Introduction to EPS Korea roster system
For most Nepali EPS candidates, the hardest part is not the exam. It is the silence afterwards. You passed the Korean test, cleared the skills stage, completed your medical and submitted your job application. Your name may have appeared on a list. And then nothing happens for months.
That silence has a name: the roster. It is the pool of approved candidates from which Korean employers choose workers. Nobody on the Nepal side picks you, and nobody can move you up it. Understanding how it works, how to check where you stand and how long it lasts is the difference between waiting calmly and waiting in confusion.
This guide explains the roster in plain language. It covers how you reach it, how Korean employers select from it, where and how to check your name and status, what the two-year validity means, what happened in Nepal in 2026 when thousands of candidates feared expiry, and what you can do while you wait. Rules and notices change, so always confirm details on the official channels named below.
Toddle is a language institute and counselling centre in Hetauda. It does not run EPS, does not select workers and cannot influence the roster. It offers Korean preparation, and this guide is written to help you understand the system, not to sell you a shortcut that does not exist.
The Roster at a Glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | The job seekers’ roster (구직자명부), the pool of candidates approved to be selected by Korean employers under the Employment Permit System |
| Who builds it? | Nepal’s EPS Korea Section (Department of Foreign Employment) compiles candidates and sends them to HRD Korea, which approves the roster |
| Who selects from it? | Korean employers, through the local Employment Center. You do not choose the employer |
| How many are shown to an employer? | The Employment Center must recommend at least three times the number of workers an employer needs |
| How long is it valid? | Two years from the date results are announced, as stated in the EPS notices |
| Does being on it guarantee a job? | No. Nepal’s EPS Korea Section has said so repeatedly |
| Can anyone move me up the list? | No. No private agent or individual is authorised to take part in selection |
| Where can I check my status? | The EPS Korea Section’s notices, the EPS Nepal portal and the English section of eps.go.kr |
What the Roster Actually Is
The EPS is a government-to-government system. Nepal and Korea signed their agreement in 2007, and the process since then has followed a fixed pattern: Nepal selects eligible job seekers on objective criteria such as EPS-TOPIK score, skills test result and work experience, and HRD Korea approves the roster that Nepal sends.
A few points correct common misunderstandings.
It is not a queue. Many candidates imagine a first-come, first-served line. It does not work that way. Korean employers state what they need, such as sector, number of workers and conditions, and the system recommends candidates who match. A candidate who passed years ago can be passed over repeatedly while someone else is chosen.
It is not a pass list. A published pass list shows who passed a test stage. The roster is the later stage, after medical checks and the job application, that makes you available for selection. A pass result and roster registration are different steps.
It is not negotiable. The EPS Korea Section has stated that employers choose through a computerised system based on their own criteria, so it cannot ensure that every roster-listed candidate is selected.
How You Get Onto the Roster in Nepal
The route has several stages, and each one can stop a file.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. EPS-TOPIK | Language exam, with a colour-vision check |
| 2. Skills test and job capacity assessment | Second round, with bonus points for relevant experience, training, education and certificates |
| 3. Final selection | Highest combined scores within each industry’s quota |
| 4. Medical and background checks | Health examination at a designated institution, plus police and document checks |
| 5. Job application | You submit your passport, health certificate, criminal background check and forms through the sending agency |
| 6. Roster compilation | Nepal sends your details to HRD Korea, and HRD Korea approves the roster |
Two things matter here. First, passing the exams alone does not place you on the roster. Seoulstart’s EPS guide, citing HRD Korea, notes that roster entry has two gates: the exam and a mandatory health screening, after which your job application is collected and your roster entry is compiled. Second, you need a valid passport before the job application.
Toddle’s guide to the EPS point-based selection system explains how the first stages work and how scores combine.
How Korean Employers Select From the Roster
Knowing the employer’s side helps you understand why waiting is normal.
- The employer applies. A Korean employer must first try to recruit a Korean worker, and only then can it request a foreign worker.
- The Employment Center recommends. The local Employment Center must recommend at least three times the number of workers the employer needs, chosen from roster candidates who meet the employer’s stated conditions.
- The employer chooses. The employer selects from that shortlist. You are not interviewed in the usual sense, and you cannot apply to companies yourself.
- A contract follows. The sending agency confirms your acceptance of the standard labour contract, and the employer obtains the employment permit.
