Visa and Immigration Guide (12/23)

How to Transfer from an E-2 Visa to a D-10 Visa in Korea

How to Transfer from an E-2 Visa to a D-10 Visa in Korea   If your teaching contract in Korea is ending and you want to stay in the country while searching for a new job, changing from an E-2 visa to a D-10 visa can give you more flexibility and time. The D-10 visa, also known as the Job-Seeker Visa, allows you to remain in Korea legally while looking for another position, attending interviews, or preparing to change to a different work visa later. Here is everything you need to know about transferring from an E-2 visa to a D-10 visa in Korea in 2026.     What Is a D-10 Visa? The D-10 visa is designed for foreigners who are between jobs but want to remain in Korea while seeking new employment. For teachers currently on an E-2 visa, it is often used when: Your current teaching contract is ending You want more time to look for a better school You are leaving your current job but do not want to leave Korea immediately You want to stay in Korea while preparing to switch to another visa type later Unlike the E-2 visa, the D-10 is not tied to one employer. This means you can interview with multiple schools, take your time comparing offers, and avoid having to do a rushed visa run.     Why Teachers Choose to Transfer to a D-10 Many teachers move directly from one E-2 visa to another. However, changing to a D-10 first can make the process easier and less stressful. Some of the main benefits include: You can stay in Korea legally after leaving your job You do not need to leave the country between jobs You can apply to multiple schools at the same time You are not tied to one employer during your job search You can take time to find a school that is the right fit rather than accepting the first offer This is especially useful if you want to move cities, change from kindergarten to elementary teaching, switch from a hagwon to a public school, or simply avoid jumping straight into another contract.       When Should You Apply? You should apply for your D-10 before your E-2 visa expires. Ideally, begin preparing your documents around 2–4 weeks before your last working day or the end of your contract. If your employment has already ended, you usually have a short grace period, but you should not rely on this. Immigration may refuse your application if you wait too long. The safest option is to apply while your E-2 visa is still valid.     Documents You Need The exact requirements can vary slightly depending on your immigration office, but most E-2 teachers changing to a D-10 visa will need: Passport Alien Registration Card (ARC) Completed visa application form One passport-style photo Proof that your employment has ended or is ending Letter of release (if applicable) Contract end letter Employment certificate A job-seeking plan Proof of accommodation in Korea Housing contract Utility bill Confirmation from the person you are staying with Bank statement showing you have enough funds to support yourself Application fee Many immigration offices ask for a simple written explanation of your plans while on the D-10 visa. This does not need to be complicated. For example, you can explain: What kind of teaching job you are looking for Which cities or areas you are interested in How long you expect your job search to take Why you want to remain in Korea     How Much Money Do You Need? Immigration usually wants to see that you can support yourself while you are looking for work. In most cases, applicants should have at least around 3–5 million KRW in their bank account. The more savings you can show, the better. If you have very little money in your account, your application is more likely to be questioned or refused.       Step-by-Step: How to Change from E-2 to D-10   1. Book an Immigration Appointment Make an appointment through the HiKorea website or app. Appointments can fill up quickly, especially in larger cities like Seoul and Busan, so book as early as possible.     2. Prepare Your Documents Collect all of the documents listed above and make photocopies of anything important. It is always a good idea to bring: Original documents One extra copy of everything Printed bank statements A Korean translation if any document is not in English or Korean     3. Visit Immigration Attend your appointment at the immigration office responsible for your area. At the appointment, submit your documents, pay the fee, and answer any questions about your future plans. The immigration officer may ask: Why you left your previous school What kind of work you are looking for How you will support yourself while job hunting     4. Wait for Approval Processing usually takes around 2–4 weeks. In many cases, immigration will place a sticker in your passport or update your ARC while your application is being processed. Once approved, you can remain in Korea legally under the D-10 visa.     How Long Does the D-10 Last? As of 2026, D-10 visas are generally issued for up to one year at a time, depending on your circumstances. If you still have not found a job, you may be able to extend it later. Recent changes have also made it possible for some applicants to remain on a D-10 for up to three years in total if they continue to meet the requirements.       Can You Work While on a D-10? The D-10 is not a full work visa, so you cannot legally teach at a school until you transfer back to an E-2 or another work visa. However, you can: Attend interviews Visit schools Apply for jobs Prepare documents for a new employer     How Do You Change Back to an E-2 Later? (click here for more information) Once you find a new teaching job, you can transfer from your D-10 back to an E-2 without leaving Korea. Your new employer will normally help you prepare: New employment contract Business registration documents Visa sponsorship paperwork You then apply for a change of status at immigration. This is usually much easier than applying for a completely new E-2 from outside Korea.      Common Mistakes to Avoid When applying for a D-10, try to avoid these common problems: Waiting until after your E-2 expires Not having enough money in your bank account Forgetting to bring proof of accommodation Giving a vague or incomplete job-seeking plan Assuming you can work immediately on the D-10 Failing to book an immigration appointment early enough         For teachers in Korea, the D-10 visa can be one of the best ways to give yourself more freedom between jobs. Instead of feeling pressured to accept the first school that offers you a contract, you can stay in Korea, take your time, and find a position that truly suits you. If your E-2 contract is ending soon, start preparing your documents early and apply before your current visa expires. With the right preparation, changing from an E-2 to a D-10 is usually a straightforward process that gives you far more flexibility during your next job search.

What do I do if my school cancels my contract?

