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.