Korean Immigration has recently implemented changes to their visa requirements. It is recommended that you contact the Korean Embassy your region to verify the information on obtaining an E2 visa to teach in Korea.

Korean Embassy - Ottawa - (613) 244-5010 - Service for Ottawa residents ONLY

Korean Consulate - Toronto - (416) 920-3809 - Servicing Ontario and Manitoba

Korean Consulate - Vancouver - (604) 681-9581 - Servicing British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan

Korean Consulate - Montreal - (514) 845-2555 - Servicing Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland

The visa process might seem somewhat daunting at first, but really it isn't. We have outlined the entire visa application process for you here in 3 basic steps. If you follow all instructions carefully, you shouldn't have any problems in obtaining your visa on time.

* NOTE - Your name should appear the same on ALL documentation. If your name appears different on any of the documents (example - one has a short form of your name and one doesn't), your application may be rejected by Korean Immigration. Contact your Go East representative if you are unsure about anything.

**UPDATE - As of April 2011, first-time applicants no longer have to apply from their home country.

***UPDATE - As of April 2011, you no longer need your university/college transcripts, in Korea, when applying for private school positions. You may still need them for your Consulate at home, so please check with the office in your region.

Items you will need to prepare to apply for an E2 teaching visa - IN TOTAL

1. ONE photocopy of your Degree - notarized and verified by a Korean Consulate General
   
2. ONE RCMP Criminal Background Check - notarized verified by a Korean Consulate General
3. Valid Passport - signed, with at least 6 months validity and two empty pages for processing
4. ONE photocopy of your passport photo and information pages
5. FOUR Passport Photos - these must be recent and should have a white or light background (with neutral expression/no teeth)
6. TWO Official Health Statement Printouts - both forms must be completed with the exact same answers
7. ONE copy of your resume/CV - with your current address and contact information, signed on each page
8. ONE copy of the School's Contract - with your signature and date
9. ONE E-2 Visa Application
10. ONE Consul's Checklist
11. Visa Processing Fee - Check with your Consulate as it is subject to change

The three items below are usually not needed but it's a good idea to check with your Consulate as some may request to see them.

• ONE photocopy of your Degree/Diploma Certificate
• ONE set of unopened, official transcripts - sealed by the university (official seal)
• ONE photocopy of your criminal record report

For a much more detailed description of the above items, visit our Requirements section. If needed, it should help in understanding all of this better

* NOTE - We recommend that you make extra photocopies of all important documents and leave them with a friend or family member in case of an emergency. Take a copy of the contract with you as a reference and have your director sign it when you arrive in Korea.

** REMINDER - Be prepared! Even if you are still searching for a job, we strongly recommend that you start preparing your documents immediately. The criminal background check can take a very long time to issue but it is valid for 6 months from the date of issue by Korean Immigration. The entire visa process, even when you are fully prepared, will take anywhere from 3-5 weeks to complete.

The visa process is different for Canadians than for all other countries. Canada did not sign the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Documents, therefore an apostille is not needed for verification. However, certain documents will still need to be certified by a notary public and then be verified through the embassy or consulate you are dealing with in your region.

Be sure to carefully follow instructions and check that all documentation is completed properly.

Step 1

First, have the following documents notarised by a notary public

• Copy of your original degree certificate
  
• Criminal background check
  

Then, take/send these items to the Korean embassy or consulate in your region to be verified

In person

• Copy of your degree - notarised
  
• Original criminal background check - notarised
  
• Call the embassy to find out if there's a fee for verification

By mail

• Copy of your degree - notarised
  
• Original criminal background check - notarised
  
• Prepaid return envelope (Xpresspost or Priority post - in Toronto ONLY Xpresspost is accepted)

If you are sending them by mail, you need to send these documents by Xpresspost or Priority Post. You must contact the embassy to find out their preferred method of post. Some offices WILL NOT accept documents sent by certain couriers.

Step 2

Once you've accepted a job offer, you will need to send the required documents to your employer in Korea to obtain your Visa Issuance Confirmation Number (authorizing the Korean Consulate in your country to process your visa). Your Employer will apply for the visa issuance number you will recieve it via email.

Items you will need to send to your employer in Korea

1. ONE Photocopy of your Degree - with Consulate Verification
   
2. ONE RCMP Criminal Background Check - with Consulate Verification
3. ONE Photocopy of your Passport Picture and Information Pages
4. THREE Passport Photos
5. ONE Official Health Statement - completed and signed
6. ONE Copy of your Resume/CV - with your current address and contact information, signed on each page,
7. ONE Copy of the School's Contract - signed and dated by you

You need to send these documents by DHL or FedEx only. Local priority post services cannot provide tracking numbers for Korean distribution. Once you send this package you need to email the tracking number to your Go East representative (this helps with planning).

Your employer in Korea will apply for your Visa Issuance Number with the documentation you've sent them. Korean Immigration takes 7-10 business days to process this number (depending on the volume of applications they are dealing with at the time).

Step 3

Your Visa Issuance Confirmation Number will be sent to you via email, by either your Go East representative or your employer. You must then take/send another group of documents to the Embassy in that deals with your region.

Items you will need to take/send to the embassy in your region

1. Valid Passport - with at least 6 months validity and 2 empty pages for processing
2. ONE Passport Photo
3. ONE Official Health Statement (yes, another one) - completed with the EXACT SAME ANSWERS as the first
4. Completed Consul's Checklist
5. Completed E2 visa Application
6. Visa Confirmation of Issuance number
7. Visa Processing Fee - Check with the Embassy, as it is subject to change
8. If Mailing, a Prepaid Postage Return Envelope (Priority Post, FedEx, DHL)

The three items below are usually not needed but it's a good idea to check with your Consulate as some may request to see them.

• ONE Photocopy of your Degree/Diploma Certificate
• ONE set of unopened, official transcripts - sealed by the university (official seal)
• Photocopy of your criminal record report

If you are sending them by mail, you need to send these documents by Xpresspost or Priority Post. You must contact the embassy to find out their preferred method of post. Some offices WILL NOT accept documents sent by certain couriers (like Toronto).

Before you take/send your documents to the embassy, call them to let them know to expect your documents.

If you recieve your passport by courier with the E2 visa sticker in it, you've done everything correctly! You will then be ready to head off on your adventure in Korea!