Document Requirements for Teaching English in Korea

Don’t wait to secure your documents! If you’re serious about teaching English in Korea then please start making preparations to secure your documents as soon as possible. The documents that are required for teaching in Korea are Korean Immigration requirements and not our actual companies. Meaning, even if you choose to accept a job through a different ESL recruiting company or agent, you will still be required to submit the same documentation for visa related purposes.

Note: You can apply to Gone2Korea before you have all your required documents in your possession; however, we will need to know when you can expect to receive each document before we’re able to proceed with the job application process.

Note: The document requirements listed below contain basic information only. Gone2Korea has numerous documents on file specific to each of the 7 nationalities that are eligible for teaching visas. Once your application has been received your Gone2Korea representative will send you an email which outlines the various steps and procedures needed to secure the various documents. The document will include vital information that pertains to your nationality, informative links, contact numbers and generic explanations specific to your nationality.

Required documents that you will need to secure on your own
Valid Passport	You must have a valid passport from one of the following countries: US, CA, UK, IR, AS, NZ, SA Your passport must have 6 months, minimum, remaining on the expiry date. Clearing Korean customs is not possible without this requirement. You will need at least 1 free/blank passport page.
Bachelors Degree or Greater (Must come from an accredited university)	You must have the hardcopy of your degree/diploma available. Diplomas must be notarized and authenticated for use in South Korea. Your Gone2Korea representative will provide you with the proper notarization procedures specific to your nationality. Recent graduates who have not yet received their diploma may present a ‘diploma alternative’. Please speak with a G2K representative for more details.
Officially Sealed Transcripts	2 sets are required for jobs in the private sector and 3 sets are required for jobs in the public sector. Complete academic transcripts are required. If you attended more than one university to receive your degree, then you will NEED to secure transcripts from each university. If your transcripts are not sealed properly then immigration will reject your application. Make sure your school seals your transcripts as requested by Korean Immigration. Gone2Korea recommends ordering extra sets of sealed transcripts when possible (having 4-5 sets in total is recommended if possible)
Criminal Background Check	Background checks may also be referred to as: Criminal History Reports, Vulnerable Sector Screenings, CPIC Searches, Subject Access Forms, Criminal Background Searches, Criminal Clearance Letters, other. All nationalities (excluding Canadians) must secure an Apostille Certificate for their checks; visit our ESL teacher resources page for more information on apostille offices. Canadian teachers must secure a verification stamp from the Korean consulate in their jurisdiction.
Official Passport Photos	6 passport photos will be required in total. 3 photos will be sent to Korean Immigration, 1 will be offered to the Korean consulate and 2 will be required for your health examination in Korea. All photos should be the same shot, ie duplicates of the same photo, official passport size and in full color. Photos can be the official size specific to your nationality; they do not need to be official Korean size passport photos.
Updated Resume	Make sure to include any work related experience on your resume. Please visit our application tips page for help and advice on ESL resumes.
Legible Photocopies	Many Korean consulates will request photocopies of the documents you have forwarded to the Korean immigration office in South Korea. Remember to photocopy all of your documents (originals and notarized copies) before you send them to Korea.
Recommendation Letters (Public sector only)	Recommendation letters are only required for jobs in the public school sector. Those applying for private school positions do not require reference letters unless the school requests it. Recommendation letters for public school jobs must come from an academic or professional source only (i.e. former professor, employer, manager, supervisor, etc.). Both letters must include the person’s name, status, address, contact number and an ink signature (letterheads are advised).
Required documents that will be provided by your Gone2Korea representative at the appropriate stage of your job and visa application.
E2 Health Statement	The health statement is a self assessment questionnaire form only, meaning you can complete the form yourself without a doctor’s note or signature. All teachers will be required to complete a health check at a designated medical clinic in Korea within their first month of arrival. The test results in Korea must match the answers you provided on the form.
School Contract	School contracts will be issued once you have decided on a sector (private or public) and school to work for.
Visa Application Form	You can download the current version of the visa application form our document downloads page; however, completing the form is not required until you have secured a sponsor (Korean school) and obtained a visa issuance number from Gone2Korea (Korean Immigration Issued).
Korean Consulate Checklist	This is a basic checklist which outlines the documents you will need to provide the Korean consulate with during the final stage of our your visa application. This checklist wil be offered to you with your immigration number or it can be downloaded from our document downloads page.
Public School Application Form (Public Sector Only)	Only applicable to those who are offered and/or pursue a job within the public school sector. Your Gone2Korea representative will email you this document after the initial interview.
Optional Documentation for job vacancies in the Public School Sector
Teaching Certificate	You must submit a copy of the certificate you have during the application procedure and you must bring the original certificate with you to Korea. If you fail to bring the original with you to Korea then your initial salary offer will likely be reduced. Lifelong education teachers certificates are not accepted! Expired teaching certificates are not accepted
ESL Certificate (TEFL, TESOL, TESL, CELTA, Other)	ESL certificates MUST be 100 hours or more, anything less than 100 hours is not accepted. In order to qualify for a pay-level increase the certificate MUST clearly state the number of course hours. If the number of hours is not clearly stated on the certificate then sufficient supporting documentation such as: transcripts, website information or correspondence from the issuing organizing, will be required. You must provide a copy of your certificate at the initial stage of your job and visa application and bring the original with you to Korea. CELTA certificates do not require proof of hours Gone2Kore recommneds taking the TEFL Online diploma course
Proof Of Full Time Teaching Experience	Must include the name of the school and/or institute, address, proper letterhead, signature or official school stamp and a contact number in the header of the document. Proof of employment letter must have been issued by the administrational office of the school, letters from co-workers are not accepted. Must state that you were a full-time teacher. Dates of employment must be provided (example: September 2007 to August 2008). Teaching experience must show 1 full year (12 months) in order to qualify for the next pay-level, anything less than 12 months is not accepted (11 months does not qualify). If you are currently teaching but have not yet completed a full 12 month term then you are NOT allowed to state that you have 1 year of teaching experience, the proof of full-time teaching experience must be dated after your contract completion date, no exceptions.
Additional Requirments Worth Mentioning
Name Verification	Your name details on all documents NEED to match, meaning the name on your passport should be the same name that appears on your degree, transcripts, background check, etc. If your name details don’t match then please notify your Gone2Korea representative for more information.

Please don’t hesitate to speak with a member of the Gone2Korea team if you are unsure about any of the required documents, we’re here to help!

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