Visa and Immigration Guide (11/14)
When preparing your E-2 visa application, there are two sets of documents to keep in mind. The first set includes general documents that are required for the VIN application, which your school submits to the Korean Immigration Office. The second set includes documents specific to the consulate or embassy in your home country where you will apply for your visa.
General Timeline for an E-2 Visa
Step 1. VIN Application
Once your school submits the VIN application, processing typically takes 15 business days (about 1–3 weeks), though this can vary depending on the region and time of year.
Step 2. E-2 Visa Application
The processing time at Korean consulates and embassies varies by region and season, but it generally takes 5–15 business days.
If you want to know how to check the VIN and/or visa application progress, see our guide on how to navigate the Korea Visa Portal.
Step 1. Visa Issuance Number (VIN) Application
To apply for an E-2-1 visa, you must first obtain a Visa Issuance Number (VIN). To get this number, you’ll need to prepare documents to send to your school. Your school will submit both your documents and its own to the Korean immigration office. Once the application is processed, you will receive your Confirmation of Visa Issuance Number (CVI No.) or simply a confirmation number, which you will use to apply for your visa at the Korean consulate in your country.
If you have a desired start date for teaching in Korea, begin preparing your visa documents 2 months in advance. Early preparation helps prevent last-minute issues for both you and your school.
We recommend arriving in March or September, as these are the busiest hiring periods when schools begin their spring and fall semesters. While teaching positions are available year-round, March and September offer the greatest number of job opportunities.
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For a March start:
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1.1. - Required Documents for VIN:
| When to Prepare | Document(s) | Details |
| Before School Interview | (1) Apostilled FBI Criminal Record Check |
• Must be issued within 6 months before the visa submission date. • Must be a clean national police check issued by the FBI, and should be apostilled by the Department of State. |
| Before School Interview |
• Must be issued within 6 months before the visa submission date. • Submit a notarized copy of your degree, NOT THE ORIGINAL (will not receive document back). • Attach a federal-level apostille • Additional degrees typically do not require notarization or apostille unless specifically requested. |
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| Before School Interview | • Print the self-health statement and fill it out by hand. • Be honest, as you must complete a physical health exam in Korea within 15 days of your start date. • If you are taking medication, inform your recruiter/school as it may affect your eligibility to work. • Exam includes drug screening tests (cocaine, opiates, cannabinoids, methoxyphenamine) | |
| After School Interview / Contract |
• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your contract start date. (We recommend at least 13 months of validity to cover the full year.) • Information must be clear and readable |
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| After School Interview/Contract |
(6) Official Passport-sized Photos |
• Photo size (2 x 2 in. / 3.5 x 4.5 cm). • Must be taken within the last 6 months • White background • No computer scans or color copies •Must prepare at least 6 photos in total for upcoming steps (We recommend at least 12 photos to cover other applications/uses in Korea.) |
| After School Interview/Contract |
• Fill out sections 1 – 7. • Please do not write your signature. |
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| After School Interview/Contract | (1) Signed Employment Contract |
• Contract signed by YOU and the SCHOOL. • Must list the minimum wage for the relevant year (annual income amount). |
| After School Interview/Contract | (1) Copy of Your Resume |
• Submit the resume you had sent to your school. • List all relevant teaching and international experience, if applicable.fs |
1.2. - VIN Documents Procedure
Step 1. Email Apostilled Document Photos for Review (Before School Interview)
Before mailing any physical documents, please send clear photos or scans of all your apostilled and notarized documents by email to Embark Recruiting for review. This step ensures we can check for any errors and prevent delays in your visa process. Also, let us know if you are taking any medication or have any physical or mental health conditions.
Step 2. Mail Your Original Documents to Korea (After School Interview + Contract)
Once you have signed a work contract with the school, please send us all the documents via DHL Express.
Please email your recruiter the DHL tracking number so we can monitor the delivery status.
| Note: Using any shipping service other than DHL Express may cause delays in visa processing. |
Step 3. School Submits Documents to Immigration or Korea Visa Portal
We will forward your documents to the school. The school will submit all paperwork, including their business license, school registration, and instructor operational plan, directly to the Korean Immigration Office or through the online Korea Visa Portal. Visa processing typically takes 7 to 10 working days after submission. (If additional documents or verification are needed during the review, processing may take longer.)
Step 4. Receive Your Confirmation of Visa Issuance Number (CVI No.)
- Once your visa issuance number (VIN) is ready, Embark will notify you through the school and send you a “Receipt Number.” You must apply for your visa at your Korean embassy or consulate within 90 days of receiving your VIN.
- You can view your Confirmation of Visa Issuance Number (CVI No.) and print your Visa Issuance Certificate on the Korea Visa Portal.
Step 5. Navigate Korea Visa Portal
- Go to the Korea Visa Portal site. Click the language option in the top right and select English. If it is already in English, ignore this step
- On the left menu, hover over “Check Application Status” and click “Check Application Status & Print.”
- You will be directed to a form page. For “Type of applications,” choose “Confirmation of Visa Issuance.” For “Select,” choose “Receipt No.” and enter the number we provided. Next, enter your passport number, your name in English (as it appears on your passport), and your date of birth.
- For your name, please make sure it is your surname (last name) FIRST, then your given name (first name).
- After clicking “Search,” you will see your application status, which includes your ”Confirmation Number.” This confirmation number is your CVI No., which you will need to proceed. You can also print your visa issuance certificate by clicking the button in the bottom right, "Print Visa issue certificate.
Step 2. E-2 Visa Application
After obtaining your Confirmation of Visa Issuance Number (CVI No.) or Confirmation Number, your next step is to submit your E-2-1 visa application through the Korean embassy or consulate or KVAC (for the U.K). Please review the requirements and procedures specific to your relevant embassy or consulate within your area of jurisdiction. We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information. However, we strongly recommend directly contacting the embassy or consulate for the most current guidance, assistance, and any updates or changes.
- US Embassy & Consulates Guide
- Canada Embassy & Consulates Guide
- Australia Embassy & Consulates Guide
| Consulates/Embassy | Areas of Jurisdiction |
| Brisbane | Queensland |
| Canberra | Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania |
| Melbourne | Victoria |
| Sydney | New South Wales, Northern Territory |
- New Zealand Embassy & Consulate Guide
3. Special Considerations
Marriage Certificate
A marriage certificate is required for an F-3 visa, which is provided to the spouse or underage children/dependents of the E-2 visa holder. You will need to get your marriage certificate notarized by the country of issuance and have it submitted during the VIN application, or submitted to the designated consulate for a separate F-3 visa application.
Name Change Document
When you change your name legally after graduation, you will need to notarize the related document from the country of issuance. You will not need it for the VIN application, but you will need it for the Visa application at the Korean consulate of your jurisdiction. For more information, please consult the Korean consulate of your jurisdiction.
Naturalization Paper
If you were born in a third-party country but naturalized to the seven countries that is eligible for an E-2 Visa (Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, U.K., U.S.), you won’t be required to prepare a naturalization paper.
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As former native English teachers in Korea, we know exactly what it’s like to navigate teaching abroad. That’s why we’re committed to increasing transparency in schools and improving Korea’s ESL teaching industry. At Embark Recruiting, we provide full support to help you succeed. Our blogs offer guidance, tips, and insider knowledge for teaching in Korea.