Footprints Recruiting

Please follow these instructions for Australians to get visas to teach in South Korea.

• STEP 1 - Documents Collection, Notarisation and or Apostille Authentication

  • You can start this process BEFORE you get a job offer - here is a list of the documents you need to get:

1. Original University Degree
   • degree must be from a 3 or 4 year university
   • degree must be from an accredited university
   • must be the original degree (not a photocopy)
     
     • if you do not wish to send your original degree you can get a notarised copy
       • make a photocopy
       • have the copy notarised by a notary public in the same state as the university
       • send or take the notarised copy to the Australian Apostille located in the state of the university
       • please note the procedure for Apostille Authentication outlined in the Criminal Background Check procedure listed below
2. Three Sealed University Transcripts
   • this means you need to contact your university registrar and ask them to give you your university grades in a SEALED (that's unopened) envelope from your university with a stamp or signature over the seal
   • you'll have to order 3 sets of sealed transcripts 2 will be sent to your school in Korea
   • one will be sent to the Korean Consulate only once your reservation number has been issued - this is explained in Step 2
   • REMEMBER - do not open them
3. Australian Federal Police Clearance (Apostille Authentication by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
   • Download the Australian National Police Check application form or go to the Australian Federal Police website: http://www.afp.gov.au to learn more
   • submit the forms to: Australian Federal Police, Criminal Records, Locked Bag No. 1, Weston, ACT, 2611
   • this will generally take about 15 working days from the date it was received by Criminal Records
   • the record check must be less than 6 months old
   • this record check can be a local, city, or state clearance letter or report
   • ensure you request a sex-offender registry check (some police departments do not specify that a sex-offender check is done - do your best to have this indicated on the report)
   • have the results sent to YOU
   • if they ask tell them it is for Footprints Recruiting and provide our address: 500-55 Water Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6B 1A1
   • this report must then be notarised by a notary public or a lawyer who is in the SAME STATE that background check was issued
   • once notarised, send it to the send the locally notarised record check results to the Authentications Office of your state for an Apostille Certification/Authentication
     • Apostille is a French word for authentication or legalization. According to the "Hague Treaty" of 1961, this is the agreed upon method to ensure the international validity of public document
   • find your state Apostille office contact info here: www.footprintsrecruiting.com/apostilles-australia.php
   • NOTE - if you are abroad please contact the apostille office where the document was issued to ask for instruction
   • IN-PERSON DROP OFF - this authentication can be done quickly in-person in most states. If you can't or don't live in a city where there an apostille, can you send your documents to a friend or family member to do it for you?
   • MAIL IN - in many states this can take a while where if you go in it is instantaneous. If you mail in your application be sure to include a RETURN ENVELOPE with postage and address back to you.
   • FEE - $60AU
   • indicate that the document is bound for South Korea
   • do NOT send it to the Korean Consulate/Embassy. Send only to the state office for the Apostille Authentication
   • you will receive an Apostille certificate that accompanies your record check [see an example here]
4. Health Statement
   • this is a simple questionnaire form from the Korean government where you personally answer the questions. Once you arrive in Korea, a full blood test and physical exam will be administered
   • the test will include testing for narcotics, TB, HIV, and other communicable diseases. The government suggests that they are not testing for THC or marijuana but please note that smoking marijuana in Korea is a criminal offense and is NOT handled lightly. Foreigners are not exempt and are in fact targeted
   • DO NOT DO OR BRING ANY RECREATIONAL DRUGS TO KOREA
   • if you do not pass the health exam in Korea you will likely have your visa revoked and will not have a job or health insurance
   • Click here for a PDF of the Health Statement
5. A Passport Photocopy
   • no this is not a photocopy of the cover of your passport. We have had that a lot...
   • photocopy the information page of your passport
   • make sure you have at least 6 months on your passport before it expires
   • make sure there is at least 1 completely empty page in your passport
6. Resume
   • print a copy of your resume
7. Signed Copy of the School Contract
   • the contract will be provided to you by email once you agree to the contract and the school accepts you as their teacher
8. 4 Passport Sized Photos
   • standard passport photos - the same that you would need for a new passport
   • photos must not be older than 3 months 

We move to STEP 2 assuming you have been offered and have accepted a teaching contract in Korea.