When a school cancels a teacher's contract, during any part of the process, it can be stressful and confusing. Here at the worknplay, we are always supporting our teachers through any problems that may arise; however, it cannot be said the same for other recruiter and direct hires. So we thought it would be useful to write a post about your rights and what to do if a school cancels a contract.    There are two situations that a teacher can be in when a school cancels a contract: 1. In Korea and currently on an E2 visa or another type. 2. Out of Korea, in another country without holding a visa in Korea.      Where you are currently situated and how far you are along in the visa process changes your rights and how you can react to the cancellation.     First: What happens if you are outside of Korea.   If you have signed the contract but not sent the school your apostilled documents, you are free to find another position without consequence. Just make sure you keep written evidence of the school cancelling the contract (either communication from the school or from the recruiter you are working with). If you have sent your apostilled documents to the school in Korea. If the school has applied for your VIN number, you need a letter of release. Once your VIN has been processed, you can take the VIN receipt, the Letter of Release (from the school that cancelled) and your new contract to your embassy. Your VIN is valid for 3 months upon issuance.    More information: VIN Process Applying for your Visa Letter of Release If the school refuses to give you a letter of release and are refusing to send your apostilled documents back, you can call 1345 (hiKorea/Immigration) and ask for their advice. The international calling phone number is situated at the bottom of the website. If you have applied for your visa You need to wait for your visa to be processed. Then, as the same with the VIN, you need a Letter of Release for when you go to immigration. Your visa is valid for 3 months upon issuance.  However, the school can cancel your visa at anytime. If you think you are at risk of this happening, please contact the embassy or consulate you applied to.  For teachers already in Korea.     If a school cancels your contract before you start work, you have the right to take legal action.   However, do note, there are some circumstances where the school has the ability to: - If it is 30 days before you start work - If the reason for cancelling is beyond the school's control (e.g. they close) If a school cancels your contract and you have started work and have gone to immigration to process the e2 transfer, you can talk to a lawyer about your rights. This is where you need a letter of release in order to move to a new school.  However, if the school has cancelled and you have not gone to immigration yet to process the transfer, your original E2 expiry date still stands. You need to find a new school and contract before the expiry date or transfer to a D-10 visa. 

Embark Services (8/8)

Embark's Expectations for Schools (& what that means for teachers)

Embark's Expectations for Schools (& what that means for teachers)   We talk a lot about what we give to our teachers and what our teachers should expect from us, as a company. However, it is also worth mentioning and highlighting what we expect from the schools that we work with. Here are some examples of our expections on schools, the reasons for them and how they can positively impact our teachers.     Firstly, one of the most important, is that all our schools provided the 4 insurances; Health Insurance, Pension Insurance, Accident Insurance and Unemployment Insurance. You might not know that, legally, employers do not need to provide unemployment insurance. However, from our own personal experience and for the assurance of our teachers, we think it is incredibly important for our schools to pay into this insurance. The unemployment insurance is useful as, if you are made unemployed or need financial support from the government, the unemployment insurance can come into fruition.  Secondly, our schools need to pay all salaries, severance and insurances on time and in full. If the school does not do this, we will help the teacher find a new position and guide them to how to lodge a report with the Ministry of Labor.     If you do require legal assistance, feel free to contact our lawyer here. He speaks English and Korean and has practiced law in the US and in Korea.  In turn, all contracts are legally-binding documents. However, if a certain clause is not written (e.g. details on the payment of the 4 insurances), our schools understand that the law is above any contract signed and exchanged between the school and our teacher.          Thirdly, during interviews, schools know to conduct themselves professionally and communicate clearly their expectations of their teachers. Also the interviews are formal, even when conducted online, so a level of professionalism is expected from the teachers but also from the school. If you are nervous about interviewing schools or would like some insight into how they are typically structured, you can find an overview here and also typical questions asked here. As with the expectations during the interview, throughout the whole hiring process, schools are expected to maintain a level of professionalism. This includes, clear communication, timely responses and, if any changes occur, for the school to work with us to rectify any concerns.      Fourthly, we also understand that during interviews with schools, you are nervous and may not feel able to ask all the questions you would like to the interviewers. If the schools would like to offer a contract, they are fully aware that they are expected to provide a current teacher's email. As former teachers ourselves, we understand how important this is so you can candidly ask questions you may have missed during the interview.     Finally, all of our schools are legally registered with the Ministry of Education and are required to register all of our E2 teachers with the Ministry of Education. This gives our teachers legal protection from the Ministry while also viewing them as established teachers. If you are interested in this process, feel free to read more about it here.    If you have any questions or are interested in working with us, feel free to create your own resume or email our director, Derek, at derek.embark@theworknplay.com.      

What am I allowed to teach on the E2 visa?

