E-2 Working Visa

Visa Requirements – The requirements for each applicant as set out by Korean Immigration in order to be issued with an E-2 working visa for Korea are as follows:

1. Be a native English speaker from any of the following seven countries: Ireland, United Kingdom, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa.
2. Hold a BA / BBS / BSc degree from a recognised University in any discipline, the University must be located one of the above English speaking countries.
3. Have a clear criminal background - minor offences may be accepted.
4. Pass a health and drug test within 3 months of your arrival in Korea.

Visa Documents – The documents that are required by Korean Immigration are as follows:

1. 4 Passport sized pictures.
2. Original signed and dated Contract – you will receive this after you have accepted a position.
3. A photocopy of your passport – the picture page.
4. Original degree certificate or a notarised copy of your degree certificate with an apostille*
5. Health Statement form – a doctor’s signature is not required.
6. Transcript of University results**
7. Police Background Check / Police Certificate*** and Apostille*

*An Apostille is required in all cases to authenticate your police background check / police certificate. Another apostille is required if you are sending a notarised copy of your degree certificate.

• The apostille is used to authenticate documents that will be used outside of the country they were issued in. It is the Dept. of Foreign Affairs / Foreign and Commonwealth Office / State Department or their representatives that will issue this letter for citizens of Ire, UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa.
• Canada is not signed up to this international agreement so Canadian citizens must have their police check and notarised degree (if applicable) stamped by their nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate.

**Transcript of University Results is issued by your university and must detail the results from all years of your degree.

• The transcript of results must be put in an envelope by your university. An administrator in the university must then put the university stamp along the seal to show it hasn’t been tampered with. Finally the administrator must sign his/her name across the seal of the envelope as a final security measure.
• Note: If your transcripts are not done correctly they will not be accepted by Immigration so please take special care with this item. Often it is the university administrators that forget to stamp or sign the sealed envelope. Just make them aware of what you need them to do before they send it to you.

*** Police Background Check / Police Certificate is available from your local Police station depending on your home country the title of the document may be different. The document is needed for a visa application and not your new employer.

• Korean Immigration officials will not make exceptions if there is an error with either your application form or documentation.

There is a downloadable document for each of the seven English speaking countries. Each one details the documents that are required and also has some regional information on the Apostille and Police Background Check / Police Certificates.