How to Apply

Qualification

1. A university degree with any major, no TESOL(Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Certificate required but preferred.

2. English must be your native language and you must be fluent in conversational English.

An English, education degree and TESOL certificate are considered as an advantage. Although the above majors are considered as an advantage, the major is not too much of a concern, as long as you have graduated from an accredited university. Applicants with ANY major and being native English speakers are qualified to be English teachers in South Korea. Also no formal teaching experiences are required.

Required Documents

1. Criminal Record Check

All E2 visa (ESL conversation instructor work visa) applicants must submit a criminal record check with the required visa documents for visa issuance number.

     - Place of Issue and Term of Validity
Applicants need to submit a criminal record check which is issued by Federal Government, Municipal offices of respective countries or Embassy at 3rd country.
     - The issued criminal record check then must be notarized by the Apostille Certificate at Foreign Affairs Department at respective countries.
     * For countries that did not sign the Hague Convention (e.g. Canada, China etc), applicants must have the criminal record check that is notarized by the Korean Consulate in these countries.
     - All criminal record checks must not be older than 3 months old. The term of validity is 3 months

a. Steps of submitting medical records and issuer.

 - Steps : When applying for visa issuance number

 - Issuer : Applicants themselves

After arrival, when applying for Alien Registration Card

Doctor’s Medical Check

b. Employer has to submit the self-medical evaluation form which is handwritten by the applicant and submitted to the Immigration Office in Korea when applying for visa issuance number.

1. After entering Korea with E2 visa, a doctor’s medical check (specifically medical Check for Employment Purposes issued from national hospitals, community health centers, or university hospitals has to be submitted when registering for Alien Card.

2.     The doctor’s medical check must be issued at least 3 months before the Alien Registration.

3.  Information that needs to be included in the medical check:

1.  TBPE and Cannabinoids test for drug test

2.  HIV test for AIDS

3. Verification of Education Background

To verify the applicant’s college or university degree, a document that is required to be submitted must be either one of these below:

1. Original degree ( which will be returned by the immigration after making a copy with official stamp)

2.   Copy of degree notarized by Korean Consulate overseas or submitted along with an official document called cerification of Academic Records issued by Korean Council for University Education (KCUE), which is an authorized organization in Korea.

3.   Letter of Degree Verification from college or university notarized by the Apostille certificate or with an official document from Korean Council for University Education (KCUE).

4.   Letter of Graduation Verification from college or university with details on degree notarized by the Apostille certificate or with an official document from Korean Council for University Education (KCUE).

* For countries that did not sign The Hague Convention for Apostille Certificate(please go to http://www.apostilleinfo.com/ for more information) applicants are required to get the document notarized by Korean Consulate or submit an official document from Korean Council for University Education (KCUE).

* According to the revision of E2 visa, applicants who are once verified by KCUE for E2 visa application does not need to go through KCUE again the second time.

1.       Sealed & Stamped Transcript from college or university.

 4. For ESL instructors already in Korea with E2 visa

Applicants who already obtained E2 visa and is transferring from a Hagwon to a public school or moving on from a public school to another, won’t need to get a new E2 visa. These applicants will just need to do a Visa Employment Transfer. This way, the applicant does not need to do a visa run. In this case, the document requirements are slightly different.

Criminal record check: 2 options are available.

A. For applicants already in Korea, a criminal record check from the respective Embassies in Korea would be accepted. This criminal record check does not need to be notarized by the Apostille Certificate.

However please note that getting a criminal record check from your embassy could take even longer than getting one directly from your home country.

B. Applicants who already have a criminal record check from home country (which is not older than 3 months) will need to get it notarized by the Embassy in Korea.

Medical Records:

When applicants go to immigration office to do the visa employment transfer, they will be required to bring the Doctor’s medical check. This will be required to do the employment transfer and to extend the alien registration. The doctor’s medical check needs to be issued by the national hospital in Korea.

Verification of Education Background:

For applicants already in Korea, when doing the visa transfer, an original
Degree needs to be submitted along with an official document called Cerification of Academic Records issued by Korean Council for University Education (KCUE).

* According to the revision of E2 visa, applicants who are once verified by KCUE for E2 visa application does not need to go through KCUE again the second time.

For questions or additional information, please contact the Immigration Bureau http://www.moj.go.kr/

5. Other documents

1. Sealed academic sealed transcripts from university only.(Sample)

2. A photocopy of your passport where your photo and information is recorded(The passport must be current for at least one year before the expiry date).

3. The original signed contract between you and your employer.

4. TESOL, TEFL, CELTA Certificate if applicable.

These are the documents that neet to be prepared and all the documents shoould be sent to the following address.