What am I allowed to teach on the E2 visa?   For as long as the E2 visa has existed, there has been an argument on what E2-visa holders are allowed to teach while on the visa.  We are writing this job post in order to clean up some misunderstandings. Please do note that this is our opinion only and if you are worried, do talk to the Ministry of Education or a lawyer.  Please note: The legality of your teaching content is based on the school's curriculum intent. If the intent is to improve conversational English through other methods (e.g. cooking) then it is legal. Can I teach other subjects on an E2 visa? This depends on the ages that you are teaching, so I will give some examples. Just always ask yourself, 'is the primary purpose of this lesson language acquisition?'.    If you are 'teaching art' once a week to kindergarten students in English, this is most of the time not an Art subject, but just another method of English instruction, e.g. any Native speaker could do the activity and specialist knowledge isn't needed to teach the lesson.    However, if you are teaching middle school students and 60-70% of your teaching time is spent talking about Monet or van Gogh and it requires a specialist knowledge or qualification (e.g. a bachelor's in Art History), then this is not allowed on the E2 visa. The aim of this subject isn't another method of English teaching but for the students to learn about Art History.   Second example; debate. If you are being asked to research different subjects for your students to debate about (e.g. the impact of the pandemic on the world's economy), then this is allowed on the E2 visa. Having your student debate is designed to increase their speaking skills, argument methodology and vocabulary. However, if the entirety of the subject is you explaining different economic phenomena and their effects on the world then this is not allowed as it is not expanding their English vocabulary but informing them about macro economics. You can introduce the subject to them, but you should not function as a subject teacher.        Additional Classes Another common worry for teachers is they are teaching more hours than what they have been contracted to do.  We would recommend counting how many hours you are in front of children teaching and compare with what is in your contract. Another common misunderstanding is that if the school gives you any more classes on top of your usual schedule that this is overtime and you must be paid overtime. The majority of the time, the schools mention 25-30 teaching hours a week, but only give their teachers 23 or 24 hours so if any additional classes are given then overtime pay may not be required. We would suggest reading the wording of your contract and getting advice from a legal representative if clarification is needed.  Taking on additional employment while on E2 Thirdly, when on an E2 visa, private tutoring/working at multiple locations is not allowed. This is why, in most cases, E2 visa holders cannot work part time as some partime employees would like to take up additional employment. If you would like to take up additional employment, you need to apply for permission from immigration to do so. However, do note, that this is incredibly uncommon and, with decisions up to the discretion of the immigration officer, your application might be rejected.    As an E-2 visa holder, your work should remain clearly focused on teaching English as a language. While different teaching methods (art, debate, activities) are commonly used, they should support language learning rather than replace it with subject-based instruction. If you are ever unsure whether a specific teaching duty is permitted, it is best to confirm directly with the appropriate authorities.

Filing a Report with the Ministry of Employment and Labour

Note that through out this article, the Ministry of Employment and Labour is referred to as: MoEL, MoL and Ministry of Labour. They are all the same, governmental body.  An E-Petition in Korean is: 민원신청 / civil petition system       Disclaimer: This is entirely a case-by-case procedure. The information below is a generalised explaination of the process. In you are ever in doubt, please speak to a lawyer.         Common Reasons to Report an Academy or School: The most common reasons for teachers wanting to report their schools are as follows: 1. late or missed salary payments 2. Overtime work not being paid 3. Schools not honouring breaktimes 4. Schools not paying all four insurances (you can check this by calling NHIS, they can also tell you whether you are registered as 'freelance' or as an 'employee').   How to File a Complaint (Step-by-Step) In order to get advice surrounding your working environment and concerns, you can submit a form using the Ministry of Labour's website.      1. File an E-Petition   Please note that the petition procedure is different for foreigners, compared to Koreans.    2. Once you have submitted the petition, it will be forwarded to the relevant department in the relevant provincial government. For example, if your school is in Suwon, you will be contacted by Suwon's Ministry of Labour. Please note that this representative will most likely only speak Korean so you are free to converse with them via text message or email to make the translation quicker.      3. Once your petition has been filed and the Ministry of Labour has assigned you a representative, then you will discuss with that representative how you would like to proceed; do you want the school to be contacted or would you like to talk to them yourself first?            Bear in mind that even if you have submitted the petition 'anonymously', schools are most likely able to deduce who submitted the complaint.         Evidence   Before submitting your petition to the MoEL, please collate all the evidence possible for your case. As an example, when I reported my school, it was because they hadn't given us 11 days holiday and was refusing to give me my severance although I had worked for more than a year.   First make sure you have actually given the school your resignation letter or a letter of grievance, on the date that is stated at the top of the letter and that it includes details such as your full name, place of employment, it being addressed to your director/employer directly and your signature at the bottom. This letter can be in English or Korean and do not need to state the reasons why you want to leave. Then discuss with the school whether they will give you a letter of release; you can voice record or use text messages as evidence that the school 'verbally agreed' to giving you a Letter of Release.   *Please note that the schools legally do not need to give you a Letter of Release if you decide to leave, so do conduct yourself in a way so you can depart on good terms.  When I reported my school, I first organised a timeline of what was said with dates and the relevant evidence to back up my claims.     Example Case Timeline: 1st March: I told my school I would be leaving on the 30th March (resignation letter dated, signed by both parties attached)   3rd March: My director and I had a meeting and they said they are withholding my severance due to the fact they had not found my replacement and I would have to pay 'recruitment fees'. (I attached the voice recording of that meeting).  6th March: I reported my school to the Ministry of Labour with all the relevant evidence and a transcript of the previous conversation.   15th March: I was contacted by a MoEL representative for Ilsan and explained to them that I would like them to call the school to explain (in Korean) that I had reported them for violations of Korean Labour Act.   16th March: The school was called and the agent told me that this conversation had taken place (they would not tell me the content of the conversation)   19th March: MoEL said that if my severance was not paid two weeks after my last day (e.g. in this case, 14th April), then they would issue a warning to the school that they would be investigated and fined if it was not paid within 24 hours.   14th April: My school paid my severance and the money owed for the holidays I was 'not allowed to take' (in this case, 3 days worth of 'overtime' work over the 1 year I had worked there). The case was then dropped by the MoEL after I provided evidence that they had paid my severance.          Visa Considerations (E2 vs F-series) The situation for F-series visa holders is very different from E2 holders.  At this time, I was an F6 visa holder, so I did not require a letter of release. However, if you hold an E2 visa, you would need to tell the officer during the initial conversation that you require a letter of release to leave the school and the school is refusing to give you one (for whatever reason the school had stated- it is best to get your school refusing and their reason in writing or as a voice recording). If the school is found to be in violation of labor laws, MOEL may provide documentation supporting your case, which can sometimes be used with immigration as an alternative to a Letter of Release. Ultimately, it is immigration who decide visa transfer eligibility. This letter, along with other documents, will be given to immigration once you have signed a new contract.  If you are seen to have given false evidence or not given sufficient evidence at any point of this process, the government can dismiss your case and you will still be employed at the school (if the school has not fired you). Even under these circumstances, the school needs to give you 30 days notice of employment termination (if after 3 months probationary period. If it is during the first 3 months, the school can legally fire you anytime without notice). If you have committed fraud or falsified evidence to a large extent, your visa can be put at risk.    Before filing your petition, we would suggest talking with an employment and labour lawyer to discuss the details of your case. You can also read the Labour Law for yourself (in English) here.                Important things to note: Avoid discussing your complaint publicly or with coworkers before filing, as Korea has strict defamation laws. While reporting to authorities is protected, publicly sharing workplace disputes can sometimes create legal complications. Make sure that all your evidence is dated, labelled correctly in your timeline/folder and that you have backups of it. Make sure that you have presented your concerns to the school and that they have acknowledged your conversation with them about the matter.  Do not sign any paper, contract or give any money to your school. Airfare repayment depends on your contract. Some clauses may not be enforceable, but you should confirm with MOEL or a labor lawyer before refusing payment. If you are in school housing, make sure to take photos of your apartment when you move in and in its current state; they might use this as a reason to not give you all your severance pay. Do not take other witness statements or ask colleagues to 'back you up'; if they have a grievance, they can submit a separate claim themselves.   

