visa process

visa documents

STEP 1

Learn about the list of documents you need to submit to the Immigration Office.

Notarized and Apostilled Copy of Bachelor's Degree

You must copy your original Bachelor's Degree and get the copy notarized (STEP#1). This can be done by a county clerk or a person with an official notary stamp. Next, take it in person or send it by mail to your state department to get the document apostilled (STEP#2).

apostilled Criminal Background Check

Getting an apostilled Criminal Background Check usually takes from 1-3 months depending on where you are from, so it's best to get started early. After you get this document you must get it apostilled the same way as your Bacherlor's Degree. Please be aware that the apostilled criminal background check is only valid 6 months from the document issuing date, and it will need to be valid upon your entry to South Korea.

Copy of your passport

Copy the bio page of your passport and include it in the documents you send.

Signed contract

Please print your contract and sign it (handwritten). Once the school gets it, they will also sign and submit the signed contract to the local immigration office.

Copy of your resume & 4 passport sized pictures.

You need to send a copy of your resume and 4 passport sized pictures (3.5 x 4.5 cm) as well.

Self Medical Check Form

TOP ESL will provide the self medical check form by email. Then you will print it out and complete it. The form should be answered honestly so the information matches with an official hospital medical check that you get later in Korea.

Visa Issuance Application

TOP ESL will provide the visa issuance application form by email. If you are a new teacher who has never filled it out, then it might be a little confusing. If you have any questions please contact our staff and we can help you.

important things you should know

Questions And Answers

A criminal background check searches national, federal, state, and/or country criminal court databases to check for felony and misdemeanor criminal convictions, including pending criminal cases. This requirement is important for getting a visa which allows teachers to teach minors in the classroom.

1) US Citizens

Issuing Organization: FBI (It takes up to 3 months)

Refer to the FBI website

 

2) Canada Citizens

Issuing Organization: RCMP

Refer to the RCMP website

3) Australia Citizens

Issuing Organization: Australian Federal Police (AFP)

Refer to the AFP website

4) New Zealand Citizens

Issuing Organization: New Zealand Ministry of Justice

Refer to the Ministry of Justice website

5) UK Citizens

Issuing organization: GOV.UK

Refer to the Gov.uk website

6) Ireland Citizens

Issuing Organization: Garda Síochána

Refer to the website of Garda Síochána

7) South Africa Citizens

Issuing Organization: South African Police Service (SAPS)

Refer to the SAPS website

The apostille is a paper certificate with a government (state) seal authenticating that your document is a copy of an original that hasn’t been tampered with.  It must be attached to a notarized copy of your criminal background check and bachelor’s degree when these documents are submitted to the immigration office in Korea. 

To get your documents apostilled, you should first contact an official notary (person authorized to check documents) in your state or county and get them notarized. Then you need to send the documents to the agency in your state or province responsible for apostilling the document. Please see the National Notary Association website for more details. Please allow yourself time to complete this process. If you need the process expedited you can pay extra to an express courier. 

An apostilled Criminal Background Check is effective for 6 months from the date it’s issued (not from the date it’s apostilled). For teachers who are changing jobs within Korea, you need to ensure that you can obtain the apostilled documents in time to get your visa. (This has been an issue with EPIK teachers moving into hagwon positions as EPIK keeps the documents.)

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us!

Email us