* You can simply copy the following address, print and put it on the envelop *

How to get the degree notarized(certified)

These Required documents are handled a little bit differently whether you send them by mail or go yourself to the Consulate:

Requirements by mail:

1. Resume

2. Letter requesting the degree confirmation (notarized degree)

3. Original and two photocopies of your university degree

4. Fee for degree confirmation (money order payable to the Korean Consulate General). You should call the Consulate to check the exact fee before going there

5. A copy of the picture page in your passport (2 forms of Identification)

6. Self-Stamped Envelope (if requesting return in mail)

Requirements in person:

1. Resume

2. Original university degree

3. Forms of Identification (Passport, Driver's License, Etc.)

4. Degree Confirmation Fee (Notarized Diploma)

Call the Consulate to check the exact fee.

(NOTE: If you send us the original degree it's much quicker and you do not have to go to Korean consulate to get the certified degree and the degree will be returned to you as soon as the visa is issued)

* If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

In the United States...

The Embassy of Korea in U.S.A
Address : 2450 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008
Telephone : 202) 939-5600
Fax : 202) 797-0595
Emergency(holidays) : 202) 939-5600
Office Hours: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm (Mon. - Fri.)
Consular Jurisdiction: Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C.

Consulate-General in Washington D.C.
Address : 2320 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008
Telephone : 202) 939-5661, 5662, 5663
Fax : 202) 342-1597
Emergency(holidays) : 202) 641-8746
Office Hours: 9:30 am - 12:00 pm, 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm (Mon. - Fri.)

Consulate General in New York City 
Main Office : 335 E. 45^th St.(4^thFl.), New York, NY 10017
Tel #: 1-646-674-6000, 1-212-692-9120
Fax #: 1-646-674-6023
E-mail: info@koreanconsulate.org
Office Hours: 09:30 A.M ~ 17:00 P.M (Monday ~ Friday)
Public Office(Visa Section): 460 Park Ave. (57^th St.) 6^th Fl. New York, NY 10022
Tel #: 1-646-674-6000, 1-212-692-9120
Fax #: 1-212-421-3028
Office Hours: 09:30 A.M ~ 12:00 P.M, 01:30 P.M ~ 04:00 P.M (Monday ~ Friday)
Consular Jurisdiction: New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia

Consulate-General in Los Angeles
Address : 3243 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010
Telephone : 213) 385-9300
Fax : 213) 385-1849
Emergency(holidays) : 213) 700-1147, 213)700-1148
Office Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (Mon. - Fri.)
Email Address : korea@koreanconsulatela.org
Consular Jurisdiction: Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, California

Consulate-General in Boston
Address : One Gateway Center, Suite 251. 300 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458
General Telephone : 617-641-2830
General FAX : 617-641-2831
E-Mail : kcgboston@mofat.go.kr
Consular Jurisdiction: New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts

Consulate General in San Francisco
3500 Clay Street, San Francisco CA 94118
Telephone : (415)921-2251
Facsimile : (415)921-5946
Consular Jurisdiction: Northern California, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado

Consulate General in Seattle
Address : 2033 6th Avenue, Suite 1125, Seattle WA 98121
Phone: 206.441.1011
Fax: 206.441.7912
Email: koreanconsulate@yahoo.com
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM- 12:00 NOON; 1:00 PM- 4:30 PM
Consular Jurisdiction: Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alaska

Consulate General in Chicago
Add. : NBC Tower Suite 2700, 455 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60611 U.S.A.
Tel : (1-312) 822-9485
Fax : (1-312) 822-9849
Emergency Call(off-day) : Recorded on the Consulate Telephone
Office Hours : 09:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00(Mon.-Fri.)
Consular Jurisdiction: Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, North Dakota, Kentucky

Consulate General in Atlanta
Address: 229 Peachtree St. International Tower Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30303
Tel: 404-522-1611
Fax: 404-521-3169
Office Hours : 09:00-17:00(Mon.-Fri.)
Consular Jurisdiction: South Carolina, North Calolina, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico

Consulate General in Honolulu
Address :2756 Pali Highway Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 (U.S.A.)
Telephone: (1-808) 595-6109, 6274
Fax:(1-808) 595-3046
Office Hours : 08:30-16:30 (Monday-Friday)
Consular Section (Visa & Passport):08:30-16:00 (Monday-Friday)
E-mail: cghi@mofat.go.kr
Consular Jurisdiction: Hawaii, Samoa

Consulate General in Houston
ADDRESS : 1990 Post Oak Blvd. Ste. 1250 Houston, Texas 77056
Tel : (713)961-0186, 0798, 0799
Fax : (713)961-3340
Consular Jurisdiction: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Lousiana, Mississippi

Consulate Agency of the Republic of Korea In Hagatna
125C Tun Jose Camacho St.,
Tamuning, Guam 96931
KCONSUL@KUENTOS.GUAM.NET
Tel (671) 472-6488
Fax (671) 649-1336
Consular Jurisdiction: Guam

In Canada...