Teaching in Korea (7/7)

Mock Lessons: What to Do If a School Asks for a Mock Lesson

Mock Lessons for School Interviews   You may be asked to produce a mock lesson for a school. This is typically ask of teachers with teaching experience and schools in areas such as Gangnam, Mokdong, Gimpo & Bundang.    The school will either ask for: You to prepare the lesson in advance and teach it during the interview You will be given the materials during the interview and prepare then You will produce a mock lesson video which will then be sent onto the school (if this is the case, please always send the video via the recruiter and not directly to the school).   It is important for you to speak clearly and concisely and act as though you are presenting to real students. This can be difficult if the interview is via videocall but please try your best.   Secondly, if possible, it is good to prepare materials such as worksheets, activity ideas and a powerpoint which you can then share via screen sharing.  A lot of the textbooks that the schools use can be found on teaching websites like TES where other teachers may have uploaded their own materials for others to use. Feel free to have a look.   Also, if the school has provided the materials they would like you to base the mock lesson on, please stick as closely to it as possible; relevant materials can be useful but this should only make up 10-20% of the lesson.   However, if the school has asked you to find your own materials, they are most likely still going to outline the focus of the lesson (e.g. reading, writing, debate) and the target ages (either grade level or ability level).   There are many websites which you can use to search for relevant materials, including: TESOL Resource Centre TEFL Lessons World TESOL Academy British Council   We also have a general blog post on how to structure your lessons.  We also have an example mock lesson video made by one of our experienced teachers. Her target age group were Elementary-aged students.  In summary, mock lessons aren't hard; you just need to be as prepared as you can. Just relax, smile and have confidence in your teaching ability. 

Life in Korea (12/20)

Using the Airport Bus, AREX & KTX (Incheon Airport Terminals 1 & 2)

