E-2 Native English Teacher Visa Korea

E-2 Native English Teacher Visa — This page covers who is eligible, what documents are required, and how to apply for the E-2 visa to teach English in Korea. Based on the official Immigration & Foreigner Policy Manual.

1. Overview

The E-2 visa is issued to native English speakers from designated countries to teach English at Korean educational institutions — including public schools, private language academies (hagwons), universities, and government programs such as EPIK.

The visa is tied to a specific workplace (sponsoring school or academy). The maximum period granted at one time is 2 years; the actual period follows the employment contract and is decided at screening.

2. Eligibility Requirements

Nationals of countries whose native language is English (the manual's examples of criminal-record issuing countries include the following):

United States of America
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Ireland
South Africa

Personal requirements:

Bachelor's degree or higher from a university in a country whose native language is English (a Korean university degree is also accepted in some cases)
Criminal record certificate with no criminal record (applicants with a criminal record are in principle refused)
Self-declaration of health status (visa application) and, when applying in Korea, a medical examination report that includes HIV and drug tests
Valid contract / letter of invitation from a Korean school or language academy

3. Required Documents

Category	Documents	Notes
Common	Visa application form (Certificate of Visa Issuance application form), passport, standard-format photo (1)	Applications through an agent also need a power of attorney, the agent's employment certificate and ID
Education	Officially verified (apostille or consular confirmation) degree certificate: a copy of the degree, a degree conferral certificate, or a graduation certificate stating the degree (one of these)	Degrees from a Korean university need no official verification
Background check	Officially verified criminal record certificate from your home country covering the whole country; also from a third country if the degree was earned there	Must be issued within 6 months of the application date
Health check	Self-declaration of health status (revised form)	Medical examination report (HIV, drug tests) is required for in-Korea applications
Employment	Employment contract, documents on the establishment of the academy or organization, other reference documents (e.g. teaching plan)	Wage must be at least the minimum wage of the year

Document requirements differ by employer type (public school assistant teachers have a separate list) and the immigration office may add or omit documents. Please confirm with the competent Immigration Office.

4. Application Process

Secure a teaching contract from a Korean school or academy
Korean employer submits documents to obtain a Certificate of Visa Issuance (CVI) from immigration
Once CVI is issued, apply for the E-2 visa at the Korean embassy/consulate in your home country
Enter Korea on the E-2 visa
Submit any additional medical documents requested by the immigration office
Register as a foreigner and obtain your Alien Registration Card (ARC) within 90 days of entry

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Which countries are eligible for the E-2 visa?

A. The applicant must be a national of a country whose native language is English and hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a university in that country (or equivalent), subject to the special rules in the Immigration manual (Sept. 2026 edition). Please confirm eligibility with the competent Immigration Office.

Q. Do I need a teaching certificate for the E-2 visa?

A. A teaching certificate is not required for native English speakers, but a bachelor's degree is mandatory. Certificates such as TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA can help you secure a job but are not listed as a visa requirement for this route.

Q. What criminal background check is required?

A. An officially verified (apostille or consular confirmation) criminal record certificate from your home country covering the whole country is required, and it must be issued within 6 months of the application date. If your degree was earned in a third country, a certificate from that country is also required.

Q. Can I change employers while on an E-2 visa?

A. Yes. For E-2 holders, a workplace change or addition is handled by report to the immigration office. Please complete it before starting work at the new workplace.

Q. Can my family join me on an E-2 visa?

A. Family members may be eligible for F-3 (dependent) status under the separate F-3 guideline. Please confirm eligibility with the competent Immigration Office.

Q. Can I request a consultation?

A. Yes. Contact us via KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, LINE, or WeChat.