• STEP 2 - Send Your Documents to Korea - Required Documents:

1. original degree
2. 2 sets of sealed university transcripts
3. notarised criminal background check and appropriate apostille authentication
4. health check statement
5. photocopy of the information page of your passport
6. copy of your resume
7. a signed copy of the contract
8. 2 passport sized photos

Please send your documents by Express Post International or EMS courier. These are available to you at the Australia Post Office

• STEP 3 - Send Footprints the tracking number
  • Once you've sent your documents, please retain a copy of your invoice with the tracking number of your package and the address you sent it to and please send Footprints a copy of the tracking number and the website that will allow us to track the documents. It is IMPORTANT to spend the extra couple dollars to get the tracking number.
  • Once your documents are in Korea, your school will take these documents to the Ministry of Justice and Immigration in Korea to get a Visa Authorization Number for you.
  • Within 7-10 working days, the immigration office will issue a Confirmation of Visa Issuance Number also referred to as the Visa Reservation Number or Visa Confirmation Number.
  • The number will look something like this: UJBO 08007392 (the first four characters are letters, the remaining characters are numbers)
  • The school will then forward this number (by e-mail) to you (or us). You will need this code to put on your teaching visa application for the Korea consulate. 

• STEP 4 – Apply for your Visa at the Korean Consulate

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  • ***Note*** it is not a requirement to interview in-person at the Korean consulate. You are able to complete the "Consul's Checklist" and get it witnessed by a Justice of the Peace. You can find a list of Justice of the Peace in Australia at the State Department. If you choose not to complete this and get it witnessed by a Justice of the Peace, you will have to interview in-person at the Embassy or Consulate.
  • We move to this step assuming that you have received your Visa Confirmation Number. If you don't have it, please check with your Placement Coordinator and they will contact the school to see where things currently stand. Korean immigration usually takes 7 to 10 business days to process applications in Korea.
  • Two choices: IN-PERSON or by MAIL
    • IN-PERSON - is faster and requires you to interview with the consulate
    • BY MAIL - send required documents to the Consulate or Embassy with jurisdiction for your state
      • Check the links at the bottom of the page to find out which office has jurisdiction for your state
  • Required Documents
    • Download the E2 Teaching Visa Application Form
      • Fields on the form you might have questions about:
      • 8. Passport Classification: OR - ordinary (unless you are a diplomat!)
      • 16. Your occupational title should be: English Teacher
      • 19. Purpose of Entry: To teach English
      • 21 Desired Length of Stay: 1 year
      • 23. Address in Korea: Same address that you sent all your documentation
      • 27. Who Will Pay For Your Trip?: Employer
      • 31. References in Korea: Same person you sent all your documentation to
    • Passport: Make sure you have your passport ready, that there is 6 months validity left on it and that there is at least 1 empty page. Make sure it's signed too.
    • Photo: You will need to send a passport picture with your application
    • Confirmation of Visa Issuance Number: Fill in the reservation number at the top of application form.
    • Transcripts: Send one set of sealed transcripts to the consulate.
    • Consuls Checklist: A simple two page document required by the consulate. Click here to download it - You must fill this out in front of a Justice of Peace and have them witness it. If you choose NOT to do this, you can interview in-person at the consulate or embassy.
    • Fee: The cost will be: $75AUD
      • This HAS TO BE cash or a money order – this will likely be a single entry visa – you can change your visa to a multi-entry visa when you get your registration card in Korea. There is an additional cost for this but it will allow you to leave Korea and return on the same visa. If you don’t have this, your visa will expire if you leave Korea to visit Japan or Thailand or elsewhere for vacation.

• Step 5 - INTERVIEW with Consulate

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  • Once the consulate receives your application and paperwork, they will contact you to arrange an interview. Some consulates will let you call to book an interview before you have your visa number, others will not. Call them and try them out. Be nice.

• Step 6 - Book Plane Ticket and Coordinate Arrival

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  • Once you receive your passport back with your E-2 visa, you are all set to begin your journey to Korea! Your Placement Coordinator should have been working with you on arrangements for your flight arrival and your airport pickup. Keep in touch with your Placement Coordinator so they can make sure all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed. Have you read through the Korean Orientation Package? There is LOADS of information that will help you with culture, packing, arrival information and so forth.

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