Visas for Korea

South Korea visas can be tricky so read on so you can save time and be prepared to travel to Korea. E2 Visa (Foreign Language Instructor), F2 Visa (Spousal Visa), F3 Visa Family Dependent Visa (Bring your Spouse to Korea), (Ethnic Koreans), C3 Tourist Visa Korea, C4 Camp Visa, and D3 student work Visa!

Here you can find all your Korea Visa links and information for getting an: E2 Visa (Foreign Language Instructor), F2 Visa (Spousal Visa), F3 Visa Family Dependent Visa (Bring your Spouse to Korea), F4 Visa (Ethnic Koreans), C3 Tourist Visa Korea, C4 Camp Visa, and D3 student work Visa!

Korea Visa Government website

Getting an E2 Visa (Work visa to Teach English in Korea for Native Speakers)

Meeting South Korean visa requirements can be a bit challenging especially if it is an E-2 Korea Visa that allows native English speakers to teach English in South Korea. However, if you follow these steps then you should get this and any Korea Visa without any problems or delays.

Do not send your documents off to a recruiter or school until you are absolutely sure and committed to that position. If you later decide on another opportunity it’ll be hard and messy getting them back.

Be sure to make copies of everything for your records. Korean immigration and some Korean Consulates love to be redundant and ask for the same documents over and over so just be ready with 2 copies of everything: 2 sealed transcripts (school only needs 1), extra apostille copy of criminal background check and another copy of your apostille diploma or copy of original is good to have in case the Korean Consulate needs it or if it gets misplaced by your recruiter or school.

Here are the required documents for obtaining an E2 Visa to teach in South Korea

1. Original Degree or Diploma (BA or higher from a native English speaking country…sorry India and Philippines). Don’t worry you will get this back. Your school should give this back to after you arrive – if they don’t within 2 weeks I would be suspicious. Go on to number 2 if you will be sending your original degree.If you are uncomfortable sending the original then you can get a a lawyer/solicitor or notary public to notarize (Find a notary! What is a notary public?) it and then get an apostille (Click to see an example of one). American, New Zealand, South African, British, Irish and Australian teachers need to get an apostille for notarized degrees and criminal checks!Canadians would have to get a notary first and then have a Korean Consulate notarize it as there is no apostille for Canadians.Get at least 2 copies of your notarized or apostilled degree as Korean immigration and the local board of Education in Korea will want a copy. You won’t get copies back in most cases, but you should be able to get your original degree back from your employer after no more than 2 weeks after arrival. Any longer than that could be cause for concern so you may have to ask for it back at that time.
2. Sealed Transcript:The university seal, stamp or sticker must be directly across the back flap of the envelope.
   

   sealed transcript with signature across flap

   If your university doesn’t do that, try to have the registrar sign across the back flap. If you order them online be sure to call or email to be sure your university transcript request is being handled properly. Immigration is very picky with how your documents look so just beg your school to do it that way.

   (Be sure to order at least 3 transcripts in different envelopes: 1 for you (never know when you may need another and you won’t get the others back from your academy = hagwon). You should keep 1 for your records and you’ll need 1 for your E2 application process and 1 just in case the Korean Consulate wants to see them when you get your degree notarized or when apply for your visa after receiving a visa issuance number from your school or recruiter. Atlanta and Washington Korean Consulates require another transcript with your application and passport!

   List of Korean Consulates in the USA and stories from teachers who have had good and bad dealings with them.

3. Criminal background check or Subject access request: This must be the original and preferably a clean record check and it must be notarized by a notary or lawyer and then have the apostille.
   Apostille for Korea?

   CBC is good for 6 months from date issued.

   Only Canadians can have it notarized by a notary public and then by the Korean Consulate.

   NOTE: Criminal checks can be sent directly to YOU in Korea without the notary and apostille. After you get it you can take it to your Embassy here in Korea and have them make an affidavit or notarization of your criminal check. Korean immigration will accept a criminal check with a notarization or affidavit (USA) from your Embassy here in Korea.

   What if I don’t have a clean record? We have heard of some people with minor violations: disturbing the peace, trespassing and even having a DUI on their record getting an E2 visa in Korea, but anything drug related or involving assault will likely mean no visa issuance number being issued.