Airport Buses and Buses that go outside of Seoul and Incheon:   Terminal 1 (map) Incheon Airport's Terminal 1 Bus Terminal is located on the Level 1 of the Arrivals Hall. It will be clearly marked by signage in English and Korean.    Buying the Bus tickets   You can buy the tickets here: https://www.airport.kr/ap_en/1504/subview.do  or at the terminal (the red circled area below). You can use a foreign credit card (visa or mastercard) to buy the ticket but be aware of the exchange and usage charges if you do.  You can also buy with cash and having some cash on you for an emergency is recommended.  OR At Terminal 1, you can purchase bus tickets and get related information at the ticket booths located inside the terminal (next to exits 4 and 9) and outside the terminal (near exits 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, and 13).             Your bus number will be at one of the stops indicated by the numbers in the blue squares above.    The final location of the bus's route will be on the bus in English and Korean.  Please, before you board, take a photo of the license plate and send it to someone in case of any emergencies.      If you are unsure, show the driver this Korean: 이 버스는 (say where you want to get off) 에게 외버스터미널로 가나요? (this means does this bus go to (destination))   You can search the route here: https://www.airport.kr/ap_en/1504/subview.do     After getting off at the airport bus stop, you might need to take a local bus to get to your housing. You can use naver maps or kakao maps to guide you.  You will use your t-money card to tap when you get on and off the bus (like an oyster). To get onto the bus, you must get on using the door closest to the driver. To get off, you must use the door situated in the middle of the bus.   If you need help:   Information desk in the arrivals hall speak English and can help you find the bus if you need help: Both are located near entrance 10 and entrance 5   Source: https://www.airport.kr/geomap/ap_en/view.do?type=2&alertType=0&tmnlId=P01#/category   Other useful info: Airport Bus website: https://airportlimousine.co.kr/en/sub/sub03_01.php?boardid=notice_en&mode=view&idx=1&category= Police + Ambulance: 119           Terminal 2 (map)   Incheon Airport's Terminal 2 Bus Terminal is located on the B1 level of the Transportation Center.   Buying the Bus tickets   You can buy the tickets here: https://www.airport.kr/ap_en/1504/subview.do  or at the terminal (the circled booth above). You can use a foreign credit card (visa or mastercard) to buy the ticket but be aware of the exchange and usage charges if you do.  You can also buy with cash and having some cash on you for an emergency is recommended.    Your bus number will be written on the doors (an example is circled in red above) to either side of the bus terminal.   The final location will be on the bus in English and Korean.  Please, before you board, take a photo of the license plate. If you are unsure, show the driver this Korean: 이 버스는 (your destination)로 가나요? (this means, does this bus go to (destination)?)   You can search the route here: https://www.airport.kr/ap_en/1504/subview.do After getting off at the airport bus stop, you might need to take a local bus to get to your housing. You can use naver maps or kakao maps to guide you.  You will use your t-money card to tap when you get on and off the bus (like an oyster). To get onto the bus, you must get on using the door closest to the driver. To get off, you must use the door situated in the middle of the bus.   Information desk in the arrivals hall speak english and can help you find the bus if you need help:       Source: https://www.airport.kr/ap_en/1452/subview.do   Other useful info: Airport Bus website: https://airportlimousine.co.kr/en/sub/sub03_01.php?boardid=notice_en&mode=view&idx=1&category=   Source: https://www.airport.kr/ap_en/1452/subview.do   AREX Airport Train to Seoul Station:   Incheon Airport's Terminal 1 train Station is located in the basement of the Arrivals Hall. Please follow the signs to the ‘subway’.    For Terminal 2, it is also located in the basement.    Buying the AREX tickets   You can buy the tickets here: https://www.klook.com/activity/1163-airport-to-seoul-city-center-arex-train-incheon/ or at the gates by the AREX entrance.  You can use a foreign credit card (visa or mastercard) to buy the ticket but be aware of the exchange and usage charges if you do.  You can also buy with cash and having some cash on you for an emergency is recommended.   Seoul Station Seoul station is big and has many different types of subways, trains and buses that going through it.    When getting the KTX, follow the signs for the platforms for the SRX or KTX.   You can buy KTX tickets here: https://www.korail.com/global/eng/main   Once at your destination, you might need to take a taxi, the subway or a bus to get to your final destination. Taxi and Seoul subway information: https://theworknplay.com/Blogs/Detail/Article/15841   You can use the app kakao t and please choose the option ‘pay the driver’, then you can use cash or a mastercard/visa card.

Visa and Immigration Guide (11/23)

F3 Dependents Visa: Everything you need to know

F-3-1 (Dependents Visa): General Overview   If you want to come over to Korea to teach English (E2 visa) but want to bring your spouse or children with you, then they can apply for a F3 visa.    An F3 visa allows any D or E-Visa Holder to bring their family with them while working or studying. The individuals eligible for the F3 visa include: spouses, children under the age of 19 years old and dependents. Typically, the visas given are single-entry and are valid for the duration of the D/E-Visa holder's ARC. For E2 visa holders, this is typically 12-13 months. You cannot work on an F3 visa in Korea; if you want to work, you need to apply for permission from Immigration.    You can apply for the F3 visa once you have submitted your documents for the E2 visa at your local consulate or embassy. You must apply for the F3 after the E2 holder has received their VIN (Visa Issuance Number) from Immigration in Korea.    ​REQUIRED DOCUMENTS   Note: The required documents may vary by the consulates and embassies. Please check it with your local consulate before you apply for the visa. The head of Korean diplomatic missions abroad may request for additional documents depending on the condition of the country of residence/jurisdiction if it is deemed necessary for visa evaluation. 1. Application Form Application For Visa for those in possession of visa eligibility certificate (VIN) here If you do not have a VIN, you can use this application form here.  ​ 2. 4 copies of headshot/passport-style photo for Visa Application Color, US passport photo size, taken within the last 6 months ​ 3. Original Passport and a copy Some consulates require you to notarise the photocopy of the passport, so please check carefully.    For individuals applying in the USA:  (Non-U.S. citizen) Orignal Valid U.S.Long-term Visa or U.S. Permanent Resident Card(Green card) and a copy    4. Marriage Certificate with official translation (if not in English or Korean).   5. Criminal Record Certificate (e.g. DBS, CRC)   6. (If applicable) Family Relation Certificate for applicants below the age of 19 years old.    7. (For South African Citizens) Tuberculosis Test Result from a specific medical institution.    Specific Countries' Requirements: South Africa United Kingdom Ireland   USA: Anchorage Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Honolulu Houston Los Angeles New York Philadelphia San Francisco Seattle Washington D.C. Most consulates in the USA ask for the F3 applicant to book an appointment when applying for the visa. You can see the general information about this here.    Canada: Montreal Ottawa Toronto Vancouver  Australia: Brisbane Canberra Melbourne Sydney  New Zealand: Auckland Wellington      Note: If you are wanting to bring your children with you to Korea, we recommend looking into how your children will be integrated into Korean society, especially with regards to their education. International Schools here are very expensive and are concentrated in certain areas of the country (Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and Jeju Island).     Visa Fees (Updated: 18th March 2026) Country Single (≤90 days) Single (≥91 days) Double Entry Multiple Entry All countries (default) $40 $60 $70 $90 Ghana $50 $80 $90 $100 Russia $50 $80 $90 $120 Vietnam $20 $50 $60 $80 Senegal $50 $100 $120 $150 Azerbaijan $50 $80 $120 $150 United Kingdom /Germany/France/ the Netherlands $130 $200 $220 $250 Austria $50 $50 $70 $80 Uzbekistan $50 $70 $80 $100 Iran $50 $80 $90 $120 Kyrgyzstan $50 $70 $80 $100 Tajikistan $50 $50 $70 $80 Australia $80 $120 $130 $150 United States $45 $45 $45 $45     Exempted Countries: Country Single (≤90 days) Single (≥91 days) Double Entry Multiple Entry Spain Free Free Free Free Italy Free Free Free Free Thailand Free Free Free Free Japan Free Free Free Free Taiwan Free Free Free Free Ukraine Free Free Free Free Sweden Free – – – Israel – Free – – Barbados – Free – – Colombia – Free – – Peru – Free – – Liberia – Free – – Dominican Republic – Free – –  

