University degree/diploma: It’s easiest and best to send your original as immigration readily accepts those. You only need to send one degree (BA, MA or PhD.) The manager at your branch will give you back a copy of your contract and your original degree a week after you arrive here in Korea. Make a photocopy as the Korean Consulate may ask to see this when you apply for your visa.

If you are not comfortable sending your original degree then you can send 2 notarized with apostille copies. Americans, South Africans, New Zealanders, Australians have to have their degree first notarized by a notary (check your yellowpages for more info) or lawyer and then take that and the original to get an Apostille. British teachers can get their subject access request signed by a solicitor (it doesn't need a special notary) and then verified by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

Canadians must first have their degree notarized by a notary public or lawyer registered in his/her home country and then bring or express mail the documents below to a Korean Consulate closest to your university. You will also need to bring:
1. Original degree
2. Notarized degree
3. Photocopy and an original photo ID (passport & drivers license)
4. A University sealed transcript (Consulate will open the transcript for verification purpose) Not always necessary so phone first to find out.
5. $2.20 per document (Cash or Money Order only, Personal cheque is not acceptable)

If applying by mail, a Prepaid Return Envelope is required so that the Consulate will return your documents promptly and safely.

NOTE: Send two notarized copies of your degree to Pagoda and Direct English as Korean immigration will keep one copy and another will be kept by the local Board of Education in Korea

1 set of Sealed and Stamped Transcripts: Below are examples of sealed transcripts with a university stamp and/or registrar signature across the back flap of the envelope. Korean immigration will not accept your transcripts unless they have your universities stamp and/or signature going right across the seal of the envelope. Be sure to specify to the registrar office that your transcripts must have the university stamp and/or their signature on the transcripts as pictured below. Also, it is good to request more than one copy in separate envelopes in case the Korean Consulate asks to see them. A follow-up call is always advisable to make sure that your transcript request is being handled promptly and properly. You can have them sent directly to us or have them sent to your address and then send them along with your other documents when you have them all ready

Criminal Background Check: A local/state check rather than federal level criminal background check is the easiest and fastest to obtain and is readily accepted by Korean immigration. Simply visit or contact a local police station where you reside or last resided and make a request for a criminal background check. There are generally two types of criminal background checks:
1)The first one is sometimes referred to as a criminal records search, non-volunteer or subject access request in England. This check doesn't require fingerprints and is still accepted by Korean Immigration..
2)The second one is called a vulnerable sector screening (VSS) or volunteer check. This check does require fingerprints and is required if you are going to be working with children or other vulnerable people. Some Korean Consulate websites ask specifically for this, however Korean immigration doesn't require this one yet.

If time is short, request the non-vulnerable one to submit to Korean immigration and then later the vulnerable sector search if needed. Korean immigration requires one original criminal background check, but you may want to get two originals as some Consulates, like the Korean Consulate in Washington D.C also require an original when you apply with your visa issuance number.

The criminal background check must be issued within the last 3 months. It can take a week to several months to obtain, so get this process started in a timely manner. Click here for a sample of a criminal background check and here. British teachers can get a PNC (Police National Computer) check or subject access request which provides all the necessary details for visa applications and takes up to 40 days to obtain.
Criminal Record Check links

Applying for a criminal record from Abroad: It is possible to apply for a criminal records search (subject access request) from outside your area/abroad or have a third party, like a family member apply for you. Check with your local police department for policies and procedures. Criminal Record Check links
If your local station isn’t able to assist you then you may have to go through a federal agency like the FBI, RCMP or Metropolitan Police.

Once a third party has your criminal background they will need to have it notarized by a notary or lawyer and teachers from the US, New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia must get an Apostille. British teachers could have a third party get a solicitor to sign it and then have the Foreign and Commonwealth Office put an apostille on it. Canadian teachers could have a third party get it notarized by a notary or lawyer (check the www.Yellowpages.ca to find one nearest you) and then notarized by a Korean Consulate.

The easiest way for British and Canadian teachers would be to have that third send your subject access request or criminal background check to Korea to have the British or Canadian Embassy notarize it.
The easiest way for British and Canadian teachers would be to have that third send your subject access request or criminal background check to Korea to have the British or Canadian Embassy notarize it.

Click here to see a sample apostille
Click on your flag for more specific information on getting a criminal record check:

A Completed and Signed “E2’s Applicant Health Statement”:
This form asks about HIV and drug use. Getting a drug or HIV (AIDS) test is not necessary before you come to Korea. You only need to submit this form with your other documents. After arriving in Korea and before getting an Alien Registration Card (ARC) you will go to a designated hospital to undergo a HIV and drug test. Pagoda Academy will inform the hospital that you will be visiting them and will also pay for your tests.

A color scan or color-copy of your passport identity information page:
Check to see that your passport number is easily readable and your passport is up-to-date.

3 recent passport-sized color photos:
Approx. 3.5 x 4.5cm or 2" x2"
After taking all the time and effort to gather up these documents you can then send all documents using an express courier (ie. FedEx, UPS, DHL, EMS, etc…) that allows you to track the package and guarantees delivery in 2 to 5 days. The cost will range from $30 to $60, but it is well worth it as ensuring the safe and timely delivery of these documents is of paramount importance.
After we receive your documents we apply to Korean Immigration and in about 12 days we receive a Visa Issuance number and email it to you. This number confirms that an employment visa has been approved for you. If this is your first E2 Visa then you must visit a Korean Consulate in your home country to apply for a visa and go through an interview. However, any applicant who worked previously with an E1, E2, E3 visa in Korea and had no illegal activity should be exempt from an interview and can apply for an E2 visa in a third country like Japan. However, this is subject to change without notice so it is always best to call the Consulate or check their site for updates.

All applicants will need: