Return cost insurance
Return cost insurance covers the cost of returning home, and the worker takes it out. It is different from departure guarantee insurance, which the employer takes out.
Who this covers
- Foreign workers who entered under the Employment Permit System (E-9 and others)
What to know
- The worker is the one who enrols. You must enrol within a set period after arrival.
- It is not the same as departure guarantee insurance. That one is taken out by the employer and works like severance.
- You claim it when you leave the country.
- Not enrolling can cause problems. Make sure you check.
Steps
- Check whether you are enrolled. EPS or the employment centre can tell you.
- If not, enrol immediately.
- When departure is set, check the claim procedure.
- Receive payment into your own account.
What you need
- Passport and Alien Registration Card
- A bank account in your own name
- Your departure schedule
Where to go
- EPS www.eps.go.kr
- Your employment centre · 1350
- 1345 Immigration Contact Center
Questions people ask
How is it different from departure guarantee insurance? Departure guarantee insurance is taken out by the employer and works like severance. Return cost insurance is taken out by the worker for travel home. You have both.
I can't remember whether I enrolled. Ask the employment centre or EPS and they can check.
I left the country without claiming. There may still be a way. Keep your account open before departure and leave contact details with EPS and the employment centre.
Take care
Do not hand insurance documents or your bankbook to a broker. You should check and claim yourself.
Related
severance-departure · wage-guarantee-insurance · casualty-insurance · e9-visa-basics
Source
Ministry of Employment and Labor, EPS www.eps.go.kr / As of 2026-08