Teaching in Korea (6/7)

How to Lesson Plan & Pace your Lessons

Sometimes when you start teaching in Korea for the first time, lesson planning, pacing lessons and scheduling can feel daunting. So we have decided to tap into our teaching experiences to help you organise your lessons effectively.   Throughout this post, I will be using the 'writing star level 1' textbook as an example. I used this book when I was a teacher and you can find the pdf of the textbook for free here.        To start with: Lesson Planning.    When you have a textbook in front of you, planning what to do when and how to make it interesting for the students can be a big task. However, breaking it down into chapters based on the amount of time you have can really help.     Let's take an example: Writing Star 1 (3rd Edition).   This textbook has 8 chapters and most semesters have 13-16 weeks depending on the school. This book has 8 chapters so we can split the chapters in half. If you start teaching your class on the 1st December, your schedule could look something like this: Week 1 (Week starting 1st December): Chapter 1 (pages 6-11) - Homework is page 10-11 Week 2: Chapter 1 (pages 11- 15) - Homework is page 15       To plan Week 1, you should focus on vocab and introducing the topic to the students.  To start, I would write the main words on the board and get the children to read it out loud. I would then integrate common questions that use these words as their answers.    For example, who do you live with? (I live with my dad, my mum and my sister). How old is your sister? (My sister is 8 years old.) Then once you think that the students understand all the questions and words, you can play a game of word association (this is more catering towards elementary school students). You write a word in the middle of the board and invite the students to come and write a word on the board that relates to that word.    For example, family would be associated with words like, sister, brother, house, siblings etc.  It can be stylised how you want using the resources available. When I taught, I stylised it like a spider diagram:        Secondly, after establishing these words, you can move onto the next page and introduce jobs and ages. Another method of teaching this is through call and response. You choose a student and ask the question, 'how old are you?' and they would respond 'I am 8 years old' or 'I am in the 3rd grade'. If the children are struggling with these sentence structures, you can write them on the board and leave the varying ages as blanks. For example: I am ___ years old.   My dad is a ____. My mum is a ______. (jobs)   Job vocabulary can be difficult, so if your school allows you to, I would recommend using a small part of the board to write the job and the Korean, like so:   If they are still struggling, you can include options under the blank: I am ____ years old. (eight, seven, six)   My dad is a _____. (doctor, teacher, baker)     After establishing this, you should combine the first two sections together to make a short paragraph. This is where the students would write on a piece of paper or in their books a short introduction, as follows: Hello, my name is ____. I am ____ years old. I live with my family/ I live with my mum, dad, sister and brother. My dad is a doctor and my mum is a engineer.      After this, using the story in the textbook, go around the room and ask each student to read a sentence. When this is done, they can answer the true and false questions alone and then once all the children are done, you can go through the answerds together. If a student is quicker than others, you can ask them to go through the story and highlight words they do not know and/or translate the true/false sentences into Korean.    The next page can be done alone. If the students are struggling with the vocabulary, as with the jobs, you can take a part of the board to write the English and Korean.  If you don't have a smart board, it is good to draw (or attempt to!) the pictures to aid with picture/word association. Even you can't draw, the drawings being bad and funny can help with them learning the words.    Another way to teach the words, first, second, third, fourth etc is to draw a timeline/sequence on the board so they can see that first means 1 etc.   Their homework can be pages 10-11. If they are struggling, they can use the previous story to help them with the sentence structure/word order.            Week 2: Chapter 1, pages 11- 15.   First, write out all the words on the board that you identified in the previous lesson that the students struggled with. You can also do this with the sentence structuring.   After doing that, get the students do complete page 12 while you go around the classroom and check their homework. If there are sections that the student struggled with/needs to do again/did not complete, using post it notes to mark where they need to complete for their next homework helps.   When all the students are finished and you have marked the homework, write the sentences from page 12 onto the board and go around the room and ask each student in turn to fill in one of the blanks. If you have more students than blanks, you can get another student to read out the whole sentence after the blanks have been filled.  Then they can complete page 13 alone. While they are doing this, you can draw the diagram from page 14 onto the board and write some title ideas that the students can use. if you have more time, you can get the students to come up with their own ideas on the title of the essay and what words they learnt through the word associate task in the previous lesson (e.g. title: I live with my family, What jobs my parents do).   Then again, the students can complete this alone and you can go around the room and check. If they complete this too quickly, you can ask them to add more apples to the diagram with other family members (sister, brother, uncle etc).   Then you can assign their homework and the chapter is finished. If there is still more time, you can play hangman with the vocab from the chapter or pictionary. In terms of actually structuring and writing down your plan for the lesson. You can split it up into different sections and allocate a rough estimate of how long each section will take. For example: 1:00pm to 1:10pm- Getting the students settled, writing the date and introducting the topic. 1:10pm-1:30pm- Reviewing vocabulary and starting to complete the textbook activites. 1:30pm to 1:45pm- Finish the pages assigned for that class and review vocab with the children 1:45pm to 2:00pm- Writing down the homework and marking last week's homework. Vocab review with any words you identified as the children struggling with throughout the lesson.  It doesn't have to be anything complicated. What is the most important thing is that you understand the structure and it is easily useable in class.          Second: How to structure your whiteboard.   Although overlooked by some, how you write and the colours you use are very important, especially for students who are visual learners. When I was a teacher, each whiteboard colour was associated with a certain element of ESL. For example, grammar was blue, vocab was red, black for general information and green for answers.    This colour-coordinating was used by all teachers in every class, so whenever the students saw blue they knew it was a grammar point.    In terms of dividing out your board, you can do as below.   Naturally this can be adapted to what your schools asks you to cover. For example, when I taught elementary students, we would talk about today's weather and I would include that under the date. However, for middle school students, we would talk about the main news article of the day instead of the weather.            Third: Creating a schedule   You can use a calendar app or just a calendar on a piece of paper to do this. We would have day structures given by our school to use which looked something like this:       Just keeping organised and on top of your work is a priority. Having a small notebook you can put into your pocket to track your to-do list is also an option.      There are also some websites that can help you in planning but also coming up with ideas on different activities to do with your students: TES: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources Cambridge English: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/educators-organisations/resources-for-teachers/ Grammar Monster: https://www.grammar-monster.com/ British Council: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/            

