E2 Visa Korea Requirements for English Teachers

To teach English in South Korea legally, foreign instructors must obtain an E-2 Foreign Language Instructor Visa. While the application process is standardized by the South Korean Ministry of Justice, specific requirements can vary slightly depending on your regional Korean consulate and whether you teach in a public school or private academy (hagwon).

Note: This guide focuses primarily on U.S. citizens applying through U.S.-based consulates, though the general E-2 visa roadmap is similar for citizens of the UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

What Are the E-2 Visa Requirements for Korea?

The E-2 visa is an employer-sponsored work visa issued by the South Korean Ministry of Justice to citizens of seven designated English-speaking countries who hold an accredited 3- or 4-year bachelor's degree, an apostilled national criminal background check, and a signed 12-month teaching contract.

Applying for an E-2 visa involves a two-stage governmental review: first, your sponsoring school submits your authenticated paperwork directly to the local immigration office in South Korea to obtain an official Visa Issuance Number (VIN). Second, you present your VIN, passport, and visa application to your regional Korean consulate in your home country before departure.

E-2 Visa Application Roadmap at a Glance

VIDEO: Watch International TEFL Academy graduate Cecilia Cervantes describe her experience navigating documents and teaching English under the E-2 teaching visa in South Korea:

Step 1: Gather and Authenticate Your E-2 Visa Documents

Because gathering apostilled paperwork can take anywhere from four to eight weeks, you should begin preparing your core documents early in your job hunt. Having authenticated documents ready makes you an immediate candidate for high-demand placements.

1. Bachelor’s Degree (Notarized & Apostilled)

You must hold a conferred bachelor’s degree (in any major) from an accredited 4-year college or university (or a 3-year degree in the UK). You will need a clean photocopy of your diploma notarized by a licensed notary, and then authenticated with a Hague Apostille through the Secretary of State where the notary was commissioned. Do not send your one-and-only original diploma for apostilling.

2. Official Sealed University Transcripts

Order at least two sets of official college transcripts from your university registrar. The transcripts must remain in unopened envelopes with the registrar's official seal or signature intact over the flap. (Transcripts are mandatory for public programs like EPIK and requested by many private hagwons).

3. Apostilled FBI Criminal Background Check

Korean Immigration and regional consulates strictly require a national-level background check; state or local police checks are not accepted.

• Order Your Check: Submit your request online through the FBI Identity History Summary Check portal. Most applicants complete electronic live-scan fingerprinting at a participating U.S. Post Office for same-day electronic results.
• Federal Apostille: Because the FBI check is a federal document, it must be apostilled through the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. (or through a vetted document expediter).
• Validity Window: Background checks must be issued within six months of visa submission (or within six months of your official contract start date for EPIK).

4. Health Check Self-Assessment Statement

You will complete a preliminary health questionnaire confirming you do not have communicable diseases, narcotics dependence, or severe pre-existing medical conditions. Upon arrival in South Korea, you will undergo an official clinical health check—including blood tests, chest X-rays, and drug screening—to validate this statement before your residence card is issued.

5. Valid Passport & Photos

• Your physical passport must be signed and possess at least two blank visa pages.
• Validity: Consulates require at least 6 months of validity remaining past your stay; however, the public school program (EPIK) strongly recommends possessing at least 18 months of validity from your arrival date.
• Prepare 4–6 standard passport-style photos (2x2 inches on a white background).

Step 2: Ship Documents to Your Sponsoring School for VIN Issuance

Once you interview, accept a job offer, and sign your 12-month employment contract, you will send your physical document package directly to your employer in South Korea. Your school acts as your visa sponsor, presenting your materials to their local branch of the Korea Immigration Service to generate your Visa Issuance Number (VIN).

Required Document Packet to Ship:

1. Notarized and apostilled copy of your bachelor’s degree.
2. Apostilled federal FBI background check (issued within 6 months).
3. Two sets of unopened, sealed university transcripts.
4. Signed copy of your 12-month teaching contract.
5. Completed health assessment statement form.
6. Photocopy of your passport information page.
7. Updated professional resume (CV).
8. Two to four standard passport photos.

Once your school submits your application to immigration in South Korea, processing typically takes 7 to 14 business days. When approved, Korean Immigration generates a Confirmation of Visa Issuance Number (formatted with 4 letters followed by 8 digits, e.g., UJBO 08007392). Your school will immediately email this number to you.

Step 3: Submit Your Application to the Korean Consulate

With your Visa Issuance Number in hand, the final pre-departure step is obtaining your physical visa stamp through the Embassy or Consulate General of the Republic of Korea that holds jurisdiction over your state of residence.

Documents to Submit to Your Regional Korean Consulate:

• Official Visa Application Form: Downloaded from your jurisdiction's consulate website, with your Visa Issuance Number written clearly at the top.
• Original Physical Passport: Must have at least 6+ months validity remaining and at least one blank visa page.
• Passport Photo: One recent 2x2-inch color photo affixed to the application form.
• Visa Processing Fee: $45 USD for U.S. citizens (payable via money order or cash, depending on the consulate).
• Prepaid Return Envelope: A trackable, self-addressed USPS Priority Express or FedEx envelope if your consulate processes visas by mail.

Consulate Appointment Notice: Some consulates accept mail-in applications, while others mandate scheduled in-person appointments. Always check the specific notices published on your regional consulate's official portal.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Korean E-2 Visa

How much does the Korean E-2 visa cost?

For U.S. citizens, the consular visa application fee is $45 USD. However, prospective teachers should budget between $200 and $350 USD total for pre-departure document authentication, including FBI fingerprinting, federal and state apostilles, sealed transcripts, passport photos, and international courier shipping to Korea.

How long does E-2 visa processing take?

Document preparation and apostilling in your home country usually takes 4 to 8 weeks. Once your documents arrive in South Korea, immigration issues your Visa Issuance Number (VIN) within 7 to 14 business days. Finally, your regional Korean consulate typically processes your visa stamp in 5 to 10 business days. Planning on a total timeline of 2 to 3 months is ideal.

Is the E-2 visa single-entry or multi-entry?

The initial E-2 visa stamp affixed to your passport by the Korean consulate is typically single-entry, permitting you to enter South Korea to commence employment. Once in Korea, your school will help you register at your local immigration office for your Alien Registration Card (ARC). Once your ARC is issued, it functions as a multi-entry residency permit, allowing you to travel internationally during vacations (e.g., to Japan, Vietnam, or Thailand) without voiding your visa status.

Can I work a second job or do private tutoring on an E-2 visa?

No. Under the Korean Immigration Act, an E-2 visa is tied strictly to your registered sponsoring employer. Moonlighting, freelance work, or unauthorized private one-on-one tutoring is illegal and subject to heavy fines and deportation. Any secondary teaching assignments must be authorized in advance by immigration as an approved workplace addition.

Go Further:

• Teach English in South Korea: Complete Country Guide
• Requirements to Teach English in Korea: Public vs. Hagwon
• Guaranteed Job Placement Program for South Korea
• On-Site TEFL Certification Course in Incheon, South Korea