Working in Korea · E-2 Visa at the Consulate
This guide covers the consular stage of an E-2 teaching visa application: choosing the right office, preparing its documents and submitting your application. The requirements depend on the mission and your visa route. Find your Korean consulate before you book a visit or send documents. Written by OK Recruiting, a Korea-based teacher recruiter since 2006.
The basic order
- Find the Korean mission serving your current address, rather than choosing the closest office.
- Open its current instructions for your E-2 route.
- Check postal submission or appointments, passport originals or copies, fees and return-envelope requirements.
- If anything is unclear for your case, ask the office by email or phone before sending documents.
The order is the same; the requirements vary by mission and applicant. A postal passport-return service does not necessarily mean postal applications are accepted.
How the Consular Step Works
Ask your school or program which E-2 route applies. For E-2-1 applications using a visa issuance confirmation, follow the mission’s instructions for that confirmation. EPIK applicants use the public-school E-2-2 checklist. For example, San Francisco asks for an original Notice of Appointment and original employment contract.
Check how your mission accepts applications
Open the office’s visa instructions before booking. Use its appointment link if a visit is required, or its mailing instructions if postal applications are accepted. There is no single distance rule or booking channel to use for every mission.
Philadelphia’s visa guidance requires Pennsylvania and Delaware residents to apply in person by appointment. The office does not accept walk-in visa submissions.
Prepare the documents for your route
- The application form specified by your mission for your E-2 route
- The visa issuance confirmation or program documents listed in its checklist
- The passport original or copy it requests, with the required validity
- The required number of photographs in the specified size
- Any residency evidence, health statement or other supporting documents it lists
- The fee in the accepted payment method, and return-delivery materials if required
Photo requirements differ. The South African embassy’s E-2 checklist lists two passport-size photographs. Use your own mission’s checklist for the number and size.
Submit through the correct office
Follow the mission’s instructions for delivery and document format. A postal application does not automatically mean that every document can be a copy.
New York’s visa guidance instructs postal applicants to submit a notarized passport copy and not mail the original. Do not use that instruction for another mission.
Track the application
Use the tracking method given by the mission or visa center. Check its current processing notice and allow for document requests and delivery. Whether the office keeps your original passport depends on the documents it requires.
Check the visa grant and travel instructions
Once approved, check your name, passport details, visa category and entry deadline on the visa grant. Follow the office’s instructions for obtaining and carrying the Visa Grant Notice. Check the entry conditions before you travel.
Applying by Mail: Houston as an Example
Houston’s long-term visa instructions allow applications by mail or in person with an online appointment. They cover Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas outside the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
For E-2-1 English teaching applications, Houston lists a visa issuance confirmation number (VIN). Its general checklist requires a signed original passport valid for more than six months. For postal return, it asks for a prepaid, self-addressed USPS Express Mail envelope. Fees vary by nationality, and some supporting documents from non-U.S. citizens must be notarized when submitted by mail.
Use the current checklist and mailing address on that page. Houston may request more documents during review. Postal submission is not a guarantee that no visit will be needed; ask the office about any unclear requirement before sending your application.
Where You Apply
| Location | Where to start | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| United States and Canada | Your Korean embassy or consulate | Jurisdiction, visa route and the office’s submission instructions |
| United Kingdom | The Korean Embassy’s visa information | E-2 applications through IOM’s KVAC London; A-1/A-2 handled separately by the embassy |
| Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa | The Korean mission serving your address | Its E-2 checklist and any local residency requirements |
Use our Korean consulate directory to find the office. A procedure published for another country or visa category may not apply to you.
Visa Fees and Processing
| Item | What to confirm with your office |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | The amount for your nationality and visa category, accepted payment method and any visa-center charge |
| Processing | The office’s current estimate, when processing begins and any separate delivery time |
| Return delivery | Whether collection or return postage is required, and which envelope or courier the office accepts |
Check these details before paying or sending your application. Do not use a fee or processing estimate from another mission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an appointment to apply for an E-2 visa?
Use your mission’s submission instructions. Some offices require an appointment for in-person applications, while postal arrangements depend on the office. Philadelphia requires visa applicants to book a visit; its process should not be treated as a rule for every consulate.
What documents do I need if I have a visa issuance confirmation?
Use the checklist for confirmation holders published by your mission. Check its form, passport, photographs, fee and any supporting documents. Public-school program applicants should use their program-specific E-2 checklist.
How long does E-2 visa processing take?
Use the current processing notice from the mission or visa center handling your application. Ask whether its estimate includes delivery time and starts only after a complete application is received. Additional document requests can affect your schedule.
How much does an E-2 visa cost?
Check the fee for your nationality and visa category with the office where you will apply. Also check its payment method, any visa-center charge and any return-delivery cost.
Where should UK applicants start their E-2 application?
Most UK visa applications, including E-2, go through IOM’s Korea Visa Application Centre (KVAC) in London. A-1 and A-2 applications are handled separately by the embassy. Start with the Korean Embassy’s official visa guidance and follow KVAC London’s E-2 checklist and submission instructions.
Where can I check my visa issuance confirmation and entry deadline?
Check the confirmation and your mission’s instructions for the application deadline. Once your visa is granted, check the separate entry deadline on the visa grant. Do not assume the two deadlines are the same.
Can I apply for an E-2 visa by mail?
Yes, if the Korean mission serving your current address accepts postal E-2 applications. Check its current instructions for the passport original or copy, supporting documents, fee and prepaid return envelope. Houston accepts applications by mail, but other offices may use different rules. If anything is unclear for your case, ask the office before sending documents; additional documents may still be requested.
Use the instructions for your mission and visa route before you submit. Requirements and application arrangements can change.