Visa and Immigration Guide (10/23)

Changing Your Name in South Korea (ARC, Passport etc)

Changing your name in Korea   It is uncommon for Koreans, after they get married, to change their last name. However, outside of Korea it is very common and is done much more frequently. In order to simplify the process, we will be talking about the different steps on how to change your name or any other details to do with your ARC/Foreigner Registration Card. Please note that when Koreans change their name, they are given a name change certificate. From my experience (a UK citizen), I was not given one by the British government as I was changing my name due to marriage. When you go to your bank to change your name, they might ask for one. You can explain that foreigners are not given these and I used the temporary ARC paper instead to show the name change.    First, you must change your name on your passport. If you hold multiple passports, then you need to contact each country's passport office in turn and see which name you need to change first. As an example, when I wanted to change my name on UK and Irish passport, I need to change my Irish passport first and then my British.     Second, after all your passport(s) have been changed and the books sent back to you, you need to go to immigration. Here is how to book an immigration appointment.     The documents needed for immigration include: 1. ARC application form (please tick 'change of information on registration' and 'reissuance of registration card'. 2. Your old passport (the nationality registered with your ARC) 3. Your new passport 4. 39,000 won in cash for the fee (this includes postage, without it is 33,000 but you need to pick the card up from the office) 5. 4x Headshots (Passport style) 6. If you are changing your name because you are married, you must bring the 혼인관계증명서 (your Korean spouse must give you this)       Third, after you have recieved your new ARC card, you must go and declare your name change to your bank, NHIS, PASS and other service providers you use. You must also give your employer a copy of your new ARC so they can change your tax forms and other administrative details.   If you are changing details due to your passport number changing, you do not need to change it at the bank and other services; only if details on your actual ARC card changes do you need to declare it.    If you have any questions, please call 1345 or your local embassy for advice. 

Visa and Immigration Guide (9/23)

How to Issue a Korean Criminal Record Check for Working with Children & Vulnerable Adults

  Issuing a Sex Offense & Child Abuse Criminal Record Check   If you are an F-series visa holder or have lived in Korea for a while, your school might request a Korean Criminal Background Check. There are multiple different types of Background Checks so use this guide to make sure you are getting the right one.  You can only get this check if you have an ARC. If you do not have an ARC, you are unable to be issued one.      The Check looks like this with a red stamp on the bottom righthand corner:     There are two methods: Online method and in-person method You can obtain a criminal record certificate (for sex offense and child abuse checks) without visiting a police station by using the online Criminal Record Certificate Issuance System. (You can search this Korean using Naver or Google: 범죄경력회보서발급) Step 1: Log In You must log in first for all procedures (consent application, information management, etc.). You can log in without a digital certificate or I-PIN: Select Mobile Phone Enter your Resident Registration Number Click Mobile Phone Login Choose your telecom provider Verify your identity (for example, via SMS) After verification, you will return to the main page.   (주민등록번호 is your ARC number that starts with your birthday (for example: 20010108-8****) It requires you to download the PASS App (here is a blog about it)   Step 2: Apply for Issuance Consent (For Job Applicants) Click “Consent Application for Prospective Employee” Enter the information provided by the organization requesting the certificate: ID 4-digit verification number Click Search The facility director and organization name will appear Click Agree/Consent   The school will provide the ID number and password for this section, please ask the school or your recruiter to provide it. Usually the digits look like this:  Facility ID: ABCDEFG (all letters) Verification Code: 0000 (all numbers)     (등의 means confirm) Step 3: Select Certificate Type Choose the type of certificate to issue: Select “Sex Offense & Child Abuse Criminal Record Check Reply” (This option allows both checks at once.)   Select your applicant status: Prospective employee (취업예정자) Current employee (재직자) Then complete the application details below. 1. Click the first option as shown in the above image (성범죄경력 및 아동학대범직전력조회회신서 (유치원, 학교, 채육시설, 어린이집, 학권 등). 2. 산청인 유형 (second box on the right hand side): Please click the first option if you have not started at the school yet. If you have started working, please check the second box (the translation of the Korean is above the image) .      The left-hand side translation is as follows (시설기관): 사업 (기관)명- Business (Organisation) Name 시업자동 록번호: Business Registration Number (both the name and number should already be written, it is not please contact the school to confirm their registered business name and registration number) 성명- Full Name 아이디- ID (username) 전화번호- Phone Number (Korean Number) Step 4: Identity Verification, Issuance and Printing After submitting the application: Click Identity Verification You can now view or issue the certificate yourself Because the organization must keep the official copy: Click “Identity Verified (Send to Organization): 시설(기관)장정보관리     Important: If you print it yourself first, you cannot get another copy- you must apply again. If you want a personal copy: Save it as a PDF Print it for yourself Email the file to the organization After submission, contact the organization so they can confirm and print it from their side.   How to Print     Step 1:   Step 2:   In-Person Issuance at a Police Station To obtain the certificate in person, visit the Criminal Division of your local police station with: Application form for sex offense and child abuse record check (attached below) Proof that the organization is a child-related institution (license or authorization document) (please ask your school for their 아동관련기관임을 증명할 수 있는 인가증 또는 허가증) Your ID (본인 신분/ARC) *Visit between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM. *Avoid 12:00–1:00 PM due to lunch hours and their breaktime.     Source: https://blog.naver.com/con_aww/222269409941

