Photo: Kazakhstan's Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population

BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 14. Kazakhstan has been officially included in South Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS), opening new opportunities for Kazakh citizens to obtain legal and organized employment in the country.

This was announced by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, citing a decision adopted by the South Korean government on August 14 at the 49th meeting of the Committee on Foreign Labor Policy.

According to the ministry, Kazakhstan will become the 18th country participating in the E-9 system. Central Asia is also represented in the program by Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The recruitment of Kazakh workers under the system is expected to begin in 2028. Before that, the two countries will need to complete a number of organizational procedures, including signing an intergovernmental memorandum of understanding and establishing an EPS-TOPIK center in Kazakhstan for Korean-language testing.

"Participation in the EPS will allow citizens of Kazakhstan to apply for official employment in South Korea within a procedure established by the two countries," the ministry said.

The ministry noted that Kazakhstan's inclusion in the EPS is the result of work carried out since 2023 to create new opportunities for legal, safe and organized employment abroad.

In January 2026, a South Korean delegation of experts visited Kazakhstan to assess the country's readiness to launch the system. The assessment covered the establishment of an EPS center, language testing, professional skills assessment, medical examinations, and informing citizens about South Korean legislation.

Following the assessment, the South Korean side recognized Kazakhstan's readiness to participate in the system, including the availability of state and public institutions capable of ensuring a fair and transparent selection process, as well as the necessary infrastructure for language training, medical examinations and the operation of an EPS center.

Under the EPS, candidates will undergo language testing, professional skills assessment and medical examinations. The ministry emphasized that the new mechanism will ensure worker selection through an official system rather than through informal intermediaries.

The ministry also warned citizens against paying intermediaries offering "guaranteed employment in Korea" or promising to speed up the selection process before the official launch of the program.

Information on registration dates, eligibility requirements, testing procedures, and other stages will be provided through the ministry's official channels.