EPS-TOPIK 2026 First-Phase Applications Open for Nepalis

Applications Open for the First-Phase Korean Language Examination (EPS-TOPIK) 2026

The EPS Korea Branch, Gwarko, Lalitpur, under the Government of Nepal’s Department of Foreign Employment, has opened applications for the first-phase Korean Language Examination (EPS-TOPIK, 2026). The Branch invited applications from eligible and interested Nepali citizens through a highly urgent notice published on 2083/04/05.

The examination will be conducted to select candidates for sending Nepali citizens to Korea as workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS), in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Employment and Labor of the Republic of Korea.

Passing the Korean language examination does not guarantee employment in Korea.

In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security and the Ministry of Employment and Labor of the Republic of Korea, the first-phase Korean language examination will be conducted to select eligible candidates for sending Nepali citizens to Korea as workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS).

As the examination schedule has been received from the Human Resources Development Service of Korea, this notice has been published in accordance with the decision of the Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment dated 2083/04/04, inviting eligible and interested Nepali citizens to register their applications as specified below.

1. Examination Date

The examination date and schedule will be published on the office’s website after the application collection process is completed and the total number of applicants is determined.

The examination will be conducted in a maximum of five shifts per day. The schedule may be changed depending on the number of applicants or if other circumstances arise.

2. Application Sectors and Estimated Number of Successful Candidates

The estimated number of successful candidates under the Point-Based Selection System is 7,200.

The number of candidates passing the first-stage language examination will be determined according to the cut-off line and the results provided by HRD Korea’s EPS Center.

The number of successful candidates under the Point-Based Selection System may increase or decrease according to the demand for workers in Korea.

Rules

• Each person may apply for only one sector. The selected sector cannot be changed after passing the first stage.

• Candidates who pass the first-stage language examination must also participate in and pass the second-stage Skill Test and Job Capacity Assessment before becoming eligible for final selection.

• Applicants for the manufacturing, agriculture and livestock, service, or forestry sectors must select one relevant subsector listed under Section 9 of this notice.

3. Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be Nepali citizens.

• Have completed 18 years of age and not exceed 39 years of age. Candidates must have been born between July 28, 1986, and July 27, 2008.

• Not have been sentenced by a court in a criminal case.

• Not have been deported from the Republic of Korea for residing there illegally.

• Not have been prohibited by the Government of Nepal from travelling to another country.

• Not have stayed in Korea for five years or more under an E-9 or E-10 visa.

• Not have colour blindness or colour weakness.

4. Application Registration Process

Application period: July 27 to August 2, 2026

Application portal: https://eoers.epsnepal.gov.np

Applicants must complete the examination application form online through the portal.

A demonstration video explaining the application registration process is available on the first page of the application portal.

Required Documents and Information

Applicants must upload a scanned JPG image of the biographical page of their passport containing the photograph.

Passport image specifications:

• Width: 600 pixels

• File size: Less than 89 KB

• File type: JPG

Applicants must provide their email address and mobile number in the application form.

Applicants must also upload a recently taken passport-size colour photograph that meets the following requirements:

• Taken within the last six months

• White background

• Applicant must not be wearing white clothing

• Both ears must be clearly visible

• Size: 3.5 × 4.5 cm

• Photo width: 100–300 pixels

• File type: JPG only

• File size: 8–14 KB

Examination Fee

The examination fee is US$28.

Applicants must pay the equivalent amount in Nepali rupees, calculated according to the exchange rate prescribed by Nepal Rastra Bank for the day on which the application is registered. Payment must be made online through the application portal while completing the form.

Important Notice on Personal Details

If the applicant’s personal information in the application form—including name, date of birth, gender, and photograph—differs from the information in the passport, the applicant will not be permitted to take the examination.

Such information cannot be corrected after the application form has been registered. Applicants must therefore confirm that all details are accurate before registration.

5. Examination Venue and Time

The examination will be conducted through the Ubiquitous-Based Test (UBT) system at the UBT Building in Bhaisepati, Lalitpur.

The examination will be conducted in five shifts.

The examination schedule may be changed depending on the number of applicants or if other circumstances arise.

6. Publication of Results

• The results of the first-stage language examination will be published after another notice is received from the Human Resources Development Service of Korea.

• Candidates may check the marks they obtained in the examination through eps.go.kr and epstopik.hrdkorea.or.kr.

