E-2 visa requirements
The E-2 is Korea's visa for foreign language instructors. Your employer sponsors it, but most of the paperwork is yours — and it takes longer than people expect. This is the checklist.
Who qualifies
- Citizen of one of seven countries: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa.
- Holds a four-year bachelor's degree in any major.
- Has a clean national criminal record.
The documents
- Passport with plenty of validity left.
- Degree certificate with an apostille from the country that issued it.
- National criminal background check, apostilled, issued within the last six months.
- Passport photos and the application forms your employer sends you.
Background checks by country
- United States: FBI Identity History Summary (fingerprint-based), apostilled by the U.S. Department of State.
- Canada: RCMP fingerprint-based criminal record check.
- United Kingdom: A national police certificate — ask us which one before you order, as the accepted version has changed over the years.
- Australia: AFP National Police Check, apostilled by DFAT.
- New Zealand: Ministry of Justice criminal record check.
- Ireland: National police certificate from An Garda Síochána.
- South Africa: SAPS police clearance certificate.
Rules and accepted versions change. Before you pay for anything, tell us your country and we will confirm the exact document and apostille route — it costs you nothing and can save weeks.
Timeline
The apostilles are the bottleneck — usually 8–12 weeks from order to having them in hand. After that, your employer applies for a visa issuance number with Korean immigration, you take it to a Korean consulate to get the visa in your passport, and you fly in. Plan for roughly three months in total.
After you land
Within your first weeks you do a health check and register for your residence card (ARC). Until the card arrives some everyday things — like opening a bank account or a phone contract — are harder, so don't panic if they take a little while.
Comparing options first? Read hagwon vs EPIK.
Teaching with us
Teach Seoul is the hiring page of our own academies — not an agency. Right now that means KRW 3,200,000 a month with housing money already included, and a four-day week on site at our Seocho branch with one day from home. We sponsor the E-2 visa and walk you through the paperwork. Hours, holidays and the rest of the contract are agreed in writing before you sign.
FAQ
Can a state or local background check be used for the E-2 visa?
No. Korea asks for a national-level check — in the US that means the FBI check, not a state or county one.
How recent does the background check need to be?
Issued within the last six months. Because apostilles take time, order it close to when you plan to apply — but not so late that it holds up your visa.
Do I need my diploma or my transcript apostilled?
Your degree certificate (diploma) needs an apostille. Some employers also ask for sealed transcripts, so ask before you order anything.
What happens after I arrive in Korea?
You complete a health check and apply for your residence card (ARC). Your employer helps you with both.