South Africans – E2 Visa Instructions

E2 VISA INSTRUCTIONS FOR SOUTH AFRICANS

Congratulations on deciding to teach in South Korea! This is an incredible opportunity to live abroad, experience a new culture and build a meaningful career. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.

The E2 Visa is a work visa that allows qualified foreigners to teach English in South Korea. It’s typically valid for one year and is renewable as long as you remain employed with a school or academy (hagwon). Below you’ll find a guide on how South Africans can apply for the E2 Teaching Visa for South Korea, including document preparation, apostilles and embassy submission.

And if you’re still researching and haven’t applied yet, we can help! Fill out our free one-minute application, and our Footprints Recruiting team will connect you directly with great schools in Korea. We’ll also walk you through every stage of your visa process so you can focus on preparing for your adventure, not paperwork.

Let’s get started! Teach English Abroad. Teach in South Korea. How to get an E2 visa. E2 Visa Requirements. E2 Visa South Africa.

Table of Contents

Step 1: Documents

The first step in this exciting process is to collect and authenticate your documents. Below we have broken down the specific steps for each document. You will need all of them completed before moving on to step 2. 

DocumentNotes / Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree (or higher)NQF Level 7 degree from an accredited university
Criminal Record Check Must be from the South African Police Services
Health Declaration / QuestionnaireCompleted by you (details below)
Passport photocopyInfo page, valid at least 6 months
Resume / CVUp to date
Signed teaching contractProvided by your hiring school
Passport-style photosUsually 3–5, depending on consulate requirements

1.1 University Degree

  • Must be a Bachelor’s degree (at minimum) in any discipline. SQF Level 7
  • Must be from an accredited university
  • Your degree must be a verified copy that has the Apostille on it:
    • Take your degree to the South African Qualifications Authority to be verified (SAQA)
    • After your degree copy is verified, you will send or take it to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in South Africa to get the Apostille

1.2 Criminal Background check

  • This must be an original national criminal record check provided by South African Police Service (SAPS)
  • Your record check cannot be more than six months old when you are proceeding to step 2
  • Have the results sent to you or pick them up yourself
  • If they ask, tell them it is for Footprints Recruiting and provide our address (see the bottom of our homepage)
    • Note: The website indicates that this could take 28 working days to issue a certificate 

Once you have your criminal record check, this report must be apostilled:

  • Send it to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in South Africa for an Apostille. Do not send it to the Korean Consulate/Embassy. 
  • Find your Apostille office contact info
  • DIRCO may not allow mailed in applications. Please consulate with them regarding the application process
  • You will receive an Apostille certificate that accompanies your criminal record check

1.3 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. Marijuana is illegal in South Korea and may be tested for on your health exam.  DO NOT BRING ANY DRUGS TO KOREA OR USE ANY THERE
  • If you do not pass the health exam in Korea, your ability to receive an ARC card will be jeopardized. Without an ARC card, you are unable to work in South Korea, nulling your Visa

1.4 Passport photocopy

  • This is a coloured photocopy the information page of your passport
  • Make sure you have at least 6 months on your passport before it expires

1.5 Resume

  • Print a copy of your resume.

1.6 Signed Copy of the School Contract

  • The contract will be provided to you by e-mail once you agree to it and the school accepts you as their teacher 

1.7 Five Passport-Sized Photos

  • These are standard passport photos – the same that you would need for a new passport. The photos must not be older than 6 months
  • 3.5 x 4.5cm, colour photo
  • Have one additional passport photo on hand for the final stage of the overall E2 visa application process, in Step 3

Step 2: Send Documents to Korea (Visa Reservation Number)

Checklist of Required Documents: 

  1. Copy of SAQA verified degree with Apostille
  2. National criminal record check with Apostille
  3. Health check statement
  4. Coloured Photocopy of the information page of your passport
  5. Copy of your resume
  6. A signed copy of the contract
  7. Two passport-sized photos

Once you’ve sent mailed 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 get the tracking number.

After shipping your package:

  1. Keep your shipping invoice and tracking number, this is crucial for monitoring your delivery
  2. Send a copy of the tracking number to Footprints Recruiting so we can help your school track the documents if needed
  3. Save the destination address for your records

Your school may need to reference your tracking number if there are any delivery issues, so make sure it’s easy to access.

Getting Your E2 Visa Confirmation Number

Once your documents arrive in South Korea, your school will take them to the Korean Immigration Office. Immigration will then process your application and issue a Confirmation of Visa Issuance Number, sometimes called a Visa Confirmation Number or Visa Reservation Number.

This process usually takes 7–12 business days.

Your Visa Issuance Number will look something like this: UJBO 08007392 (the first four characters are letters, followed by numbers).

Once issued, your school will email this number to you (or to Footprints Recruiting). You’ll need this code when completing your E2 teaching visa application in the next step!

Step 3: Submit Application with the Korean 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 FP Recruiter 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.

Once you have your Visa Issuance Number it is time to send or take your application and application documents to the Korean Consulate or Embassy nearest to you. Teach English Abroad. Teach in South Korea. How to get an E2 visa. E2 Visa Guide. E2 Visa Requirements. E2 Visa instructions. E2 Visa South African.

Required Documents to Apply for an E2 Teaching Visa at the Korean Consulate:

  • Completed E2 Visa Application Form
  • 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: Bring one set of sealed transcripts to the consulate (not a stated requirement but better safe than sorry)
  • Consul’s Checklist: A simple two page document required by the consulate.
  • Fee: The cost will be: R350.00. This must be cash or a money order.

The final visa issuance takes an estimated 3 working days. Your visa will be processed after that!

Always call your consulate to ensure you are familiar with their procedures.

Once you have received your passport back with your E-2 visa, you are all set to begin your  teaching journey to South Korea! Your Footprints Recruiter will be here with you every step of the way! 

Korean Consulate Location

Korean Consulate in Pretoria
Address: Greenpark Estates Building No. 3,27. George Storrar Drive, Groenkloof, Pretoria, 0181, South Africa.
Phone: (27-12) 460 – 2508

Responsible for all of South Africa

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can South Africans teach in South Korea without experience?
A: Yes! Many South Africans start teaching in South Korea with no previous experience. All you need is a bachelor’s degree, a clean background check and a positive attitude

Q: How do I apostille my documents in South Africa?
A: Apostilles are handled by DIRCO. Your SAQA verified degree and police clearance must be apostilled before they can be accepted in South Korea

Q: How much can I earn teaching in South Korea?
A: Most South African teachers earn between 2.2 and 2.8 million KRW per month (about R30,000–R38,000), plus free housing and airfare (contract dependent).

Q: What’s daily life like for teachers in Korea?
A: You’ll enjoy modern cities, reliable transport and a vibrant mix of culture and food. Most teachers build strong friendships with other expats and locals alike.

Useful Resources for Teaching Abroad

We want you to succeed. We want you to have the experience of a lifetime, teaching in places around the world! To help you along your journey, we have curated some helpful resources below:

Disclaimer: While we work diligently to keep up to date on the E2 Visa requirements, we are not government officials. Use this information as a guide only and always call your local consulate to ensure that the process has not changed.