 2021 to 7 June 2021
- Shortlisted candidates announcement: 10 June 2021
- Shortlisted candidates registration: 14 to 18 June 2021
- Announcement of Korean language test: 16 July 2021
- Korean language test dates: 2 August to 8 October 2021
- First-round results: 22 October 2021
- Skills test documents submission: 1 to 3 November 2021
- Skills test schedule announcement: 10 November 2021
- Skills test dates: 17 to 24 November 2021
- Final results: 10 December 2021
Getting a South Korea to work visa through ‘OEC’ can help you earn more than minimum PKR 2,00,000 minimum monthly. This would also be possible to get accommodation and food opportunities from the employer in Korea. On this E9 work visa, you can work in South Korea for 4 years and 10 months. In case you do not change your company, you may apply once again for a visa of the same duration. Here you will know all the required information about this visa.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
To get a South Korean work visa, you need to understand the simple steps to apply for this visa. There are 5 basic steps that will lead you to get the visa successfully.
Step 1- Applying for Pre-Registration
- For getting this work visa you will have to apply for pre-registration on the official website of OEC Pakistan jobs.oec.com.pk (current application dates are 31 May 2021 to 7 June 2021).
- For this online pre-registration, you will also have to pay Rs.500* (non-refundable) through the HBL bank account 0112-79010451-03. The challan form will be available from 31 May 2021 here.
- If you can’t apply online yourself, you can get the OEC office services for this purpose.
- Once you have paid the fees, you must upload the challan’s scanned copy and fill in the registration form to apply.
- HRD Korea will do the shortlisting process.
Step 2- Confirming the registration
- If you are selected through the process, your name will be included in the list of successful candidates by OEC online.
- You will then have to pay USD 24 or the equivalent PKR. 3700* in the HBL account 0112-79010451-03 during announced dates by OEC. Once paid, you will have to submit the original passport with colored copy, CNIC, 2 passport-sized photographs (4.5X3.5 CM) with white background, and challan receipt of fees paid Rs. 3700* into the OEC office in Islamabad
Step 3- Further Actions
After the successful completion of the first two steps, you will now enter the practical steps that you must follow to apply for the work visa which are as follows:
- Passing the EPS-TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean)
- Passing the skill test (one may also apply for a competency test that will give you an extra score to apply, it is optional)
- Making Job application/ Roster making and registration (please note the candidates are selected from the employers on their own will through EPS pool). You choose the job sector.
- Signing the Standard Labor Contract
- Acquiring Preliminary Training
- Entry in Korea/ Employment Entry in Korea/ Employment
1- Passing the EPS-TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean)
Who Can Apply For the Korean Language Test?
You can apply for this visa if you:
- have been selected through the OEC selection process that is done after pre-registration online
- are between 18 and 39 years of age (male or female both can apply).
- have a Pakistanis computerized passport.
- have passe EPS-TOPIC (Test of Proficiency in Korean) course.
- don’t have more than 5 years’ sojourn in Korea.
- have no criminal record in Pakistan.
- have not been deported from South Korea.
- are not color blind.
OEC Pakistan also offers classes for TOPIC preparation. The test is conducted to check your Reading and Listening Skills in the Korean language.
| Module | No. of questions | Total points manufacture | Duration |
| Reading | 20 | 100 | 25 minutes |
| Listening | 20 | 100 | 25 minutes |
You can read here more instructions about the Korean language test. Sample Listening Test Sample Reading Test Test results are announced here
Once you pass the language test, you will be informed about it on the website of OEC Pakistan. The test result is valid for 2 years. The passing criteria are:
- 1st round: EPS-TOPIK- Among the candidates who scored over 50 points out of 100, the designated number of candidates will pass in order of the highest score. This means candidates with the highest scores will be given priority for the results and passing criteria.
- 2nd round: Skills Test The candidates who pass the Language test, must take the Skills test. Fortunately, there’s no need for the extra application to submit. The skill test also has a score of 100 points (Physical power 30 Marks, Interview 30 marks, basic skills 40 marks).
- The applicants, who want to take a Competency test for an additional 5 points, must submit documents for the Competency test within the application period. Please do remember, you can’t move ahead without a skill test. There are 3 marks for one year of experience in the chosen industry, one number for the national certificate, and one number for the training course.