- Visa and training. You complete pre-departure training in Nepal and receive the E-9 visa. After arrival in Korea, further mandatory training follows.
The ratio matters. If an employer needs ten workers, thirty candidates are shown. Twenty are not chosen, and they remain on the roster for the next employer. That is how thousands of qualified candidates can wait while others leave.
Your sector also shapes your chances. The sector is fixed once you pass the first stage, so choose with care in future rounds. Toddle’s guide on which EPS sector you should choose explains the trade-offs.
How to Check Your Name and Status
There is no single page that answers every question, so use the right channel for each one.
1. The EPS Korea Section’s official notices
The Department of Foreign Employment’s EPS Korea Section publishes pass lists, skill test results, health examination notices and job application notices on its website at epsnepal.gov.np/notices. Lists are usually PDF files that show a serial number, registration number and candidate name.
How to search a PDF:
- Open the notice for your exam year, sector and stage.
- Use Ctrl+F (or the Find option in your phone’s PDF viewer) and search for your registration number, which is more reliable than a name because spellings differ.
- If searching fails, the PDF may be a scanned image, so scroll the pages and compare full identifiers.
- Verify on the official site, not on a forwarded screenshot or social media post.
2. The EPS Nepal portal
The EPS Korea Section’s July 2026 exam instructions identified eoers.epsnepal.gov.np for online exam registration, with a login that asked for a passport number and password. A separate job application page has its own login. Because these systems change, use only the links in the current official notice for your round.
3. The English section of eps.go.kr
HRD Korea’s EPS website has an English section at the path /eo/. The route, as described in Seoulstart’s EPS guide:
- Open eps.go.kr/eo.
- Choose your country from the dropdown.
- Log in with the ID and password issued by your sending-country agency.
- Use Entry Progress Check, the menu item for your Worker Roster and job-matching status. Korean Language Test Score Inquiry shows your EPS-TOPIK result.
If you cannot log in, the EPS Foreign Worker Counseling Center can help at 1577-0071 (09:00 to 18:00, 18 languages). If you were never given credentials, ask the EPS Korea Section how to obtain them, because the details depend on your stage.
4. What the statuses mean
Portals use their own wording, and labels change, so read the exact text on your screen rather than relying on a blog’s translation. In general terms, the stages look like this:
| Stage | What it means in plain terms |
|---|---|
| Passed language test | You cleared the first round, but are not yet on the roster |
| Passed skills and competency test | You cleared the second round and are eligible to proceed |
| Health and documents cleared | You can submit your job application |
| On the roster | Your details are with HRD Korea and available for selection |
| Selected by an employer | A contract is being prepared |
| Contract, permit and visa | Final departure steps |
If you cannot find your name
| Possible reason | What to do |
|---|---|
| You searched by name and the spelling differs | Search by registration number |
| The list for your sector or stage is a different notice | Open the correct year, sector and stage |
| The list has not been published yet | Wait for the official notice |
| You did not complete the medical or job application | Check the deadline and instructions in the notice |
| Your validity has expired | Check the validity rule in your round’s notice |
| Your registration number differs from your records | Check your original application and slip |
| You are looking at an unofficial copy | Use epsnepal.gov.np |
If none of these explains it, contact the EPS Korea Section through its official channel with your full name, registration number, sector and round.
Validity: Two Years, and What Happened in 2026
A successful candidate’s status is valid for two years from the date results are announced, according to HRD Korea and the EPS notices. If you are not selected within that time, you need to pass the exam again. Your own notice states the exact start date, so write down your validity end date today.
Nepal’s 2026 roster debate
In 2026, validity became a public issue in Nepal. The reported sequence:
- January 2026. Nepal’s Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security announced decisions to request, through diplomatic channels, that Korea extend the validity of the current roster, to seek a higher quota for Nepali workers and to form a task force on transparency and fairness in how candidate details reach employers.
- Early 2026. Candidates on the roster protested at the EPS Korea Section’s office in Gwarko, Lalitpur, and elsewhere. One report put the number of protesting roster-listed candidates at 8,902 and said those who could not go by December 2026 would lose the opportunity.
- 1 to 2 February 2026. Korean officials told Nepal’s embassy that the EPS operates uniformly for all 17 sending countries, and that extending roster validity solely for Nepal was not possible. The Kathmandu Post reported that Korean officials said about 44.8 percent of EPS foreign workers in Korea are Nepali and that more than 121,000 Nepalis have gone to Korea under the system since 2007.