   • American English Teachers can no longer obtain a local CBC and must submit a STATE LEVEL Criminal background check or get an , but it can take a month to 2 months. When getting a state level criminal record check be sure that it is on official police letterhead and signed by an officer . Some states have an online criminal record check service and this in almost never accepted by Korean immigration unless it is signed by a police officer and has been notarized with notary and apostille.
   • UK English teachers can put in a request for a from anywhere in the world and have it sent to them or to a third party in the UK. It can take up to 40 days get your subject access request so be prepared and start early. If you are in the UK and have been living at the same address for 12 months than you can apply online for a Basic Disclosure or “criminal conviction check” or go through the subject access request.
   • Irish English teachers can go to your local police station (Garda station) and ask for a criminal check to be done. Once they have your details you should get a number you can call to track it and generally it take 2 to 3 weeks for it to be delivered.
     Irish English teachers can no longer get an apostille at the FCO read more…
   • Australian English teachers can also request a National Police Check from Korea or anywhere else by contacting The (AFP). You can also contact the criminal records section of their relevant State or Territory police service.
   • New Zealand English teachers can fax the (clean slate) and also request an Apostille through the Ministry of Justice. It can take 2 weeks to a maximum of 20 working days (begging doesn’t seem to help either
   • Canadian English teachers did have to get a vulnerable sector search which is the check you need when you will be working with children or at risk adults. This can still be obtained through your local police station, but you must request this in person and can take up to 2 weeks. Korean Immigration will also accept a criminal check from the RCMP which may or may not include a VSS (as of 03/2009). It seems now that the VSS isn’t necessary and just a check from your provincial police department would suffice.Your criminal check would have to be notarized by a notary and the Korean Consulate (remember to get extra copies). You could also get fingerprints done and sent off to the RCMP as Korean immigration has relaxed on the Vulnerable Sector Search (VSS) check being needed.
   • South African English teachers who want to get an that at the same time as you put in for a criminal check and this can take months from what we’ve seen.
4. Signed E2 Health Statement. You do not need to do a medical check before you come to Korea, although not a bad idea. This is just the form you fill out and send along with your other visa related documents.The medical test in Korea includes a blood (HIV) test, narcotic test (although, immigration says that they don’t check for cannabis but most hospitals will do that check so be smart before you come to Korea). The E-2 Health medical exam will also check your eyes, blood pressure, height and you’ll go through a chest x-ray.
5. A color scan or copy of your passport page (information and picture page): Most recruiters and employers require that to apply for a teaching job in Korea so you should prepare a clear scan of your passport that can be easily emailed. If it is a bad picture of you (I know I hate my passport pic) then be sure to send a professional picture with your friendliest smile!Take the time to edit and crop your picture so it looks nice and don’t send just any old picture. Do yourself a favor: leave the party pics or ones with you looking like a zombie for facebook.Here is a real picture someone used on an ESL jobsite that might not have been the best choice.
   
6. 3 color Passport photos (3.5×4.5cm) should be enough, but you’ll also need 2 more photos after you arrive and do your E2 medical examination. The designated hospital in Korea will have you fill out two forms and needs 2 passport-sized photos.
7. 2 Signed Contracts: Be sure to get a copy of your contract once you arrive in Korea signed by both parties. Also, make sure the contract is formatted properly when you open it in MS Word or other program.

Once you have all your required documents for the E2 Visa be sure to send them by express courier (ie. FedEx, UPS, DHL, EMS, etc…)

NOTE: In the UK I have found that DHL may ask to open your transcripts which would not be good. It is crucial that you can track those very hard to replace E2 Visa documents. The cost will range from $30 to $60, but imagine how much replacing those documents would cost and also the chance of a delayed visa and worst case scenario the teaching position in Korea being retracted because of late documents.

Getting a Visa Issuance Number takes about 2 week. After your school receives all your documents they take them to Korean immigration and then in about 10 business days you will be emailed a Visa Issuance number and you’ll want to get them over to the Korean Embassy or call to set up an interview. The Visa Issuance number confirms that an employment visa has been approved by Korean immigration.

NOTE: If this is your first E2 Visa then you very likely have to physically visit a Korean Consulate in your home country to apply for a visa and go through an interview. However, any applicant who worked previously with an E1, E2, E3 visa in Korea and had no illegal activity should be exempt from an interview and can apply for an E2 visa in a third country like Japan. However, this is subject to change without notice so it is always best to call the Consulate or check their site for updates. Aren’t planning a trip back to your home country? How can you get a visa and bypass the interview process? Check out this info on the .

I have heard that many first time E2 Visa applicants in the UK only need to go through interview if requested. Also, teachers that live too far from the Korean Consulate to visit (Ex. A teacher in Saskatchewan can send a video intro to the Korean Consulate in Vancouver) can send a video introduction or can conduct an interview through messenger. Not all Korean Consulates will grant an online interview, but I have heard the Korean Consulate in Chicago does. This will be done through Messenger so be sure to be ready for that.

Unfortunately, you can’t book the E2 Interview until you have a Visa Issuance number. This means you better wait to book your flight to Korea until you know you have the visa in your passport. The Visa is usually ready a couple of days after you complete the interview and in some cases if you are there in person you may get it the next day.

The E2 Interview questions can range from: What teaching experience do you have? What do you know about Korean culture? I heard one guy was asked about if he liked drinking and it can be over in as little as 5 minutes.

The questions can range from: What teaching experience do you have? What do you know about Korean culture? I heard one guy was asked about if he liked drinking and it can be over in as little as 5 minutes. Here are the ‘official’ interview questions or the Consul’s E2-visa-consulate-checklist

When you visit the Korean Consulate you will need to bring the Visa Issuance Number, passport, E-2 visa application form, money for the visa (cash or money order only).

If you are mailing your documents use an overnight carrier like USPS, Royal Mail or Canada Post and be sure to include a self-addressed prepaid envelope so they will return it to you safely and quickly.

After going through the E2 interview and/or submitting your documents it can take (Canada: 4 – 10 days, US: 2 – 7 days, UK: 4 – 6 days, South Africa: 3 – 10 days. New Zealand: 4 – 7 days, Australia: 3 – 7 days) a couple days to over a week to get your passport back in the mail or be able to pick it up.

Well there you go. That’s the process. It seems a bit daunting, but really isn’t once you get started, so get going!

If you have any questions just send them our way!

<