What Is the E-2 Visa?
The E-2 (Conversation Instructor) visa is South Korea's dedicated visa for native-speaking language teachers — primarily English, but also Chinese, French, Japanese, and other languages where the applicant is a native speaker from a qualifying country. It is the most common visa for foreigners coming to Korea for the first time, with tens of thousands issued every year.
Unlike most Korean work visas, the E-2 requires no employer sourcing: Korean schools and academies are actively looking for E-2 teachers, and many positions include visa sponsorship, housing, and flights as part of the compensation package.
The 7 Eligible Nationalities for E-2 English Teaching
For English teaching positions, only citizens of these 7 countries qualify for an E-2:
- 🇺🇸 United States
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
Citizens of other countries — regardless of English fluency or teaching qualifications — are not eligible for E-2. If you're a non-native English speaker with strong qualifications (CELTA, DELTA), some employers may be able to sponsor you under E-7 as an educational professional instead.
For teaching other languages: citizens of countries where Chinese, French, or other languages are the official native language can also apply for E-2 in those languages.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
- Nationality: Citizen of one of the 7 qualifying countries (for English)
- Education: Bachelor's degree or higher from a university in your home country — or graduation from a Korean university at bachelor's level or above
- Criminal record: Clean criminal background check (apostilled) from your home country
- Health: Medical certificate from a designated hospital in Korea (or arranged before arrival)
- No teaching certification required — though TEFL/TESOL significantly improves job prospects and salary
Public School vs. Private Hagwon: Key Differences
| Factor | Public School (EPIK/SMOE/etc.) | Private Hagwon |
|---|---|---|
| Salary | ₩1.8M–₩2.7M/month (step-based) | ₩2.0M–₩3.5M/month (negotiable) |
| Housing | Free furnished apartment provided | Usually provided or housing allowance |
| Hours | ~22 teaching hours/week, school hours | Afternoons/evenings, ~30 teaching hours |
| Class sizes | 25–35 students per class | 5–15 students per class |
| Age groups | Elementary, middle, or high school | Usually children aged 5–15 |
| Vacation | ~18–20 days/year + national holidays | ~10–15 days/year |
| TEFL required | Preferred; some programs require it | Increasingly required |
| Stability | Government-backed, very stable | Varies by owner/school |
The CVI Process: How Your Employer Sponsors the Visa
Unlike most visas where you apply directly, the E-2 starts with your Korean employer applying for a Certificate of Visa Issuance (사증발급인정서, CVI) on your behalf through the HiKorea portal. This is a critical step that many first-time E-2 applicants don't fully understand:
- You send your documents to the employer — apostilled degree, apostilled criminal background check, photos
- The employer submits the CVI application to the Ministry of Justice via HiKorea (takes 2–4 weeks)
- CVI is issued — a document number is sent to both the employer and you
- You apply for your E-2 visa at the Korean consulate in your home country — bring the CVI number, your passport, and supporting documents
- Visa issued within 3–5 business days at the consulate
- Enter Korea and register your ARC within 90 days of arrival
Required Documents Checklist
You provide to your employer (for CVI application):
- Bachelor's degree certificate — apostilled from your home country
- Official university transcript — apostilled
- Criminal background check — apostilled (FBI check for Americans; RCMP for Canadians; DBS for UK)
- Passport copy (photo page)
- 2 passport-size photos
You bring to the consulate (after CVI issued):
- Passport (valid 6+ months)
- CVI number from employer
- Completed visa application form
- Health certificate (some consulates accept a certificate from a Korean hospital after arrival)
- Visa fee (typically $40–80)
Renewing Your E-2 in Korea
E-2 renewals are handled at your local immigration office (체류기간 연장). You can extend for up to 2 years at a time. Bring:
- Passport and ARC
- Updated employment contract
- Employer documents (business registration, tax certificate)
- Fresh criminal background check (may be waived if you've been in Korea for less than 3 years since last submission — confirm with your office)
- Extension fee: ₩60,000
Changing employers: If you switch schools, you must file a workplace change report (근무처 변경 신고) at the immigration office within 15 days. Failure to report is a visa violation.
E-2 Restrictions to Know
- No private tutoring — private lessons for payment violate your E-2 terms. All teaching must be at your approved workplace. Violations can result in deportation.
- Employer-specific — your E-2 is tied to one employer. You cannot work for multiple schools simultaneously without additional work permission.
- Spouse cannot work on F-3 — your spouse can come on F-3 (dependent) but cannot work. They would need to apply separately for a work-authorized visa or obtain a work permit.
From E-2 to Long-Term Residency
After 5+ continuous years in Korea on E-2 and other professional visas, you may qualify for F-2-99 (long-term resident) status. Many English teachers also transition to E-7 after picking up Korean skills and moving into educational administration, curriculum development, or corporate English training roles.
Source: Korea Immigration Service, E-2 Visa Guidelines | Last verified: March 2026
This article is for informational purposes only. Consult a verified immigration specialist for your specific situation.