What documents do you need for an E-2 visa in Korea?
An E-2 teaching visa normally needs a bachelor''s degree, a national criminal background check, sealed transcripts and a passport — with the degree and the background check apostilled. Gather them in that order, because the apostille step is what takes the longest.
Park English · Published 2026-07-09 · 3 min read
Most delays in getting to Korea are not caused by the school or the recruiter. They are caused by one document sitting in a government office. This is the order that avoids that.
The short list
| Document | Where it comes from | Needs an apostille? |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor''s degree (or higher) | Your university | Yes |
| National criminal background check | Your national police / federal agency | Yes |
| Sealed university transcripts | Your university, sealed by them | No |
| Passport photo page copy | You | No |
| Passport photos | You | No |
| Signed contract | Your school | No |
| Health statement | You (a medical check is done in Korea) | No |
Requirements are set by Korean immigration and by the consulate that handles your region, and they do change. Treat this as the working list and confirm the details with the consulate you will apply through.
Do them in this order
- Order the criminal background check first. It is the slowest item and it has an expiry. In most countries it must be issued within the last six months when you apply.
- Request sealed transcripts at the same time. They must arrive sealed by the university. If you open the envelope, it is no longer valid.
- Send the degree and the background check for apostille. An apostille is a certificate your own government attaches to confirm the document is genuine. Korea accepts it because both countries are part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
- Sign the contract. Your school issues it, and immigration needs it.
- Apply at the Korean consulate for your region. Which consulate depends on where you live, not where you were born.
Who is eligible
The E-2 is for citizens of countries where English is the primary language. In practice that means the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. You also need a completed bachelor''s degree or higher.
If you hold an F-2, F-4, F-5 or F-6 visa, or Korean citizenship, you do not need an E-2 at all — you can already work, and the paperwork above does not apply to you. Many academies are happy to hire on those visas; not every job posting says so, which is why it is worth asking.
Two things that trip people up
- A degree in progress is not a degree. Immigration wants the conferred degree, not a letter saying you are on track to graduate.
- Your name has to match. If your degree, passport and background check spell your name differently, sort that out before the apostille, not after.
Where you get stuck, and who to ask
If something on this list is unclear for your country specifically, ask the recruiter you are working with before you pay for anything. Getting an apostille on the wrong document is an expensive week.