- Scale. The EPS Korea Section said around 9,200 Nepalis went to Korea under the EPS in 2024, while thousands remained on the roster.
I could not find a confirmed later change to the validity rule, so treat the two-year rule as the working rule unless an official notice says otherwise. Korea’s overall E-9 quota was also cut for 2026, from 130,000 in 2025 to 80,000, which makes the wait harder.
The practical lesson is simple. Do not plan your life around an extension that has not been announced. Know your own validity date and decide in advance what you will do if it approaches.
Why Some Candidates Wait Longer
There is no published formula, but several factors shape outcomes:
- Employer demand by sector. Some sectors need more workers in some years.
- Quota. Korea’s overall and per-country numbers change every year.
- Your score and profile. A higher combined score generally helps your position, though it does not guarantee selection.
- Employer conditions. Employers can state requirements, and the Employment Center recommends only candidates who meet them.
- Timing. New cohorts keep joining the roster, so some candidates are overtaken.
Wait times quoted online range from a few months to over two years. These are anecdotal and sector-dependent, so treat any exact promise with suspicion. If anyone gives you a precise date, ask for the official source.
What to Do While You Wait
Waiting is not passive. These steps keep you ready and protect you.
1. Know your dates. Write down your results date, validity end date and the contact details of the EPS Korea Section.
2. Keep your details current. Phone numbers, email and address should match what the system holds, so notices and calls reach you.
3. Keep your passport valid. A valid passport is needed for the job application and later steps. Check its expiry well in advance.
4. Watch official notices only. Follow the EPS Korea Section’s website, and keep an eye on the Toddle notice board for class and exam updates, but treat it as a supplement to the official source.
5. Keep learning Korean. Workplace Korean helps you on day one, and if your validity ends you may need to sit EPS-TOPIK again. Toddle’s EPS-TOPIK Korean language class and EPS course book are built for this stage.
6. Prepare for a new round if needed. Nepal’s next exam rounds follow their own calendar. Toddle’s article on the EPS-TOPIK 2026 exam schedule explains the current one.
7. Keep a Plan B. Some candidates use the waiting time to study, work or consider other routes. Toddle’s overview of working and studying in South Korea from Nepal explains the study route, which is separate from EPS and has its own requirements.
When You Are Selected
Selection is the start of a short, structured stage.
- Contract. You receive a standard labour contract setting your wages, hours, sector and accommodation terms. Read it carefully and keep a signed copy. The contract must pay at least the 2026 minimum wage of 10,320 won an hour, which is about 2.16 million won a month for a standard 209-hour month before deductions.
- Employer-specific visa. The E-9 visa is tied to the employer and sector, and changing workplaces is allowed only in specific circumstances.
- Stay. The maximum E-9 stay is four years and ten months. E-9 workers cannot bring family.
- Training and arrival. Pre-departure training takes place in Nepal. After arrival, mandatory training and Alien Registration Card registration within 90 days follow.
- Insurance. Your employer must enrol you in departure guarantee and wage guarantee insurance, and you must enrol yourself in return cost and casualty insurance within set deadlines.
Cultural preparation helps too. Toddle’s guide on what not to do in Korea covers workplace and daily-life basics.
Scams and Red Flags
The roster is a magnet for scams because the wait is long and frightening.
| If someone says... | The truth |
|---|---|
| “Pay and I will move you up the roster” | Nobody can. Selection is made by Korean employers through the system |
| “Pay and I will send your file to employers” | Files go through the official process. No private person forwards them |
| “I know someone at HRD Korea” | No private agent is authorised to take part in EPS selection |
| “Send your passport and documents to my agent” | Keep control of your documents and use official offices |
| “Here is the pass list” (screenshot or unknown site) | Check only the official site |
| “Your validity can be extended for a fee” | Validity rules are set officially, and fees cannot change them |
| “Guaranteed Korea job in X months” | No one can guarantee selection |
If you are asked for money at any point beyond the official fees, report it to the EPS Korea Section. The legitimate costs are limited, and in the EPS system, placement or broker fees are not allowed.
Prepare With Toddle Multipurpose Company
Toddle, a Korean and Japanese language institute and study-abroad counselling company in Hetauda since 2018, helps Nepali learners build Korean for EPS-TOPIK and for life in Korea. It lists an EPS-TOPIK class, an EPS course book, a 2026-27 model question book and mock test seats for the computer-based EPS-TOPIK format.