• The validity of a finally successful candidate will remain valid for only two years from the date of publication of the results.

7. Examination Weighting

A one-hour lunch break will be provided from 11:55 to 12:55 after the second-shift examination is completed.

The EPS-TOPIK examination will be based on objective multiple-choice questions.

8. Examination-Day Preparation and Rules

• Candidates must arrive at the examination centre at the specified time for orientation. Candidates arriving after the designated entry time will not be permitted to enter the examination hall.

• The assigned examination date and venue cannot be changed.

• On the examination day, each applicant must bring the same original passport whose copy was submitted with the application form, along with the test application slip. Candidates who fail to bring these original documents will not be permitted to take the examination.

• Electronic devices, including mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth earphones, cassette players, PDAs, and MP3 players, are strictly prohibited inside the examination building and rooms. If such items are found, the candidate’s examination will be declared invalid.

• Candidates who take the examination in another person’s name, cheat, or assist others in cheating will be prohibited from taking the EPS-TOPIK language examination for four years. Information about persons involved in such undesirable or illegal activities may also be publicised through mass media.

• Candidates who pass the Korean language examination but fail the medical examination or receive an adverse police report will not be permitted to complete the employment application form.

• No private association, organisation, educational institution, or individual is involved in the EPS employment process except the Department of Foreign Employment’s EPS Korea Section.

9. Subsectors Applicants Must Select When Applying

1. Manufacturing Sector

Sector code: 00610

Applicants must select one of the following subsectors:

• Manufacture of food products

• Recovery of non-metal waste

• Manufacture of tobacco products

• Manufacture of textiles, except apparel

• Manufacture of wearing apparel, clothing accessories, and fur articles

• Manufacture of leather, luggage, and footwear

• Manufacture of wood and products of wood and cork, except furniture

• Manufacture of pulp, paper, and paper products

• Printing and reproduction of recorded media

• Manufacture of coke, briquettes, and refined petroleum products

• Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products, except pharmaceuticals and medicinal chemicals

• Manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical, and botanical products

• Manufacture of rubber and plastic products

• Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products

• Manufacture of basic metals

• Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and furniture

• Manufacture of electronic components, computers, and visual, sound, and communication equipment

• Manufacture of medical, precision, and optical instruments, watches, and clocks

• Manufacture of electrical equipment

• Manufacture of other machinery and equipment

• Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers

• Manufacture of parts and accessories for motor vehicles involving new products

• Manufacture of other transport equipment

• Building of ships and boats

• Manufacture of furniture

• Other manufacturing

• Maintenance and repair services for industrial machinery and equipment

• Dismantling and sorting recoverable materials and materials recovery

• Dismantling, sorting, and recovery of metal waste

• Dismantling and sorting of metal waste

• Recovery of metal waste

• Dismantling, sorting, and recovery of non-metal waste

• Dismantling and sorting of non-metal waste

2. Agriculture and Livestock Sector

Sector code: 00630

Applicants must select one of the following subsectors:

• Growing of crops

• Services incidental to growing crops and raising animals

• Animal production

3. Service Sector I

Sector code: 00005

Applicants must select one of the following subsectors:

• Waste collection, treatment, and disposal activities, including materials recovery

• Waste collection

• Non-hazardous waste collection

• Hazardous waste collection

• Construction and demolition waste collection

• Waste treatment and disposal services

• Treatment and disposal of non-hazardous waste

• Treatment and disposal of hazardous waste

• Treatment and disposal of construction and demolition waste

• Collection, treatment, and disposal of radioactive nuclear waste

• Agents involved in the sale of food, beverages, and tobacco

• Wholesale of other fresh food and dried, salted, and frozen food

• Wholesale of materials for recycling

• Courier activities

• Refrigerated and frozen warehousing

• Other service activities incidental to air transportation

• Air and land cargo handling

• Publishing of books, magazines, and other publishing activities

• Music and sound-recording publishing

4. Forestry Sector

Sector code: 00005

Applicants must select one of the following subsectors:

• Logging

• Afforestation

• Operation of forest tree nurseries

• Support services to forestry

Monitored by: Ministry of Employment and Labor of the Republic of Korea (MOEL)

Administered by: Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea)

In cooperation with: Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment of Nepal (MOYLE) and the Department of Foreign Employment (DOFE)/EPS Korea Section