- EPS TOPIC tests will be taken in 4 sessions, 1st session: 8:40, Second session: 10:20, 3rd session: 12:50, 4th session: 2:20
2-Job application/ Roster making and registration
Who can apply for a job in South Korea?
The following criteria are met for applying for a job in South Korea:
- You have passed the Korean Language test.
- Your age is between 18 and 40 years.
- Your passport is valid for a minimum of one year.
- You don’t have more than 5 years’ sojourn in Korea.
- You have never been deported from Korea.
- Your medical condition is good seems OK for the standards of South Korean government medical standards.
- You hold no criminal record nor been involved in any in the past.
Once all this is done, you can apply for a job in the office of the OEC Pakistan office (office addresses are at the end of this page). You will have to fill in the designated application form for this purpose that will be provided to you by OEC offices. It is necessary for you to apply for the job within the validity period of your language test (2 years). The validity of the job term is within the year of approval. If you are unable to sign the contract and the time has passed, you can again apply for the job application in the desired EPS pool.
3- Got job successfully and signing the contract
Once you get the job contract that is handed over to OEC Pakistan by HRD South Korea, you can read all the details about your job timings, wages, payment for extra hours, place of working area and occupation, holidays, and wages receiving date, etc. The probation period can apply a maximum of 3 months and the period can be estimated from the day of the beginning of actual work. 10% can be deducted from the minimum wage or more is going to be paid for the foreign worker under the probation period. If you are not satisfied with the job contract conditions, you can refuse to sign it. But if you refuse to sign it with the terms of the employer a second time, the job term will be then only for one year.
4- Preliminary training and contents
After signing the contract and being approved by the employer altogether, you go through a preliminary training of a minimum of 45 hours by the OEC Pakistan to get to know the following points:
- Korean Language education
- Understanding of Korean culture
- Understanding of Employment Permit System
- Basic training such as industrial safety
- Education by industry
5- Applying for a visa and Entry to Korea
CCVI (Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance) and VISA
- When a labor contract concluded between employers and foreign workers, employers can apply for CCVI of the worker to the Ministry of Justice of ROK. MOJ issues CCVI after examining each worker
- Foreign workers who got issued CCVI apply for a visa to the Korean Embassy in Pakistan through the OEC
Entry schedule setup
- Those who got issued visas shall be prepared to enter Korea on the day scheduled by HRD Korea such as flight ticket reservations.
- Labor contract and medical checkup certificate need to be carried before entry to Korea
Entry to Korea and Employment Training
- When entering Korea, foreign workers need to wear uniforms and Name Tag distributed by OEC
- Workers who enter Korea on a scheduled day by HRD Korea shall guide to the Employment Training Center after going through entry formalities under HRD Korea’s & CWA Wing’s guidance at the airport.
- Foreign workers shall complete Employment Training after entry in Korea
Overseas Employment Addresses
| Head Office, Islamabad | |
| PMI Auditorium Building Khayaban-e-Suhrawardy, Near Zero Point, G-7/1, Islamabad | |
| Phone: | +92-51-9253245 |
| +92-51-92532 51~57 | |
| Fax: | +92-51-9253244 |
| OEC, Regional Office Karachi | |
| Red Crescent Building, Dr. Daud Pota Road, Karachi | |
| Phone: | +92-21-99203471 |
| +92-21-99203474 | |
| Fax: | +92-21-99203472 |
| Regional Office, Lahore | |
| 5A/II, Hussain Street, Old Muslim Town Near 2-C Punjab College campus, Canal Road, Lahore | |
| Phone: | +92-42-99237121 |
| Regional Office Peshawar | |
| Government Advanced Technical Training Center, 16-A Industrial Estate Hayatabad, Peshawar | |
| Phone: | +92-91-9239342 |
| Fax: | +92-91-5811554 |
| Regional Office, Quetta | |
| OPF Building, Block No. 4, Near Masjid-e Khazra, Satellite Town, Quetta | |
| Phone: | +92-81-9211651 |
| Fax: | +92-81-9211652 |
| OEC Travels | |
| No.1, Potohar Plaza, Fazal-e-Haq Road, Blue Area Islamabad | |
| Phone: | +92-51-9219515, |
| +92-51-9219092 | |
| Fax: | +92-51-9219085 |