How to Get a Korean English Teacher Visa (E-2)

You must be a citizen of a country where the target language is the official native language. For English teaching, the seven recognised countries are: the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and South Africa. Citizens of other countries are not eligible for E-2 English teaching, regardless of fluency.

Beyond nationality, you must hold a bachelor's degree or higher (학사 이상 학위) from a university in your home country — or have graduated from a Korean university with a bachelor's or higher. There is no required teaching certificate for most positions, but many hagwon and public school programmes prefer a TEFL/TESOL certification. You must also have a clean criminal record and pass a health check.

There are two main categories:

Public school teachers (원어민 영어보조교사, EPIK/TaLK/SMOE): Hired through government programmes (EPIK for nationwide, SMOE for Seoul, TaLK for rural areas). The provincial or city board of education applies for a 2-year single-entry visa directly. The application is submitted to any Korean embassy abroad and the process is typically faster because the education board handles paperwork in bulk.

Private academy (hagwon) and corporate trainers: The employer applies for a Certificate of Visa Issuance (CVI) at the local immigration office. Once issued (usually 2–4 weeks), you take the CVI number to a Korean embassy or consulate in your home country to get the actual visa stamp. The stay is for the contract period, up to a maximum of 2 years per grant.

Both paths require your employer to submit an Employment Contract (고용계약서) showing that your salary meets the minimum wage requirement.

The employer (school or academy) submits the CVI application to KIS with your documents. Here is what you must provide:

1. Apostilled degree certificate (공적확인 학위증): An apostille-certified copy of your diploma or degree certificate. If you graduated from a Korean university, no apostille is needed. Once you have submitted an apostilled document and it is on file, re-submissions within a certain period may be waived.
2. Apostilled criminal background check (범죄경력증명서): Issued by your national or federal police authority — it must cover your entire national record, not just one region. The certificate must be dated within 6 months of the application date. Key issuing authorities:

- USA: FBI (Identity History Summary) or state-level certificate if the FBI check includes all states

- Canada: RCMP National Repository (National Police Certificate)

- UK: DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service)

- Australia: AFP (Australian Federal Police) National Police Certificate

- New Zealand: Ministry of Justice

- Ireland: An Garda Síochána

- South Africa: South African Police Service (SAPS)

1. Health check form (자기건강확인서): A self-completed health declaration covering HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, syphilis, drug use history, and mental health treatment history. Many employers also require a full medical examination from a designated clinic after arrival.
2. Employment contract (고용계약서): Must specify salary at or above the minimum wage for the current year.
3. Employer documents: Business registration certificate, establishment documents for the school or academy.

If you graduated from a university outside your home country, you must also submit an apostilled criminal background check from that third country.

Step 1 — Get a job offer. Sign a contract with a Korean school, hagwon, or institution.

Step 2 — Gather your documents. Apostille your degree and criminal background check in your home country. The FBI check in the US can take 8–12 weeks so start early.

Step 3 — Employer submits the CVI application. Your Korean employer submits your documents to the local immigration office (출입국ㆍ외국인청). Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks.

Step 4 — Receive the CVI number. The immigration office issues a Certificate of Visa Issuance. Your employer sends you the CVI number (usually a 13-digit code).

Step 5 — Apply at a Korean consulate. Present the CVI number, your passport, passport photo, and the application fee at any Korean embassy or consulate worldwide. You can apply at any Korean diplomatic post — not necessarily in your home country.

Step 6 — Enter Korea. After arrival, register at the local immigration office within 90 days (외국인 등록). Bring your passport, one photo, ARC application, and the registration fee of ₩30,000.

Renewals are handled at your local immigration office in Korea (체류기간 연장). You can extend for up to 2 years at a time, up to the maximum stay. Bring:

• Passport and ARC (alien registration card)
• Updated employment contract
• Fresh criminal background check (if you have been in Korea less than 3 years from the last submission, re-submission may be waived)
• Employer documents

If you change employers, you must file a change of workplace notification (근무처 변경 신고) — in most cases this is a reporting requirement, but check with your immigration office as workplace changes can have restrictions.