Visa and Immigration Guide (8/23)

Applying for your visa outside of your home country

Sometimes it is not possible for you to go back to your home country in order to apply for your visa issuance number and/or visa. Whether you are studying/working abroad or in Korea, you will need to visit the consulate of another country in order to apply for your visa. This can only be done when your VIN has been issued. The VIN (technically) can only be issued when you have left Korea.    General information on E2 applications   If you hold a D-series or H1 visa, you may be able to change to an E2 visa in Korea without needing to leave. You can see the relevant information here: D4 to E2 D2 to E2 D10 to E2 H1 to E2     As an example, if you are an American citizen who is currently studying in the UK, you can apply through London's KVAC system, just the fees for the visa will be different. However, if you are not in an E2 country, then it will look a little different. There are certain consulates that can process visas within 24 hours and others where it will take longer, so we advise to do your own research into which consulate is closest to you and their processing times. Please also note that some consulates require you to book an appointment in order to be able to apply and will not accept walk-ins.    In general, when applying for your visa, you will need to prepare these documents: 1. Completed Visa Application (only available once your VIN has been processed, will have a special barcode on it associated with your application.) 2. Passport for one of the E2 eligible countries (note: for dual citizens, this is what your ARC, pension etc will be registered under so we recommend using the one where you have lived the longest and/or have a financial history in) 3. Coloured photocopy of your passport information page (including the page above with your signature on it) 4. 4 copies of 3.5 * 4.5 coloured photos of yourself (passport style on photo paper) 5. Visa fee (in cash and in the local currency)       Step 1: Visa Issuance Number: For your initial application for your Visa Issuance Number, you can get all your documents sent to you even while living abroad. As a reminder, the two documents you need are as follows: 1. Criminal background check   2. Degree certificate/diploma (this can be your Bachelor's or Master's; it just needs to be from a university of one of the seven E2 countries) Both needs to apostilled in order to be used when applying for your VIN.      Criminal Check: For your criminal check, there are different ways of applying for it overseas depending on your nationality: For USA citizens, you can go to your local police station and complete your fingerprints. However, you will have to post the original copy to the FBI in the States, which takes much longer than doing it digitally, in the USA at a USPS. It has to be a federal background check, state-level will be rejected by immigration.   For UK citizens, for your DBS, you can order it online and get it delivered to a UK address. Therefore, please talk to a trusted friend or family member to recieve your document. If this is not possible, you might be able to get it sent to your local British consulate/embassy but please contact them if this is the method you would like to do.   For Canadian citizens, the method is similar to USA citizens, where you need to go to your local police station, get your fingerprints taken and then send it to the RCMP. You can use an accredited agency to speed up the process but this naturally will cost more money. It has to be a government-level background check; state-level/one without fingerprints, will be rejected by immigration.    For Australian citizens, you can apply for your National Poilice Certificate online and get a pdf version of it sent to your inbox.   For New Zealand citizens, you can apply online.    For Irish citizens, you can apply online for your certificate, however you must apply directly to your registered Garda station and it takes much longer than going in person to recieve it.    For South African citizens, you can get your fingerprints done at your local police station and posted to SAPS. (note: in order to view SAPS's website, you need to use a VPN set to South Africa)       Getting your documents apostilled: To get your documents apostilled while abroad, the process is the same as if you were at home; you might have to include a pre-paid envelope with your application but please talk to your chosen provider first about what they require: USA Apostille UK Apostille Canada Apostille Australian Apostille NZ Apostille South Africa Apostille (note: DIRCO only accepts postal applications) Ireland Apostille   Please note that applying for your visa this way is not advised if you are able to go home and apply. However, for some, this is isn't possible or is too expensive.    Also, if you have stayed in another country for an extended period of time, you may be required to get a criminal background check of that country (e.g. if you studied in another country, different from your own, you may need a criminal check). Please apply for one just in case and avoid unnecessary delays.   *We would advise doing your own research as it may differ for non-citizens.