Some of you probably won't have any idea about the Korean E2 visa process. However, we will be taking a gander at all of this through the viewpoint of the candidates applying for Korean E2 visa process. First, let’s take a look at what's the Korean E2 visa?

What is an E2 Visa?

The Korean E2 Visa is granted to those hoping to teach English in South Korea. It is approved solely after strict prerequisites are met and is the initial move towards one turning into a temporary resident of Korea. The visa is put in a candidate's passport (it needs an entire page) and permits them to enter South Korea to teach English.

Korean E2 Visa is ONLY accessible to residents of the following nations:

●        Australia

●        New Zealand

●        Canada

●        United States

●        United Kingdom

●        Ireland

●        South Africa

The Korean E2 Visa Process in a Nutshell

In case you're searching for a short outline of the visa process for English teachers in Korea, I have separated it into 5 stages:

●        Collect all necessary paperworkand send it toyour future school.

●        Get a visa confirmation number in return that you will use to apply for the physical visa.

●        Complete more Visa paperwork(includingthe E2 Visa Application Form) to your nearby Korean Embassy or Consulate and apply for your visa.

●        Arrangeyour flight to Korea after getting your visa.

●        Complete your Health Check once you arrive in Korea.

Duration of the E2 Visa Processing?

In the event that you do everything yourself, the E2 visa processing time is 2-4 months by and large. This includes collecting and submitting all important E2 paper work to South Korea and scheduling an appointment to get the physical visa.

Applicants that are in a rush can lessen the normal E2 visa preparing time by utilizing services to accelerate the application. This will be talked about in more detail later, however for the present, realize that you can pay extra for assist with:

●        Accepting an Apostille on your record verification and

●        Getting a background check

Korean E2 Visa Requirements?

If you're searching for general teaching requirements, please check the following statements below…

Korea is probably the strictest country in the world with regards to visa requirements for English teachers in Korea in contrast with different nations in Asia.

How about we take a gander at what it will take to get an E2 visa for teachers and breakdown every prerequisite in detail:

Visa Requirements

●        3-4 year Degree from a University

●        Educational Transcripts of a 3-4-year Degree

●        Clean criminal Background Check

●        Health Statement

●        Valid Passport and Photos

●        Resume

●        Signed Contract from School

Arranging and Sending Your Paperwork to Your School

Since you have collected all the vital paperwork (and got a proposal from your school – if not, try to look at the most current ESL jobs in Korea), it's an ideal opportunity to send everything back to your school so that they can apply for your visa.

All required documents (signed agreement, Health Check form, passport copy, educational degree, transcripts, resume, and background check) need to be sent through a global courier service like DHL or UPS so both you and the school can follow the complete process. This will cost you around $50.

E2 Visa Instructions for the Embassy or Consulate

Now, you have sent all your paperwork to your school in Korea, waited for 7-10 days or so, and have been rewarded with a visa confirmation number. You need to take this number and put it in your Korean E2 Visa Application Form with the rest of your information.

Once this application form is completed, make an appointment at the Korean Embassy or Consulate (Check here for all list of Korean Embassy) to have it prepared. Make sure to have the following things before you make your visa appointment:

Embassy/Consulate Requirements

●        Completed Korean E2 Visa Application Form

●        Passport with at least 6 months legitimacy and 1 free page

●        Diplomat's Checklist

●        2 Passport photographs

●        Money order for $45

Normally, those applying for a Korean E2 Visa are needed to have a short interview when visiting the embassy. Recent documents propose this is turning out to be more uncommon, yet it's still a good idea to anticipate it.

After submitting the E2 Visa Application Form and finishing your interview the only thing left to do is get your visa. Based on what you picked on your application form, this could be anywhere in the range of one hour to one week.

After Getting Your Korean E2 Visa

After you have gotten your visa from your nearby embassy or consulate you are now free! All you need to do now is book a trip to Korea and gather your stuff, congrats! Also, make sure to contact your school to notify them of the visa and start planning your trip.

Before you start feeling like you’re drowning in a bowl of alphabet soup, we’re here to break down the differences and help you better understands which teaching jobs in Korea are right for you.

SMOE Korea - SMOE stands for Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. Its teaching program is highly coveted because jobs are located in the dynamic capital city. The program, established since 2005, aims to have a native English speaker in every public school.

EPIK Teaching - EPIK stands for English Program in Korea. It’s sponsored by the Korean government and it places teachers in public schools throughout the country.

GEPIK Jobs - In short, GEPIK stand for the Gyeonggi-do school division’s English teaching program. Like EPIK and SMOE Korea, jobs with GEPIK are government contracts. Teachers work at one base school in Seoul’s “satellite” cities.

Other common ESL jobs in Korea - There are many more job opportunities in the ESL market in this Asian tiger. Teaching English in Korea also includes educating students at hagwons or private language schools, teaching classes at universities, and tutoring business people and adults one-on-one.

      

Where can I find ESL jobs in Korea?

Although you could type “teach ESL in Korea” into any search engine, you may feel overwhelmed by the gazillions of results you get. Instead of spending hours scrolling through the good, the bad, and the downright ugly, head over to our teach ESL in Korea program directory which makes it so much easier. You can narrow your search by availability, preferred location, and type of project. 

Still overwhelmed by your options? Never fear—the bibambap hasn’t run out just yet. Consider using MyGoAbroad to bookmark and compare the ESL jobs in Korea you’re interested in side-by-side. It’s handy, visual, and makes the dirty work of vetting programs way more fun.

Should I teach in Korea in a city or a rural area?

One thing: Korea is so much more than Seoul. However, if you do want to teach in that wicked-good metropolis, there are benefits. Seoul is well-connected to other parts of the country and internationally. It’s also one of the world’s culture capitals, thanks to the global appeal of Korean pop culture. However, living in the capital city also means a higher cost of living, more crowds, and cramped apartments. If you still want to live in an urban area, consider other cities in Korea: Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Suwon. 

If you’re more of a country mouse, Korea has a lot of quieter villages and towns where you can definitely get in with the local community vibe. Living in a rural area is also bound to be cheaper with lots of clean air and more opportunities to learn Korean and engage with locals.