The Embassy of Korea in CANADA
Address : 150 Boteler Street Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1N 5A6
Phone : (613) 244-5010
Fax : (613) 244-5043

Consulate General in Montreal
Address : 1 Place Ville-Marie, Suite 2015 Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2C4 CANADA
Telephone: (514) 845-2555
Facsimilie: (514) 845-1119
Jurisdiction Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland

Consulate General in Vancouver
Address : 1600 -1090 West Georgia St. Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3V7 Canada
Tel: (604) 681-9581
Fax: (604) 681-4864
Tel: (604) 685-9577(for visa)
Fax: (604) 683-1682 (for visa)
Office Hours : Monday to Friday ( 09:00-12:00, 13:00-16:30 )
Emergency Contact : Tel: (604) 319-2166
Jurisdiction British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan,
Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories

Consulate General in Toronto
Address : 555 Avenue Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4V 2J7
Phone: 416-920-3809
Fax: 416-924-7305
E-mail: toronto@mofat.go.kr
Regular Office Hours : Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. ~ 5:00 p.m.
Visa and Consular Services Hours : Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. ~ 4:30 p.m.
Jurisdiction Ontario and Manitoba

In Australia...

The Embassy of Korea in Australia
Address: 113 Empire Circuit, Yarralumla ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6270-4100
Fax: (02) 6273-4839
Office hours: Mon-Fri : 09:00-12:30, 13:30-17:00
Off duty on Australian holidays and Korean holidays (3.1. Independence Movement Day,
7.17. Constitution Day, 8.15 National Day, 10.3. National Foundation Day)

Consulate General in Sydney
Address : United Overseas Bank Building Level 8, 32 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Phone : 61-2-9210-0200
FAX : 61-2-9210-0202
Business Hours(Monday - Friday) : Morning 9:00 - 12:00, Afternoon 1:00 - 5:00

In the United Kingdom...

The Embassy of Korea in United Kingdom
Address: 60 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AJ, United Kingdom
Tel. : 44 - (0)20 - 7227-5500
Fax : 44 - (0)20 - 7227-5503
E-Mail: koreanembinuk@mofat.go.kr
Office Hours : 09:30 - 12:30, 14:00 - 17:30 (Mon. - Fri.)

in New Zealand

The Embassy of Korea in New Zealand
Address : 11th Floor ASB Bank Tower, 2 Hunter Street, Wellington, New Zealand
PO BOX 11-143, Manners Street, Wellington, New Zealand
Tel. : (64-4) 473-9073/4
Fax : (64-4) 472-3865
E-Mail : koreaemb@world-net.co.nz
Emergency Call(off-day) : 3rd Sec.Yoon-Young Oh (64-4) 461-6978
Office Hours : 09:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00(Mon. - Fri.)

Consulate General in Auckland
Address : Level 10, Toshiba House, 396 Queen St., Auckland, New Zealand
P.O.B : P.O.Box 5744, Wellesley St., Auckland, New Zealand
Tel. : (649) 379-0818,0460
Fax : (649) 373-3340
E-Mail ·koreanconsulate@xtra.co.nz
Emergency Call(off-day) : Consul LEE YOUNG GYU, (64-27) 297-0125
Office Hours : 09:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00 (Mon.-Fri.)

In South Africa...

The Embassy of Korea in South Africa
Address : Greenpark Estates Bldg. #3, 27 George Storrar Drive, Groenkloof, Pretoria 0181, South Africa
P.O.B: P.O.Box 939, Groenkloof 0027, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
Tel. (27-12) 460-2508
Fax. (27-12) 460-1158
E-Mail : korrsa@mweb.co.za
Office Hours : 08:00 - 12:00, 13:00 - 17:00 (Mon. - Fri.)

Procedure

Once you receive your 'Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Insurance' letter from us, take it to the consulate where you had your documentation notarized. Don't forget to take your passport with you. The consulate will then stamp your visa in your passport. There is a small fee for this process. You may have to call ahead to the consulate for the cost of this process. You will be able to pick up your passport the next morning. In cases where time matters, it may be possible to ask them politely to process this information for you in only a few hours, If you have to mail your passport to the Korean Consulate, include a check or money order for the total cost and a self addressed stamped envelope. If you do not send the self addressed stamped envelope, the consulate will not send your passport back to you. Now all you have to do is enjoy the flight to a new exciting career!

Note: When a school needs a teacher immediately, we use the fastest way of obtaining a work visa. You will fly to Korea on a round trip ticket as tourist (no visa is required up to 90days) without doing anything with the Korean consulate in your country. You should bring your original university degree and resume. Your school director will then submit those documents to immigration and get your 'visa letter'. After getting your visa letter, you will be sent to Japan to get an E2 work Visa. (Japan is the closest neighboring country, a return flight and accommodation will be provided by the school). Although this process is the quickest, the least preferred by institutes, considering the greater costs involved.