Toddle is not part of the EPS selection process. It cannot place anyone on the roster, move anyone up it or influence employers. Its role is preparation: language, practice and honest guidance.
- Book a free counselling session to plan your preparation, retake options or an alternative route.
- Visit the contact page for directions and ways to reach the team.
Message Toddle on WhatsApp: +977 976-9741767
You can also call +977 57-525392 or visit Toddle at School Road, Hetauda-4, Makwanpur. For official EPS information, always check the EPS Korea Section and HRD Korea’s EPS-TOPIK site.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the EPS roster?
It is the job seekers’ roster (구직자명부), the pool of candidates approved to be selected by Korean employers under the Employment Permit System. Nepal compiles candidates and HRD Korea approves the roster.
2. Does passing EPS-TOPIK put me on the roster?
Not by itself. In Nepal you must also complete the skills stage, clear a medical screening and submit your job application before a roster entry is compiled and sent to HRD Korea.
3. Who selects candidates from the roster?
Korean employers, through the local Employment Center. You cannot choose the employer, and no one in Nepal can choose for you.
4. How many candidates does an employer see?
The Employment Center must recommend at least three times the number of workers the employer needs, drawn from roster candidates who meet the employer’s stated conditions.
5. How do I check whether my name is on the roster?
Check the EPS Korea Section’s notices at epsnepal.gov.np, and log in to the English section of eps.go.kr with the credentials issued by your sending agency to use the Entry Progress Check menu.
6. What is “Entry Progress Check” on eps.go.kr?
It is the menu item in the English section that shows your Worker Roster and job-matching status. If you cannot log in, contact the EPS Foreign Worker Counseling Center at 1577-0071.
7. Can I search a pass list by name?
You can, but searching by registration number is more reliable, because name spellings differ. Always use the official notice, not a screenshot.
8. What if my name is missing?
Check that you are in the right year, sector and stage, search by registration number, confirm the list has been published and check whether you completed the medical and job application. Then contact the EPS Korea Section.
9. How long is the roster valid?
Two years from the date results are announced, as stated in the EPS notices. Check your own notice for the exact start date.
10. What happens when my validity ends?
If you have not been selected, you need to pass the exam again to be considered. Plan ahead and watch the notices for the next round.
11. Did Korea extend the roster validity for Nepal?
In January 2026, Nepal’s labour ministry decided to request an extension. In early February, Korean officials said the EPS applies uniformly to all 17 countries and that a Nepal-only extension was not possible. I found no confirmed later change, so rely on official notices.
12. Does being on the roster guarantee a job?
No. The EPS Korea Section has said that passing the language test does not guarantee selection, because the Korean side requests a limited number of workers and employers choose by their own criteria.
13. How long will I wait?
There is no fixed time. Waits depend on employer demand, your sector, quota and your profile. Be cautious of any exact promise.
14. Does a higher score help?
A higher score generally improves your position, but it does not guarantee selection. Employers and the system apply their own criteria.
15. Can I change my sector while on the roster?
Candidates have asked for sector changes, but the sector selected at application has been treated as fixed after the first stage. Check your round’s notice before assuming anything.
16. Can an agent move me up the roster?
No. No private agent or individual is authorised to take part in EPS selection. Anyone who promises that is lying.
17. How many Nepalis go to Korea under EPS?
The EPS Korea Section reported around 9,200 in 2024. Korean officials said more than 121,000 Nepalis have gone since 2007.
18. What is the 2026 E-9 quota?
Korea’s E-9 quota for 2026 is 80,000, down from 130,000 in 2025.
19. What happens after an employer selects me?
You receive a standard labour contract, the employer obtains the employment permit, you complete pre-departure training and receive the E-9 visa. The maximum stay is four years and ten months.
20. Can I bring my family on an E-9 visa?
No. The E-9 visa does not allow family accompaniment.
21. What should I do while waiting?
Know your validity date, keep your contact details and passport current, follow official notices, keep studying Korean and consider whether a new exam round or another route fits your plans.
22. Does Toddle place people on the roster?
No. Toddle offers Korean classes, EPS-TOPIK practice and counselling. It has no role in EPS selection.
EPS procedures, quotas, validity rules and portals change often. Before you act, confirm current details with the EPS Korea Section (Department of Foreign Employment), HRD Korea and the official EPS notices.
