Working in Korea

E-2 Visa Procedure

  1. Teacher mails required documents to DYB’s NHR Office Address by FedEx or DHL ONLY

    • BA/BS Degree – Apostilled
    • Criminal Background Check – Apostilled
    • Copy of Resume
    • Copy of Passport (photo side)
    • Visa Application Form
    • E-2 Applicant’s Health Statement Form
    • Signed Contract
    • 4 Passport-Sized Photos Total (take a total of 4- mail 2 to Korea and keep 2 for later)

  2. DYB checks the documents and sends them to the DYB representative

  3. The DYB representative files and submits the documents to Immigration to sponsor your visa

  4. NHR emails the visa issuance letter to your recruiter

  5. The teacher receives the visa issuance number and submits the required documents to their Korean Consulate

    Required Documents

    • Visa Issuance Number (VIN) or Letter
    • Actual Passport
    • Visa Application Form
    • 2 passport sized photos

  6. The Korean Consulate keeps the visa issuance letter and returns the E-2 visa stamped passport to the teacher

  7. After receiving your E2 visa and entering Korea, it is now important to get your Residence Card

    Required Documents

    • Passport
    • Passport-Sized Photos
    • Two Copies of the Health Check Result

    Important: Do NOT leave the country if your Residence Card is being processed.

Residence Card Process

The following procedure details the steps required to acquire a Residence Card (formerly known as an ARC; Alien Registration Card). This card is extremely important in Korea and its acquisition should be a priority for teachers. Your Residence Card is required before you can be covered by the National Health Insurance Plan. It also allows you to open a bank account, purchase a cell phone, and send money home.

*** It is essential that you start this procedure within 1 week of arriving in Korea. ***

  1. The first step in acquiring your Residence Card is to get a health check. To do this you need to take two or three photos along to an approved hospital and ask for two copies of the health check.

    1. 1 copy is needed for the immigration office.
    2. 1 copy is needed for the local education authority.

    Be sure to collect a receipt for the cost of the health checks as you will be reimbursed for the cost when you submit your documents to DYB.

  2. After receiving the health check, please let NHR(Native English-speaking Teacher Human Resources) know so that we can schedule an appointment with the immigration office. A DYB representative will meet you at the immigration office to help make the registration process easier.

    Please note: The health check is valid for 30 days only. You need to give the health check result to your campus soon as you receive it to ensure that there is enough time to submit it to the relevant authorities.

  3. We will then gather all of your documents, along with your passport, residence card, and health check, to register you to the Office of Education. This will take another 1 to 3 weeks and after it is done, you will receive your passport and Residence Card.

    Do NOT leave the country until you have been issued a Residence Card!
    If you leave the country for any reason during this process, all your documentation will become invalid.